For textbook section 6.1 - 6.5, the material I covered in class can be found in the text. I am supplementing the text section 6.6 with a more concise list of various interplanetary missions, including important information and (in most cases) the mission's homepage. Bear in mind that, for newer and future missions, the information given here is more accurate than what is given in your textbook. Your test will be based on the newer information.

The pertinent figures for this chapter are; tables 6.1 and 6.2, figures 6.7, 6.16, the figures on pages 154-5.



Information on the missions you are expected to be familiar with on tests.
You are expected to know the information below. The websites are given as a supplement, you are not expected to know content not given on this page.

NEAR (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous)
Mission Homepage
Launched by the U.S., arrived at the Asteroid Belt in 2001.
Major accomplishments: Successfully landed on the asteroid Eros, took high resolution pictures of Eros & other asteroids, performed some chemical analyses on Eros.


Mariner 10
Mission Homepage
Launched by the U.S., arrived at Mercury in 1974.
Major accomplishments: First to photograph Mercury's surface. These photos showed Mercury to be a barren, heavily cratered rock. Successfully inserted into an orbit of period equal to two Mercury years, this allowed 3 Mercury flybys. First use of a gravitationally assisted trajectory.

Messenger
Mission Homepage
Will be launched by the U.S. in 2004.
Major goals: Will study the composition & structure of Mercury. Will study Mercury's magnetic field.


Venera 7
Launched by the U.S.S.R., arrived at Venus in 1970.
Major accomplishments: This was the first craft to land on Venus. It survived well enough to send data to Earth for 23 minutes before succumbing to the high temperatures and pressures of Venus' surface. Provided temperature data and detailed radio imaging maps of Venus' Northern Hemisphere.

Magellan
Mission Homepage
Launched by the U.S., arrived at Venus in 1990.
Major accomplishments: Mapped 98% of Venus' surface at highest resolution available for this planet. This craft just orbited Venus, it did not land.


Mariner 4
Mission Homepage
Launched by the U.S., arrived at Mars in 1965.
Major accomplishments: First craft to get to Mars. It did not land, it just flew by. Provided the first photos of the Martian surfaces, revealing many craters and no evidence of life or geological activity.

Mariner 9
Mission Homepage
Launched by the U.S., arrived at Mars in 1971.
Major accomplishments: Provided higher resolution surface images of Martian surface, revealing volcanoes (albeit inactive ones), drainage channels, and canyons.

Viking 1 & 2
Mission Homepage
Launched by the U.S., arrived at Mars in 1976.
Major accomplishments: First crafts to land on Mars. Returned long term data on Martian surface and atmosphere. Currently, the most comprehensive data we have on the Martian surface is from this mission.


Pioneer 10 & 11
Mission Homepage
Launched by the U.S., arrived at Jupiter in 1973 (10) and 1974 (11).
Major accomplishments: Pioneer 10 provided the first pictures of Jupiter, Pioneer 11 provided the first pictures of Saturn. This crafts acted as scouts for the Voyager mission, trying out gravity assist trajectories. The last signal from Pioneer 10 was received in early 2003.

Voyager 1 & 2
Mission Homepage
Launched by the U.S.
Voyager 1 arrival dates: 1979 Jupiter, 1981 Saturn
Voyager 2 arrival dates: 1979 Jupiter, 1981 Saturn, 1986 Uranus, 1989 Neptune
Major accomplishments/goals: V2 provided the first pictures (and, to date, the only close pictures) of Uranus & Neptune. V1 provided the first (and so far the only close) pictures of Saturn's moon Titan. All done with gravity assist trajectories. Both crafts are now steadily moving away from the solar system, each is several 10s of AU away. We are still receiving signal from them. These crafts are now engaged in the Voyager Interstellar Mission, the goal of which is to find the "heliopause." The heliopause is the boundary of the Sun's influence, the farthest the solar wind can travel.

Galileo
Mission Homepage
Launched by the U.S., arrived at Jupiter in 1995.
Major Accomplishments: Extensive studies of Jupiter and the four Galilean moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Calisto). The best and largest amount of data available on the appearance and composition of Jupiter & these moons. Completed the trip to Jupiter and all subsequent manuevers using gravity assist trajectories. One of the most successful NASA missions ever, it finally ended about a month ago.


Cassini
Mission Homepage
Launched by U.S., will arrive at Saturn in 2004.
Major goals: Extensive studies of Saturn & its largest moon, Titan. Will take high resolution pictures and study the composition of these bodies.