List of Solar System probes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of all space probes that have left Earth orbit or were launched with that intention but failed, organised by their planned destination. This includes planetary probes, lunar probes, solar probes and probes to asteroids and comets. Flybys, including terrestrial, (such as gravity assists) that were incidental to the main purpose of the mission are also listed. Confirmed future probes are included, but missions that are still at the concept stage, or which never progressed beyond the concept stage, are not.

Contents

[edit] Key

  • Grey shading indicates a successful or partly successful mission
  • means "tentatively identified", as classified by NASA [1]. These are Cold War-era Soviet missions, mostly failures, about which few or no details have been officially released. The information given may be speculative.
  • Type is one of:
  • flyby – the spacecraft is to fly past its target
  • orbiter – the spacecraft is to study the target from orbit
  • lander – the spacecraft is to study the target on its surface
  • impactor – the spacecraft is to study the target until it hits the target and is destroyed
  • penetrator – the spacecraft is to penetrate the surface of the target
  • atmospheric probe/balloon – the spacecraft is to study the atmosphere of the target
  • sample return – the spacecraft is to return samples to the Earth
  • Date is the date of:
  • closest encounter (flybys)
  • impact (impactors)
  • orbital insertion to end of mission, whether planned or premature (orbiters)
  • landing to end of mission, whether planned or premature (landers)
  • launch (missions that never got underway due to failure at or soon after launch)
In cases which do not fit any of the above, the event to which the date refers is stated. Note that as a result of this scheme missions are not always listed in order of launch.
  • Under Status:
  • success means that the mission fulfilled its primary goals. In the case of flybys (such as gravity assists) that are incidental to the main mission, "success" indicates the successful completion of the flyby, not necessarily that of the main mission.
  • partial success means that the mission fulfilled some but not all of its primary goals
  • failure means that the mission did not fulfil any of its primary goals
Other entries are self-explanatory.

[edit] Solar probes

These are solar observation probes designed to operate in heliocentric orbit or at one of the Earth-Sun Lagrangian points. The list excludes Earth-orbiting solar observatories.

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Pioneer 5 Flag of the United States NASA/
DOD
March–April 1960 orbiter success measured magnetic field phenomena, solar flare particles, and ionization in the interplanetary region [2]
Pioneer 6 Flag of the United States NASA December 1965 – still contactable in 2000 orbiter success network of solar-orbiting "space weather" monitors, observing solar wind, cosmic rays, and magnetic fields [3]
Pioneer 7 Flag of the United States NASA August 1966 – still contactable in 1995 orbiter success [4]
Pioneer 8 Flag of the United States NASA December 1967 – still contactable in 2001 orbiter success [5]
Pioneer 9 Flag of the United States NASA November 1968 – May 1983 orbiter success [6]
Pioneer-E Flag of the United States NASA 27 August 1969 orbiter failure intended as part of the Pioneer 6–9 network; failed to reach orbit [7]
Helios 1 Flag of the United States NASA/
Flag of West Germany BWF
November 1974 – 1982 orbiter success observations of solar wind, magnetic and electric fields, cosmic rays and cosmic dust between Earth and Sun [8]
Helios 2 Flag of the United States NASA/
Flag of West Germany BWF
January 1976 – 1985? orbiter success [9]
ISEE-3 Flag of the United States NASA 1978–1982 orbiter success observed solar phenomena in conjunction with earth-orbiting ISEE-1 and ISEE-2; later renamed International Cometary Explorer (ICE) and directed to Comet Giacobini-Zinner [10]
Ulysses
(first pass)
Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of the United States NASA
1994 orbiter success south polar observations [11]
1995 north polar observations
WIND Flag of the United States NASA November 1994 — still active (as of April 2008[1]) orbiter success solar wind measurements [12]
SOHO Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of the United States NASA
May 1996 – still active (as of May 2008) orbiter success investigation of Sun's core, corona, and solar wind [13]
ACE Flag of the United States NASA August 1997 – still active (as of May 2008) orbiter success solar wind observations [14]
Ulysses
(second pass)
Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of the United States NASA
2000 orbiter success south polar observations [15]
2001 north polar observations
Genesis Flag of the United States NASA 2001–2004 orbiter/
sample return
partial success solar wind sample return; crash landed on return to Earth, some samples salvaged [16]
STEREO A Flag of the United States NASA December 2006 – planned 2 year mission orbiter operational stereoscopic imaging of coronal mass ejections and other solar phenomena [17]
STEREO B Flag of the United States NASA December 2006 – planned 2 year mission orbiter operational [18]
Ulysses
(third pass)
Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of the United States NASA
2007 orbiter success south polar observations [19]
2008 partial success north polar observations; some data returned despite failing power and reduced transmission capacity
Solar Sentinels Flag of the United States NASA multi-probe orbiter planned six probes watching the sun [20]
Solar Orbiter Flag of Europe ESA 2015 orbiter planned close-range solar observations [21]
Solar Probe Flag of the United States NASA orbiter under study close-range coronal observations [22]

