Space Missions - Information Dealing with Space Exploration Missions
Space missions are designed to explore the unknown and learn more about the universe around us. Whether it's a manned space mission to the moon, a robot explorer in the solar system or a probe to the galaxy beyond, learn more about space exploration missions.
Apollo Missions (7)
Project Mercury (1)
Clementine Mission (1)
Ranger Missions (9)
Explorer Missions (5)
SOHO Mission (1)
Hubble Space Telescope (1)
Space Shuttle Missions (24)
Luna (USSR) (1)
Sputnik (2)
Lunar Orbiter Missions (1)
Stardust (1)
Lunar Prospector (1)
Surveyor (1)
Mariner Missions (7)
Ulysses Mission (1)
MESSENGER (2)
Viking Missions (2)
Pioneer (5)
Voyager Missions (2)
Space Exploration Missions by Decade
It's hard to believe that we have been launching spacecraft since the 1950s and there are plans to continue exploring well into the future. Many of the early spacecreaft were quite primitive, especially compared to what is in store for the future. Let's take a closer look at some of the missions, with more information to come in the future. Here are most space exploration missins by the decade th…
It's hard to believe that we have been launching spacecraft since the 1950s and there are plans to continue exploring well into the future. Many of the early spacecreaft were quite primitive, especially compared to what is in store for the future. Let's take a closer look at some of the missions, with more information to come in the future. Here are most space exploration missins by the decade th…
Vega 1
The Vega project was an ambitious deep space Soviet mission with three major goals: to place advanced lander modules on the surface of Venus, to deploy balloons (two each) in the Venusian atmosphere, and, by using Venusian gravity, to fly the remaining buses past the Comet Halley. It was a cooperative effort among the Soviet Union and Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, and the Federal Republic of Germany.
The Vega project was an ambitious deep space Soviet mission with three major goals: to place advanced lander modules on the surface of Venus, to deploy balloons (two each) in the Venusian atmosphere, and, by using Venusian gravity, to fly the remaining buses past the Comet Halley. It was a cooperative effort among the Soviet Union and Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, and the Federal Republic of Germany.
Project Mercury Big Joe 1 - BJ-1
Mercury Mission Big Joe 1 was a test of ablation heatshield. The nose-cone capsule for Big Joe had no retrorocket package. The inner structure held only a half-sized instrumented pressure vessel instead of a pressurized cabin contoured to the outer configuration. Built in two segments, the lower half by Lewis and the upper by Langley, the main body of the spacecraft replica was fabricated with thin sheets of corrugated Inconel alloy in monocoque construction.
Mercury Mission Big Joe 1 was a test of ablation heatshield. The nose-cone capsule for Big Joe had no retrorocket package. The inner structure held only a half-sized instrumented pressure vessel instead of a pressurized cabin contoured to the outer configuration. Built in two segments, the lower half by Lewis and the upper by Langley, the main body of the spacecraft replica was fabricated with thin sheets of corrugated Inconel alloy in monocoque construction.
Project Mercury Little Joe 1 - LJ-1
Project Mercury Little Joe 1 was a Max Q abort and escape test. Objective was to determine how well the escape rocket would function under the most severe dynamic loading conditions anticipated during a Mercury-Atlas launching.
Project Mercury Little Joe 1 was a Max Q abort and escape test. Objective was to determine how well the escape rocket would function under the most severe dynamic loading conditions anticipated during a Mercury-Atlas launching.
Redstone Rockets
The Redstone rocket was developed by Dr. Werhner von Braun and a group of US rocketry specialists. On January 31, 1958, a modified four-stage Redstone rocket, known as Jupiter-C, lifted the first American satellite, Explorer I, into orbit. A Redstone rocket also launched the Mercury capsules on their sub-orbital flights in 1961, inaugurating America's human spaceflight program.
The Redstone rocket was developed by Dr. Werhner von Braun and a group of US rocketry specialists. On January 31, 1958, a modified four-stage Redstone rocket, known as Jupiter-C, lifted the first American satellite, Explorer I, into orbit. A Redstone rocket also launched the Mercury capsules on their sub-orbital flights in 1961, inaugurating America's human spaceflight program.
