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SPACE PROBES

Space probes are unmanned spacecrafts that collect data from planets.

The data they collect is usually about what kind of weather the planet
has, conditions of the planet, and temperature of the atmosphere at
different altitudes. Probes also take high resolution pictures of the
planetšs surface. All probes transmit data back to Earth, but donšt come
back to Earth themselves.

Mariner

Mariner 2 was the first space probe to reach a planet besides Earth. It

was launched in August of 1962. It figured out that Venus had a very hot
surface. It also found out that the thick clouds surrounding the planet
had no breaks in them, and the planet had no magnetic field. Mariner 2
flew to within 34,400 kilometers of the surface of Venus. It transmited
information about temperature and details of its atmosphere and rotational
period.

Mariner 10 was the first and only probe to visit Mercury. It was also the

first probe to use the gravitational pull of one planet (Venus) to get to
another (Mercury). Between 1974 and 1975, Mariner 10 passed by
Mercury three times. Mariner 10 took close up pictures of Mercury.

Viking Space Probes

Viking 1 and 2 became the first space probes to land successfully on the

surface of Mars. They were also the only space probes to land on a
planet other than Earth. The Viking probes had an orbiter and a lander.
The spacecrafts were launched in 1975. The Viking probe analyzed gasses
in the atmosphere and chemicals in the soil to see if there was any kind of
life on Mars. The probes also measured wind speed and direction,
atmospheric temperatures, and atmospheric pressure. The biology
experiments proved there is no life on Mars.

Voyager

In 1977, NASA's Voyager space probes studied the outer planets before

continuing on into deep space. The Voyager probes carried record called
"Sounds of Earth," which had messages and pictures from our planet. In
1996 Voyager 2 made the first close up survey of Uranus. It discovered
that Uranus had eleven rings, not nine. Voyager 2 gave us more
information about Uranus and its moons than we ever had before.

Pioneer

Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft break through the asteroid belt

between Mars and Jupiter. It gave us the first close up pictures of
Jupiter. It also measured Jupiteršs temperatures and atmosphere and
made a map of its magnetic field.

Pioneer 11 flew by Saturn and its moon Titan. In 1979 Pioneer sent the

first close up pictures of the planet and its moon. After Pioneer visited
Saturn Voyager 1 and 2 came.

Pioneer 10 and 11 were the first probes to leave our solar system.

Mars Global Surveyor

In November 1996 the Mars Global Surveyor was launched. It will

measure radiation to determine the minerals that make up Mars. The
probešs detector will also measure the composition, pressure, water
content, dust content and changes in the Martian atmosphere.

The Mars Global Surveyor will study mars for two years. The information

gathered will help to plan future missions and even human landings.

Pathfinder

In December of 1996 the Pathfinder was launched. Pathfinder carried a

robotic rover named Sojourner. Pathfinder had a spectrometer used to
analyze the Martian rocks. It also had a camera that took pictures of
the landscape. Pathfinder Lander and the Sojourner sent thousands of
images and more than 15 analyses of Martian rock, and data on weather
conditions back to earth.