Beyond our solar system

Exploring Deep Space

By Crochet Pastuniqa

  • Pioneer 10 launched

    Pioneer 10 launched
    The Pioneer 10 was a fly-by mission. It met all of its goals, except one, due to false commands triggered by Jupiter's intense radiation. Its destinations include Jupiter, the outer planets orbits and it is now heading in the direction of the red star Aldebaran. It was the first spacecraft to visit Jupiter, and to leave our solar system. It carries a plaque for any intelligent being in space that might find it.

  • Pioneer 11

    Pioneer 11
    Pioneer 11 is another fly-by mission. It returned the first images of the polar regions of Jupiter. It flew closer to Jupiter than all previous spacecrafts. Its destinations include Jupiter, Saturn, and it is now heading in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius.

  • Astrophysics Missions Started

    Astrophysics Missions Started
    These missions surprisingly pinpointed our universe's age. They also logged the birth and death of stars. They found lots of planets orbiting distant stars. They focus on discovering the origin, structure, evolution and destiny of the Universe. The destinations of these missions are beyond our solar system.

  • Voyager 2

    Voyager 2
    This was a fly-by mission. Voyager 2 was able to take more detailed photos than the Pioneers. Scientists were able to see the changes over 4 months. Its destinations include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and beyond.

  • Voyager 1

    Voyager 1
    This was another fly-by mission. It is the twin of Voyager 2. Voyager 1 took a faster route than Voyager 2, so it exited the asteroid belt before its twin. It visited Jupiter 4 months before Voyager 2. Its destinations include Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond our solar system.

  • Galileo

    Galileo
    This is an orbiter of Jupiter. It's also an atmospheric probe. It met original goals. NASA extended the mission three times, for flybys of some of Jupiter's moons, each multiple times. Its destinations include Venus, Earth, Asteroids, Comets, Jupiter and its moons.

  • Hubble Space Telescope

    Hubble Space Telescope
    This is an orbiter. The telescope is the only one of NASA's great observatories that was serviceable by Space Shuttle astronauts. The telescope has seen its capabilities grow in its years of operation. Its destinations include the solar system and beyond.

  • Ulysses

    Ulysses
    This is the orbiter of the sun. I know, the sun, what does that have to do with your topic? Ulysses swung by Jupiter once, after orbiting the sun for almost 22 years. Jupiter pushed Ulysses back into orbit of the sun. Its destinations include comets, Jupiter and the sun.

  • Huygens and Cassini

    Huygens and Cassini
    Huygens is a lander. Cassini is an orbiter. They both went to Saturn. Huygens had no damage because the landing was soft. Cassini was the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn. Cassini flew by Venus, the Moon, Jupiter, and asteroids before orbiting Saturn.

  • Deep Impact EPOXI

    Deep Impact EPOXI
    This is a fly-by mission and an impact mission. Deep Impact EPOXI went into hibernation four times. This mission is still in progress. Its destinations include the Moon, Earth Comets, and Beyond our Solar system.

  • New Horizons

    New Horizons
    This spacecraft will make the first close-up study of Pluto, its moons and the worlds inside the Kuiper Belt. New horizons is en route to its primary science target. Its destinations include Jupiter, Pluto, the Kuiper Belt and dwarf planets.

  • Dawn

    Dawn
    This orbiter will visit the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres. En route to Ceres and Vesta. Its destinations include asteroids, dwarf planets.