List of Solar System probes

This is a list of space probes that have left Earth orbit (or were launched with that intention but failed), organized by their planned destination. It includes planetary probes, solar probes, and probes to asteroids and comets, but excludes lunar missions, which are listed separately at List of lunar probes and List of Apollo missions. Flybys (such as gravity assists) that were incidental to the main purpose of the mission are also included. Flybys of Earth are listed separately at List of Earth flybys. Confirmed future probes are included, but missions that are still at the concept stage, or which never progressed beyond the concept stage, are not.

Key

Colour key:

– Mission or flyby completed successfully (or partially successfully)		– Failed or cancelled mission
– Mission en route or in progress (including mission extensions)		– Planned mission

• ^† means "tentatively identified", as classified by NASA.^[1] These are Cold War-era Soviet missions, mostly failures, about which few or no details have been officially released. The information given may be speculative.

• Date is the date of:

• closest encounter (flybys)
• impact (impactors)
• orbital insertion to end of mission, whether planned or premature (orbiters)
• landing to end of mission, whether planned or premature (landers)
• launch (missions that never got underway due to failure at or soon after launch)

In cases which do not fit any of the above, the event to which the date refers is stated. Note that as a result of this scheme missions are not always listed in order of launch.

• Some of the terms used under Type:

• Flyby: The probe flies by an astronomical body, but does not orbit it
• Orbiter: Part of a probe that orbits an astronomical body
• Lander: Part of a probe that descend to the surface of an astronomical body
• Rover: Part of a probe that acts as a vehicle to move on the solid-surface of an astronomical body
• Penetrator: Part of a probe that impacts an astronomical body
• Atmospheric probe or balloon: Part of a probe that descend through or floats in the atmosphere of an astronomical body
• Sample return: Parts of the probe return back to Earth with physical samples

• Under Status, in the case of flybys (such as gravity assists) that are incidental to the main mission, "success" indicates the successful completion of the flyby, not necessarily that of the main mission.

Solar probes

While the Sun is not physically explorable with current technology, the following solar observation probes have been designed and launched to operate in heliocentric orbit or at one of the Earth–Sun Lagrangian points – additional solar observatories were placed in Earth orbit and are not included in this list:

1960–1969

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Pioneer 5		NASA/ DOD	March–April 1960	orbiter	success	measured magnetic field phenomena, solar flare particles, and ionization in the interplanetary region		1960-001A
Pioneer 6		NASA	December 1965 – still contactable in 2000	orbiter	success	network of solar-orbiting "space weather" monitors, observing solar wind, cosmic rays, and magnetic fields		1965-105A
Pioneer 7		NASA	August 1966 – still contactable in 1995	orbiter	success			1966-075A
Pioneer 8		NASA	December 1967 – still contactable in 2001	orbiter	success			1967-123A
Pioneer 9		NASA	November 1968 – May 1983	orbiter	success			1968-100A
Pioneer-E		NASA	27 August 1969	orbiter	failure	intended as part of the Pioneer 6–9 network; failed to reach orbit		PIONE

1974–1997

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Helios A		NASA/ DFVLR	November 1974 – 1982	orbiter	success	observations of solar wind, magnetic and electric fields, cosmic rays and cosmic dust between Earth and Sun		1974-097A
Helios B		NASA/ DFVLR	January 1976 – 1985?	orbiter	success			1976-003A
ISEE-3		NASA	1978–1982	orbiter	success	observed solar phenomena in conjunction with earth-orbiting ISEE-1 and ISEE-2; later renamed International Cometary Explorer (ICE) and directed to Comet Giacobini-Zinner		1976-003A
Ulysses (first pass)		ESA/ NASA	1994	orbiter	success	south polar observations		1990-090B
			1995			north polar observations
WIND		NASA	November 1994 – still active as of October 2016[2]	orbiter	success	solar wind measurements		1994-071A
SOHO		ESA/ NASA	May 1996 – extended to 31 December 2016[3]	orbiter	success	investigation of Sun's core, corona, and solar wind; comet discoveries		1995-065A
ACE		NASA	August 1997 – still active as of October 2016[4]	orbiter	success	solar wind observations		1997-045A

2000–present

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Ulysses (second pass)		ESA/ NASA	2000	orbiter	success	south polar observations		1990-090B
			2001			north polar observations
Genesis		NASA	2001–2004	orbiter/ sample return	success	solar wind sample return; crash landed on return to Earth, much data salvaged		2001-034A
STEREO A		NASA	December 2006 – still active as of September 2016[5][6]	orbiter	success	stereoscopic imaging of coronal mass ejections and other solar phenomena		2006-047A
STEREO B		NASA	December 2006 – October 2014 August 2016 – (communication lost between October 1, 2014 and August 21, 2016)[7][6]	orbiter	success			2006-047B
Ulysses (third pass)		ESA/ NASA	2007	orbiter	success	south polar observations		1990-090B
			2008		partial success	north polar observations; some data returned despite failing power and reduced transmission capacity
DSCOVR		NOAA	February 2015 –	orbiter	success	solar wind and coronal mass ejection monitoring, as well as Earth climate monitoring		2015-007A [8]

Proposed

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Solar Orbiter		ESA	2018	orbiter	planned	solar and heliospheric physics		[9]
Solar Probe Plus		NASA	2018[10]	orbiter	planned	close-range coronal observations		[11]
Intergelio-Zond		RKA	2019	orbiter	planned	close-range solar observations		[12]
Aditya		ISRO	2017-2018	orbiter	planned	to study Solar Corona		[13]