Beagle 2 Mission Information
Beagle 2's main mission was to search for signs of life - past or present - in the Martian soil. It was also equipped to look for signs of water and study Mars' geology and atmosphere. Beagle 2 was equipped with a robot sampling arm and a small "mole" (Planetary Undersurface Tool, or PLUTO) which can be deployed by the arm and was capable of moving across the surface at a rate of about 1 cm every 5 seconds using a compressed spring mechanism.
Beagle 2's main mission was to search for signs of life - past or present - in the Martian soil. It was also equipped to look for signs of water and study Mars' geology and atmosphere. Beagle 2 was equipped with a robot sampling arm and a small "mole" (Planetary Undersurface Tool, or PLUTO) which can be deployed by the arm and was capable of moving across the surface at a rate of about 1 cm every 5 seconds using a compressed spring mechanism.
Deep Space 2 Mission Information
The Deep Space 2 microprobes weighed only 6.5 kg (14.3 pounds). They were named Amundsen and Scott (right) in honor of the first explorers to reach Earth's South Pole in 1911. The probes were designed to survive and impact of up to 644 kp/h (400 mph). The Deep Space 2 (DS2) project was a New Millenium mission consisting of two probes which were to penetrate the surface of Mars near the south polar layered terrain and send back data on the sub-surface properties.
The Deep Space 2 microprobes weighed only 6.5 kg (14.3 pounds). They were named Amundsen and Scott (right) in honor of the first explorers to reach Earth's South Pole in 1911. The probes were designed to survive and impact of up to 644 kp/h (400 mph). The Deep Space 2 (DS2) project was a New Millenium mission consisting of two probes which were to penetrate the surface of Mars near the south polar layered terrain and send back data on the sub-surface properties.
Fobos 1 Mission Information
Fobos 1, and its companion spacecraft Fobos 2, were the next-generation in the Venera-type planetary missions, succeeding those last used during the Vega 1 and 2 missions to comet P/Halley. Each spacecraft, with a newly designed bus, carried twenty-four experiments provided by thirteen countries and the European Space Agency.
Fobos 1, and its companion spacecraft Fobos 2, were the next-generation in the Venera-type planetary missions, succeeding those last used during the Vega 1 and 2 missions to comet P/Halley. Each spacecraft, with a newly designed bus, carried twenty-four experiments provided by thirteen countries and the European Space Agency.
International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 - International Cometary Explorer
The International Sun-Earth Explorer 3's was the 3rd of a trio of spacecraft sent into space to study interplanetary space. Among its accomplishments was being the first spacecraft orbit at a libration point as well as the first to detect the solar wind approaching Earth. Later, it was renamed International Cometary Explorer and sent to study comet Giacbini-Zinner and comet Halley. It was the first spacecraft to fly past a comet, flying through the tail of comet Giacobini-Zinner.
The International Sun-Earth Explorer 3's was the 3rd of a trio of spacecraft sent into space to study interplanetary space. Among its accomplishments was being the first spacecraft orbit at a libration point as well as the first to detect the solar wind approaching Earth. Later, it was renamed International Cometary Explorer and sent to study comet Giacbini-Zinner and comet Halley. It was the first spacecraft to fly past a comet, flying through the tail of comet Giacobini-Zinner.
Mars Astrobiology Field Lab Rover (AFL) Mission Information
The Mars Astrobiology Field Laboratory (AFL) will provide a major advance in astrobiology. The mission will perform mutually confirming tests and measurements of biosignatures for past and present habitation.
The Mars Astrobiology Field Laboratory (AFL) will provide a major advance in astrobiology. The mission will perform mutually confirming tests and measurements of biosignatures for past and present habitation.
Mars Climate Orbiter Mission Information
Mars Climate Orbiter was the second probe in NASA's Mars Surveyor program and was designed to function as an interplanetary weather satellite and a communications relay for Mars Polar Lander. The orbiter carried two science instruments: a copy of an atmospheric sounder on the Mars Observer spacecraft lost in 1993, and a new, lightweight color imager combining wide- and medium-angle cameras.
