The Galileo spaceprobe during its deployment from the space shuttle on October 18, 1989, at the start of its six year journey to the planet Jupiter. As it nears the planet in December 1995, Galileo will release an atmospheric probe, which will parachute down through the Jovian atmosphere. The orbiter will remain in a high orbit, studying the composition & dynamics of the atmosphere & the structure of Jupiter's powerful magnetosphere. The Galileo spaceprobe will follow a complicated, fuel-saving trajectory, swinging around Venus, Earth, the Sun and then Earth again before making its way on towards Jupiter. It will also visit the asteroids Gaspra & Ida en route.