Mercury probes

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Mariner 10		NASA	29 March 1974	flyby	success	minimum distance 704 km		1973-085A
			21 September 1974			48,069 km
			16 March 1975			327 km
MESSENGER		NASA	14 January 2008	flyby	success	minimum distance 200 km		2004-030A
			6 October 2008			minimum distance 200 km
			29 September 2009			minimum distance 228 km
			18 March 2011 – 30 April 2015	orbiter	success	first spacecraft to orbit Mercury; unavoidable impact on the surface at end of mission
BepiColombo		ESA/ JAXA	April 2018 (launch) – 1 May 2026 (end of nominal mission)					BEPICLMBO
	Mercury Planetary Orbiter	ESA	18 December 2024 (orbital insertion) 27 March 2025 (final MPO orbit)	orbiter	under construction
	Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter	JAXA	18 December 2024	orbiter	testing

Venus probes

1961–1969

Venus Probes (List) [1961-1965]

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Sputnik 7		(USSR)	4 February 1961	lander	failure	failed to escape from Earth orbit		1961-002A
Venera 1		(USSR)	19 May 1961 – 20 May 1961	flyby	failure	contact lost 7 days after launch; first spacecraft to fly by another planet		1961-003A
Mariner 1		NASA	22 July 1962	flyby	failure	guidance failure shortly after launch		MARIN1
Sputnik 19		(USSR)	25 August 1962	lander	failure	failed to escape Earth orbit		1962-040A
Sputnik 20		(USSR)	1 September 1962	lander	failure	failed to escape Earth orbit		1962-043A
Sputnik 21		(USSR)	12 September 1962	flyby	failure	third stage exploded		1962-045A
Mariner 2		NASA	14 December 1962	flyby	success	first successful Venus flyby; minimum distance 34,773 km		1962-041A
Cosmos 21^†		(USSR)	11 November 1963	flyby?	failure	failed to escape Earth orbit		1963-044A
Venera 1964A^†		(USSR)	19 February 1964	flyby	failure	failed to reach Earth orbit		[1]
Venera 1964B^†		(USSR)	1 March 1964	flyby	failure	failed to reach Earth orbit		[1]
Cosmos 27		(USSR)	27 March 1964	flyby	failure	failed to escape Earth orbit		1964-014A
Zond 1		(USSR)	1964	flyby and possible lander	failure	contact lost en route		1964-016D
Cosmos 96		(USSR)	23 November 1965	lander	failure	exploded?		1965-094A
Venera 1965A^†		(USSR)	26 November 1965	flyby	failure	launch vehicle failure?		[1]
Venera 2		(USSR)	27 February 1966	flyby	failure	ceased to operate en route		1965-091A
Venera 3		(USSR)	1 March 1966	lander	failure	contact lost before arrival; first spacecraft to impact on the surface of another planet		1965-092A
Kosmos 167		(USSR)	17 June 1967	lander	failure	failed to escape Earth orbit		1967-063A
Venera 4		(USSR)	18 October 1967	atmospheric probe	success	continued to transmit to an altitude of 25 km		1967-058A
Mariner 5		NASA	19 October 1967	flyby	success	minimum distance 5,000 km		1967-060A
Venera 5		(USSR)	16 May 1969	atmospheric probe	success	transmitted atmospheric data for 53 minutes, to an altitude of about 26 km		1969-001A
Venera 6		(USSR)	17 May 1969	atmospheric probe	success	transmitted atmospheric data for 51 minutes, to an altitude of perhaps 10–12 km		1969-002A

1970–1978

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Cosmos 359		(USSR)	22 August 1970	lander?	failure	failed to escape Earth orbit		1970-065A
Venera 7		(USSR)	15 December 1970	lander	success	first successful landing on another planet; signals returned from surface for 23 minutes		1970-060A
Cosmos 482		(USSR)	31 March 1972	lander?	failure	failed to escape Earth orbit		1972-023A
Venera 8		(USSR)	22 July 1972	lander	success	signals returned from surface for 50 minutes		1972-021A
Mariner 10		NASA	5 February 1974	flyby	success	minimum distance 5768 km, en route to Mercury; first use of gravity assist by an interplanetary spacecraft		1973-085A
Venera 9		(USSR)	1975	orbiter	success	first spacecraft to orbit Venus; communications relay for lander; atmospheric and magnetic studies		1975-050A
			22 October 1975	lander	success	first images from the surface; operated on surface for 53 minutes		1975-050D
Venera 10		(USSR)	1975	orbiter	success	communications relay for lander; atmospheric and magnetic studies		1975-054A
			23 October 1975	lander	success	transmitted from surface for 65 minutes		1975-054D
Pioneer Venus Orbiter		NASA	4 December 1978 – 1992	orbiter	success	atmospheric and magnetic studies		1978-051A
Pioneer Venus Multiprobe		NASA	9 December 1978
	bus			probe transporter	success	deployed four atmospheric probes, then burnt up in Venusian atmosphere, continuing to transmit to 110 km altitude		1978-078A
	large probe			atmospheric probe	success			1978-078D
	north probe			atmospheric probe	success			1978-078E
	day probe			atmospheric probe	success	survived impact and continued to transmit from surface for over an hour		1978-078G
	night probe			atmospheric probe	success			1978-078F
Venera 12		SAS
	flight platform		21 December 1978	flyby	success	minimum distance 34,000 km; deployed lander and then acted as communications relay		1978-086A
	descent craft		21 December 1978	lander	partial success	soft landing; transmissions returned for 110 minutes; failure of some instruments		1978-086C
Venera 11		SAS				identical to Venera 12
	flight platform		25 December 1978	flyby	success	minimum distance 34,000 km; deployed lander and then acted as communications relay		1978-084A
	descent craft		25 December 1978	lander	partial success	soft landing; transmissions returned for 95 minutes; failure of some instruments		1978-084D