Mars Climate Orbiter was the second probe in NASA's Mars Surveyor program and was designed to function as an interplanetary weather satellite and a communications relay for Mars Polar Lander. The orbiter carried two science instruments: a copy of an atmospheric sounder on the Mars Observer spacecraft lost in 1993, and a new, lightweight color imager combining wide- and medium-angle cameras.
Mars Express Mission Information
Mars Express is carrying a sample of Ferrari red paint (right) to the Red Planet. Mars Express is the European Space Agency's first visit to another planet. Mars Express used 427 kg (941 pounds) of fuel to put it in orbit the Red Planet. Mars Express is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission to Mars. It consisted of an orbiter, the Mars Express Orbiter, and a lander, Beagle 2.
Mars Express is carrying a sample of Ferrari red paint (right) to the Red Planet. Mars Express is the European Space Agency's first visit to another planet. Mars Express used 427 kg (941 pounds) of fuel to put it in orbit the Red Planet. Mars Express is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission to Mars. It consisted of an orbiter, the Mars Express Orbiter, and a lander, Beagle 2.
Mars Global Surveyor Mission Information
Mars Global Surveyor was the first successful mission to the Red Planet in two decades. The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) was designed to orbit Mars over a two year period and collect data on the surface morphology, topography, composition, gravity, atmospheric dynamics, and magnetic field. This data will be used to investigate the surface processes, geology, distribution of material, internal properties, evolution of the magnetic field, and the weather and climate of Mars.
Mars Global Surveyor was the first successful mission to the Red Planet in two decades. The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) was designed to orbit Mars over a two year period and collect data on the surface morphology, topography, composition, gravity, atmospheric dynamics, and magnetic field. This data will be used to investigate the surface processes, geology, distribution of material, internal properties, evolution of the magnetic field, and the weather and climate of Mars.
Mars Observer Mission Information
Seventeen years after the successful Viking 1 and Viking 2 missions, Mars Observer, the first of the Observer series of planetary missions, was designed to study the geoscience and climate of Mars. It was designed to carry out a high-resolution photography mission of the Red Planet over the course of a Martian year (687 days) from a 378 x 350-kilometer polar orbit.
Seventeen years after the successful Viking 1 and Viking 2 missions, Mars Observer, the first of the Observer series of planetary missions, was designed to study the geoscience and climate of Mars. It was designed to carry out a high-resolution photography mission of the Red Planet over the course of a Martian year (687 days) from a 378 x 350-kilometer polar orbit.
Mars Odyssey Mission Information
The 2001 Mars Odyssey is the remaining part of the Mars Surveyor 2001 Project, which originally consisted of two separately launched missions, The Mars Surveyor 2001 Orbiter and the Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander. The lander spacecraft was cancelled as part of the reorganization of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA. The orbiter, renamed the 2001 Mars Odyssey, will nominally orbit Mars for three years.
The 2001 Mars Odyssey is the remaining part of the Mars Surveyor 2001 Project, which originally consisted of two separately launched missions, The Mars Surveyor 2001 Orbiter and the Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander. The lander spacecraft was cancelled as part of the reorganization of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA. The orbiter, renamed the 2001 Mars Odyssey, will nominally orbit Mars for three years.
Mars Orbiter Mission Information
Tentatively scheduled for a 2011 launch, this mission is still under development.
Tentatively scheduled for a 2011 launch, this mission is still under development.
Mars Pathfinder Mission Information
The rover was named in honor of Sojourner Truth (right), a 19th century abolitionist and champion of women's rights. The name was suggested by Valerie Ambroise, 12, of Bridgeport, CT. Other suggestions included Sacagawea, Athena and Thumbelina. Sojourner rover operated for 84 days - 12 times longer than its designed lifetime of seven days. The Mars Pathfinder was the second of NASA's low-cost planetary Discovery missions to be launched.
The rover was named in honor of Sojourner Truth (right), a 19th century abolitionist and champion of women's rights. The name was suggested by Valerie Ambroise, 12, of Bridgeport, CT. Other suggestions included Sacagawea, Athena and Thumbelina. Sojourner rover operated for 84 days - 12 times longer than its designed lifetime of seven days. The Mars Pathfinder was the second of NASA's low-cost planetary Discovery missions to be launched.
