Galileo and the First Dive into Jupiter's Atmosphere: A Landmark in Deep Space Exploration
Science & Technology Blog for UPSC by Suryavanshi IAS, Lucknow
🌌 Introduction: A Mission Like No Other
The Galileo mission, launched by NASA on October 18, 1989, was among the most ambitious planetary science missions of its time. Named after Galileo Galilei, who first observed Jupiter’s moons, the spacecraft was humanity’s first emissary to enter the atmosphere of an outer gas giant — Jupiter.
The mission not only orbited Jupiter but also released a probe that sent back the first direct data from within Jupiter's atmosphere.
🛰️ Mission Timeline & VEEGA Path
Launch & Trajectory:
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Launch Date: October 18, 1989
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Trajectory Strategy:
Used three gravity assists — Venus (1990) and Earth (twice in 1990 and 1992) — called the VEEGA path (Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist).
Notable Flybys Before Reaching Jupiter:
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1991: First asteroid flyby – Gaspra
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1993: Discovery of moon Dactyl orbiting asteroid Ida
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1994: Observed Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet crashing into Jupiter
🌬️ The Galileo Atmospheric Probe
🔧 Design Highlights:
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Mass: 337 kg
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Based on Pioneer Venus probe design
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Released from the main spacecraft on July 13, 1995
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Entered Jupiter’s atmosphere on December 7, 1995
☄️ Descent Profile:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Entry Speed | 170,590 km/h (~47.4 km/s) |
| Deceleration | Up to 228 Gs |
| Entry Temperature | Up to 16,000°C |
| Transmission Duration | 58 minutes |
| Descent Distance | ~180 km below cloud tops |
| Max Pressure Withstood | 22.7 atmospheres |
🧪 Scientific Discoveries from the Probe
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Low levels of water vapour and lightning (contrary to expectations)
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Half the expected helium
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High-velocity winds: ~640 m/s
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Intense radiation belt: ~50,000 km above cloud tops
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Detection of organic compounds
🌍 Primary Orbiter Discoveries (1995–2003)
The Galileo orbiter remained in Jupiter’s orbit and performed close flybys of its major moons.
🌊 Europa:
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Evidence of subsurface salty ocean
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Sparked future missions like Europa Clipper (2020s)
🌋 Io:
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Observed volcanic activity hotter than Earth's
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Studied plume eruptions and surface changes
🧲 Ganymede:
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First detection of a magnetic field around a moon
☠️ Galileo’s End: A Necessary Sacrifice
To prevent biological contamination of Europa, Galileo was intentionally crashed into Jupiter on September 21, 2003. This ensured that potential Earth microbes on the spacecraft wouldn’t interfere with future life-detection missions.
📌 UPSC GS3 Relevance
Syllabus Link:
Science and Technology – Developments and Applications of Space Technology
📝 Model Mains Question:
Q. The Galileo mission provided the first direct data from within a gas giant's atmosphere. Highlight its scientific contributions and significance for future planetary missions.
Structure Suggestion:
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Intro: Background on Galileo
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Body:
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Design & descent
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Atmospheric discoveries
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Orbiter findings on moons
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Implications for planetary science & astrobiology
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Conclusion: Legacy of Galileo in missions like JUICE and Europa Clipper
🧠 UPSC Prelims Revision Notes
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VEEGA: Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist
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First asteroid flyby: Gaspra (1991)
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First moon around asteroid: Dactyl (1993)
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First atmospheric entry into outer planet: Jupiter by Galileo probe (1995)
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Organic molecules found: In Jupiter’s atmosphere
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Europa ocean: Confirmed evidence of liquid water under ice
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Galileo mission ended: 2003 (crashed into Jupiter)
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Entry speed of probe: ~170,590 km/h
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Max temperature endured: ~16,000°C
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