PLANETARY SPACECRAFT

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NAME	LAUNCH DATE	BOOSTER	WEIGHT lb (kg)	MISSION
Pioneer 5 (USA)	11-Mar-60	Thor-Able	95 (43)	First deep-space probe, returned data from a distance of 22.7 million miles (36.5 million km).
Mars (USSR)	10-Oct-60	SL-6/A-2-e	1,410 (640)	Mars probe, failed to achieve Earth orbit.
Mars (USSR)	14-Oct-60	SL-6/A-2-e	1,410 (640)	Mars probe, failed to achieve Earth orbit.
Sputnik 7 (USSR)	4-Feb-61	SL-6/A-2-e	1,410 (640)	Venus probe, failed to achieve Earth orbit.
Venera 1 (USSR)	12-Feb-61	SL-6/A-2-e	1,419 (644)	Passed within 62,000 miles (100,000 km) of Venus but failed before encounter.
Mariner 1 (USA)	22-Jul-62	Atlas-Agena	445 (202)	Venus probe, failed to achieve Earth orbit.
Venera (USSR)	25-Aug-62	SL-6/A-2-e	1,960 (890)	Venus probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Mariner 2 (USA)	27-Aug-62	Atlas-Agena	447 (203)	First successful fly-by of Venus. Found heavy atmosphere and hot surface, no magnetic field.
Venera (USSR)	1-Sep-62	SL-6/A-2-e	1,960 (890)	Venus probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Venera (USSR)	12-Sep-62	SL-6/A-2-e	1,960 (890)	Venus probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Mars (USSR)	24-Oct-62	SL-6/A-2-e	1,960 (890)	Mars probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Mars 1 (USSR)	1-Nov-62	SL-6/A-2-e	1,970 (893)	Mars probe, passed within 120,000 miles (193,000 km) of Mars but failed before encounter and before mid-course correction.
Mars (USSR)	4-Nov-62	SL-6/A-2-e	1,960 (890)	Mars probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Cosmos 21 (USSR)	11-Nov-63	SL-6/A-2-e	1,960 (890)	Venus probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Venera (USSR)	19-Feb-64	SL-6/A-2-e	1,960 (890)	Venus probe, failed to achieve Earth orbit.
Cosmos 27 (USSR)	27-Mar-64	SL-6/A-2-e	1,960 (890)	Venus probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Zond 1 (USSR)	2-Apr-64	SL-6/A-2-e	1,960 (890)	Venus probe, passed within 62,000 miles (100,000 km) of Venus but failed before encounter.
Mariner 3 (USA)	5-Nov-64	Atlas-Agena	575 (261)	Mars probe, failed to achieve Earth orbit.
Mariner 4 (USA)	28-Nov-64	Atlas-Agena	575 (261)	First successful fly-by of Mars. 21 pictures returned. Found cratered surface, no canals or flowing water. Mostly carbon dioxide atmosphere, 1 per cent of Earth's sea-level pressure.
Zond 2 (USSR)	30-Nov-64	SL-6/A-2-e	1,960 (890)	Mars probe, passed within 930 miles (1,500 km) of Mars but failed before encounter.
Venera 2 (USSR)	12-Nov-65	SL-6/A-2-e	2,123 (963)	Venus fly-by, probe failed at encounter.
Venera 3 (USSR)	16-Nov-65	SL-6/A-2-e	2,120 (960)	First Venus atmosphere entry, failed to return data.
Cosmos 96 (USSR)	23-Nov-65	SL-6/A-2-e	2,120 (960)	Venus probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Pioneer 6 (USA)	16-Dec-65	Delta	135 (61)	Solar probe, orbiting Sun inside Earth's orbit.
Pioneer 7 (USA)	17-Aug-66	Delta	135 (61)	Solar probe, orbiting Sun outside Earth's orbit.
Venera 4 (USSR)	12-Jun-67	SL-6/A-2-e	2,439 (1,106)	First successful Venus atmosphere entry. Returned data to within 15.5 miles (25 km) of surface. Entry probe 845 lb (383 kg).