[edit] Mercury probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Mariner 10 Flag of the United States NASA March 29, 1974 flyby success minimum distance 704 km [23]
September 21, 1974 48,069 km
March 16, 1975 327 km
MESSENGER Flag of the United States NASA January 14, 2008 flyby success minimum distance 200 km [24]
October 6, 2008 flyby yet to arrive planned minimum distance 200 km
September 30, 2009 flyby
March 18, 2011 –
March, 2012
orbiter
BepiColombo Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of Japan JAXA
2019 [25]
   Mercury
Planetary Orbiter
Flag of Europe ESA orbiter under construction
Mercury Magnetospheric
Orbiter
Flag of Japan JAXA orbiter under construction
Mercury Surface Element Flag of Europe ESA lander cancelled

[edit] Venus probes

Main article: Exploration of Venus
Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Sputnik 7 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) February 4, 1961 lander failure failed to escape from Earth orbit [26]
Venera 1 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) May 19, 1961 –
May 20, 1961
flyby failure contact lost 7 days after launch; first spacecraft to fly by another planet [27]
Mariner 1 Flag of the United States NASA July 22, 1962 flyby failure guidance failure shortly after launch [28]
Sputnik 19 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) August 25, 1962 lander failure failed to escape Earth orbit [29]
Sputnik 20 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) September 1, 1962 lander failure failed to escape Earth orbit [30]
Sputnik 21 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) September 12, 1962 flyby failure third stage exploded [31]
Mariner 2 Flag of the United States NASA December 14, 1962 flyby success first successful Venus flyby; minimum distance 34,773 km [32]
Cosmos 21 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) November 11, 1963 flyby? failure failed to escape Earth orbit [33]
Venera 1964A Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) February 19, 1964 flyby failure failed to reach Earth orbit [34]
Venera 1964B Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) March 1, 1964 flyby failure failed to reach Earth orbit [35]
Cosmos 27 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) March 27, 1964 flyby failure failed to escape Earth orbit [36]
Zond 1 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) 1964 flyby and possible lander failure contact lost en route [37]
Cosmos 96 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) November 23, 1965 lander failure exploded? [38]
Venera 1965A Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) November 26, 1965 flyby failure launch vehicle failure? [39]
Venera 2 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) February 27, 1966 flyby failure ceased to operate en route [40]
Venera 3 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) March 1, 1966 lander failure contact lost before arrival; first spacecraft to impact on the surface of another planet [41]
Cosmos 167 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) June 17, 1967 lander failure failed to escape Earth orbit [42]
Venera 4 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) October 18, 1967 atmospheric probe success continued to transmit to an altitude of 25 km [43]
Mariner 5 Flag of the United States NASA October 19, 1967 flyby success minimum distance 5,000 km [44]
Venera 5 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) May 16, 1969 atmospheric probe success [45]
Venera 6 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) May 17, 1969 atmospheric probe success [46]
Cosmos 359 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) August 22, 1970 lander? failure failed to escape Earth orbit [47]
