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Mission to Jupiter

Io - A Volcanic Satellite

Io is a little powerhouse. When the Voyager spacecrafts flew by in 1979, they recorded nine volcanoes erupting. The spacecraft found over 200 other volcanoes on the surface.

Scientists think that Jupiter is powering the volcanoes by squishing Io a little everytime it goes around Jupiter. Io's inside heats up each time Io gets squeezed. The heat builds up until the inside of Io melts. The volcanoes help Io get rid of some of that heat.

Big Problems:

Little Problems:

Keep these things in mind while you discuss your base.

Want to see what Io looks like?

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For questions about this page, please contact Steve Gagnon.