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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteSpacecraft have explored Jupiter through quick flybys, long-term orbiting missions and journeys designed to investigate one of its moons. The first spacecraft to visit Jupiter was Pioneer 10, in 1973; later missions uncovered active volcanoes on Io, Jupiter’s faint rings and evidence that an ocean may lie beneath Europa’s ice. Here are 10 milestones, from early observations to Europa Clipper’s planned investigation.
What missions have gone to Jupiter?
This is a selective timeline, not a complete list of every spacecraft that has observed Jupiter. The missions differ in what they set out to do: flybys captured brief encounters, orbiters studied the planet and its moons over time, and Europa Clipper is planned to make repeated close passes of Europa.
1. Galileo observed Jupiter before spacecraft did
In 1610, Galileo Galilei used a small telescope to make the first detailed observations of Jupiter, according to NASA’s Jupiter exploration history. Centuries later, spacecraft would examine the planet and its moons from much closer range.
2. Pioneer 10 opened the spacecraft era at Jupiter
Launched in March 1972, Pioneer 10 reached Jupiter in 1973. NASA describes it as the first spacecraft to explore Jupiter and its first spacecraft to visit the outer planets. Its encounter marked the start of spacecraft exploration of the Jovian system.
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3. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 made close flybys in 1979
Voyager 1 made its closest approach to Jupiter on March 5, 1979, followed by Voyager 2 on July 9, 1979. Their flybys gave scientists detailed views of the planet and its moons during brief encounters, rather than the extended study possible from orbit. NASA’s Voyager fact sheet documents the encounters and their findings.
4. Voyager spotted active volcanoes on Io
Voyager’s images revealed active volcanism on Io, one of Jupiter’s moons. NASA’s fact sheet calls this the greatest unexpected discovery at Jupiter. The finding showed that at least one of the moons was geologically active, rather than simply a passive object in the planet’s system.
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5. Voyager 1 discovered Jupiter’s rings
Voyager 1 also revealed that Jupiter has a ring system. The rings are made of small, dark particles and are difficult to see unless sunlight passes behind them and illuminates them from the side, NASA explains in its Jupiter facts. Their faintness helps explain why they were not apparent in earlier observations.
What did Galileo discover at Jupiter?
6. Galileo became the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter
NASA launched the Galileo spacecraft on October 18, 1989. It arrived in the Jovian system in December 1995 and became the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter, allowing it to study the planet and its moons over an extended period. NASA/JPL’s Galileo mission history records the mission’s chronology.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems7. Galileo found evidence for an ocean beneath Europa’s ice
Galileo gathered evidence that Europa has a saltwater ocean beneath its icy surface. That is evidence for an ocean, not evidence of life. The mission also studied volcanic activity on Io and the magnetic field generated by Ganymede, adding to the picture of a system with varied and active moons.
8. Galileo ended with a deliberate plunge into Jupiter
On September 21, 2003, NASA/JPL directed Galileo into Jupiter’s atmosphere. The planned end prevented the spacecraft from making an unwanted impact with Europa, whose possible subsurface ocean made avoiding contamination an important precaution. The date and mission history are documented by NASA/JPL.
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What are Juno and Europa Clipper investigating?
9. Juno studies Jupiter from orbit
Juno launched on August 5, 2011, and entered Jupiter orbit on July 4, 2016. NASA lists its science objectives as investigating Jupiter’s origin and evolution, magnetic field, deep-atmosphere water and ammonia, and auroras. Its focus is the planet itself, complementing Galileo’s broad study of Jupiter and its moons. See NASA’s Juno mission page for its stated objectives and mission dates.
10. Europa Clipper is designed to assess Europa’s habitability
Europa Clipper launched on October 14, 2024. Under NASA’s stated mission plan, it is expected to reach Jupiter in April 2030 and make 49 close flybys of Europa. Those are plans, not completed encounters, and mission schedules can change. The spacecraft is intended to investigate whether conditions beneath Europa’s surface could support life; it is not a mission designed to detect life. NASA describes the mission and its plan on the Europa Clipper page.
How the missions differ
| Mission | Mission type and target | Encounter style | What it added or aims to learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer 10 | Flyby; Jupiter | Brief encounter in 1973 | Opened spacecraft exploration of Jupiter. |
| Voyager 1 and 2 | Flybys; Jupiter and its moons | Close approaches in 1979 | Revealed Io’s active volcanism and Jupiter’s rings. |
| Galileo | Orbiter; Jupiter and its moons | Long-term study after arriving in 1995 | Found evidence for Europa’s subsurface ocean and studied Io and Ganymede. |
| Juno | Orbiter; Jupiter | Orbital study beginning in 2016 | Investigates Jupiter’s origin, interior, magnetic field, atmosphere and auroras. |
| Europa Clipper | Planned repeated moon flybys; Europa | NASA’s plan calls for 49 close Europa flybys after arrival at Jupiter, planned for April 2030 | Will assess whether Europa has conditions that could support life; it is not designed to detect life. |
The broad progression is from flybys that captured brief snapshots to orbiters capable of sustained study. The targets also widened: missions examined Jupiter itself, the wider system and specific questions about individual moons.
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