Mars Planetary Evolution and Meteorology (Multi-Lander) Network Mission Info
Tentatively scheduled for a 2020 launch, this mission is still under development.
Tentatively scheduled for a 2020 launch, this mission is still under development.
Mars Polar Lander Mission Information
The Mars Surveyor '98 program is comprised of two spacecraft launched separately, the Mars Climate Orbiter and the Mars Polar Lander. The two missions were designed to study the Martian weather, climate, and water and carbon dioxide budget, in order to understand the reservoirs, behavior, and atmospheric role of volatiles and to search for evidence of long-term and episodic climate changes. The last telemetry from Mars Polar Lander was sent just prior to atmospheric entry on 3 December 1999.
The Mars Surveyor '98 program is comprised of two spacecraft launched separately, the Mars Climate Orbiter and the Mars Polar Lander. The two missions were designed to study the Martian weather, climate, and water and carbon dioxide budget, in order to understand the reservoirs, behavior, and atmospheric role of volatiles and to search for evidence of long-term and episodic climate changes. The last telemetry from Mars Polar Lander was sent just prior to atmospheric entry on 3 December 1999.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission Information
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is designed to orbit Mars over a full martian year and gather data with six scientific instruments, including a high-resolution imager. The science objectives of the mission are to: characterize the present climate of Mars and its physical mechanisms of seasonal and interannual climate change; determine the nature of complex layered terrain on Mars and identify water-related landforms.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is designed to orbit Mars over a full martian year and gather data with six scientific instruments, including a high-resolution imager. The science objectives of the mission are to: characterize the present climate of Mars and its physical mechanisms of seasonal and interannual climate change; determine the nature of complex layered terrain on Mars and identify water-related landforms.
Mars Sample Return Lander Mission Information
In the second decade of the century, NASA plans additional science orbiters, rovers and landers, and the first mission to return samples of Martian rock and soil to Earth. Current plans call for the first sample return mission to be launched in 2014, and a second in 2016. Options that would significantly increase the rate of mission launch and/or accelerate the schedule of exploration are under study, including launching the first sample return mission as early as 2011.
In the second decade of the century, NASA plans additional science orbiters, rovers and landers, and the first mission to return samples of Martian rock and soil to Earth. Current plans call for the first sample return mission to be launched in 2014, and a second in 2016. Options that would significantly increase the rate of mission launch and/or accelerate the schedule of exploration are under study, including launching the first sample return mission as early as 2011.
Mars Science Laboratory Mission Information
Mars Science Laboratory will be a long-range, long-duration mobile lab. Its mission will be to continue the study of Martian geology from the surface and pave the way for a possible future sample return. The lab will be delivered to Mars on the first of a new generation of smart landers.
Mars Science Laboratory will be a long-range, long-duration mobile lab. Its mission will be to continue the study of Martian geology from the surface and pave the way for a possible future sample return. The lab will be delivered to Mars on the first of a new generation of smart landers.
Mars Scout 2 Mission Information
This next generation Mars Scout could take one of many forms - an airplane, balloon or small lander. Scout missions are designed by the science community and will be shaped by discoveries of the current fleet of Mars spacecraft. The first Mars Scout is Phoenix, which is scheduled to launch for Mars in 2007.
This next generation Mars Scout could take one of many forms - an airplane, balloon or small lander. Scout missions are designed by the science community and will be shaped by discoveries of the current fleet of Mars spacecraft. The first Mars Scout is Phoenix, which is scheduled to launch for Mars in 2007.
Mars Scout 3 Mission Information
This next generation Mars Scout could take one of many forms - an airplane, balloon or small lander. Scout missions are designed by the science community and will be shaped by discoveries of the current fleet of Mars spacecraft. The first Mars Scout is Phoenix, which is scheduled to launch for Mars in 2007.
This next generation Mars Scout could take one of many forms - an airplane, balloon or small lander. Scout missions are designed by the science community and will be shaped by discoveries of the current fleet of Mars spacecraft. The first Mars Scout is Phoenix, which is scheduled to launch for Mars in 2007.
