Scroll down the page to view all missions to all destinations in the Solar System going from the Sun outwards or choose from a destination below. Or click here to view in year order.

THE SUN MERCURY VENUS EARTH THE MOON MARS
JUPITER SATURN URANUS NEPTUNE DWARF PLANETS COMETS AND ASTEROIDS 

 

At the centre of the Solar System is the Sun. A giant ball of gas, generating light and heat and essential for the existence of life on Earth. By examining the Sun, we can find out more about how it formed, how it will die and how it actually works!
LAUNCH DATE NAME COUNTRY MISSION DETAILS MAIN ACHIEVEMENT CURRENT STATUS
10th November 1974 Helios 1

USA and (West) Germany

 A joint mission with NASA and Germany. The space craft was built by Germany and launched by NASA. It orbited the Sun in an elliptical orbit from as far away as Earth orbits the Sun to as close as 47 million kilometres away from it (within Mercury's orbit). It span every second to ensure that the craft received an equal amount of heat from the Sun (Germans like an all-over tan!). It discovered that at that within Mercury's orbit there were 15 times as many small meteorites (micro-meteorites) than near Earth. It continued to send back information until late 1982.  Helios 1 was one of the first cooperative missions between two nations. Helios 1 stopped transmitting in 1982 but remains in an orbit around the Sun.
15th January 1976 Helios 2

USA and (West) Germany

 Almost identical to Helios 1, Helios 2 was a cooperative mission between Germany and the USA. Built by Germany and launched by NASA, the craft entered an elliptical orbit of the Sun, orbiting as far away as Earth to closer than Mercury's orbit.    Helios 2's mission ended in April 1976 but remains in solar orbit.
14th February 1980 SolarMax (or Solar Maximum Mission)

USA

 

 SolarMax stayed in orbit around Earth while observing the Sun, recording information about sunspots and solar flares. Mid-way through its mission, SolarMax was visited by space shuttle Challenger in 1984. Astronauts brought the craft into the shuttle's payload bay for maintenance and repair work before placing it back into orbit.    SolarMax's mission ended on 2nd December 1989 when it re-entered Earth's atmosphere and burnt up.
October 1990 Ulysses

USA and Europe

 Mission to observe the Sun by orbiting over its poles. The mission was planned in the early 1980s and was due to launched from the Space Shuttle Challenger. The Challenger disaster in 1986 delayed the launch of Ulysses which would have been launched later that year from the same space shuttle. It was launched in October 1990 and sent to Jupiter. It used Jupiter's gravity to push it into an orbit taking the probe above and below the Sun, enabling it to observe the Sun's polar regions. Although primarily a mission to study the Sun, the craft has also made observations of Jupiter and, as an unplanned part of its mission, crossed the tail Comet Hyakutake in 1996. . Craft is still in operation, orbiting the Sun from a distance as far away as Jupiter. The craft is expected to remain operational until 2008.
2nd December 1995 SOHO (Solar and Heliospehric Observatory)

USA and Europe

 Orbiting the Sun at a distance of 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, SOHO was designed to observe the Sun. it analyses information about the internal make-up of the Sun, the outer layers of its atmosphere and the solar wind. It has also discovered half of all known comets in the Solar System. SOHO was only intended to last for two years but still operates to this day. It was very nearly lost in 1998 but scientists found ways to keep it working.   SOHO is still in operation. 
26th October 2006 STEREO

USA

 Two identical spacecraft were launched into Earth orbit to analyse and image the Sun. They send back images of the Sun which can be "fused" together to create stereo, or 3D, images of the Sun.     STEREO is expected to operate for at least two year from launch.
April 2008 Solar Dynamics Observatory Mission

USA

 Orbiter which will observe solar dynamics! It will observe the Sun's activity cycle (the Sun appears to have 11-year cycles), how the Sun's atmosphere evolves over different timescales, from minutes to centuries, and how radiation from the Sun affects the different planets in the Solar System.    In development. Link: http://lws.gsfc.nasa.gov/missions/sdo/sdo.htm 

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The closest planet to the Sun has so far had only one visitor. Mariner 10 visited this tiny world in 1974, passing Venus on the way. It revealed Mercury's surface to be heavily cratered and with shock waves from an earlier impact. However, over the next decade, Mercury should prepare itself for two more visits from Earth! 
LAUNCH DATE NAME COUNTRY MISSION DETAILS MAIN ACHIEVEMENT CURRENT STATUS
3rd November 1973 Mariner 10

USA

 The first mission to use the gravity of one planet to get to another. Before reaching Mercury in March 1974, Mariner 10 visited Venus. It was captured by Venus' gravity and built up velocity as it orbited the Sun with Venus. It was then released from Venus' gravity and flung to Mercury. The space craft was actually put into orbit around the Sun and completed three flybys of Mercury, the first from 29th March 1974, the 2nd from 21st September 1974 and the final one from 16th March 1975. First spacecraft to visit Mercury, first spacecraft to use Gravity Assist. Transmissions stopped on 24th March 1975, spacecraft is currently most likely to be in orbit around the Sun. 
2nd August 2004 Messenger

USA

 On course to Mercury to discover more about the formation of the planet. The spacecraft has completed a flyby of Earth and is on its way to Venus where it will fly by the planet twice, then go to Mercury, flying by Mercury twice before being entered into orbit around the planet, estimated at around March 2011.   En route to Mercury.
2011 BepiColombo

Europe

 This spacecraft will search for signs of possible water ice in the craters of Mercury which never receive light from the Sun, and examine the planet's magnetic field and density. First European visit to Mercury Under development

