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Past Missions

     Since the Space Age began on October 4, 1957, the inhabitants of Earth have sent hundreds of probes into space to explore the planets and the other bodies of the solar system. Dozens of spacecrafts have fallen victim to the complexities involved in space travel. But the multitude that survived have given us an enormous wealth of knowledge, particularly about the outer planets, whose distance precludes any in-depth observation.


*Denoted Failed Mission

Name
Date
Remarks
USSR Sputnik 14 October 1957Earth Orbiter
USSR Sputnik 23 November 1957Earth Orbiter
Explorer 11 February 1958Earth Orbiter
USA Vanguard 117 March 1958Earth Orbiter
*USA Pioneer 017 Aug 1958Attempted Lunar Orbit
*USSR Luna 1958A23 September 1958Attempted Lunar Impact?
*USA Pioneer 111 Oct 1958Attempted Lunar Orbit
*USSR Luna 1958B12 October 1958Attempted Lunar Impact?
*USA Pioneer 28 Nov 1958Attempted Lunar Orbit
*USSR Luna 1958C4 December 1958Attempted Lunar Impact
*USA Pioneer 36 Dec 1958Attempted Lunar Flyby
USSR Luna 12 Jan 1959Lunar Flyby
USA Pioneer 43 March 1959Lunar Flyby
*USSR Luna 1959A16 June 1959Attempted Lunar Impact
USSR Luna 212 Sep 1959Lunar Impact
USSR Luna 34 Oct 1959Lunar Flyby
*USA Pioneer P-326 Nov 1959Attempted Lunar Orbiter
*USSR Luna 1960A15 April 1960Attempted Lunar Flyby
*USSR Luna 1960B18 April 1960Attempted Lunar Flyby
*USA Pioneer P-3025 Sept 1960Attempted Lunar Orbiter
*USSR Mars 1 (Mars 1960A)10 Oct 1960Attempted Mars Flyby
*USSR Mars 2 (Mars 1960B)14 Oct 1960Attempted Mars Flyby
*USA Pioneer P-3115 Dec 1960Attempted Lunar Orbiter
USSR Sputnik 74 Feb 1961Attempted Venus Impact
USSR Venera 112 Feb 1961Venus Flyby (Contact Lost)
USA Ranger 123 Aug 1961Attempted Lunar Test Flight
USA Ranger 218 Nov 1961Attempted Lunar Test Flight
USA Ranger 326 Jan 1962Attempted Lunar Impact
USA Ranger 423 Apr 1962Lunar Impact
*USA Mariner 122 Jul 1962Attempted Venus Flyby
USSR Sputnik 2325 Aug 1962Attempted Venus Flyby
USA Mariner 227 Aug 1962Venus Flyby
USSR Sputnik 241 Sep 1962Attempted Venus Flyby
USSR Sputnik 2512 Sep 1962Attempted Venus Flyby
USA Ranger 518 Oct 1962Attempted Lunar Impact
USSR Sputnik 2924 Oct 1962Attempted Mars Flyby
USA Mars 11 Nov 1962Mars Flyby (Contact Lost)
USSR Sputnik 314 Nov 1962Attempted Mars Flyby
USSR Sputnik 334 Jan 1963Attempted Lunar Lander
*USSR Luna 1963B2 Feb 1963Attempted Lunar Lander
USSR Luna 42 Apr 1963Attempted Lunar Lander
USSR Cosmos 2111 Nov 1963 Venera Test Flight
USA Ranger 630 Jan 1964Lunar Impact (Equipment Failure)
*USSR Venera 1964A19 Feb 1964Attempted Venus Flyby
*USSR Venera 1964B1 Mar 1964Attempted Venus Flyby
*USSR Luna 1964A21 Mar 1964Attempted Lunar Lander
USSR Cosmos 2727 Mar 1964Attempted Venus Flyby
USSR Zond 12 Apr 1964Venus Flyby (Contact Lost)
*USSR Luna 1964B20 Apr 1964Attempted Lunar Lander
*USSR Zond 1964A4 Jun 1964Attempted Lunar Lander
USA Ranger 728 Jul 1964Lunar Impact
USA Mariner 35 Nov 1964Attempted Mars Flyby
USA Mariner 428 Nov 1964Mars Flyby
USSR Zond 230 Nov 1964Mars Flyby
USA Ranger 817 Feb 1965Lunar Impact