Venera 7 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) December 15, 1970 lander success first successful landing on another planet; signals returned from surface for 23 minutes [48]
Cosmos 482 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) March 31, 1972 lander? failure failed to escape Earth orbit [49]
Venera 8 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) July 22, 1972 lander success signals returned from surface for 50 minutes [50]
Mariner 10 Flag of the United States NASA February 5, 1974 flyby success minimum distance 5768 km, en route to Mercury; first use of gravity assist by an interplanetary spacecraft [51]
Venera 9 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) 1975 orbiter success [52]
October 22, 1975 lander success first images from the surface [53]
Venera 10 Flag of the Soviet Union (USSR) 1975 orbiter success [54]
October 23, 1975 lander success [55]
Pioneer Venus Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA December 4, 1978 –
1992
orbiter success [56]
Pioneer Venus Multiprobe Flag of the United States NASA December 9, 1978
bus probe transporter success [57]
large probe atmospheric probe success [58]
north probe atmospheric probe success [59]
day probe atmospheric probe success survived impact and continued to transmit from surface for over an hour [60]
night probe atmospheric probe success [61]
Venera 12 Flag of the Soviet Union SAS
flight platform December 21, 1978 flyby success minimum distance 34,000 km [62]
descent craft December 21, 1978 lander partial success failure of some instruments [63]
Venera 11 Flag of the Soviet Union SAS
   flight platform December 25, 1978 flyby success minimum distance 34,000 km [64]
descent craft December 25, 1978 lander partial success failure of some instruments [65]
Venera 13 Flag of the Soviet Union SAS
bus March 1, 1982 flyby success [66]
descent craft March 1, 1982 lander success survived on surface for 127 minutes [67]
Venera 14 Flag of the Soviet Union SAS
bus March 5, 1982 flyby success [68]
descent craft March 5, 1982 lander success survived on surface for 57 minutes [69]
Venera 15 Flag of the Soviet Union SAS 1983–1984 orbiter success radar mapping [70]
Venera 16 Flag of the Soviet Union SAS 1983–1984 orbiter success radar mapping [71]
Vega 1 Flag of the Soviet Union SAS June 11, 1985 flyby success went on to fly by Halley's comet [72]
lander failure instruments deployed prematurely [73]
atmospheric balloon success [74]
Vega 2 Flag of the Soviet Union SAS June 15, 1985 flyby success went on to fly by Halley's comet [75]
lander success [76]
atmospheric balloon success [77]
Galileo Flag of the United States NASA February 10, 1990 flyby success gravity assist en route to Jupiter; minimum distance 16,000 km [78]
Magellan Flag of the United States NASA August 10, 1990
October 12, 1994
orbiter success global radar mapping [79]
Cassini Flag of the United States NASA/
Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of Italy ASI
April 26, 1998 flyby success gravity assist en route to Saturn [80]
June 24, 1999
Venus Express Flag of Europe ESA April 11, 2006 – still in operation (as of May 2008) orbiter success atmospheric studies [81]
MESSENGER Flag of the United States NASA October 24, 2006 flyby success gravity assist only; minimum distance 2990 km [82]
June 6, 2007 success minimum distance 300 km; en route to Mercury
PLANET-C Flag of Japan JAXA 2010 orbiter planned [83]
Venera-D Flag of Russia RFSA 2013 orbiter planned [84]
Venus In-Situ Explorer Flag of the United States NASA 2013 in-situ explorer planned [85]
Venus Surface Explorer Flag of the United States NASA 2020 in-situ explorer planned [86]

[edit] Earth flybys

See also: Timeline of Earth science satellites

These are probes that incidentally performed Earth flybys during missions to other bodies, often as part of gravity-assist orbital manoeuvres. Earth-orbiting craft are not listed.