Mariner 5 (USA)	14-Jun-67	Atlas-Agena	540 (245)	Venus probe fly-by, 2,500 miles (4,000 km) from planet.
Cosmos 167 (USSR)	17-Jun-67	SL-6/A-2-e	2,425 (1,100)	Venus probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Pioneer 8 (USA)	13-Dec-67	Delta	145 (66)	Solar probe, orbiting Sun outside Earth's orbit.
Pioneer 9 (USA)	8-Nov-68	Delta	148 (67)	Solar probe, orbiting Sun inside Earth's orbit.
Venera 5 (USSR)	5-Jan-69	SL-6/A-2-e	2,490 (1,130)	Venus atmosphere probe, 893 lb (405 kg). Crushed during descent.
Venera 6 (USSR)	10-Jan-69	SL-6/A-2-e	2,490 (1,130)	Venus atmosphere probe, 893 lb (405 kg). Crushed during descent.
Mariner 6 (USA)	24-Feb-69	Atlas-Centaur	911 (413)	Mars fly-by probe, returned data and 75 pictures.
Mariner 7 (USA)	27-Mar-69	Atlas-Centaur	911 (413)	Mars fly-by probe, returned data and 126 pictures.
Mars (USSR)	27-Mar-69	SL-12/D-1-e	7,035 (3,190)	Mars probe, failed to achieve Earth orbit.
Mars (USSR)	2-Apr-69	SL-12/D-1-e	7,035 (3,190)	Mars probe, failed to achieve Earth orbit.
Pioneer E (USA)	27-Aug-69	Delta	148 (67)	Solar probe, failed to achieve Earth orbit.
Venera 7 (USSR)	17-Aug-70	SL-6/A-2-e	2,600 (1,180)	Venus atmosphere entry probe, 1,091 lb (495 kg). First successful to survive to surface.
Cosmos 359 (USSR)	22-Aug-70	SL-6/A-2-e	2,600 (1,180)	Venus probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Mariner 8 (USA)	8-May-71	Atlas-Centaur	2,273 (1,031)	Mars probe, failed to achieve Earth orbit.
Cosmos 419 (USSR)	10-May-71	SL-12/D-1-e	10,250 (4,650)	Mars probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Mars 2 (USSR)	19-May-71	SL-12/D-1-e	10,253 (4,650)	Mars probe. Returned data from orbit but lander failed to return any data.
Mars 3 (USSR)	28-May-71	SL-12/D-1-e	10,253 (4,650)	Mars probe. Returned data from orbit but lander failed after reaching surface. Entry probe 1,400 lb (635 kg); surface payload 992 lb (450 kg).
Mariner 9 (USA)	30-May-71	Atlas-Centaur	2,270 (1,030)	First successful Mars orbiter. Returned over 7,000 pictures of surface and moons.
Pioneer 10 (USA)	3-Mar-72	Atlas-Centaur	570 (258)	First successful fly-by of Jupiter.
Venera 8 (USSR)	27-Mar-72	SL-6/A-2-e	2,602 (1,180)	Venus atmosphere entry probe, 1,090 lb (495 kg). Returned air and surface data from day side.
Cosmos 482 (USSR)	31-Mar-72	SL-6/A-2-e	2,600 (1,180)	Venus probe, failed to leave Earth orbit.
Pioneer 11 (USA)	6-Apr-73	Atlas-Centaur	571 (259)	Jupiter probe. First successful fly-by of Saturn providing detailed view of ring structure.
Mars 4 (USSR)	21-Jul-73	SL-12/D-1-e	8,710 (3,950)	Mars probe, failed to achieve orbit. Returned fly-by data.
Mars 5 (USSR)	25-Jul-73	SL-12/D-1-e	8,710 (3,950)	Returned data from Mars orbit.
Mars 6 (USSR)	5-Aug-73	SL-12/D-1-e	8,710 (3,950)	Mars fly-by. Lander returned 150 sec of data during descent.
Mars 7 (USSR)	9-Aug-73	SL-12/D-1-e	8,710 (3,950)	Mars fly-by. Lander probe failed to enter Mars atmosphere.