1982–1999

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Venera 13		SAS
	bus		1 March 1982	flyby	success	deployed lander and then acted as communications relay		1981-106A
	descent craft		1 March 1982	lander	success	survived on surface for 127 minutes		1981-106D
Venera 14		SAS				identical to Venera 13
	bus		5 March 1982	flyby	success	deployed lander and then acted as communications relay		1981-110A
	descent craft		5 March 1982	lander	success	survived on surface for 57 minutes		1981-110D
Venera 15		SAS	1983–1984	orbiter	success	radar mapping		1983-053A
Venera 16		SAS	1983–1984	orbiter	success	radar mapping; identical to Venera 15		1983-054A
Vega 1		SAS	11 June 1985	flyby	success	went on to fly by Halley's comet		1984-125A
				lander	failure	instruments deployed prematurely		1984-125E
				atmospheric balloon	success	floated at an altitude of about 54 km and transmitted for around 46 hours		1984-125F
Vega 2		SAS	15 June 1985	flyby	success	went on to fly by Halley's comet		1984-128A
				lander	success	transmitted from surface for 56 minutes		1984-128E
				atmospheric balloon	success	floated at an altitude of about 54 km and transmitted for around 46 hours		1984-128F
Galileo		NASA	10 February 1990	flyby	success	gravity assist en route to Jupiter; minimum distance 16,000 km		[14]
Magellan		NASA	10 August 1990 – 12 October 1994	orbiter	success	global radar mapping		1989-033B [15]
Cassini		NASA/ ESA/ ASI	26 April 1998	flyby	success	gravity assist en route to Saturn		1997-061A [16]
			24 June 1999

2006–present

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Venus Express		ESA	11 April 2006 – 18 January 2015	orbiter	success	atmospheric studies; planetary imaging; magnetic observations		2005-045A
MESSENGER		NASA	24 October 2006	flyby	success	gravity assist only; minimum distance 2990 km		2004-030A
			6 June 2007		success	minimum distance 300 km; en route to Mercury
Akatsuki (PLANET-C)		JAXA	6 December 2010 (Venus flyby) 7 December 2015 (orbital insertion) –	orbiter	success	failed orbital insertion in 2010; success in 2015 science mission ongoing since May 2016		2010-020D
IKAROS		JAXA	8 December 2010	flyby[17]	success	solar sail technology development / interplanetary space exploration		2010-020E [18]
Shin'en (UNITEC-1)		UNISEC	December 2010?	flyby[19]	failure	contact lost shortly after launch		2010-020F [20][21]

Proposed

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
ISRO Venus orbiter mission		ISRO	2017–2020?	orbiter + balloons	proposed			[22][23]
DAVINCI		NASA	2021	atmospheric probe	proposed	Semifinalist for mission #13 of NASA's Discovery Program; finalist selection expected by January 2017		[24]
VERITAS		NASA	2021	orbiter	proposed	Semifinalist for mission #13 of NASA's Discovery Program; finalist selection expected by January 2017		[25]
Venus In Situ Explorer		NASA	2024	lander or airplane	proposed			[26]
Venera-D		RKA	2025	orbiter	proposed			[27][28]

Earth flybys

See List of Earth flybys

Lunar probes

See List of lunar probes

Mars probes

1960–1969

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Mars 1960A		USSR	10 October 1960	flyby	failure	failed to reach Earth orbit		MARSNK1
Mars 1960B		USSR	14 October 1960	flyby	failure	failed to reach Earth orbit		MARSNK2
Mars 1962A		USSR	24 October 1962	flyby	failure	exploded in or en route to Earth orbit		1962-057A
Mars 1962B		USSR	11 November 1962 (launch)	lander	failure	broke up during transfer to Mars trajectory		1962-062A
Mars 1		USSR	19 June 1963	flyby	failure	contact lost en route; flew within approximately 193,000 km of Mars		1962-061A
Mariner 3		NASA	5 November 1964	flyby	failure	protective shield failed to eject, preventing craft from attaining correct trajectory		1964-073A
Mariner 4		NASA	15 July 1965	flyby	success	first close-up images of Mars		1964-077A
Zond 2		USSR	6 August 1965	flyby	failure	contact lost en route; flew within 1,500 km of Mars		1964-078C
Mariner 6		NASA	31 July 1969	flyby	success			1969-014A
Mariner 7		NASA	5 August 1969	flyby	success			1969-030A
Mars 1969A		USSR	27 March 1969 (launch)	orbiter	failure	launch failure		MARS69A
Mars 1969B		USSR	2 April 1969 (launch)	orbiter	failure	launch failure		MARS69B