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Giotto
(first pass)
Flag of Europe ESA July 2, 1990 flyby success first Earth flyby, en route to Comet Grigg-Skjellerup [87]
Galileo
(first pass)
Flag of the United States NASA October 8, 1990 flyby success gravity assist en route to Jupiter; minimum distance 960 km [88]
Sakigake
(first pass)
Flag of Japan ISAS January 8, 1992 flyby previously visited Halley's comet [89]
Suisei Flag of Japan ISAS August 20, 1992 flyby failure previously visited Halley's comet; hydrazine depleted, further planned comet flybys abandoned [90]
Galileo
(second pass)
Flag of the United States NASA December 8, 1992 flyby success gravity assist en route to Jupiter; minimum distance 305 km [91]
Sakigake
(second and third passes)
Flag of Japan ISAS June 14, 1993 flyby [92]
October 28, 1994 flyby out of fuel; contact lost November 1995
NEAR Shoemaker Flag of the United States NASA January 23, 1998 flyby success gravity assist en route to Eros; closest approach 540 km [93]
Nozomi
(first pass)
Flag of Japan ISAS December 20, 1998 flyby partial success gravity assist on planned mission to Mars; valve malfunction during flyby required extra burn, which later forced alternate trajectory plan [94]
Giotto
(second pass)
Flag of Europe ESA July 1, 1999 flyby n/a already defunct [95]
Cassini Flag of the United States NASA/
Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of Italy ASI
August, 1999 flyby success gravity assist en route to Saturn [96]
Stardust
(first pass)
Flag of the United States NASA January 15, 2001 flyby success gravity assist en route to comet 81P/Wild [97]
Nozomi
(second pass)
Flag of Japan ISAS December, 2002 flyby success gravity assist en route to Mars [98]
Nozomi
(third pass)
Flag of Japan ISAS June 19, 2003 flyby success gravity assist en route to Mars [99]
Hayabusa Flag of Japan ISAS May 19, 2004 flyby success en route to Itokawa [100]
Rosetta
(first pass)
Flag of Europe ESA March 4, 2005 flyby success gravity assist en route to asteroid and comet encounters [101]
MESSENGER Flag of the United States NASA August 2, 2005 flyby success en route to Venus and Mercury [102]
Stardust
(second pass)
Flag of the United States NASA January 15, 2006 flyby success drop-off of sample return capsule [103]
Rosetta
(second pass)
Flag of Europe ESA November 13, 2007 flyby success gravity assist en route to asteroid and comet encounters
Deep Impact (redesignated EPOXI) Flag of the United States NASA December 31, 2007 flyby success previously visited Comet 9P/Tempel; gravity assist en route to encounter with Comet 103P/Hartley [104]
Stardust
(third pass)
Flag of the United States NASA January 14, 2009 flyby yet to arrive mission extension to Comet 9P/Tempel [105]
Rosetta
(third pass)
Flag of Europe ESA November 13, 2009 flyby yet to arrive gravity assist en route to asteroid and comet encounters

[edit] Lunar probes

The list does not include the manned Apollo missions.

