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Space Missions History
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New Horizons
Year launched: 2006, Mission objectives: Perform a flyby study of Pluto and its moons, and then continue to the Kuiper Belt, Key outcomes: First reconnaissance of Pluto, provided high-resolution images and data of Pluto's surface and atmosphere.
MESSENGER
Year launched: 2004, Mission objectives: Orbit Mercury and gather detailed information about the planet, Key outcomes: Revealed that Mercury has a surprisingly complex geology and magnetic field.
Voyager 1
Year launched: 1977, Mission objectives: Study the outer Solar System and interstellar space, Key outcomes: First spacecraft to reach interstellar space, famous for its 'Pale Blue Dot' image.
Rosetta
Year launched: 2004, Mission objectives: Study the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Key outcomes: First successful landing on a comet, detailed mapping of a comet's surface, and analysis of its composition.
Mars Pathfinder
Year launched: 1996, Mission objectives: Demonstrate a low-cost method for delivering a set of science instruments to Mars, Key outcomes: Delivered the Sojourner rover, which performed various experiments on the Martian surface.
Pioneer 10
Year launched: 1972, Mission objectives: Conduct the first direct exploration of Jupiter, Key outcomes: First spacecraft to travel through the asteroid belt and make direct observations of Jupiter.
Chandra X-ray Observatory
Year launched: 1999, Mission objectives: Observe X-rays from high-energy regions of the universe, Key outcomes: Provided insight into the structure and evolution of the universe, observed phenomena such as supernovae and black holes.
Spirit and Opportunity Rovers
Year launched: 2003, Mission objectives: Explore the surface of Mars and search for past water activity, Key outcomes: Both rovers found signs of ancient water on Mars and exceeded their expected lifespans, making numerous scientific discoveries.
Hubble Space Telescope
Year launched: 1990, Mission objectives: Observe celestial objects, gather data across the electromagnetic spectrum, Key outcomes: Provided high-resolution images of deep space, contributed significantly to astrophysics.
Kepler Space Telescope
Year launched: 2009, Mission objectives: Discover Earth-size exoplanets in or near the habitable zone, Key outcomes: Confirmed thousands of exoplanets, including Earth-size planets in the habitable zones of their stars.
Curiosity Rover
Year launched: 2011, Mission objectives: Explore Mars' Gale Crater as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, Key outcomes: Found evidence of ancient freshwater on Mars and organic molecules, possible building blocks for life on Mars.
Cassini-Huygens
Year launched: 1997, Mission objectives: Study Saturn, its rings, and its moons, Key outcomes: Discovered new rings and moons, analyzed Saturn's atmosphere, and landed Huygens probe on Titan, Saturn's largest moon.
Apollo 11
Year launched: 1969, Mission objectives: Land humans on the Moon and return them safely to Earth, Key outcomes: First human Moon landing, with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the lunar surface.
Parker Solar Probe
Year launched: 2018, Mission objectives: Study the outer corona of the Sun, Key outcomes: Became the closest human-made object to the Sun, gathering data about solar activity and the solar wind.
Juno
Year launched: 2011, Mission objectives: Study Jupiter's composition, gravity field, magnetic field, and polar magnetosphere, Key outcomes: Revealed new aspects of Jupiter's atmosphere, including massive cyclones at the poles.
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