1971–1976

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Mariner 8		NASA	9 May 1971 (launch)	orbiter	failure	launch vehicle failure		MARINH
Kosmos 419		USSR	10 May 1971 (launch)	orbiter	failure	failed to escape Earth orbit		1971-042A
Mariner 9		NASA	14 November 1971 – 27 October 1972	orbiter	success	first spacecraft to orbit another planet		1971-051A
Mars 2		USSR	27 November 1971 – 22 August 1972	orbiter	success	first Russian spacecraft to orbit another planet		1971-045A
	Mars 2 Lander	USSR	27 November 1971	lander and short range rover	failure	crashed; first manmade object to reach surface of Mars		1971-045D
Mars 3		USSR	2 December 1971 – 22 August 1972	orbiter	partial success	attained a different orbit than intended due to insufficient fuel		1971-049A
	Mars 3 Lander	USSR	2 December 1971	lander and short range rover	partial success	first soft landing on Mars; contact lost 110 sec after soft landing		1971-049F
Mars 4		USSR	10 February 1974	orbiter	failure	orbit insertion failed, became flyby		1973-047A
Mars 5		USSR	12 February 1974 – 28 February 1974	orbiter	success			1973-049A
Mars 6		USSR	12 March 1974	flyby	success			1973-052A
	Mars 6 Lander	USSR	12 March 1974	lander	failure	contact lost 148 sec after parachute deployment (returned 224 seconds of atmospheric data)
Mars 7		USSR	9 March 1974	flyby	success			1973-053A
	Mars 7 Lander	USSR	9 March 1974	lander	failure	missed Mars
Viking 1 Orbiter		NASA	19 June 1976 – 17 August 1980	orbiter	success			1975-075A
	Viking 1 Lander	NASA	20 July 1976 – 13 November 1982	lander	success	first images from surface		1975-075C
Viking 2 Orbiter		NASA	7 August 1976 – 25 July 1978	orbiter	success			1975-083A
	Viking 2 Lander	NASA	3 September 1976 – 11 April 1980	lander	success			1975-083C

1988–1999

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Phobos 1		USSR	7 July 1988 (launch)	orbiter	failure	contact lost en route to Mars		1988-058A
Phobos 2		USSR	29 January 1989 – 27 March 1989	orbiter	partial success	Mars orbit acquired, but contact lost shortly before Phobos approach phase and deployment of Phobos landers		1988-059A
Mars Observer		NASA	25 September 1992 (launch)	orbiter	failure	contact lost shortly before Mars orbit insertion		1992-063A
Mars 96		RKA	16 November 1996 (launch)	orbiter	failure	failed to escape Earth orbit		1996-064A
				lander				MARS96B
				lander				MARS96C
				penetrator				MARS96D
				penetrator				MARS96E
Mars Pathfinder		NASA	4 July 1997 – 27 September 1997	lander	success			1996-068A
	Sojourner	NASA	6 July 1997 – 27 September 1997	rover	success	first Mars rover		MESURPR
Mars Global Surveyor		NASA	12 September 1997 – 2 November 2006	orbiter	success			1996-062A
Mars Climate Orbiter		NASA	23 September 1999	orbiter	failure	Mars orbit insertion failed due to navigation error		1998-073A
Mars Polar Lander		NASA	3 December 1999	lander	failure	contact lost just prior to entering Martian atmosphere		1999-001A
	Deep Space 2 "Amundsen"	NASA	3 December 1999	penetrator				DEEPSP2
	Deep Space 2 "Scott"	NASA	3 December 1999	penetrator

2001–2009

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
2001 Mars Odyssey		NASA	24 October 2001 –	orbiter	success	studying climate and geology; communications relay for Spirit and Opportunity rovers longest surviving spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth		2001-014A
Nozomi		ISAS	14 December 2003	orbiter	failure	failed to attain Mars orbit, became flyby		1998-041A
Mars Express		ESA	25 December 2003 –	orbiter	success	surface imaging and mapping; first European probe in Martian orbit		2003-022A
	Beagle 2	UK	25 December 2003	lander	failure	Deployed by the Mars Express; lost for 11 years and imaged by NASA's MRO in 2015[29]		2003-022C
MER-A "Spirit"		NASA	4 January 2004 – 22 March 2010	rover	success	became stuck in May 2009; then operating as a static science station until contact lost in March 2010		2003-027A
MER-B "Opportunity"		NASA	25 January 2004 –	rover	success			2003-032A
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter		NASA	10 March 2006 –	orbiter	success	surface imaging and surveying		2005-029A
Rosetta		ESA	25 February 2007	flyby	success	gravity assist en route to asteroid and comet encounters		2004-006A
Phoenix		NASA	25 May 2008 – 10 November 2008	lander	success	collection of soil samples near the northern pole to search for water and investigate Mars' geological history and biological potential		2007-034A [30]
Dawn		NASA	17 February 2009	flyby	success	gravity assist en route to Vesta and Ceres		2007-043A

2011–present

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Yinghuo-1		CNSA	8 November 2011 (launch)	orbiter	failure	failed to escape Earth orbit; launched with Fobos-Grunt Phobos lander		YINGHUO-1
MSL Curiosity		NASA	6 August 2012 –	rover	success	investigation of past and present habitability, climate and geology		2011-070A [31]
Mars Orbiter Mission		ISRO	24 September 2014 –	orbiter	success	technology development; study of atmosphere; mineralogical mapping.		2013-060A [32][33]
MAVEN		NASA	25 September 2014 –	orbiter	success	studying Martian atmosphere		2013-063A [34]
ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (ExoMars 2016)		ESA/ RKA	19 October 2016 –	orbiter	in orbit	atmospheric gas analysis; communication relay for surface probes		2016-017A [35]
	Schiaparelli EDM lander	ESA/ RKA	19 October 2016	lander	contact lost shortly before landing; likely crashed[36]	landing test, meteorological observation

Proposed

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
InSight		NASA	2018	lander	planned	Launch delayed from 2016 by instrument leak		[37]
Red Dragon		SpaceX/ NASA	2018	lander	planned	First private lander to Mars		[38]
ExoMars rover		ESA/ RKA	2020	rover	planned			[39]
Mars 2020		NASA	2020	rover	planned			[40]
Mars 2022 orbiter		NASA	2022	orbiter	planned	Laser communications relay, high-resolution mapping		[41]
Mars Sample Return Mission		NASA/ ESA	2024?	orbiter, lander, rover, and sample return	under study			[42][43]

