What happens if humans decide to land on Jupiter?

The best way to explore a new world island on it. This is why people sent spaceships to the Moon, Venus, Mars, Saturn's moon, Titan and others. But there are several places in the solar system that we will never understand as well as we would like. One of them is Jupiter, which is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. Trying to land on it is like trying to land on a cloud here on Earth. This gas giant has no outer crust to stop you from falling, all there is is an endless strip of atmosphere. Moreover, you will face extremely high temperatures and will float freely in the middle of the planet, unable to escape. So the main question is: could you fall through one end of Jupiter and fly out of the other? It turns out that you will not go even half the way. Here's why.

If a person flies to Jupiter, nothing good will come of it.

The largest planet in the solar system

Of all the worlds in the solar system, Jupiter is the least attractive planet for life. In 2017, German scientists from the Institute of Planetology reported that Jupiter's core was formed a million years after the birth of the Sun. The researchers note that the gas giant has playedimportant role in the formation of the entire solar system and thanks to its study, scientists can judge the changes that have occurred with the solar system during all this time.

It is also noteworthy that today we know aboutthis amazing planet is bigger than ever. From the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 missions, designed specifically for the study of Jupiter and Saturn and launched into space in 1977, to the launch of the Juno probe in 2011. In July 2016, the device flew to its destination. The main goal of the mission is to obtain data on the origin and evolution of Jupiter, as well as on the processes taking place on the planet.

Photo of Jupiter taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft

But can any of those launched into spacedevices to land on the surface of the gas giant? Researchers believe that any spacecraft, no matter how rugged, cannot last long on Jupiter, so a lunar lander is as good a choice as any other for this hypothetical scenario. But what will happen if a person ever decides to land on the surface of this unfriendly planet?

See also: Octopus-like creatures can live in the oceans of Jupiter's moon

Man on Jupiter

Since there is no oxygen in Jupiter's atmosphere,the main thing is not to forget to take plenty of air with you. The next problem is scorching temperatures, so you have to bring an air conditioner too. You are now ready for a journey of epic proportions.

So when you enter the top of the atmosphere,you will be moving at a speed of 177 kilometers per hour under the influence of gravity of Jupiter. But brace yourself. You will quickly enter the denser atmosphere below, which will hit you like a wall. But this will not stop you and in about 3 minutes you will reach the top of the clouds at a depth of 249 kilometers. Here you will experience the full brunt of the rotation of the gas giant.

Jupiter is the fastest rotating planet in ourSolar system. One day here lasts about 9.5 Earth hours. This creates powerful winds that can circle the planet at speeds in excess of 482 kilometers per hour.

About 120 kilometers under the clouds youyou reach the limit of human capabilities. For example, the Galileo probe, which plunged into Jupiter's atmosphere in 1995, lasted only 58 minutes before being destroyed by crushing pressure.

This is how Jupiter looks through the lens of the Juno

But if we assume that you are flying deep into Jupiter in a spaceship, then you will not be able to see anything, so you have to rely on instruments to understand what is happening around. At a depth of 692 kilometers, the pressure is 1,150 times higher than on Earth. A little deeper and the pressure and temperature would be too high for the spacecraft to withstand.

However, let's say you could find a waygo down even further. If you succeed, you will uncover some of Jupiter's greatest mysteries. But, unfortunately, you will not have the opportunity to tell someone about your find. Jupiter's deep atmosphere absorbs radio waves, so you will be cut off from the outside world and unable to communicate.

See also: A new spot found in a new photo of Jupiter. What it is?

Once you reach a depth of more than 4,000 kilometers, the temperature will be 3371 ° C. It's hot enough to melt tungsten - the metal with the highest melting point in the Universe. At this point, you will be falling for at least 12 hours. And you will not go even half the way.

At a depth of 21 kilometers, you will reach the mostinner layer of Jupiter. Here the pressure is 2 million times stronger than on the surface of the Earth. And the temperature is higher here than on the surface of the sun. These conditions are so extreme that they alter the chemistry of hydrogen around you. Hydrogen molecules are pressed so close to each other that their electrons disintegrate, forming an unusual substance called metallic hydrogen. Metallic hydrogen is highly reflective. Therefore, if you try to use light to look down below, below, it will not be possible.

Bizarre clouds envelop the surface of the gas giant

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Moreover, this metallic hydrogen is the samedense as a rock. So, as you move deeper into the planet, the buoyancy force of metallic hydrogen will counteract the gravitational attraction. Eventually, this buoyancy will “shoot” you back up until gravity pulls you back down like a yo-yo. And when these two forces become equal, you will be left floating in the middle of Jupiter, unable to move up or down, and without the slightest opportunity to escape!

Suffice it to say that trying to land onJupiter is a bad idea. We may never see what is hidden under these majestic clouds. But we can still explore and admire this mysterious planet from afar.