Galileo View of Io and Jupiter (Computer Generated Image).

The Galileo spacecraft arrived at Jupiter on December 7, 1995, and fired its main engine for 49 minutes for a successful orbit capture around Jupiter. On the same day, Galileo's atmospheric probe plunged into Jupiter's atmosphere, and relayed information on the structure and composition of the solar system's largest planet.

Galileo News

• Galileo JOI Quick Look
  A quick look at the actual times and performance of the Jupiter Orbit Insertion.

• Galileo Status Reports
  This will be an archive for the latest Galileo JOI status reports.

• Where's Galileo Right Now?
  Galileo trajectory information updated every minute!

• Galileo Probe Science Results
  The Galileo Probe has made some startling discoveries!

• Jupiter Orbit Insertion Timeline
  A detailed look at the Jupiter orbit insertion sequence. See precisely when the Jupiter arrival events will occur.

• Doppler Plots during JOI
  During the Jupiter orbit insertion burn on December 7, 1995, we had live doppler data from Galileo on this home page and it was used to monitor the engine burn. The doppler plots were updated every minute.

• Galileo Jupiter Approach Images and Animations
  A sequence of 121 computer-generated images of Galileo approaching Jupiter during Jupiter orbital insertion on December 7, 1995.

Live Events - December 7, 1995

• NASA TV Schedule
  Live from JPL, the Galileo press conferences were carried on NASA TV, which were also available on CuSeeMe and the MBone.

• Galileo on CNN
  CNN had live interviews at JPL during the Jupiter arrival day.

• America OnLine
  JPL Director Dr. Ed Stone participated in a live "chat" session with users of America OnLine.

• Galileo Jupiter Arrival Event with the Planetary Society
  Experience the excitment of Jupiter arrival with the Galileo Project Team and the Planetary Society.

• BBC Radio
  BBC Radio read aloud excerpts from Galileo team members' journals.

Additional Information on Galileo's Jupiter Arrival

• Galileo Jupiter Arrival Press Kit
  Everything you've wanted to know about Galileo's arrival at Jupiter.

• "On Jupiter" on the Discovery Channel
  A new documentary on Jupiter. An excellent preview for Galileo's Jupiter arrival.

• The Fate of the Galileo Probe
  This interesting article appeared in the December 1995 issue of the Planetary Report.

• Galileo Preparing For Jupiter Arrival
  Technical paper presented at the last International Astronautical Federation meeting in 1994.

• Jupiter at Last! Galileo's Longest Day
  An article from the September 1995 issue of the Galileo Messenger.

Images of the Probe Entry Site

• Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) Images (July 27, 1995).
• Hubble Space Telescope Images (February & October 1995)
• Pic du Midi Observatory Images (November 1995)
• La Palma Images of Probe Entry Site (December 3-4, 1995)
• Pic du Midi Observatory Images of Probe Entry Site (December 5, 1995)
• IRTF Images of Jupiter at Time of Galileo Probe Entry (December 7, 1995)

Having trouble running animations? Look here for information on how to setup your browser for animations.

• MPEG Animation (3.6MB) showing Jupiter approach, probe release, coast to Jupiter arrival, entry, parachute deployment. A killer animation!
• MPEG (325K) or Quicktime (771K) animation showing the probe heating up as it plows through Jupiter's atmosphere.
• MPEG (331K) or Quicktime (724K) animation showing the probe's parachute deployment.
• Quicktime Animation (496K) of the Probe's lower descent on its main parachute.
• Quicktime Animation (2.0MB) of the Probe's upper descent on its main parachute. Note the lightning bolts!