Phobos probes

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Phobos 1		USSR	7 July 1988 (launch)	flyby	failure	contact lost en route to Mars		1988-058A
	DAS	USSR	2 September 1988	fixed lander	failure	never deployed
Phobos 2		USSR	27 March 1989 (contact lost)	flyby	failure	attained Mars orbit; contact lost prior to deployment of lander		1988-059A
	DAS	USSR	27 March 1989	fixed lander	failure	never deployed
	"Frog"	USSR	27 March 1989	mobile lander	failure	never deployed
Fobos-Grunt		RKA	8 November 2011 (launch)	sample return	failure	failed to escape Earth orbit; launched with Yinghuo-1 Mars orbiter		2011-065A [44]

Ceres probes

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Dawn		NASA	March 6, 2015	orbiter	success	first spacecraft to orbit two different celestial bodies; previously visited Vesta		2007-043A

Asteroid probes

Target	Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
951 Gaspra	Galileo		NASA	29 October 1991	flyby	success	en route to Jupiter; minimum distance 1900 km		[14]
243 Ida	Galileo		NASA	28 August 1993	flyby	success	en route to Jupiter; minimum distance 2400 km; discovery of the first asteroid satellite Dactyl		[14]
1620 Geographos	Clementine		BMDO/ NASA	1994	flyby	failure	flyby cancelled due to equipment malfunction		1994-004A
253 Mathilde	NEAR Shoemaker		NASA	27 June 1997	flyby	success	flew within 1200 km of 253 Mathilde en route to 433 Eros		1996-008A
433 Eros	NEAR Shoemaker		NASA	January 1999	orbiter	failure	became flyby due to software and communications problems (later attempt at orbit insertion succeeded; see below)		1996-008A
9969 Braille	Deep Space 1		NASA	29 July 1999	flyby	partial success	no close-up images due to camera pointing error; went on to visit comet 19P/Borrelly		1998-061A
2685 Masursky	Cassini		NASA/ ESA/ ASI	23 January 2000	distant flyby	success	en route to Saturn		1997-061A
433 Eros	NEAR Shoemaker		NASA	February 2000 – February 2001	orbiter, became lander	success	improvised landing by orbiter at end of mission		1996-008A
5535 Annefrank	Stardust		NASA	November 2, 2002	distant flyby	success	went on to visit comet 81P/Wild		1999-003A
25143 Itokawa	Hayabusa		ISAS	2005–07	sample return	success	landed on Itokawa in 2005 and returned to Earth in 2010		2003-019A
		MINERVA	ISAS	12 November 2005	hopper	failure	missed target
132524 APL	New Horizons		NASA	June 2006	distant flyby	success	flew past Pluto successfully		2006-001A
2867 Šteins	Rosetta		ESA	5 September 2008	flyby	success	en route to comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko		2004-006A
21 Lutetia	Rosetta		ESA	11 July 2010	flyby	success	en route to comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko		2004-006A
4 Vesta	Dawn		NASA	16 July 2011 – 5 September 2012	orbiter	success	first spacecraft to orbit two different celestial bodies; now orbiting Ceres		2007-043A
4179 Toutatis	Chang'e 2		CNSA	13 December 2012	flyby	success			2010-050A
2000 DP107	PROCYON		University of Tokyo / JAXA	12 May 2016[45]	flyby	failure	launched with Hayabusa 2 in 2014; mission abandoned after ion thruster failure		[46]
162173 Ryugu	Hayabusa 2		JAXA	July 2018	sample return	en route	orbital insertion in 2018, sample capture in 2019, return to Earth in 2020		2014-076A
		Minerva II-1A	JAXA	2018	hopper	en route
		Minerva II-1B	JAXA	2018	hopper	en route
		Minerva II-2	JAXA	2018	hopper	en route
		MASCOT	DLR/ CNES	2018	mobile lander	en route
101955 Bennu	OSIRIS-REx		NASA	August 2018	sample return	en route	orbital insertion in 2018, sample capture in 2020, return to Earth in 2023		2016-055A
16 Psyche	Psyche		NASA	2020 (launch) 2026 (arrrival)	orbiter	proposed	Semifinalist for mission #13 of NASA's Discovery Program; finalist selection expected by January 2017		[47]
Jupiter trojans	Lucy		NASA	2021 (launch) 2027–2032 (flybys)	flyby of 3 Trojan asteroids + 1 binary	proposed	Semifinalist for mission #13 of NASA's Discovery Program; finalist selection expected by January 2017		[48]

