Jupiter crash a dramatic end to space mission

A SUICIDE plunge into Jupiter’s crushing atmosphere has ended the eight-year work of a spacecraft that transmitted information and pictures about the planet.

Sunday night’s dramatic end to the Galileo mission was planned to avoid any chance of an unwanted impact with moons that may harbour water and life.

The spacecraft, travelling at nearly 108,000 mph, was torn apart and vaporised by the heat and friction of its fall through the clouds after it dove into the atmosphere at 8.57pm on Sunday night as planned.