The Galileo probe was deployed from the space shuttle Atlantis (STS-34) on a roundabout path to Jupiter. In consists of an atmospheric probe and an orbiter. The probe plunged into the Jovian atmosphere in December 1995, measuring chemistry, temperatures, and winds before being crushed by the increasing pressure. Meanwhile, the orbiter has embarked on a 2+ year tour of the Jovian system, punctuated by close encounters with Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. A close Ganymede encounter yielded spectacular images of mixed terrains . A more distant view of Europa shows the cracked icy crust with only a small number of overlying craters. The orbiter monitors vulcanism on Io for changes at longer range on every orbit.
Jupiter is of course a major target, with the UV and IR spectrometers as well as the camera system. Intricate detail can be seen, for example, in the Great Red Spot , which has been mapped as well in cloud height and cloud motions .
Last changes: 10/1996
