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Deep Space 1
Launch: October 24, 1998
Unlike missions focused on science investigations, Deep Space 1 was a spacecraft designed to flight-test new technologies -- including an ion engine that could power solar system explorers of the future. With its primary mission successfully completed, the craft went on an extended mission and flew by comet Borrelly in September 2001, taking the best pictures ever of a comet's nucleus.
+ Overview
+ Deep Space 1 home page
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Explorer 1-5
Launch: January-August, 1958
Explorer 1 became the first satellite launched by the United States on January 31, 1958. Its main payload was a cosmic ray detector which discovered the Van Allen Radiation Belts. It was followed by four similar satellites, two of which were successful.
+ Overview
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Galileo to Jupiter
Launch: October 18, 1989
Upon arrival at Jupiter in December 1995, the Galileo spacecraft delivered a probe that descended into the giant planet's atmosphere. Since then the orbiter has completed many flybys of Jupiter's major moons, reaping a variety of science discoveries. The mission ended on Sept. 21, 2003 when the spacecraft plunged into Jupiter's atmosphere.
+ Overview
+ Galileo home page
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Genesis
Launch: August 8, 2001
Genesis collected samples of charged particles in the solar wind and returned them to Earth in September 2004. Although the capsule's parachutes did not deploy, scientists expect to be able to achieve most of their science objectives with samples recovered from the capsule.
+ Overview
+ Genesis home page
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Infrared Astronomical Satellite
Launch: January 25, 1983
This satellite put an infrared telescope in orbit above the interference of Earth's atmosphere. The mission provided many unexpected findings, including the discovery of solid material around the stars Vega and Fomalhaut.
+ Overview
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Magellan to Venus
Launch: May 4, 1989
This orbiter used imaging radar to map 99 percent of the surface of Venus over four years. After concluding its radar mapping, Magellan made global maps of Venus's gravity field. Flight controllers also tested a new maneuvering technique called aerobraking, which uses a planet's atmosphere to slow or steer a spacecraft.
+ Overview
+ Archived Magellan site
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Mariner 1-2 to Venus
Mariner 1 launch: July 22, 1962
Mariner 2 launch: August 27, 1962
Mariner 2 became the first spacecraft to fly by another planet, studying Venus' atmosphere and surface. During its journey to Earth's neighbor, the craft made the first-ever measurements of the solar wind.
+ Overview
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