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The very first planet to be visited by spacecrafts from Earth, Venus didn't give up its secrets easily. The Russians succeeded in landed a probe on the planet and even managed to take pictures, the Americans have favoured a less direct approach, viewing the planet from a distance and mapping its surface using radar technology.
LAUNCH DATE NAME COUNTRY MISSION DETAILS MAIN ACHIEVEMENT CURRENT STATUS
1961 Sputnik 7 USSR First attempt to launch a probe to Venus. Sputnik 7 successfully entered Earth orbit, but the Venera probe which was to be released from Sputnik 7 failed to ignite.  First attempt to send a manmade object to another planet. Now In Earth orbit
12th February 1961 Venera 1 (Venus 1) USSR First space craft to be sent to another planet. Information was sent back from the probe on 19th February 1961 but nothing was heard from it afterwards. The probe travelled to Venus and came within 100,000 km of the planet at about 19th/20th May 1961. However, because its onboard systems weren't working, it couldn't tell Earth it was there! First manmade object to get to another planet. Last communication from Venera 1 was on 19th February 1961. The Jodrell bank telescope in Britain may have picked up weak signals from it in June 1961. Mariner 1 is now in orbit around the Sun.
22nd July 1962 Mariner 1 USA
 First American attempt to launch a probe to Venus, intending it to fly by the planet. A problem at launch meant the rocket veered off course and the instruction to destruct the rocket had to be given by the Range Safety Officer.  First US attempt to go to Venus Spacecraft was remotely destructed shortly after launch. 
27th August 1962 Mariner 2 USA
 Second American attempt to reach Venus. The spacecraft reached the planet and successfully completed a flyby, sending back data about Venus' atmosphere.  First successful mission to Venus  Last communication from Mariner 2 was 3rd January 1963. Mariner 2 is now in orbit around the Sun.  
4th April 1964 Zond 1 USSR Soviet attempt to land on Venus and analyse the planets atmosphere as it descending through the clouds and surface rocks when it landed. It was even designed to survive if it landed in water on Venus! Communications failed by 14th May, the probe came within 100,000km of Venus on 14th July, never landing on the planet. First attempt to land on Venus  Communications failed after 14th May, Zond 1 is now in orbit around the Sun. 
12th November 1965 Venera 2 (Venus 2) USSR  Soviet flyby attempt of Venus. Onboard systems failed so no communication to Earth was possible. Venera 2 came within 24,000 km of Venus.    Now in orbit around the Sun. 
16th November 1965 Venera 3 (Venus 3) USSR  Soviet attempt to land a spacecraft on Venus. On board systems failed before the space craft reached its destination so no communication with Earth could be made, although Venera 3 did successfully crash land on Venus on 1st March 1966. First manmade object to land on another planet's surface.  The inactive Venera 3 now rests on the surface of Venus, possibly around coordinates -20º to 20º N, 60º to 80º E
12th June 1967 Venera 4 (Venus 4) USSR  Soviet mission to land a space probe on Venus. The mission lasted longer than previous missions, sending back information while descending through the planet's clouds and atmosphere on 18th October 1967. However, it stopped communicating when it was about 24 kilometres from the surface, most likely due to the intense heat and pressure of Venus. First mission to send back information about Venus from inside its atmosphere and clouds.  The inactive Venera 4 probe now rests on the surface of Venus at coordinates latitude 19° N, longitude 38° E.
14th June 1967 Mariner 5 USA
 Completed a fly by of Venus on 19th October 1967, confirming presence of Carbon Dioxide in the planet's atmosphere.     Mariner 5 stopped operating in November 1967, is now in orbit around the Sun. 
5th January 1969 Venera 5 (Venus 5) USSR  Venera 5 had a similar design to the earlier Venera 4. Like Venera 4, on 16th May 1969, it sent back information about Venus' atmosphere as the probe descended through the atmosphere, but stopped working before impacting the surface.    The inactive Venera 5 probe now rests on the surface of Venus at coordinates 3° S, 18° E.
10th January 1969 Venera 6 (Venus 6) USSR  Almost identical to Venera 5, the probe descending through Venus' clouds and atmosphere on 17th May 1969 and sent back information. It stopped transmitting before reaching the planet's surface, most probably "crushed" by Venus' atmospheric pressure.    The inactive Venera 6 now rests on the surface of Venus. Coordinates of landing location is 5° S, 23° E.
17th August 1970 Venera 7 (Venus 7) USSR  First mission to send back information from another planet's surface. Venera 7 landed on Venus' surface on 15th December 1970 and operated for 23 minutes after doing so. It confirmed the high temperatures and pressure at the surface of Venus.  First space craft ever to send information back from another planet's surface.  The inactive Venera 7 now rests on the surface of Venus at coordinates 5° S, 351° E 
27th March 1972 Venera 8 (Venus 8) USSR  Lander probe which sent back signals from Venus' surface, using a refrigeration system to keep cool during its descent. Venera 8 measured the level of light on the planet, revealing that it is about the same as on Earth on an overcast day. It sent back data for 50 minutes, 11 seconds.   The inactive Venera 8 now rests on the surface of Venus at coordinates 10.70° S, 335.25° E
3rd November 1973 Mariner 10 USA
 The first mission to use the gravity of one planet to get to another. Before reaching Mercury in March 1974, Mariner 10 visited Venus. It was captured by Venus' gravity and built up velocity as it orbited the Sun with Venus. It was then released from Venus' gravity and flung to Mercury. The space craft was actually put into orbit around the Sun and completed three flybys of Mercury, the first from 29th March 1974, the 2nd from 21st September 1974 and the final one from 16th March 1975. First mission to use gravity assist to visit two destinations in one mission. NASA's final Mariner mission.  Contact with the spacecraft stopped on 24th March 1975. The spacecraft is currently in orbit around the Sun.
8th June 1975 Venera 9 (Venus 9) USSR  Soviet lander. Landed on the surface of Venus on 22nd October and sent back the first images of the planet's surface. The probe operated for 53 minutes after landing on Venus. First space craft to send back images of another planet's surface.  The inactive Venera 9 probe now rests on the surface of Venus at coordinates 31.01° N, 291.64° E
14th June 1975 Venera 10 (Venus 10) USSR  Twin probe of Venera 9, also sent back images of Venus' surface after landing there on 25th October 1975. Operated for 65 minutes after landing.  Second space probe to send back images from another planet.  The inactive Venera 10 probe now rests on the surface of Venus at coordinates 15.42° N, 291.51° E 
20th May 1978 Pioneer 12 (Pioneer Venus Orbiter) USA
 Venus orbiter. It reached the planet on 4th December 1978, conducting experiments to examine Venus' atmosphere, its surface through radar imaging, its magnetic field and gravity field. Images of Venus were sent from Pioneer 12 while in orbit. Pioneer 12 also observed comets while in orbit around Venus between 1984 and 1987 and was reactivated in 1991 while orbiting Venus' southern hemisphere to find out more information. The mission ended in May 1992.  Longest running Venus mission, starting from 1978 and ending in 1992.  Pioneer 12 ran out of fuel in May 1992 and descended into Venus' atmosphere, burning up as it did so.
8th August 1978  Pioneer 13 (Pioneer Venus Multiprobe) USA
 A space craft which launched four probes (one large and three small) into the atmosphere of Venus to send back information. The "bus" carrying the four space probes was also sent into the planet's atmosphere. All probes and the bus entered the atmosphere on 9th December 1978. They weren't designed to survive after landing on the surface, although one of the small probes continued to send back information for 67 minutes after landing on the surface of Venus until its battery ran out. First American mission to land a probe on Venus which successfully sent back data.  The "Day Probe" was the last probe of the 4 probes and bus to transmit. Signal loss was at 20.55 UT on 9th December 1978. All probes rest inactive on Venus' surface, the large probe at 4.4° N, 304° E, the North probe at 59.3° N, 4.8° E, the Day probe at 31.3° S, 317° E, the Night probe at 28.7° S, 56.7° E and the Bus at approx 37.9° S, 290.9° E.
9th September 1978 Venera 11 (Venus 11) USSR  Soviet probe which reached Venus and entered its atmosphere on Christmas Day 1978. The probe was equipped with cameras, but the robotic probe didn't remove the cover of the lens so the pictures couldn't be taken (even space probes millions of miles away forget to remove the lens cap before taking a picture!!). Venera 11 detected evidence of thunder and lightening and low altitude carbon monoxide.  First evidence of thunder and lightening on a planet other than Earth.  Venera 11's flight platform continued operating until February 1980. It lost communication with the Venera 11 lander 95 minutes after landing but continued to send back other information about Venus. The lander rests inactive at 14° S 299° E  
14th September 1978 Venera 12 (Venus 12) USSR  Twin mission with Venera 11. The lander was released from the flight platform on 19th December and descended through Venus' atmosphere and landed on its surface two days later. Like Venera 11, Venera 12 was equipped with a colour camera which couldn't send back images because the lens cover failed to be removed.    Venera 12's lander transmitted with the flight platform orbiting Venus for 110 minutes after landing. it now rests inactive at 7° S 294° E. The orbiter went on to study Comet Bradfield in February 1980 before ceasing communication in April 1980. 
30th October 1981 Venera 13 (Venus 13) USSR  Launched as a twin mission with Venera 14. Venera 13 landed on Venus on 1st March 1982. It sent back the first colour images of Venus and transmitted to the Venera 13 orbiter for 127 minutes; it was expected to survive for 32 minutes. It was also the first probe to record sound on another world. Took the first colour images of Venus, first space craft to record sound on another planet.  Venera 13's lander rests inactive at coordinates 7° 30′ S, 303° E. The orbiter transmitted to Earth until March 1983 
4th November 1981 Venera 14 (Venus 14) USSR  Twin mission of Venera 13. Landed on Venus on 5th March 1982, Sent back colour images of Venus. Equipped with a spring-loaded arm which would reach out and analyse surrounding soil. However, it ended up analysing the lens cap which was released from the camera. It travelled millions of miles to analyse something from Earth!    Venera 14's lander rests inactive at coordinates 13° 15′ S, 310° E. The orbiter transmitted to Earth until March 1983 
2nd June 1983 Venera 15 (Venus 15) USSR  Soviet orbiter which entered Venus orbit on 10th October 1983. Combined with Venera 16, it mapped 25% of Venus' surface.     Mapping of Venus continued for 8 months. Now remains inactive in orbit around Venus. 
2nd June 1983 Venera 16 (Venus 16) USSR  Soviet orbiter which entered Venus orbit on 14th October 1983. Along with Venera 15, it mapped 25% of Venus; surface over a period of eight months Final Venera mission  Mapping of Venus continued for 8 months after entering Venus orbit. Now inactive in orbit around Venus. 
15th December 1984  Vega 1 USSR  Soviet mission which would have been a Venera mission but was modified to study Halley's Comet in 1986. Vega 1 reached Venus on 11th June 1985. It featured a lander but failed to transmit data from the planet's surface because its lander experiments were activated while the probe was still descending through the atmosphere. Aerobots were also launched into the planet's high atmosphere to measure pressure, temperature and wind speeds. Vega 1 used gravity assist to propel it to Halley's Comet. Hurricane speed winds were measured by the Aerobots of Vega 1.  Vega 1's mission ended in 1986 after its encounter with Halley's Comet. It is now in orbit around the Sun. 
21st December 1984  Vega 2 USSR  The twin mission of Vega 1. Vega 2 was almost identical. It successfully sent back information from Venus' surface for 56 minutes after landing on 15th June 1985. It used gravity assist to propel to Halley's Comet.   Vega 2's mission ended in 1986 after it encounter with Halley's comet. it is now in orbit around the Sun. 
4th May 1989  Magellan 4 USA
 Highly successful mapping mission to produce high resolution images of the entire surface of Venus. Radar imaging allowed the space craft to "see" through Venus' thick cloud cover and revealed a mountainous, volcanic planet. First probe to be launched from a Space Shuttle (Atlantis) Radio contact ended on 12th October 1994, Magellan was dropped into Venus' atmosphere and vapourised. Some parts of the space craft may have landed on the planet's surface. 
9th November 2005  Venus Express Europe
 Based on the European Space Agency's previous Mars Express spacecraft. The space craft reached Venus on 11th April 2006 and from 7th May 2006 was positioned to complete an orbit of Venus every 24 hours. It will study Venus' clouds and atmosphere and measure the planet's temperature globally. The mission is expected to last for between 500 and 1000 days (Earth days).    First European space craft to Venus.  Venus Express is currently in Science Operations Orbit. Basically means it is watching the planet and analysing it. The mission has recently been lengthened so that its primary mission will now end in May 2009.
Planned to launch in June 2010  Planet-C Japan
 Proposed two year mission to Venus to analyse the planet's climate, observe the surface using infrared cameras and detect current or recent volcanic activity and lightning.   First Japanese space craft to visit Venus.  Still in planning stages. 