Jupiter probes

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Pioneer 10		NASA	3 December 1973	flyby	success	first probe to cross the asteroid belt; first Jupiter probe; first man-made object on an interstellar trajectory; now in the outer regions of the Solar System but no longer contactable		1972-012A
Pioneer 11		NASA	4 December 1974	flyby	success	went on to visit Saturn		1973-019A
Voyager 1		NASA	5 March 1979	flyby	success	went on to visit Saturn		1977-084A
Voyager 2		NASA	9 July 1979	flyby	success	went on to visit Saturn, Uranus and Neptune		1977-076A
Ulysses (first pass)		ESA/ NASA	February 1992	flyby	success	gravity assist en route to inclined heliocentric orbit for solar polar observations		1990-090B
Galileo Orbiter		NASA/ DLR	7 December 1995 – 21 September 2003	orbiter	success	also flew by various of Jupiter's moons; intentionally flown into Jupiter at end of mission; first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter; first spacecraft to flyby an asteroid		1989-084B
	Galileo Probe	NASA/ DLR	7 December 1995	atmospheric probe	success	first probe to enter Jupiter's atmosphere		1989-084E
Cassini		NASA/ ESA/ ASI	December 2000	flyby	success	gravity assist en route to Saturn		1997-061A
Ulysses (second pass)		ESA/ NASA	2003–04	distant flyby	success			1990-090B
New Horizons		NASA	28 February 2007	flyby	success	gravity assist en route to Pluto		2006-001A
Juno		NASA	5 July 2016 –	orbiter	success	First solar-powered Jupiter orbiter, first mission to achieve a polar orbit of Jupiter.		2011-040A
JUICE		ESA	2022 (launch)	orbiter	planned	mission to study Jupiter's three icy moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede, eventually orbiting Ganymede as the first spacecraft to orbit a satellite of another planet		[49]
Europa Clipper		NASA	2020s	orbiter	under study	planned to orbit Jupiter and fly by Europa multiple times		[50]

Saturn probes

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Pioneer 11		NASA	1 September 1979	flyby	success	previously visited Jupiter		1973-019A
Voyager 1		NASA	12 November 1980	flyby	success	previously visited Jupiter		1977-084A
Voyager 2		NASA	5 August 1981	flyby	success	previously visited Jupiter, went on to visit Uranus and Neptune		1977-076A
Cassini		NASA/ ESA/ ASI	1 July 2004 – 15 September 2017 (planned disposal into Saturn)	orbiter	success	also performed flybys of a number of Saturn's moons, and deployed the Huygens Titan lander; first spacecraft to orbit Saturn		1997-061A

Titan probes

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Huygens		ESA	14 January 2005	atmospheric probe, lander	success	deployed by Cassini; first probe to land on a satellite of another planet		1997-061C
Titan Saturn System Mission		ESA/ NASA	October 2029	orbiter, montgolfière, lander	under study

Uranus probes

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Voyager 2		NASA	24 January 1986	flyby	success	previously visited Jupiter and Saturn; went on to visit Neptune		1977-076A

Neptune probes

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Voyager 2		NASA	25 August 1989	flyby	success	previously visited Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus		1977-076A

Pluto probes

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
New Horizons		NASA	14 July 2015	flyby	success	will flyby Kuiper belt object 2014 Mu69 on January 1, 2019 when it is 43.4 AU from the Sun.		2006-001A

Comet probes

Target	Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
21P/Giacobini-Zinner	ICE (formerly ISEE3)		NASA	11 September 1985	flyby	success	previously solar monitor ISEE3; went on to observe Halley's Comet		1978-079A
1P/Halley	Vega 1		SAS	6 March 1986	flyby	success	minimum distance 8,890 km; previously visited Venus		1984-125A
1P/Halley	Suisei		ISAS	8 March 1986	flyby	success	151,000 km		1985-073A
1P/Halley	Vega 2		SAS	9 March 1986	flyby	success	minimum distance 8,890 km; previously visited Venus		1984-128A
1P/Halley	Sakigake		ISAS	March 1986	distant flyby	partial success	minimum distance 6.99 million km		1985-001A
1P/Halley	Giotto		ESA	14 March 1986	flyby	success	minimum distance 596 km; went on to visit comet 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup		1985-056A
1P/Halley	ICE (formerly ISEE3)		NASA	28 March 1986	distant obser- vations	success	minimum distance 32 million km; previously visited comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner		1978-079A
26P/Grigg-Skjellerup	Giotto		ESA	10 July 1992	flyby	success	previously visited Halley's Comet		1985-056A
45P/ Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova	Sakigake		ISAS	1996	flyby	failure	contact lost; previously visited Halley's Comet		1985-001A
21P/Giacobini-Zinner	Sakigake		ISAS	1998	flyby	failure
55P/Tempel-Tuttle	Suisei		ISAS	1998	flyby	failure	abandoned due to lack of fuel; previously visited Halley's Comet		1985-073A
21P/Giacobini-Zinner	Suisei		ISAS	1998	flyby	failure
19P/Borrelly	Deep Space 1		NASA	22 September 2001	flyby	success	previously visited asteroid 9969 Braille		1998-061A
2P/Encke	CONTOUR		NASA	2003	flyby	failure	contact lost shortly after launch		2002-034A
81P/Wild	Stardust		NASA	2 January 2004	flyby, sample return	success	sample returned January 2006; also visited asteroid 5535 Annefrank		1999-003A
9P/Tempel	Deep Impact		NASA	July 2005	flyby	success			2005-001A
		Impactor	NASA	4 July 2005	impactor	success
73P/ Schwassmann-Wachmann	CONTOUR		NASA	2006	flyby	failure	contact lost shortly after launch		2002-034A
6P/d'Arrest	CONTOUR		NASA	2008	flyby	failure	contact lost shortly after launch		2002-034A
103P/Hartley	Deep Impact (redesignated EPOXI)		NASA	4 November 2010	flyby	success	mission extension (target changed from comet Boethin)		2005-001A
9P/Tempel	Stardust (redesignated NExT)		NASA	14 February 2011	flyby	success	mission extension		1999-003A
67P/Churyumov– Gerasimenko	Rosetta		ESA	6 August 2014 – 30 September 2016	orbiter	success	flybys of asteroids 2867 Šteins and 21 Lutetia completed; intentionally impacted at end of mission		2004-006A
		Philae	ESA	12 November 2014 – 9 July 2015	lander	success			2004-006C

