Exploration of the Solar System

Mercury

Mariner 10 (1974-1975): The first mission to visit Mercury, Mariner 10 conducted three flybys of the planet and provided the first images of its surface. The mission confirmed that Mercury has a heavily cratered surface and a large iron core, and also found evidence of a weak magnetic field and a thin atmosphere.

MESSENGER (2004-2015): The MESSENGER mission was the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury and provided a comprehensive study of the planet. The mission confirmed that Mercury has a large iron core and a thin atmosphere, and found evidence of widespread volcanic activity and water ice in polar craters. The mission also discovered that the planet's magnetic field is much stronger than expected and provides evidence for a unique geologic history.

BepiColombo (2018-present): The BepiColombo mission, a joint venture between the European Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, is currently in orbit around Mercury. The mission aims to study the planet's geology, magnetic field, and atmosphere in detail and provide a better understanding of the formation and evolution of the innermost planet.

Venus

Mariner 2: Launched in 1962, Mariner 2 was the first successful mission to Venus and the first successful interplanetary mission by NASA. It measured the atmospheric temperature and composition of Venus and confirmed the presence of a very hot and dense atmosphere.

Venera 3-14: Between 1965 and 1985, the Soviet Union's Venera missions conducted multiple flybys and landings on Venus. The missions discovered Venus's extremely high surface temperature and pressure, as well as finding evidence of volcanic activity.

Pioneer Venus: The Pioneer Venus mission was launched by NASA in 1978 and consisted of two spacecraft, an orbiter and a multiprobe. The mission confirmed the high temperature and pressure on Venus, as well as mapping the planet's surface and measuring its atmospheric composition and circulation.

Magellan: Launched in 1989, NASA's Magellan mission was a radar mapping mission that created the first detailed topographical map of Venus. The mission revealed that Venus has very few impact craters, suggesting recent geological activity, and discovered evidence of widespread volcanic activity and possible active volcanoes.

Venus Express: Launched in 2005, the European Space Agency's Venus Express mission conducted detailed studies of Venus's atmosphere, including its cloud structure, temperature, and circulation. The mission also found evidence of lightning on Venus and a powerful and mysterious atmospheric wind pattern.

Akatsuki: Launched by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency in 2010, the Akatsuki mission is still in orbit around Venus. The mission has studied the Venusian atmosphere and weather, including the behavior of its clouds, and discovered a strange and persistent cloud-top vortex in the planet's atmosphere.

Mars

Mariner 4 (1965): The first successful Mars flyby mission, Mariner 4 provided the first close-up images of the Martian surface and confirmed the lack of a planetary magnetic field. It also measured the Martian atmosphere and found it to be thin and composed mostly of carbon dioxide.

Viking 1 and 2 (1976): The Viking missions were the first successful Mars landings and consisted of two orbiters and two landers. They conducted experiments to search for signs of life and confirmed the absence of liquid water on the Martian surface. The missions also provided high-resolution images of the Martian landscape and revealed a diverse geology, including volcanic and impact features.

Mars Global Surveyor (1996-2006): The Mars Global Surveyor was a long-lived orbiter mission that mapped the Martian surface and provided data on the planet's geology, atmosphere, and climate. The mission discovered evidence of past liquid water on Mars and showed that the planet's climate has changed dramatically over time.

Mars Pathfinder and Sojourner (1996): The Mars Pathfinder mission was a lander mission that carried the first successful Mars rover, Sojourner. The mission provided the first close-up images of the Martian surface and confirmed the presence of a wide range of rock types, including some that suggest a wet past on Mars.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (2005-present): The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is an ongoing orbiter mission that has provided high-resolution images of the Martian surface and subsurface, as well as information on the planet's climate and geology. The mission has discovered evidence of past liquid water on Mars and identified potential landing sites for future missions.

Jupiter

Pioneer 10 and 11 (1973-1974): The Pioneer 10 and 11 missions were the first to fly by Jupiter and provided the first close-up images of the planet and its moons. The missions confirmed the presence of intense radiation around Jupiter and found evidence for a strong magnetic field and a thin ring system.