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In 1957, a small satellite called Sputnik became the first manmade object to be launched out of Earth's atmosphere and into orbit around your planet. Nowadays, there are hundreds of objects orbiting Earth; some examine the planet, others provide useful services, others look into outer space. There are laboratories in space and even the possibility of taking holidays in space! 
LAUNCH DATE NAME COUNTRY MISSION DETAILS MAIN ACHIEVEMENT CURRENT STATUS
4th October 1957 Sputnik 1 USSR
 Sputnik 1 was the first man-made object to be launched into space. It circled the Earth at a distance of about 250 km (150 miles), completing approximately 1,400 orbits. This launch caused panic in the USA who believed that Soviet satellites could carry weapons which could be aimed at America from space. First artificial satellite to orbit Earth Burned up on re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on 3rd January 1958
3rd November 1957 Sputnik 2 USSR
 The second artificial satellite to orbit Earth, Sputnik 2 was the Soviet Union's second attempt to launch a man-made object into space, and the first to contain a living animal: Laika, the first space dog! Sadly, Laika didn't survive his trip into space and it is believed that he died from the heat inside the space craft. Sputnik 2's mission lasted for 162 and orbited Earth about 2,000 times. Laika became the first living being to enter space. Burned up on re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on 14th April 1958.
6th December 1957 Vanguard TV3 