Kuiper Belt probes

Target	Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
2014 Mu69	New Horizons		NASA	1 January 2019	flyby	en route	Extended mission to explore Kuiper Belt objects approved in July 2016.[51]		2006-001A

Probes leaving the Solar System

Spacecraft	Organization	Notes	Image	Ref
Pioneer 10	NASA	Left Jupiter in December 1973. Mission ended March 1997. Last contact January 23, 2003. Craft now presumed dead; no further contact attempts planned.		1972-012A
Pioneer 11	NASA	Left Saturn in September 1979. Last contact September 1995. The craft's antenna cannot be maneuvered to point to Earth, and it is not known if it is still transmitting. No further contact attempts are planned.		1973-019A
Voyager 1	NASA	Left Saturn in November 1980. Still in regular contact and transmitting scientific data (as of December 2014). Contact hoped to be maintained until at least 2020.		1977-084A
Voyager 2	NASA	Left Neptune in August 1989. Still in regular contact and transmitting scientific data (as of December 2014). Contact hoped to be maintained until at least 2020.		1977-076A
New Horizons	NASA	Left Pluto July 14, 2015; Pluto mission to last until early 2016, will flyby Kuiper belt object 2014 Mu69 on January 1, 2019 when it is 43.4 AU from the Sun.		2006-001A

Other probes to leave Earth orbit

For completeness, this section lists probes that have left (or will leave) Earth orbit, but are not targeted at any of the above bodies.

Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Location	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
WMAP		NASA	30 June 2001 (launch) – to October 2010 (end)[52]	Sun-Earth L2 point	success	cosmic background radiation observations; sent to graveyard orbit after 9 years of use.[52]		2001-027A
Spitzer Space Telescope		NASA	25 August 2003 (launch) – still active (as of December 2010)	Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit	success	infrared astronomy		2003-038A
Chang'e 2		CNSA	25 August 2011(arrive) to 15 April 2012(end)	Sun-Earth L2 point	success	Left the point on 15 April 2012, then flew by asteroid 4179 Toutatis		2010-050A
Kepler		NASA	6 March 2009 (launch)	Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit	operational	search for extrasolar planets		2009-011A [53]
Herschel Space Observatory		ESA	14 May 2009 (launch)	Lissajous orbit around Sun-Earth L2 point	completed	study of formation and evolution of galaxies and stars		2009-026A
Planck		ESA	14 May 2009 (launch)	Lissajous orbit around Sun-Earth L2 point	completed (2009-2013)	cosmic microwave background observations		2009-026B
IKAROS		JAXA	20 May 2010 (launch)	Earth-Venus transfer heliocentric orbit	operational	solar sail technology development / interplanetary space exploration		2010-020E [18]
Shin'en (UNITEC-1)		UNISEC			failure	technology development; contact lost shortly after launch[21]		2010-020F [20]
Gaia		ESA	19 December 2013 (launch)	Lissajous orbit around Sun-Earth L2 point	success	astrometry mission to measure the position and motion of 1 billion stars		2013-074A [54]
LISA Pathfinder		ESA	3 December 2015 (launch)[55]	Halo orbit around Sun-Earth L1 point	success	test mission for proposed LISA gravitational wave observatory		2015-070A [56]
James Webb Space Telescope		NASA ESA CSA	October 2018 (launch)	Sun-Earth L2 point	planned	infrared astronomy		[57]
Euclid		ESA	Q4, 2020 (launch)[58]	Halo orbit around Sun-Earth L2 point	planned	measure the rate of expansion of the Universe through time to better understand dark energy and dark matter		[59]

Cancelled probes and missions

Target	Spacecraft		Organization	Date	Type	Status	Notes	Image	Ref
Mercury	BepiColombo Mercury Surface Element		ESA		lander	cancelled
Moon	LUNAR-A		JAXA		orbiter, penetrators	cancelled	originally scheduled for 1995, cancelled 2007		LUNAR-A
Mars	Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander		NASA	2001	lander	cancelled			MS2001L
Mars	Beagle 2: Evolution			2004	lander	cancelled
Mars	NetLander		CNES/ ESA		lander	cancelled			[60]
Mars	Mars Telecommunications Orbiter		NASA	2010	orbiter	cancelled	Mission could be fulfilled by the proposed Mars 2022 orbiter		[61]
Phobos	Aladdin		NASA		sample return	not selected			[62]
Europa	Europa Orbiter		NASA		orbiter	cancelled			[63]
Europa, Ganymede, Callisto	Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter		NASA	2021	orbiter	cancelled			[64]
Pluto	Pluto Fast Flyby		NASA	2010	flyby	cancelled	Re-proposed as Pluto Kuiper Express
Pluto	Pluto Kuiper Express		NASA	2012	flyby	cancelled	Replaced by New Horizons		PLUTOKE
4660 Nereus	Hayabusa		ISAS		sample return	cancelled	rerouted to 25143 Itokawa		2003-019A
3840 Mimistrobell	Rosetta		ESA	2006	flyby	cancelled	rerouted		2004-006A
4979 Otawara	Rosetta		ESA	2006	flyby	cancelled	rerouted		2004-006A
4660 Nereus	Near Earth Asteroid Prospector		SpaceDev		sample return	cancelled			[65]
46P/Wirtanen	Rosetta		ESA	2011	orbiter	cancelled	rerouted to 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko		2004-006A

See also

• Discovery and exploration of the Solar System
• Robotic spacecraft
• Satellites
• Sample return mission
• Timeline of Solar System exploration