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Pioneer 0 Flag of the United States DOD August 17, 1958 orbiter failure first attempted launch beyond Earth orbit; launch vehicle failure; maximum altitude 16 km [106]
Luna 1958A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR September 23, 1958 impactor failure launch vehicle failure [107]
Pioneer 1 Flag of the United States NASA/
DOD
October 11, 1958 orbiter failure second stage premature shutdown; maximum altitude 113,800 km; some data returned [108]
Luna 1958B Flag of the Soviet Union USSR October 12, 1958 impactor failure launch vehicle failure [109]
Pioneer 2 Flag of the United States NASA/
STL
November 8, 1958 orbiter failure third stage failure; maximum altitude 1,550 km; some data returned [110]
Luna 1958C Flag of the Soviet Union USSR December 4, 1958 impactor failure launch vehicle failure [111]
Pioneer 3 Flag of the United States NASA/
DOD
December 6, 1958 flyby failure fuel depletion; maximum altitude 102,360 km; some data returned [112]
Luna 1 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR January 4, 1959 flyby partial success first spacecraft in the vicinity of the Moon (flew within 5,995 km, but probably an intended impactor) [113]
Luna 1959A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR June 18, 1959 impactor failure failed to reach Earth orbit [114]
Pioneer 4 Flag of the United States NASA/
DOD
March 4, 1959 flyby partial success achieved distant flyby; first US probe to enter solar orbit [115]
Luna 2 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR September 14, 1959 impactor success first impact on Moon [116]
Pioneer P-1 Flag of the United States NASA September 24, 1959? orbiter? failure designation sometimes given to a failed launch or launchpad explosion during testing; conflicting information between sources
Luna 3 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR October 6, 1959 flyby success first images from the lunar farside [117]
Pioneer P-3 Flag of the United States NASA November 26, 1959 orbiter failure disintegrated shortly after launch [118]
Luna 1960A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR April 15, 1960 flyby failure failed to attain correct trajectory [119]
Luna 1960B Flag of the Soviet Union USSR April 16, 1960 flyby failure launch vehicle failure [120]
Pioneer P-30 Flag of the United States NASA September 25, 1960 orbiter failure second stage failure; failed to reach Earth orbit [121]
Pioneer P-31 Flag of the United States NASA December 15, 1960 orbiter failure first stage failure [122]
Ranger 3 Flag of the United States NASA January 28, 1962 impactor failure missed target [123]
Ranger 4 Flag of the United States NASA April 26, 1962 impactor failure hit the lunar farside; no data returned [124]
Ranger 5 Flag of the United States NASA October 21, 1962 impactor failure power failure, missed target [125]
Sputnik 25 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR January 5, 1963 lander failure failed to escape Earth orbit [126]
Luna 1963B Flag of the Soviet Union USSR February 2, 1963 lander? failure failed to reach Earth orbit [127]
Luna 4 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR April 5, 1963 lander? failure missed target, became Earth satellite [128]
Ranger 6 Flag of the United States NASA 2 February 1964 impactor partial success impacted, but no pictures returned due to power failure [129]
Luna 1964A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR March 21, 1964 lander failure failed to reach Earth orbit [130]
Luna 1964B Flag of the Soviet Union USSR April 20, 1964 lander failure failed to reach Earth orbit [131]
Zond 1964A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR June 4, 1964 flyby failure failed to reach Earth orbit [132]
Ranger 7 Flag of the United States NASA July 31, 1964 impactor success returned pictures up until impact [133]
Ranger 8 Flag of the United States NASA February 20, 1965 impactor success returned pictures up until impact [134]
Cosmos 60 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR March 12, 1965 lander failure failed to leave Earth orbit [135]
Ranger 9 Flag of the United States NASA March 24, 1965 impactor success TV broadcast of live pictures up until impact [136]
Luna 1965A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR April 10, 1965 lander? failure failed to reach Earth orbit? [137]
Luna 5 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR May 12, 1965 lander failure crashed into Moon [138]
Luna 6 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR June 8, 1965 lander failure missed Moon [139]
Zond 3 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR July 20, 1965 flyby success [140]
Luna 7 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR October 7, 1965 lander failure crashed into Moon [141]
Luna 8 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR December 6, 1965 lander failure crashed into Moon [142]
Luna 9 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR February 3, 1966 –
February 6, 1966
lander success first soft landing; first images from the surface [143]