Mariner 10 (USA)	3-Nov-73	Atlas-Centaur	1,109 (503)	First TV pictures of Venus fly-by. Three fly-by encounters with Mercury.
Hellos 1 (US/FRG)	10-Dec-74	Titan-Centaur	816 (370)	Solar probe orbiting within 0.3 AU of Sun.
Venera 9 (USSR)	8-Jun-75	SL-12/D-1-e	10,884 (4,936)	Venus lander. Returned data and first TV pictures from surface. Orbiter returned data. Entry sphere 3,440 lb (1,560 kg); surface payload 1,455 lb (660 kg).
Venera 10 (USSR)	14-Jun-75	SL-12/D-1-e	11,098 (5,033)	Venus lander returned data and pictures from surface. Orbiter returned data. Entry sphere 3,440 lb (1,560 kg); surface payload 1,455 lb (660 kg).
Viking 1 (USA)	20-Aug-75	Titan-Centaur	7,497 (3,400)	Mars orbiter returned pictures and data. First successful Mars landing. Returned pictures and data. Orbiter 5,125 lb (2,224 kg); lander surface weight 1,270 lb (576 kg).
Viking 2 (USA)	9-Sep-75	Titan-Centaur	7,497 (3,490)	Mars orbiter returned pictures and data. Mars lander returned pictures and data. Orbiter 5,125 lb (2,224 kg); lander surface weight 1,270 lb (576 kg).
Hellos 2 (US/FRG)	15-Jan-76	Titan-Centaur	830 (376)	Solar probe orbiting within 0.29 AU of Sun.
Voyager 2 (USA)	20-Aug-77	Titan-Centaur	1,797 (815)	Fly-by probe of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Returned pictures and data.
Voyager 1 (USA)	5-Sep-77	Titan-Centaur	1,797 (815)	Fly-by probe of Jupiter and Saturn. Returned pictures and data. Discovered volcanoes on Io, Jupiter ring, new Saturn moons and ring structure.
Pioneer-Venus 1 (USA)	20-May-78	Atlas-Centaur	1,283 (582)	Venus orbiter, returned pictures and data.
Pioneer-Venus 2 (USA)	8-Aug-78	Atlas-Centaur	1,993 (904)	Venus bus, released four entry probes before encounter. Returned data from surface.
ICE (USA)	12-Aug-78	Delta	478 (217)	Originally launched as International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 (ISEE-3). Transfer to escape trajectory and renamed International Comet Explorer. First ever comet fly-by on 2-Sep-85 of Giacobini-Zinner Comet.
Venera 11 (USSR)	9-Sep-78	SL-12/D-1-e	9,812 (4,450)	Venus fly-by probe, returned data. Lander returned atmosphere and surface data, descent payload 3,528 lb (1,600 kg).
Venera 12 (USSR)	14-Sep-78	SL-12/D-1-e	9,837 (4,461)	Venus fly-by probe, returned data. Lander returned atmosphere and surface data, descent payload 3,554 lb (1,612 kg).
Venera 13 (USSR)	30-Oct-81	SL-12/D-1-e	9,620 (4,363)	Venus fly-by probe, first color pictures of surface. Conducted first soil analysis at landing site, descent payload 3,627 lb (1,645 kg).
Venera 14 (USSR)	4-Nov-81	SL-12/D-1-e	9,620 (4,363)	Venus fly-by probe, returned color pictures of landing site and conducted analysis of soil, descent payload 3,627 lb (1,645 kg).
Venera 15 (USSR)	2-Jun-83	SL-12/D-1-e	11,574 (5,250)	Venus orbiter. radar surface mapper.
Venera 16 (USSR)	7-Jun-83	SL-12/D-1-e	11,819 (5,360)	Venus orbiter. radar surface mapper.
Vega 1 (USSR)	15-Dec-84	SL-12/D-1-e	10,850 (4,920)	Venus lander and French atmosphere balloon probe. Halley's Comet fly-by 6-Mar-86.
Vega 2 (USSR)	21-Dec-84	SL-12/D-1-e	10,850 (4,920)	Venus lander and French atmosphere balloon probe. Halley's Comet fly-by 9-Mar-86.
