Galileo, the space probe launched on October 18, 1989, arrived in Jupiter's orbit on December 7, 1995, for what was scheduled to be a two-year exploration. Over the next eight years, the craft revealed some secrets of the solar system's biggest planet.
Galileo will crash into Jupiter on Sunday. It is being 'killed' to save potential life on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons.
If Galileo, which could contain bacteria from Earth, crashes into Europa, NASA scientists believe it could contaminate whatever may be living there.
Europa is covered with a sheet of ice, which hides a vast ocean. Beneath that ocean, there might be volcanic activity, and the combination of heat and water is ideal for the creation of life.
Photographs: Courtesy, NASA