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Space Missions
Our Emissaries Across the Solar System
Since 1957, humanity has launched thousands of spacecraft. These robotic emissaries follow in the footsteps of their predecessors—testaments to our long-lived desire to understand our place in the Cosmos.
There are currently spacecraft exploring Venus, Mars, and Saturn, as well as a comet and an asteroid. The Voyager spacecraft are hurtling out of our solar system, while New Horizons speeds out into the Kuiper Belt after its encounter with Pluto. Closer to home, we have probes in lunar orbit, a handful of solar physics missions, space telescopes, and a small army of Earth-observing satellites. In Earth orbit, the International Space Station continues to soar around the planet with a continually staffed crew of astronauts and cosmonauts.
Our space missions pages are your portal to news and facts about our ongoing exploration of the solar system.
Recent Mission Status Updates
OSIRIS-REx’s cameras see first light
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2016/09/29 03:34 CDT
As OSIRIS-REx speeds away from Earth, it’s been turning on and testing out its various engineering functions and science instruments. Proof of happy instrument status has come from several cameras, including the star tracker, MapCam, and StowCam.
Rosetta end-of-mission event schedule
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2016/09/27 11:45 CDT | 3 comments
A schedule of what to expect during Rosetta's final hours September 29 and 30, and how you can follow online.
Space Mission Timelines
A list of key dates and basic facts on all the missions that have explored Venus and Mercury.
The missions, both successful and failed, that have flown by, orbited, or landed on the Red Planet and its moons
The spacecraft that have traveled to asteroids, outer planets, comets, and beyond
Cassini’s Tour of the Saturn System
13 years, 250 orbits, and 127 gravity-assist flybys – explore the Saturn system with NASA's Cassini mission.
Spacecraft that study our dynamic Sun and help us understand how it affects our planet.
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