Sakigake (Japan)	7-Jan-85	Mu-3SII	305 (138)	First Japanese deep space probe. Distant Halley's Comet fly-by 11-Mar-86.
Giotto (ESA)	2-Jul-85	Ariane 1	1,265 (574)	First close encounter with a comet. Halley's Comet fly-by 14-Mar-86.
Suisei (Japan)	18-Aug-85	Mu-3SII	308 (140)	Japanese deep space probe. Distant Halley's Comet fly-by 11-Mar-86.
Phobos 1 (USSR)	7-Jul-88	SL-12/D-1-e	13,715 (6,220)	Mars probe failed due to telemetry message error.
Phobos 2 (USSR)	12-Jul-88	SL-12/D-1-e	13,715 (6,220)	Mars orbiter, contact lost before planned fly-by of the moon Phobos.
Magellan (USA)	4-May-89	Shuttle/IUS	7,662 (3,475)	Venus orbiter, radar surface and gravity field mapper; arrived at Venus 10-Aug-90. First spacecraft to lower its orbit by using planet's atmosphere (aerobraking).
Galileo (USA)	18-Oct-89	Shuttle/IUS	5,985 (2,715)	Jupiter orbiter, atmosphere probe. First fly-by of an asteroid, 951 Gaspra Oct-91 and 243 Ida Aug-93. First Jupiter atmosphere entry, returned 58 min of data. Arrived at Jupiter 7-Dec-95; disintegrated in Jupiter atmosphere 21-Sep-03. Orbiter 2,846 lb (1,291 kg); entry probe 739 lb (335 kg).
Ulysses (ESA/US)	6-Oct-90	Shuttle/IUS	818 (371)	Jupiter gravity assist International Solar Polar Mission (ISPM).
Mars Observer (USA)	25-Sep-92	Titan III/TOS	4,630 (2,100)	Mars orbiter, contact lost before entering orbit.
Wind (USA)	1-Nov-94	Delta II	2,635 (1,195)	Solar probe, orbiting Sun inside Earth's orbit.
NEAR (USA)	17-Feb-96	Delta II	2,480 (1,125)	Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous, placed in orbit around 433 Eros 14-Feb-00; first Eros orbit attempt failed Dec-99; asteroid Mathilde flyby Jun-97. Landed on Eros 12-Feb-01.
Mars Global Surveyor (USA)	7-Nov-96	Delta II	2,341 (1,062)	Mars orbiter. Arrived 12-Sep-97 for mapping through Jan-00. Mass at Mars arrival 1,691 lb (767 kg). Contact lost 2-Nov-06.
Mars 96 (Russia)	16-Nov-96	SL-12/D-1-e	15,045 (6,825)	Mars probe, failed to leave earth orbit.
Mars Pathfinder (USA)	4-Dec-96	Delta II	1,962 (890)	Mars lander, first planetary rover (Sojourner). Lander mass 794 lb (360 kg); microrover 35 lb (16 kg). Landed 4-Jul-97.
Cassini-Huygens (USA, ESA, Italy)	15-Oct-97	Titan-Centaur	12,421 (5,634)	Saturn orbiter (Cassini) and Titan probe (Huygens). Orbiter arrived at Saturn 30-Jun-2004 for start of 4-year mission. Probe successfully landed on Titan 14-Jan-2005 returning data and images. Orbiter mass 4,740 lb (2,150 kg); probe 770 lb (350 kg).
Nozomi (Japan)	3-Jul-98	M-V-3	1,190 (540)	Mars orbiter. Planned arrival was 11-Oct-99, but malfunctions delayed arrival to Dec-03. Mission abandoned Dec-03.
Mars Climate Orbiter (USA)	11-Dec-98	Delta II	1,387 (629)	Mars orbiter. Lost during attempted orbit insertion 23-Sep-99 due to navigation error.
Mars Polar Lander (USA)	3-Jan-99	Delta II	1,270 (576)	Mars lander, including Deep Space 2 microprobes. Communication lost during attempted landing 3-Dec-99. Cause of failure likely premature engine shutdown.