USSR Cosmos 6012 Mar 1965Attempted Lunar Lander
USA Ranger 921 Mar 1965Lunar Impact
*USSR Luna 1965A10 Apr 1965Attempted Lunar Lander
USSR Luna 59 May 1965Lunar Impact (Attempted Soft Landing)
USSR Luna 68 Jun 1965Attempted Lunar Lander
USSR Zond 318 Jul 1965Lunar Flyby
USSR Luna 74 Oct 1965Lunar Impact (Attempted Soft Landing)
USSR Venera 212 Nov 1965Venus Flyby (Contact Lost)
USSR Venera 316 Nov 1965Venus Lander (Contact Lost)
USSR Cosmos 9623 Nov 1965Attempted Venus Lander
USSR Venera 1965A23 Nov 1965Attempted Venus Flyby (Launch Failure)
USSR Luna 83 Dec 1965Lunar Impact (Attempted Soft Landing)
USSR Luna 931 Jan 1966Lunar Lander
USSR Cosmos 1111 Mar 1966Attempted Lunar Orbiter
USSR Luna 1031 March 1966Lunar Orbiter
*USSR Luna 1966A30 Apr 1966Attempted Lunar Orbiter
USA Surveyor 130 May 1966Lunar Lander
USA Explorer 331 Jul 1966Attempted Lunar Orbiter
USA Lunar Orbiter 110 Aug 1966Lunar Orbiter
USSR Luna 1124 Aug 1966Lunar Orbiter
USA Surveyor 220 Sep 1966Attempted Lunar Lander
USSR Luna 1222 Oct 1966Lunar Orbiter
USA Lunar Orbiter 26 Nov 1966Lunar Orbiter
USSR Luna 1321 Dec 1966Lunar Lander
USA Lunar Orbiter 34 Feb 1967Lunar Orbiter
USA Surveyor 317 Apr 1967Lunar Lander
USA Lunar Orbiter 48 May 1967Lunar Orbiter
USSR Venera 412 Jun 1967Venus Probe
USA Mariner 514 Jun 1967Venus Flyby
USSR Cosmos 16717 Jun 1967Attempted Venus Probe
USA Surveyor 414 Jul 1967Attempted Lunar Lander
USA Explorer 35 (IMP-E)19 Jul 1967Lunar Orbiter
USA Lunar Orbiter 51 Aug 1967Lunar Orbiter
USA Surveyor 58 Sep 1967Lunar Lander
*USSR Zond 1967A28 Sep 1967Attempted Lunar Test Flight
USA Surveyor 67 Nov 1967Lunar Lander
*USSR Zond 1967B22 Nov 1967Attempted Lunar Test Flight
USA Surveyor 77 Jan 1968Lunar Lander
*USSR Luna 1968A7 Feb 1968Attempted Lunar Orbiter
USSR Zond 42 Mar 1968Test Flight
USSR Luna 147 Apr 1968Lunar Orbiter
*USSR Zond 1968A23 Apr 1968Attempted Lunar Test Flight?
USSR Zond 515 Sep 1968Lunar Flyby and Return to Earth
USSR Zond 610 Nov 1968Lunar Flyby and Return to Earth
USA Apollo 821 Dec 1968Manned Lunar Orbiter
USSR Venera 55 Jan 1969Venus Probe
USSR Venera 610 Jan 1969Venus Probe
*USSR Zond 1969A20 Jan 1969Attempted Lunar Flyby and Return
*USSR Luna 1969A19 Feb 1969Attempted Lunar Rover?
*USSR Zond L1S-121 Feb 1969Attempted Lunar Orbiter
USA Mariner 625 Feb 1969Mars Flyby
USA Mariner 727 Mar 1969Mars Flyby
*USSR Mars 1969A27 Mar 1969Attempted Mars Lander?
*USSR Mars 1969B2 Apr 1969Attempted Mars Lander?
*USSR Luna 1969B15 Apr 1969Attempted Lunar Sample Return?
USA Apollo 1018 May 1969Manned Lunar Orbiter
*USSR Luna 1969C14 Jun 1969Attempted Lunar Sample Return?
*USSR Zond L1S-23 Jul 1969Attempted Lunar Orbiter
*USSR Luna 1513 Jul 1969Lunar Orbiter (Attempted Lunar Lander)
USA Apollo 1116 Jul 1969Manned Lunar Landing
USSR Zond 77 Aug 1969Lunar Flyby and Return to Earth
USSR Cosmos 30023 Sep 1969Attempted Lunar Sample Return?
USSR Cosmos 30522 Oct 1969Attempted Lunar Sample Return?
USA Apollo 1214 Nov 1969Manned Lunar Landing
*USSR Luna 1970A6 Feb 1970Attempted Lunar Sample Return?
*USSR Luna 1970B19 Feb 1970Attempted Lunar Orbiter?