Nozomi Mission Information
Nozomi (right) was Japan's first mission to another planet. Nozomi means hope in Japanese. Before launch, it was known as Planet-B. The orbiter weighed 541 kg (1,193 pounds), including fuel. Intended to be Japan's first Mars orbiter, Nozomi was Japan's fourth "deep space" probe. Nozomi was to be inserted into a highly eccentric Mars orbit with a periapsis 300 km above the surface, an apoapsis of 15 Mars radii, and an inclination of 170 degrees with respect to the ecliptic plane.
Nozomi (right) was Japan's first mission to another planet. Nozomi means hope in Japanese. Before launch, it was known as Planet-B. The orbiter weighed 541 kg (1,193 pounds), including fuel. Intended to be Japan's first Mars orbiter, Nozomi was Japan's fourth "deep space" probe. Nozomi was to be inserted into a highly eccentric Mars orbit with a periapsis 300 km above the surface, an apoapsis of 15 Mars radii, and an inclination of 170 degrees with respect to the ecliptic plane.
Opportunity Mars Rover Mission Information
Opportunity traveled roughly 491 million km (305 million miles) on its journey to Mars. On the surface, the rover moves at a top speed of 5 cm (2 inches) per second. Opportunity's panoramic camera will reveal Mars at about the same height as an adult person. Both rovers carry a unique camera calibration target in the shape of a sundail. Opportunity found the strongest evidence yet that liquid water once existed on the surface of Mars. It is one of the two rovers launched to Mars in mid-2003.
Opportunity traveled roughly 491 million km (305 million miles) on its journey to Mars. On the surface, the rover moves at a top speed of 5 cm (2 inches) per second. Opportunity's panoramic camera will reveal Mars at about the same height as an adult person. Both rovers carry a unique camera calibration target in the shape of a sundail. Opportunity found the strongest evidence yet that liquid water once existed on the surface of Mars. It is one of the two rovers launched to Mars in mid-2003.
Phoenix Mission Information
Phoenix is truly a mission risen from the ashes. The spacecraft has lived in a clean room since its launch was scrubbed due to the loss of the Mars Polar Lander in 1999. "Even though the northern plains are thought to be too cold now for water to exist as a liquid, periodic variations in the martian orbit allow a warmer climate to develop every 50,000 years," explains Mr. Peter H. Smith, the mission's principal investigator.
Phoenix is truly a mission risen from the ashes. The spacecraft has lived in a clean room since its launch was scrubbed due to the loss of the Mars Polar Lander in 1999. "Even though the northern plains are thought to be too cold now for water to exist as a liquid, periodic variations in the martian orbit allow a warmer climate to develop every 50,000 years," explains Mr. Peter H. Smith, the mission's principal investigator.
Space Exploration Missions by Decade
It's hard to believe that we have been launching spacecraft since the 1950s and there are plans to cintinue exploring well into the future. Many of the early spacecreaft were quite primitive, especially compared to what is in store for the future. Let's take a closer look at some of the missions, with more information to come in the future. Here are most space exploration missins by the decade they were active.
It's hard to believe that we have been launching spacecraft since the 1950s and there are plans to cintinue exploring well into the future. Many of the early spacecreaft were quite primitive, especially compared to what is in store for the future. Let's take a closer look at some of the missions, with more information to come in the future. Here are most space exploration missins by the decade they were active.
Spirit Mars Rover Mission Information
Spirit traveled about 500 million kilometers (311 million miles) on its journey to Mars. A day - or sol - on Mars is 24 hours, 39 min, 35 sec (1.027 Earth days). Spirit was expected to operate for at least 91 sols on Mars. It continues to operate. Spirit carried a memorial to the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia to the surface of Mars. The "Spirit" rover (Mars Exploration Rover A) is one of the two rovers launched to Mars in mid-2003.
Spirit traveled about 500 million kilometers (311 million miles) on its journey to Mars. A day - or sol - on Mars is 24 hours, 39 min, 35 sec (1.027 Earth days). Spirit was expected to operate for at least 91 sols on Mars. It continues to operate. Spirit carried a memorial to the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia to the surface of Mars. The "Spirit" rover (Mars Exploration Rover A) is one of the two rovers launched to Mars in mid-2003.