Voyager 1 and 2 (1979): The Voyager missions conducted close flybys of Jupiter and its moons and provided the first detailed images of the planet and its moons. The missions discovered active volcanoes on Io, confirmed the presence of a thin ring system, and provided evidence for a complex atmosphere and weather patterns on Jupiter.

Galileo (1995-2003): The Galileo mission was the first to orbit Jupiter and conducted a comprehensive study of the planet and its moons. The mission confirmed the presence of a strong magnetic field, discovered new moons and evidence for subsurface oceans on some of Jupiter's moons, and provided detailed images of the planet's atmosphere and weather patterns.

Cassini (2000-2017): The Cassini mission, a joint venture between NASA and the European Space Agency, conducted close flybys of Jupiter and provided additional information on the planet and its moons. The mission confirmed the presence of a thin ring system and provided evidence for the existence of a magnetic torus around the planet.

Juno (2011-present): The Juno mission, currently in orbit around Jupiter, is studying the planet's magnetic field, atmosphere, and interior structure. The mission has confirmed that Jupiter has a massive magnetic field, found evidence for an unexpectedly chaotic atmosphere, and provided insights into the planet's interior structure and formation history.

Saturn

Pioneer 11 (1979): The Pioneer 11 mission was the first to fly by Saturn and provided the first close-up images of the planet and its moons. The mission confirmed the presence of a strong magnetic field and a thin ring system around the planet.

Voyager 1 and 2 (1980-1981): The Voyager missions conducted close flybys of Saturn and its moons and provided the first detailed images of the planet and its moons. The missions discovered new moons, confirmed the presence of a complex ring system, and provided evidence for weather patterns and a dynamic atmosphere on Saturn.

Cassini (2004-2017): The Cassini mission, a joint venture between NASA and the European Space Agency, was the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn and conduct a comprehensive study of the planet and its moons. The mission confirmed the presence of a complex ring system, discovered new moons, and provided evidence for subsurface oceans on some of Saturn's moons. The mission also provided detailed images of the planet's atmosphere and weather patterns.

Juno (2016-present): The Juno mission, currently in orbit around Jupiter, has also conducted close flybys of Saturn and provided additional information on the planet's magnetic field and atmosphere. The mission has confirmed that Saturn has a massive magnetic field and provided insights into the planet's interior structure and formation history.

Ice Giants and Pluto

Voyager 2 (1986-1989): The Voyager 2 mission flew by both Uranus and Neptune and provided the first close-up images of the ice giants. The mission confirmed the presence of weak magnetic fields, dynamic atmospheres, and complex ring systems around both planets. The mission also discovered new moons around each planet and provided evidence for the existence of subsurface oceans on some of their moons.

New Horizons (2006-2015): The New Horizons mission was the first to fly by Pluto and provided the first close-up images of the dwarf planet. The mission confirmed that Pluto is a complex, geologically active world with mountain ranges, glaciers, and a surprisingly diverse landscape. The mission also discovered new moons and provided evidence for the existence of a tenuous atmosphere and a weak magnetic field around Pluto.

No dedicated missions have been launched to study the ice giants in detail, but future missions are being planned to explore these worlds and their moons. These missions will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the ice giants and their place in the solar system.

Small Solar System Objects

Galileo (1989-2003): The Galileo spacecraft conducted several flybys of asteroids during its mission to study Jupiter and its moons. The flybys provided information on the size, shape, and composition of the asteroids and confirmed that they are a diverse group of objects with varying surface features and composition.

NEAR-Shoemaker (1996-2001): The NEAR-Shoemaker mission was the first to orbit and land on an asteroid (Eros) and provided detailed information on the asteroid's surface features and composition. The mission confirmed that asteroids are remnants from the early solar system and provided insights into their formation and evolution.

Dawn (2007-2017): The Dawn mission was the first to orbit two asteroids (Vesta and Ceres) and provided information on their size, shape, composition, and surface features. The mission confirmed that both asteroids are heavily cratered, but also showed evidence of geological activity and a diversity of surface features.

Hayabusa (2003-2010): The Hayabusa mission was the first to return a sample from an asteroid (Itokawa) and provided information on the asteroid's composition and structure. The mission confirmed that asteroids are rich in volatile elements and provided insights into the early solar system and the delivery of water to the inner planets.