USA

 First American attempt to launch a satellite to orbit Earth.. It got about 4 feet from the Earth's surface then sank back to the launch pad and exploded! The satellite that should have gone into space is now on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. First American attempt to launch a satellite. Launch failure.
31st January 1958 Explorer 1 USA
 America's first satellite. It contained a Geiger counter which found high levels of radiation about 2,000 km above Earth. This became known as the Van Allen radiation belt. The mission lasted for 111 days when the batteries failed, but the space craft remained in orbit around Earth until 1970. First US satellite Burned up on re-entry into Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean on 31st March 1970.
5th March 1958 Explorer 2 USA
 Similar to Explorer 1 but failed to launch.   Launch failure
26th March 1958 Explorer 3 USA
 Almost identical to Explorer 1 and 2. Successfully launched and confirmed the existence of an area of high radiation surrounding Earth.  Second US satellite Burned up on re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on 27th June 1958
29th July 1958 NASA USA
 The US government organisation responsible for American space exploration was founded when President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act. on 29th July 1958. NASA began operations from 1st October 1958.  NASA has made the greatest contribution in increasing knowledge of space. Its main achievement was putting the first man on the Moon. Still operating
17th March 1958 Vanguard 1 USA
 Earth satellite. Stopped transmitting to Earth in May 1964 when its solar powered transmitter stopped communicating. Was originally planned to remain in Earth orbit for 2,000 years, but its orbital lifetime is now estimated at about 240 years.  Oldest satellite to remain in orbit around Earth. Still orbiting Earth, no longer communicating.
26th July 1958 Explorer 4 USA
 Sent to explore the Van Allen radiation belts as discovered by Explorer 1 and 3. Two missions were planned but only one was launched.    Burned up on re-entry, 23rd October 1958
11th October 1958 Pioneer 1 USA
 Intended to study cosmic rays, magnetic fields and radiation between Earth and around the Moon. The spacecraft left Earth, but never reached the Moon. It still sent back useful information about Earth First mission launched by NASA. Burned up over the Pacific when re-entering Earth atmosphere on 13th October 1958.
1st April 1960 Tiros 1 USA
 Weather satellite containing television cameras sending back views of clouds above Earth. It only worked for 78 days, but demonstrated that satellites could be used to observe and monitor the weather from space. First weather satellite  
12th April 1961 Vostok 1 USSR
 The first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, was taken into orbit by Vostok 1. He made one complete orbit around Earth before returning, spending 108 minutes in space. First man in space Yuri Gagarin will always be remembered as the first man in space. He died on 27th March 1968 in a flying accident.
5th May 1961 Mercury-Redstone 3 USA
 Alan Shepard became the first American to be taken into space onboard Mercury. Unlike his Soviet predecessor Yuri Gagarin who had entered orbit less than a month earlier and spent almost two hours in orbit, Shepard's mission lasted 15 minutes, during which Shepard experienced only 5 minutes of weightlessness. Twenty days after this mission, President Kennedy famously addressed congress requesting funding to send an American to the Moon.  First American in space The Mercury missions were intended to test human space flight and ended in 1963 when they were succeeded by Gemini and then Apollo. Alan Shepard returned to space on Apollo 14 and became the fifth man to walk on the Moon. He died on 21st July 1998.
20th February 1962 Mercury-Atlas 6 USA
 John Glenn became the first American to enter orbit around Earth. Whereas Shepard had remained in a sub-orbital position during his mission, Glenn actually entered orbit and completed 3 orbits of Earth before returning. First American in Earth orbit. John Glenn is the oldest living person to have flown in space when he flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1998 aged 77.
10th July 1962 Telstar 1 USA, UK, France