Cosmos 111 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR March 1, 1966 orbiter failure failed to escape Earth orbit [144]
Luna 10 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR April 3, 1966 –
May 30, 1966
orbiter success first artificial satellite of the moon [145]
Luna 1966A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR April 30, 1966 orbiter? failure failed to reach Earth orbit [146]
Surveyor 1 Flag of the United States NASA June 2, 1966 lander success first US soft landing; Surveyor program performed various tests in support of forthcoming manned landings [147]
Explorer 33 Flag of the United States NASA July 1, 1966
September 15, 1971
orbiter partial success studied interplanetary plasma, cosmic rays, magnetic fields and solar X rays; failed to attain lunar orbit as intended, but achieved mission objectives from Earth orbit [148]
Lunar Orbiter 1 Flag of the United States NASA August 14, 1966
October 29, 1966
orbiter success photographic mapping of lunar surface; intentionally impacted after completion of mission [149]
Luna 11 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR August 28, 1966
October 1, 1966
orbiter success [150]
Surveyor 2 Flag of the United States NASA September 23, 1966 lander failure crashed [151]
Luna 12 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR October 25, 1966
January 19, 1967
orbiter success [152]
Lunar Orbiter 2 Flag of the United States NASA November 10, 1966
October 11, 1967
orbiter success photographic mapping of lunar surface; intentionally impacted after completion of mission [153]
Luna 13 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR December 24, 1966 lander success [154]
Lunar Orbiter 3 Flag of the United States NASA February 8, 1967
October 9, 1967
orbiter success photographic mapping of lunar surface; intentionally impacted after completion of mission [155]
Surveyor 3 Flag of the United States NASA April 20, 1967
May 4, 1967
lander success [156]
Lunar Orbiter 4 Flag of the United States NASA May–October 1967 orbiter success lunar photographic survey [157]
Explorer 35 Flag of the United States NASA July 1967 –
June 24, 1973
orbiter success studies of interplanetary plasma, magnetic fields, energetic particles and solar X rays [158]
Surveyor 4 Flag of the United States NASA July 17, 1967 lander failure crashed into Moon [159]
Lunar Orbiter 5 Flag of the United States NASA August 5, 1967
January 31, 1968
orbiter success lunar photographic survey; intentionally impacted after completion of mission [160]
Surveyor 5 Flag of the United States NASA September 11, 1967
December 17, 1967
lander success [161]
Zond 1967A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR September 28, 1967 failure lunar capsule test flight; launch failure [162]
Surveyor 6 Flag of the United States NASA November 10, 1967
December 14, 1967
lander success [163]
Zond 1967B Flag of the Soviet Union USSR November 22, 1967 failure lunar capsule test flight; launch failure [164]
Surveyor 7 Flag of the United States NASA January 10, 1968
February 21, 1968
lander success [165]
Luna 1968A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR February 7, 1968 orbiter? failure failed to reach Earth orbit [166]
Zond 4 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR March 2, 1968 (launch) lunar programme flight test, directed away from Moon, either intentionally or unintentionally [167]
Luna 14 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR April 10, 1968 – ? orbiter success [168]
Zond 1968A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR April 23, 1968 flyby? failure launch failure [169]
Zond 5 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR September 18, 1968 flyby success bioscience experiments [170]
Zond 6 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR November 14, 1968 flyby success cosmic-ray, micrometeoroid and bioscience studies [171]
Zond 1969A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR January 20, 1969 flyby failure launch aborted [172]
Luna 1969A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR February 19, 1969 rover failure launch vehicle failure [173]
Zond L1S-1 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR February 21, 1969 orbiter failure launch vehicle failure [174]
Luna 1969B Flag of the Soviet Union USSR April 15, 1969 sample return? failure launch failure [175]
Luna 1969C Flag of the Soviet Union USSR June 14, 1969 sample return failure launch failure [176]
Zond L1S-2 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR July 3, 1969 orbiter failure launch failure [177]
Luna 15 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR July 21, 1969 sample return? failure? completed 52 lunar orbits then crash-landed [178]
Zond 7 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR August 11, 1969 flyby success returned to soft landing on Earth [179]
Cosmos 300 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR September 23, 1969 sample return failure failed to escape Earth orbit [180]
