Space Shuttle Atlantis launched the Galileo spacecraft toward Jupiter.
The launch took place on October 18, 1989, during mission STS-34. Atlantis carried Galileo in its payload bay along with an Inertial Upper Stage booster, which propelled the spacecraft away from Earth after shuttle deployment.
Galileo did not fly directly to Jupiter. Its trajectory used gravity assists from Venus, Earth, and Earth again, allowing the spacecraft to gain the energy needed for the journey. It ultimately reached Jupiter in 1995 and became the first spacecraft to orbit an outer planet.
A common mix-up is confusing Galileo’s launch vehicle with the spacecraft’s later destination or launch date. Atlantis launched the probe, but Galileo’s mission also included an atmospheric entry probe that descended into Jupiter’s clouds. The probe transmitted data for about 58 minutes before being destroyed by the planet’s pressure and heat.