Telstar was the first transatlantic communications satellite. It was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA. It was used to carry telephone calls and radio and television signals across the Atlantic and successfully transmitted the first television signals from the USA to Great Britain and France. The satellite was developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories for AT&T with the cooperation of the British General Post Office and the French National Post, Telegraph and Telecom Office. Television signals sent from America were received at Goonhilly Downs Earth station in Cornwall, England, where they were transmitted by the BBC. Telstar paved the way for international communication, meaning that events like the Olympic Games, the World Cup, the Superbowl, international news events and global concerts could be broadcast across the planet. Since Telstar 1, there have been many more Telstar launches, many of which still carry television and radio broadcasts today. Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall which received the first transmission is now the world's largest satellite station and the satellite that received that first transmission is still active today! First transatlantic television transmission. Telstar 1 went out of service in December 1962 after being overwhelmed by radiation. It was successfully restarted in January 1963 but went out of service again on 21st February. It is believed to remain in orbit around Earth. 
16th June 1963 Vostok 5 USSR
 Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova became the first woman to enter space when she took off from Earth on 16th June 1963.  This achievement was another in a series of space firsts by the Soviet Union, although it took the Americans over twenty years to achieve the same goal when Sally K. Ride became the first American in space in 1984. Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova spent almost three days in space and completed 48 orbits around Earth. First woman in space. Vostok 5 returned to Earth on 19th June 1963. Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova never flew in space again after this mission. Her husband was another cosmonaut (Andrian Nikolayev) and their child (Elena Andrionovna) became the first to have parents that had both been into space.
12th October 1964 Voskhod 1 USSR
 The first mission to fly more than one cosmonaut/astronaut into space. In fact, there were three cosmonauts involved in this mission. Added to that, they weren't wearing spacesuits. An aim of the mission was to test how people could work together in space, and was also another space first for the Soviet Union. First non-solo manned space flight. First mission without space suits. Returned to Earth after 1 day and 17 minutes.
18th March 1965 Voskhod 2 USSR
 Two Soviet cosmonauts (Pavel I. Belyayeu and Alexei A. Leonov) were taken into Earth orbit. While in orbit, Leonov left the space craft (maybe Belyayeu wasn't very good company) and made the first space walk. He remained attached to the spacecraft so that he wouldn't float away. This first space walk lasted 12 minutes. First space walk Voskhod 2 returned to Earth after 1 day, 2 hours and 2 minutes.
19th April 1971 Salyut 1 USSR
 Salyut became the first space station to be placed in Earth orbit. Unlike a satellite or a spacecraft, a space station is like a laboratory/docking station in space. They are an important stage in the possibility of man one day living in space. The first residents of Salyut 1 were Soviet cosmonauts G.T. Dobrovolsky, V.N. Volkov, and V.I. Patsayev who were taken there on 6th June 1971. Sadly, they were killed during their return to Earth on 29th June 1971. First space station Salyut 1 re-entered Earth's atmosphere and was mostly burned up on 11th October 1971. 
14th May 1973 Skylab USA
 Skylab became the first American space station to be placed into orbit. The first astronauts were sent to Skylab on 25th May 1973. Two further manned crews were sent to Skylab to July and November 1973. First American space station. Skylab gradually lost its position in orbit. Missions to place it higher in orbit failed to receive funding and the space station fell into Earth's atmosphere in 1979. Most of its parts burned up during re-entry although some debris did reach the surface. Some parts landed in the Australian town of Esperance. The town fined the United Stated $400 for littering! (a fine which has not yet been paid!).
17th July 1975  Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (Apollo 18/Soyuz 19) USA/USSR The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was the first joint American/Soviet space mission. Referred to as a test project, it was used to test whether American and Soviet technology could work together in preparation for a future joint space station mission. The mission involved the American Apollo spacecraft docking with the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft. The two crafts were linked together for 44 hours. The mission had political significance as it symbolised the easing of relations between the two opposite superpowers. First American-Soviet co-mission. Final flight of the Apollo spacecraft (sometimes referred to as Apollo 18). Final manned space flight until the launch of the Space Shuttle in 1981. The Soyuz craft returned to Earth on 21st July 1975. The Apollo craft returned on 24th July 1975.
12th April 1981 Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-1) USA
 Space Shuttle Columbia became the first launch of a reusable vehicle to travel from Earth to space and back. It was designed to reduce the cost of space travel and to increase the regularity of space missions. The first mission spent two days and six hours in low-Earth orbit and was the first of about 120 Space Shuttle missions over the next 30 years. First launch of a reusable manned space vehicle. The first Space Shuttle mission lasted over 2 days. Columbia remained in service until it was destroyed on its 28th mission in 2003 during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.
4th April 1983 Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-6) USA
 Challenger was the second of NASA's fleet of Space Shuttles. Its first launch was on 4th April 1983. During its 5 day mission, Challenger launched a tracking and data relay satellite into Earth orbit. First launch of Challenger. Challenger completed nine missions before exploding shortly after the launch of its tenth mission in January 1986, destroying the space shuttle and killing all seven astronauts.
19th June 1983 Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-7) USA
 Challenger's second mission is special because it took the first American woman into space. She was Sally K. Ride, who also flew on a later shuttle mission (again in Challenger). She has spent over 343 hours in space. She is now involved in science education, being involved in websites and writing books about space exploration.  First American woman in space Challenger's second mission returned to Earth on 24th June 1983. 
3rd February 1984 Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-41-B) USA
 Challenger's fourth mission and the first to land at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida (all previous shuttle missions landed at Edwards Air Force airbase in California). The mission lasted for almost 8 days but is most notable as the first mission to include an untethered space walk. Astronauts Bruce McCandless and Robert L. Stewart used a manned manoeuvring unit (a jetpack) which meant they could control their movement in space.  First space flight to land at its launch site. First untethered space walk. Challenger returned on 11th February 1984. The Manned Manoeuvring Unit was used for two further missions before being discontinued with NASA returning to tethered space walks. 
30th August 1984 Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-41-D) USA
 Discovery's maiden flight. Several communications satellites were launched from this mission which lasted exactly 6 days.  First launch of Discovery. Discovery's first mission ended on 5th September 1984. There have been more Space Shuttle flights using Discovery than any of the other Space Shuttles. After both shuttle disasters (Challenger in 1986, Columbia in 2003), Discovery was the shuttle launched afterwards. Discovery is the oldest shuttle still in service.
3rd October 1984 Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-51-J) USA
 The maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. The craft contained a payload for the US Department of Defence. This was the second mission to contain a classified payload, meaning that the general public are not allowed to know what was actually launched during it. First flight of Atlantis. This mission returned to Earth after four days. Atlantis is still in service.
28th January 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-51-L) USA
 The mission would have been the first to have a civilian on board (teacher Sharon Christa McAuliffe). It was the 25th Space Shuttle Mission but shortly after launch, the spacecraft exploded. The shuttle broke up and the seven astronauts onboard lost their lives.  First space shuttle disaster. Space craft broke up after 73 seconds resulting in the destruction of the space shuttle and the loss of lives of the seven astronauts. 
20th February 1986 Mir Space Station USSR/Russia