Cosmos 305 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR October 22, 1969 sample return failure failed to escape Earth orbit [181]
Luna 1970A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR February 6, 1970 sample return? failure launch vehicle failure [182]
Luna 1970B Flag of the Soviet Union USSR February 19, 1970 orbiter? failure launch vehicle failure [183]
Luna 16 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR September 20, 1970 sample return success first robotic sample return [184]
Zond 8 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR October 24, 1970 flyby success returned to soft landing on Earth [185]
Luna 17 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR November 17, 1970
October 4, 1971
lander success [186]
   Lunokhod 1 rover success first robotic rover; travelled over 10 km
Luna 18 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR September 11, 1971 lander/sample return? failure crashed into Moon [187]
Luna 19 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR October 3, 1971
October 1972
orbiter success [188]
Luna 20 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR February 21, 1972 sample return success second successful robotic sample return [189]
Soyuz L3 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR November 23, 1972 orbiter failure launch failure [190]
Luna 21 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR January 15, 1973
May 1973?
lander success [191]
Lunokhod 2 rover success second robotic rover; travelled 37 km
Explorer 49 Flag of the United States NASA June 15, 1973
June 1975
orbiter success radio astronomy observations; last US lunar mission until 1994 [192]
Mariner 10 Flag of the United States NASA November 1973 flyby success en route to Venus and Mercury [193]
Luna 22 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR June 2, 1974
November 1974
orbiter success [194]
Luna 23 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR November 6, 1974 sample return failure damaged on landing, sample return failed [195]
Luna 1975A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR October 16, 1975 sample return failure failed to reach Earth orbit [196]
Luna 24 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR August 18, 1976 sample return success third and final successful sample return in Luna programme [197]
ICE (formerly ISEE3) Flag of the United States NASA December 22, 1983 flyby success gravity assist en route to comet flybys [198]
Hiten Flag of Japan ISAS February–April 1993 orbiter success in Moon-crossing Earth orbit from January 1990, later transferred to lunar orbit after failure of Hagoromo; intentionally impacted on Moon at end of mission; first Japanese probe to enter lunar orbit [199]
Hagoromo Flag of Japan ISAS March 1990 orbiter failure released by Hiten into lunar orbit, but transmitter failed and orbit never confirmed
Clementine Flag of the United States BMDO/
NASA
February–June 1994 orbiter partial success lunar and Earth observations and component testing; planned Geographos flyby failed [200]
AsiaSat 3 AsiaSat May/June 1998 errant communications satellite, flew within 6,200 kilometers of Moon during orbit correction manoeuvres [201]
Lunar Prospector Flag of the United States NASA January 1998 –
July 1999
orbiter success lunar surface mapping; intentionally impacted into polar crater at end of mission to test for liberation of water vapour (not detected) [202]
Nozomi Flag of Japan ISAS September 24, 1998 flyby success gravity assists on planned mission to Mars [203]
December 18, 1998 flyby success
SMART-1 Flag of Europe ESA November 13, 2004
September 3, 2006
orbiter success technology testbed and lunar geological studies; intentionally impacted at end of mission; first European probe to orbit the moon [204]
LUNAR-A Flag of Japan JAXA orbiter, penetrators cancelled originally scheduled for 2004, finally cancelled 2007 [205]
SELENE
(Kaguya)
Flag of Japan JAXA October 3, 2007 – planned one year mission orbiter in orbit mineralogical, geographical, magnetic and gravitational observations [206]
Okina
(Relay Star)
Flag of Japan JAXA October 9, 2007 Kaguya subsatellite in orbit Relay for Kaguya's Far Side operations
Ouna
(VRAD)
Flag of Japan JAXA October 12, 2007 Kaguya subsatellite in orbit Very Long Baseline Interferometry
Chang'e 1 Flag of the People's Republic of China CNSA November 5, 2007 orbiter in orbit 3D lunar mapping and geological observations; first Chinese probe to orbit a body besides Earth [207]
Chandrayaan I Flag of India ISRO 2008 orbiter planned high resolution mapping and spectral analysis of Moon's surface composition [208]
impactor
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA 2008 orbiter planned survey of lunar resources and identification of possible landing sites [209]
LCROSS Flag of the United States NASA 2008 impactor planned will analyse upper-stage impact plume for traces of water liberated from the Moon's surface [210]
Chang'e 2 Flag of the People's Republic of China CNSA 2009 orbiter planned Sketch three-dimensional lunar map, measure and analyze content of the surface [211]
lander

