Missions to Jupiter

Jupiter was first visited in 1973 by the space probe Pioneer 10. It was followed by Pioneer 11, Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and Ulysses. The most recent probe, which is currently orbiting around Jupiter, is the Galileo spacecraft. A joint venture between American and European space agencies, it is expected to soon investigate Europa’s intriguing atmosphere and surface, which may harbor liquid water.

Highlights of these probes’ discoveries include:

The degree of complexity in the Great Red Spot
Volcanism on Io
Possible water on Europa
Jupiter’s rings

Summary of Past Missions

Mission	Country	Launch Date	Arrival Date	Type	Mission Details
Pioneer 10	USA	March 3, 1972	December 3, 1973	Flyby	first spacecraft to travel beyond Pluto's orbit; charted Jupiter's radiation belts
Pioneer 11	USA	April 6, 1973	September 1, 1979	Flyby	High resolution pictures of Jupiter and its Great Red Spot
Voyager 1	USA	September 5, 1977	November 13, 1980	Flyby	Photographs and information on Jupiter's moons
Voyager 2	USA	August 20, 1977	August 26, 1981	Flyby	Investigated Jupiter's Great Red Spot; proved that Io has active volcanoes
Galileo	USA & Europe	October 18, 1989	February 10, 1990	Orbiter & Probe	The Probe descended into Jupiter's atmosphere on December 7,1995. The Orbiter is circling well above the cloud tops of Jupiter beginning on December 7, 1995, and will continue to observe the Jupiter system for at least several more years.