# How far can we penetrate into Jupiter's atmosphere with a probe?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-we-penetrate-into-jupiters-atmosphere-with-a-probe/159599>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 6, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-we-penetrate-into-jupiters-atmosphere-with-a-probe/159599 "2003-03-06T23:11:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-we-penetrate-into-jupiters-atmosphere-with-a-probe/159599/1 "2003-03-06T23:11:42Z")

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Before it is crushed? How far does current technology allow us to penetrate and still get a signal out?

Could we do a side shot and push a proble through the edge in and out?

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**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-we-penetrate-into-jupiters-atmosphere-with-a-probe/159599/2 "2003-03-06T23:38:50Z")

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The Galileo spacecraft launched a probe which penetrated 124 miles into Jupiter’s atmosphere, if functioned for 59 minutes.

[http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/journey-arrival.html](http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/journey-arrival.html)

For what a manned mission to explore on Jupiter see Arthur C. Clarke’s short story **A Meeting with Medusa**.

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**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-we-penetrate-into-jupiters-atmosphere-with-a-probe/159599/3 "2003-03-06T23:40:07Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by astro \*  
> \*\*Before it is crushed? How far does current technology allow us to penetrate and still get a signal out?
> 
> Could we do a side shot and push a proble through the edge in and out? \*\*

I think safe penetration is about 6 to 9 inches. Crushing can occur if improper materials are used in the probe, but latex and other polymer materials are readily available so that this is no longer a problem. I would suggest a direct, yet sensitive approach…

SORRY- that is for inserting a probe into Uranus…:smack:

(apologies)