伽利略探针是由伽利略号携带前往木星，进入大气层的的主要探测仪器。它直接进入木星的大气层，并从这颗行星发送回数据。这个重339公斤（747英磅）的探测器是由休斯飞机公司在加利福尼亚州的埃尔塞贡多制造，直径大约1.3米（4.3英尺）。探针的科学仪器在隔热罩内，以避免在每秒47.8公里（29.7英里）的高速下降时，能免受旅程中极端的高温和高压。

探针在抵达木星之前五个月，于1995年7月从伽利略号的轨道器发布，并在没有刹车的减速下，直接进入木星的大气层。探针在两分钟内从其抵达时的每秒约47公里的高速降到次音速的速度。

The Galileo Probe was an atmospheric-entry probe carried by the main Galileo spacecraft to Jupiter, where it directly entered a hot spot and returned data from the planet. The 339-kilogram (747 lb) probe was built by Hughes Aircraft Company at its El Segundo, California plant, measured about 1.3 meters (4.3 ft) across. Inside the probe's heat shield, the scientific instruments were protected from extreme heat and pressure during its high-speed journey into the Jovian atmosphere, entering at 47.8 kilometers (29.7 mi) per second. It entered Jupiter on December 7 1995, 22:04 UTC and stopped functioning 23:01 UTC, 57.6 minutes later.