Stardust (USA)	7-Feb-99	Delta II	838 (380)	Comet flyby and sample return. Encountered Comet Wild 2 on 2-Jan-04; sample cannister successfully returned to Earth 15-Jan-06.
2001 Mars Odyssey (USA)	7-Apr-01	Delta II	1,598 (725)	Mars orbiter. Arrived 24-Oct-01 for mapping and global observations through Aug-04. On-orbit dry mass 830 lb (376 kg).
Hayabusa (Japan)	9-May-03	M-V-5	1,168 (530)	Asteroid orbiter and sample return. Arrived at asteroid Itokawa Sep-05; reentry capsule was returned to Earth on 13-Jun-10. Originally named MUSES-C.
Mars Express (ESA)	2-Jun-03	Soyuz/Fregat	2,469 (1,120)	Mars orbiter & lander (Beagle 2). Orbiter arrived 25-Dec-03. Communication with lander failed, cause unknown. Orbiter mass 249 lb (113 kg); lander 132 lb (60 kg).
Mars Exploration Rover A (USA)	10-Jun-03	Delta II	2,343 (1,063)	Mars lander & rover (Spirit). Landed 3-Jan-04 for start of 90-day mission; last communication with Earth was sent 22-Mar-10. Lander mass 767 lb (348 kg); rover 408 lb (185 kg).
Mars Exploration Rover B (USA)	7-Jul-03	Delta II	2,343 (1,063)	Mars lander & rover (Opportunity). Landed 24-Jan-04 for start of 90-day mission; still operating in 2012. Lander mass 767 lb (348 kg); rover 408 lb (185 kg).
Rosetta (ESA)	2-Mar-04	Ariane 5 G+	6,600 (3,000)	Coment orbiter and lander (Philae). Scheduled arrival at Comet 67 P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is May-2014 for start of 1.5-year science mission. Two asteroid flybys planned. Orbiter mass 2,640 lb (1,200 kg); Lander mass 220 lb (100 kg).
MESSENGER (USA)	3-Aug-04	Delta II	2,400 (1,100)	Mercury orbiter. Flybys of Mercury in Jan-08, Oct-08 and Sep-09; orbit insertion achieved 18-Mar-11 for start of planned 1-year mapping and science mission.
Deep Impact (USA)	12-Jan-05	Delta II	2,249 (1,020)	Flyby spacecraft and impactor to study interior of Comet Tempel 1; impact successfully occured 4-Jul-05. Flyby spacecraft mass 1,433 lb (650 kg); impactor 816 lb (370 kg).
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (USA)	12-Aug-05	Atlas V	4,806 (2,180)	Mars orbiter. Arrived 10-Mar-06 for low-altitude science observation, site investigation for future landings, and telecommunication & navigation relay for follow-on missions.
Venus Express (ESA)	9-Nov-05	Soyuz/Fregat	2,734 (1,240)	Venus orbiter. Arrived 11-Apr-06 for start of mission to study the planet's atmosphere.
New Horizons (USA)	19-Jan-06	Atlas V	1,054 (478)	Pluto-Charon fly-by probe. Scheduled arrival is mid-2015 for 5-month geological study and mapping mission.
Phoenix (USA)	3-Aug-07	Delta II	1,477 (670)	Mars lander. Landed 25-May-08 to begin 90-day mission to study the history of water and search for organic molecules in the martian arctic soil. Lander mass 772 lb (350 kg).
Dawn (USA)	27-Sep-07	Delta II	2,685 (1,218)	Asteroid orbiter to study protoplanets with goal of characterizing the conditions and processes of the early solar system; entered orbit around Vesta 16-Jul-11, scheduled to arrive at Ceres Feb-2015.
Mars Science Laboratory (USA)	26-Nov-11	Atlas V 541	8,580 (3,893)	Mars rover with integrated instrument package (Curiosity). Landed 6-Aug-12 for start of 687-day (one Martian year) mission to investigate Mars' habitability, study its climate and geology, and collect data for a manned mission to Mars. Rover mass 1,980 lb (899 kg).