References

1. NSSDC. "Tentatively Identified Missions and Launch Failures". NASA. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
2. "WIND Near Real-Time Data". NASA. 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
3. "ESA science missions continue in overtime". European Space Agency. 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
4. "ACE 4Day Browse Plots - 2016/10/25 (2016 299)". Caltech. 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
5. "STEREO Status". NASA Stereo Science Center. 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
6. "Positions of STEREO A and B for 26-Sep-2016 13:00 UT". NASA Stereo Science Center. 2016-09-26. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
7. "Important notice about STEREO Behind". NASA Stereo Science Center. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
8. http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/nation-s-first-operational-satellite-in-deep-space-reaches-final-orbit
9. "Solar orbiter". European Space Agency. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
10. Clark, Stephen (Mar 18, 2015). "Delta 4-Heavy selected for launch of solar probe". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved Mar 18, 2015.
11. Science and Technology Definition Team (2008). "Solar Probe Plus" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
12. "Intergelio-Zond project – Russia to send spacecraft into vicinity of the Sun". RussianSpaceWeb.com. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
13. Aditya (satellite)
14. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "Solar System Exploration: : Galileo Legacy Site". NASA. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
15. NSSDC. "Magellan Mission to Venus". NASA. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
17. "Breaking News | Japanese mission unleashes solar sail in deep space". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
18. "Solar Power Sail Demonstrator "IKAROS"｜JAXA Space Exploration Center". Jspec.jaxa.jp. 2010-05-21. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
19. Archived February 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
20. "UNITEC-1". Unisec.jp. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
21. "First student-built interplanetary mission goes silent - space - 29 May 2010". New Scientist. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
22. "After Mars, Isro aims for Venus probe in 2-3 years". 9 June 2015.
23. Nowakowski, Tomasz (July 2015). "India eyes possible mission to Venus". Spaceflight Insider. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
24. "NASA announces five Discovery proposals selected for further study". The Planetary Society. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
25. Freeman, A.; Smrekar, S. (9 June 2015). VERITAS – a Discovery-class Venus surface geology and geophysics mission (PDF). 11th Low Cost Planetary Missions Conference. Berlin, Germany.
26. "Solar System Exploration: Missions: By Target: Mars: Present". Solarsystem.nasa.gov. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
27. "ESA Permanent Mission in Russia - Venera-D". European Space Agency. 2004-10-25. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
28. "RIA - Change date launch of Venera-D". RIA News. 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
29. "mars beagle lander found". Retrieved 17 January 2015.
30. "NASA - Phoenix". Nasa.gov. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
31. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "Mars Science Laboratory". NASA. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
32. http://www.isro.org/mars/home.aspx
33. http://www.isro.gov.in
34. Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2010-10-05). "Thumbs Up Given for 2013 NASA Mars Orbiter - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory". NASA. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
35. "Robotic Exploration of Mars: ExoMars Orbiter and EDM Mission (2016)". European Space Agency. 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
36. Amos, Jonathan (21 October 2016). "Schiaparelli Mars probe's parachute 'jettisoned too early'". BBC News. Germany. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
37. Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2012-08-20). "New NASA Mission to take First Look Deep Inside Mars". NASA. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
38. Drake, Nadia (April 27, 2016). "SpaceX Plans to Send Spacecraft to Mars in 2018". National Geographic News. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
39. "Robotic Exploration of Mars: ExoMars Rover". European Space Agency. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
40. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "Mars 2020 Rover – Mission Overview". NASA. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
41. Leone, Dan (February 24, 2015). "NASA Eyes New Mars Orbiter for 2022". Space News. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
42. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "Missions to Mars – Beyond 2009". NASA. Archived from the original on 2008-05-18.
43. "Aurora Programme - Mars Sample Return". European Space Agency. 2008-07-22. Archived from the original on 2012-12-03. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
44. "Phobos-Grunt" (PDF). European Space Agency. 2004. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
45. "PROCYON". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
46. Lakdawalla, Emily (May 8, 2015). "Due to ion engine failure, PROCYON will not fly by an asteroid". Retrieved 2015-09-23.
47. Hand, Eric (20 September 2015). "Venus and a bizarre metal asteroid are leading destinations for low-cost NASA missions". Science Insider. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
48. SwRI awarded $3 million NASA contract to develop mission to Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids
49. "JUICE - JUpiter ICy moons Explorer". European Space Agency. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
50. "Mission to Europa". NASA. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
51. http://www.nasa.gov/feature/new-horizons-receives-mission-extension-to-kuiper-belt-dawn-to-remain-at-ceres/
52. "MISSION COMPLETE! WMAP FIRES ITS THRUSTERS FOR THE LAST TIME".
53. Ames Research Center. "Kepler – A Search for Habitable Planets". NASA. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
54. "ESA Science & Technology: Gaia". European Space Agency. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
55. "ESA Science & Technology: LISA Pathfinder". European Space Agency. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
56. "Space Science - LISA Pathfinder overview". European Space Agency. 2012-06-11. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
57. "ESA Portal - ESA and NASA sign agreement on James Webb Space Telescope and LISA Pathfinder". European Space Agency. 2007-06-18. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
58. "Mission Status". European Space Agency. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
59. "ESA Science & Technology: Euclid". European Space Agency. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
60. "Netlander". Smsc.cnes.fr. 2005-06-23. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
61. Archived April 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
62. "Stardust | JPL | NASA". Stardust.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
63. "Solar System Exploration: Science & Technology: Science Features: Europa and Titan: Oceans in the Outer Solar System?". Sse.jpl.nasa.gov. 2011-02-21. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
64. Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2005-10-01). "Prometheus Project – Final Report" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
65. Archived February 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.

External links

• Planetary Society: Cassini’s Tour of the Saturn System