Soviet Space Station Mir was launched into orbit. The Space Station was built in modules with parts still being added up to 1996. The space station was continuously occupied for almost ten years with crews being rotated regularly. The Soviet/Russian Soyuz spacecraft and American Space Shuttles took supplies and new crew to the space station. Mir was eventually taken out of orbit in 2001 as Russia committed itself to assisting in the development of the International Space Station, unable to get funding to maintain and repair the aging Mir space station.   Maintains the record for supporting human life in space for the longest period of time (8 days short of ten years). Mir was taken out of orbit on 23rd March 2001. Most of the space station burned up during re-entry but some fragments fell into the South Pacific.
24th April 1990 Hubble Space Telescope USA
 The Hubble Space Telescope was launched from the space shuttle Discovery. Named after astronomer Edwin Hubble, it was designed to observe space from outside the Earth's atmosphere. However, the telescope had a faulty primary mirror which resulted in faulty images. Astronauts returned to the telescope while in orbit around Earth in 1993 and fixed the fault and since then, the telescope has been a fundamental part of modern astronomy. Another three servicing missions to the telescope have taken place since with a fifth and final one planned for 2008.  Hubble is the first (and so far only) telescope to observe space while in orbit around Earth. Hubble is still operational in Earth orbit and is expected to continue to operate until at least 2013 when the superior James Webb Space Telescope gets launched.
2nd May 1992 Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-49) USA
 Launch of NASA's newest space shuttle, designed to replace Challenger which was lost 6 years earlier. The mission lasted almost nine days, during which astronauts captured a communications satellite (INTELSAT V1) which had been launched two months earlier but couldn't operate in its orbit. They added a new motor to it and placed in into its correct orbit. First launch of Endeavour, the last shuttle to be added to the Space Shuttle fleet. Endeavour's first mission ended on 16th May 1992. Endeavour is still in operation and is due to be retired, along with the other space shuttles, in 2010.
20th November 1998 International Space Station USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, Europe






 The first component of the International Space Station was launched. The Zarya Control Module was launched from Kazakhstan and was built by Russia. America's first module was taken to the International Space Station by space shuttle Endeavour on 4th December 1998. Since then many more modules have been added to the space station with work due to be completed by 2010. The International Space Station is visible from Earth and can be the brightest object after the Sun and the Moon. The International Space Station is now operational but not yet complete. Work was postponed after the Columbia shuttle disaster in 2003 although it is expected that ISS will be completed in 2010 when the space shuttles are retired. ISS itself is expected to remain operational until at least 2016.
1at February 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-107) USA
 Columbia's 28th mission was to be its last when, after completing a 15 day mission in Earth orbit, the craft disintegrated during re-entry through the Earth's atmosphere. The seven crew members all lost their lives and NASA's shuttle program was placed on hold for two years. During launch, a piece of insulating foam broke off, meaning that the craft wasn't properly insulated during re-entry. The build up of heat caused the craft to break up.   This was Columbia's last mission. The shuttle program still continues, although with less regular launches. The remaining four shuttles are expected to be retired in 2010.