USA Apollo 1311 Apr 1970Manned Lunar Mission
USSR Venera 717 Aug 1970Venus Lander
USSR Cosmos 35922 Aug 1970Attempted Venus Probe
USSR Luna 1612 Sep 1970Lunar Sample Return
USSR Zond 820 Oct 1970Lunar Flyby and Return to Earth
USSR Luna 17/Lunokhod 110 Nov 1970Lunar Rover
USA Apollo 1431 Jan 1971Manned Lunar Landing
USA Mariner 88 May 1971Attempted Mars Flyby
USSR Cosmos 41910 May 1971Attempted Mars Orbiter/Lander
USSR Mars 219 May 1971Mars Orbiter/ Attempted Lander
USSR Mars 328 May 1971Mars Orbiter/Lander
USA Mariner 930 May 1971Mars Orbiter
USA Apollo 1526 Jul 1971Manned Lunar Landing
USSR Luna 182 Sep 1971Attempted Lunar Sample Return
USSR Luna 1928 Sep 1971Lunar Orbiter
USSR Luna 2014 Feb 1972Lunar Sample Return
USA Pioneer 103 Mar 1972Jupiter Flyby
USSR Venera 827 Mar 1972Venus Probe
USSR Cosmos 48231 Mar 1972Attempted Venus Probe
USA Apollo 1616 Apr 1972Lunar Manned Landing
*USSR Soyuz L323 Nov 1972Attempted Lunar Orbiter
USA Apollo 177 Dec 1972Lunar Manned Landing
USSR Luna 21/Lunokhod 28 Jan 1973Lunar Rover
USA Pioneer 115 Apr 1973Jupiter/Saturn Flyby
USA Explorer 49 (RAE-B)10 Jun 1973Lunar Orbiter/Radio Astronomy
USSR Mars 421 Jul 1973Mars Flyby (Attempted Mars Orbiter)
USSR Mars 525 Jul 1973Mars Orbiter
USSR Mars 65 Aug 1973Mars Lander (Contact Lost)
USSR Mars 79 Aug 1973Mars Flyby (Attempted Mars Lander)
USA Mariner 104 Nov 1973Venus/Mercury Flybys
USSR Luna 222 Jun 1974Lunar Orbiter
USSR Luna 2328 Oct 1974Attempted Lunar Sample Return
USSR Venera 98 Jun 1975Venus Orbiter and Lander
USSR Venera 1014 Jun 1975Venus Orbiter and Lander
USA Viking 120 Aug 1975Mars Orbiter and Lander
USA Viking 29 Sep 1975Mars Orbiter and Lander
USSR Luna 1975A16 Oct 1975Attempted Lunar Sample Return?
USSR Luna 249 Aug 1976Lunar Sample Return
USA Voyager 220 Aug 1977Jupiter/Saturn/Uranus/Neptune Flyby
USA Voyager 15 Sep 1977Jupiter/Saturn Flyby
USA Pioneer Venus 120 May 1978Venus Orbiter
USA Pioneer Venus 28 Aug 1978Venus Probes
USA ISEE-3/ICE12 Aug 1978Comet Giacobini-Zinner and Halley Flybys
USSR Venera 119 Sep 1978Venus Orbiter and Lander
USSR Venera 1214 Sep 1978Venus Orbiter and Lander
USSR Venera 1330 Oct 1981Venus Orbiter and Lander
USSR Venera 144 Nov 1981Venus Orbiter and Lander
USSR Venera 152 Jun 1983Venus Orbiter
USSR Venera 167 Jun 1983Venus Orbiter
USSR Vega 115 Dec 1984Venus Lander and Balloon/Comet Halley Flyby
USSR Vega 221 Dec 1984Venus Lander and Balloon/Comet Halley Flyby
Japanese Sakigake7 Jan 1985Comet Halley Flyby
ESA Giotto2 Jul 1985Comet Halley Flyby
Japanese Suisei (Planet-A)18 Aug 1985Comet Halley Flyby
USSR Phobos 17 Jul 1988Attempted Mars Orbiter/Phobos Landers
USSR Phobos 212 Jul 1988Mars Orbiter/Attempted Phobos Landers
USA Magellan4 May 1989Venus Orbiter
USA Galileo18 Oct 1989Jupiter Orbiter/Probe
Japanese Hiten24 Jan 1990Lunar Flyby and Orbiter
ESA Ulysses06 Oct 1990Jupiter Flyby and Solar Polar Orbiter
USA Mars Observer25 Sep 1992Attempted Mars Orbiter (Contact Lost)
USA Clementine25 Jan 1994Lunar Orbiter/Attempted Asteroid Flyby
USA NEAR17 Feb 1996Asteroid Eros Orbiter
USA Mars Global Surveyor07 November 1996Mars Orbiter
CIS (former USSR) Mars 9616 November 1996Attempted Mars Orbiter/Landers
USA Mars Pathfinder04 Dec 1996Mars Lander and Rover
USA Cassini15 Oct 1997Saturn Orbiter
ESA Huygens15 Oct 1997Titan Probe
USA AsiaSat 3/HGS-124 Dec 1997Lunar Flyby
USA Lunar Prospector7 Jan 1998Lunar Orbiter
Japanese Nozomi (Planet-B)3 Jul 1998Mars Orbiter
USA Deep Space 1 (DS1)24 Oct 1998Asteroid and Comet Flyby
USA Mars Climate Orbiter11 Dec 1998Mars Orbiter
USA Mars Polar Lander3 Jan 1999Mars Lander
USA Deep Space 2 (DS2)3 Jan 1999Mars Penetrator
USA Stardust7 Feb 1999Comet Coma Sample Return
Japanese Lunar-AAugust 1999Lunar Orbiter and Penetrators


Copyright © 2000 by Gary Chan and Matthew McDermott. All rights reserved.