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 Earth's only natural satellite is a popular destination for exploration. Shortly after scientists were able to launch rockets out of Earth's atmosphere, they began sending them to the Moon. Early spacecraft simply flew past or were intentionally crashed into the Moon. Getting a man to the Moon became a major aim in the Space Race between America and the Soviet Union, an aim which was eventually achieved in 1969. Future missions will return people to the Moon to set up a permanent lunar base.
LAUNCH DATE NAME COUNTRY MISSION DETAILS MAIN ACHIEVEMENT CURRENT STATUS
17th August 1958 Pioneer 0 / Thor-Able 1 USA First satellite designed to orbit the Moon. 77 seconds after take-off, at a height of 16km, its booster exploded and the spacecraft landed in the Atlantic. If successful, it would have orbited the Moon for about 2 weeks.  First attempt at a mission to the Moon Landed in the Atlantic shortly after launch.
23rd September 1958 Luna 1958A USSR First Soviet attempt at a lunar mission. It was intended to impact with the moon's surface by crashing into it! Only succeeded in taking off for 93 seconds and crashing back to Earth's surface in bits! First Soviet lunar mission attempt. Launch failure
11th October 1958 Pioneer 1  USA Intended to study cosmic rays, magnetic fields and radiation between Earth and around the Moon. The spacecraft left Earth, but never reached the Moon. It still sent back useful information about Earth First mission launched by NASA. Burned up over the Pacific when re-entering Earth atmosphere on 13th October 1958.
12th October 1958 Luna 1958B USSR Second attempt by the Soviet Union to crash a spacecraft into the Moon. Failed to leave Earth, exploding 104 seconds after launch.  Second Soviet attempt to reach the Moon. Launch failure
8th November 1958 Pioneer 2  USA Like Pioneer 1, this spacecraft should have gone into orbit around the Moon. The spacecraft got as far as 1550 km from Earth's surface, when the launch vehicle which should have gone to the Moon separated but failed to ignite. The spacecraft fell into Earth's atmosphere and burned up over Africa. Second American attempt to reach the Moon. Launch failure.
4th December 1958 Luna 1958C USSR Another Soviet attempt to crash into the Moon. Once again, it exploded, this time after 245 seconds. Third Soviet attempt to reach the Moon Launch failure
6th December 1958 Pioneer 3  USA If successful, Pioneer 3 would have flown past the Moon and then gone into an orbit around the Sun. The mission was only 3.7 seconds short of being successful when an engine shut down earlier than it should have meaning that the spacecraft couldn't escape the gravitational pull of Earth (it couldn't attain escape velocity) and at an altitude of 102,360 km, was brought back down to Earth. Third American attempt to reach the Moon (notice a pattern developing!) Discovered a second belt of radiation surrounding Earth. Burned up in Earth's atmosphere over Africa on 7th December 1958.
2nd January 1959 Luna 1 (Lunik 1) USSR Another attempt to crash into the Moon. This failed because the spacecraft missed the Moon. By doing this though, it became the first successful Moon flyby. The Moon's gravity flung the spacecraft into space and it then became the first man-made object to orbit the Sun.  First object to reach escape velocity from Earth, first Lunar Flyby, first man-made object to achieve Solar orbit. Discovered the Solar Wind. In an orbit of the Sun between Earth and Mars.
3rd March 1959 Pioneer 4 USA First American spacecraft to reach escape velocity. Similar to Luna 1 in that it flew by the Moon and then got entered into an orbit around the Sun. First American Lunar Flyby Last known to be in a Solar orbit in 1969.
12th September 1959 Luna 2 (Lunik 2) USSR This was the first man-made object to land on the Moon. The spacecraft crashed into the Moon's surface and suddenly stopped communicating, confirming the impact. The spacecraft was sterilized to prevent any bacterial contamination on the Moon, and contained pendants with symbols of the USSR.  First Lunar Impact. Confirmation of the impact was by Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope in Britain which tracked the craft throughout its mission. It lost communication at exactly the same time as the craft would have hit the Moon. Mission ended on Lunar impact at 22:02:24 UTC. It now lies inactive at 29.1° N, 0° W.
4th October 1959 Luna 3 (Lunik 3) USSR Successful flyby mission of the Moon. This mission also sent back the very first images of the far side of the Moon, a side of the Moon that up to that point, had never been seen by people on Earth. It photographed 70% of the Moon's far side. First pictures of far side of Moon. Re-entered Earth's atmosphere and burned up, probably 29th April 1960.
26th November 1959 Pioneer P-3 USA Should have gone into orbit around the Moon, but failed shortly after launch. . Launch failure
26th January 1962 Ranger 3 USA Space craft designed to fly to the Moon and send back television images of the Moon for 10 minutes before crashing into its surface. As it was going too fast and had its course changed incorrectly, the craft missed the Moon by 36,800 km on 28th January, sending back no useful TV images (but provided information about interplanetary gamma-ray flux, whatever that is!).  First American attempt to impact the Moon. Failed to impact the Moon or send back useful television images. Now inactive but in orbit around the Sun.
23rd April 1962 Ranger 4 USA Similar to Ranger 3, Ranger 4 was designed to go to the Moon and send back television images for 10 minutes before crashing into its surface. Power would have been supplied by the Sun through solar panels but these failed to be extended. The craft's instruments ceased operating 10 hours into its mission. However, Ranger 4 did impact the Moon on its far side (the side that is never visible from Earth) but no scientific information was provided. First American Lunar impact Although its instruments weren't operating, Ranger 4 crashed onto the surface of the Moon on 26th April 1962 at 15.30° S, 130.42° W.
18th October 1962 Ranger 5 USA Like Ranger 3 and 4, Ranger 5 should have gone to the Moon to send back television images of it for 10 minutes before crashing into its surface. Ranger 3 missed the Moon. Ranger 4 hit the Moon but had ceased operating over 50 hours earlier. Ranger 5 both missed the Moon and ceased operating too early! The craft's instruments should have operated by solar power at a certain point in its mission, but a fault caused the power to come from the craft's battery instead. This caused the battery to deplete and all instruments to switch off. The craft went as close as 724 km from the Moon on 21st October but sent back no information. . Ranger 5 missed the Moon and entered an orbit around the Sun. 
2nd April 1963 Luna 4 (Lunik 4) USSR Luna 4 was sent to the Moon and completed a flyby of it on 5th April 1963. However, it is thought that Luna 4 should have landed on the surface of the Moon but missed its target. A programme scheduled to have been broadcast on Radio Moscow on 5th April called "Hitting the Moon" was cancelled since Luna 4 didn't actually hit the Moon! . Inactive but in orbit around Earth.
30th January 1964 Ranger 6 USA

Ranger 6 was the first of a new build of Ranger space crafts (Rangers 3, 4 and 5 all failed their missions). It was equipped with 6 television cameras to transmit high quality images of the Moon before impacting its surface. It did impact the surface at precisely the right time on 2nd February 1964, but the power supply for the cameras had short-circuited not long after launch so no images were sent back. First American mission to successfully land as intended on the Moon. Ranger 6 now lies inactive on the Moon on the eastern edge of Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquillity) at 9.24° N, 21.30° east.
28th July 1964 Ranger 7 USA Similar to Ranger 6, Ranger 7 was sent to the Moon to transmit images back to Earth using 6 television cameras before crashing into its surface. For 17 minutes before hitting the Moon, Ranger 7 sent back 4,308 images of the Moon's surface. It impacted the Moon on 31st July as planned. Ranger 7 sent back the first American close-up images of the Moon.  Ranger 7 now lies inactive on the Moon at Mare Cognitum at 10.35° S, 339.42° E.
17th February 1965 Ranger 8 USA Like its predecessors, Ranger 6 and 7, Ranger 8 was equipped with 6 television cameras to send back images of the Moon before crashing into its surface. For 23 minutes before hitting the Moon, Ranger 8 sent back 7,137 images of the surface of the Moon. It impacted the Moon on 20th February 1965. . Ranger 8 now lies inactive on the Moon in Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquillity) at 2.67° N, 24.65° E.
21st March 1965 Ranger 9 USA Like Ranger 6, 7 and 8, Ranger 9 was sent to the Moon to send back images of its surface using 6 television cameras before impacting it. For 19 minutes before impact, Ranger 9 sent back 5,814 images.   Live television images of Ranger 9's descent and impact were shown across America. Ranger 9 now lies inactive on the Moon in the crater Alphonsus at coordinates 12.83° S, 357.63° E.
9th May 1965 Luna 5 (Lunik 5) USSR Thought to be an attempt at a soft landing on the Moon to enable tests to be carried out from the lunar surface. The spacecraft went out of control on it way to the Moon and crashed into the Moon on 12th May 1965. Second soviet craft to land on the Moon. Luna 5 now lies inactive at coordinates 31° south, 8° west.
8th June 1965 Luna 6 (Lunik 6) USSR Another Soviet attempt at a soft landing on the surface of the Moon, this space craft missed its target completely! The space craft was sent on the wrong trajectory, the closest it got to the Moon as it flew past it was 159,612 km. . Although the craft failed to land on the Moon, all instruments on Luna 6 performed well. Communication with Earth was maintained up to a distance of 600,000 km from the planet. Luna 6 is now inactive in orbit around the Sun. 
18th July 1965 Zond 3 USSR Thought to be a twin mission with Zond 2 to go to Mars, the launch window to send Zond 3 to the red planet was missed, so it was sent to the Moon instead. It was a flyby mission and sent back high quality images of the Moon. Its closest approach to the Moon was 9,200 km. Communications with the craft were still possible at 31,500,000 km from Earth, the same distance as Mars is from Earth, proving the craft's capability for long-distance communication.  First successful Zond mission. Zond 3 is now inactive in orbit around the Sun.
4th October 1965 Luna 7 (Lunik 7) USSR Soviet attempt at a soft landing on the Moon. On its approach to the Moon, control over the spacecraft's descent was lost and the craft ending up crashing into the surface (although not far from where it was actually meant to land). . Luna 7 lies inactive at 9° north, 49° west, west of the Kepler crater.
3rd December 1965 Luna 8 (Lunik 8) USSR Another Soviet attempt to land softly on the Moon. Luna 8 very nearly made it but when trying to inflate the airbags to cushion the landing, it became clear that something had pierced one of the two airbags. This caused the craft to spin and to crash on the Moon's surface on 6th December. . Luna 8 lies inactive at 9.8° N, 63.18° W, west of the Kepler crater.
31st January 1966 Luna 9 (Lunik 9) USSR After many attempts, Luna 9 became the first craft to complete a soft landing on the surface of the Moon. Luna 9 landed on 3rd February 1966 and transmitted radio and visual signals back to Earth. The first images from the surface of the Moon were received by Jodrell Bank Observatory in the United Kingdom and published internationally. The landing was also significant in that it proved that an object landing on the Moon wouldn't sink into the lunar dust.  First soft landing on the Moon. A major space first for the Soviet Union in the Space Race with the United States. Last communication from Luna 9 was on 6th February 1966. The craft now lies inactive at 7.13° N, 64.37° W in the Ocean of Storms.
31st March 1966 Luna 10 (Lunik 10) USSR Luna 10 became the first artificial satellite of the Moon (or any other celestial body). It entered lunar orbit on 3rd April 1966 and 3 hours later completed its first orbit. Luna 10 conducted many experiments while in orbit and was also able to play music! It played a song called the Internationale to a meeting of the Communist Party on 4th April. The version that people at the meeting heard was actually a recording of a rehearsal from the previous day since the craft was unable to play one of the notes for what should have been the live performance! They were still led to believe it was a live performance from space! First artificial satellite of the Moon. After completing 460 orbits, communications ended on 30th May 1966. It is likely that Luna 10 has  dropped out of orbit at some point although nobody is sure of when and where on the Moon it would have landed.  
30th April 1966 Surveyor 1 USA First American attempt to complete a soft landing on the surface of the Moon in preparation for later manned landings on the Moon. Surveyor 1 successfully landed on the Moon on 2nd June 1966 and sent back images of the landscape back to Earth. First American soft landing on the Moon. Unlike the Soviets, the Americans succeeded on their first attempt. The final images from Surveyor 1 were sent back to Earth on 14th July 1966. The craft now lies inactive at 2.45 S, 43.22 W
10th August 1966 Lunar Orbiter 1 USA Before sending a man to the Moon, NASA had to decide where to land him. Lunar Orbiter 1 was the first of a series of missions to map the surface of the Moon and find ideal landing sites. It would also obtain information about other hazards like radiation and impacts from small meteorites. Lunar Orbiter 1 entered orbit around the Moon on 14th August 1966 and sent 229 images of the Moon back to Earth from 18th August to 29th August. It also observed that the Moon was slightly pear-shaped and sent back the first images of Earth from the distance of the Moon. No micrometeorites were detected to have hit the space craft. Sent back the first images of Earth from the distance of the Moon. Communications with Lunar Orbiter 1 continued up to 20th October 1966 when it was dropped out of orbit and impacted the Moon. In now lies inactive at 7º N, 161º E.
24th August 1966 Luna 11 (Lunik 11) USSR Orbiter sent to the Moon to take images of the surface of the Moon, fuelling rumours that the Soviet Union, like the USA, were looking for landing sites for a manned lunar mission (Luna 11 launched only two weeks after America's Lunar Orbiter 1). The craft entered orbit around the Moon, but its TV camera failed to send back any useful images as it was pointed the wrong way! It did provide scientific data and information about whether there were small meteorites in the vicinity of the Moon which could c