[edit] Mars probes

Main article: Exploration of Mars
Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Mars 1960A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR October 10, 1960 flyby failure failed to reach Earth orbit [212]
Mars 1960B Flag of the Soviet Union USSR October 14, 1960 flyby failure failed to reach Earth orbit [213]
Mars 1962A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR October 24, 1962 flyby failure exploded in or en route to Earth orbit [214]
Mars 1962B Flag of the Soviet Union USSR November 11, 1962 (launch) lander failure broke up during transfer to Mars trajectory [215]
Mars 1 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR June 19, 1963 flyby failure contact lost en route; flew within approximately 193,000 km of Mars [216]
Mariner 3 Flag of the United States NASA November 5, 1964 flyby failure protective shield failed to eject, preventing craft from attaining correct trajectory [217]
Zond 2 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR August 6, 1965 flyby failure contact lost en route; flew within 1,500 km of Mars [218]
Mariner 4 Flag of the United States NASA July 15, 1965 flyby success first close-up images of Mars [219]
Mariner 6 Flag of the United States NASA July 31, 1969 flyby success [220]
Mariner 7 Flag of the United States NASA August 5, 1969 flyby success [221]
Mars 1969A Flag of the Soviet Union USSR March 27, 1969 orbiter failure launch failure [222]
Mars 1969B Flag of the Soviet Union USSR April 2, 1969 orbiter failure launch failure [223]
Mariner 8 Flag of the United States NASA May 9, 1971 orbiter failure launch vehicle failure [224]
Mariner 9 Flag of the United States NASA November 14, 1971 orbiter success first spacecraft to orbit another planet [225]
Mars 2 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR November 1971 –
August 1972
orbiter success first Russian spacecraft to orbit another planet [226]
Mars 2 Lander Flag of the Soviet Union USSR November 27, 1971 lander and short range rover failure crashed; first manmade object to reach surface of Mars [227]
Mars 3 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR December 1971 –
August 1972
orbiter partial success attained a different orbit than intended due to insufficient fuel [228]
Mars 3 Lander Flag of the Soviet Union USSR December 2, 1971 lander and short range rover failure contact lost immediately after soft landing [229]
Cosmos 419 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR May 10, 1971 orbiter failure failed to escape Earth orbit [230]
Mars 4 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR February 10, 1974 orbiter failure orbit insertion failed, became flyby [231]
Mars 5 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR February 1974 orbiter success [232]
Mars 6 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR March 12, 1974 flyby success [233]
Mars 6 Lander Flag of the Soviet Union USSR March 12, 1974 lander failure crash-landed, contact lost
Mars 7 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR March 9, 1974 flyby success [234]
Mars 7 Lander Flag of the Soviet Union USSR March 9, 1974 lander failure missed Mars
Viking 1 Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA June 1976 –
August 1980
orbiter success [235]
Viking 1 Lander Flag of the United States NASA July 20, 1976
November 13, 1982
lander success first images from surface [236]
Viking 2 Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA August 1976 –
July 1978
orbiter success [237]
Viking 2 Lander Flag of the United States NASA September 3, 1976
April 11, 1980
lander success [238]
Phobos 1 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR July 7, 1988 (launch) orbiter failure contact lost en route to Mars [239]
Phobos 2 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR January 29, 1989
March 27, 1989
orbiter partial success Mars orbit acquired, but contact lost shortly before Phobos approach phase and deployment of Phobos landers [240]
Mars Observer Flag of the United States NASA September 25, 1992 (launch) orbiter failure contact lost shortly before Mars orbit insertion [241]
Mars 96 Flag of Russia RKA November 16, 1996 (launch) orbiter failure failed to escape Earth orbit [242]
lander [243]
lander [244]
penetrator [245]
penetrator [246]
Mars Pathfinder Flag of the United States NASA July 4, 1997
September 27, 1997
lander success [247]
    Sojourner Flag of the United States NASA July 6, 1997
September 27, 1997
rover success first rover on the surface of Mars [248]
Mars Global Surveyor Flag of the United States NASA September 12, 1997
November 2, 2006
orbiter success [249]
Mars Climate Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA September 23, 1999 orbiter failure Mars orbit insertion failed due to navigation error [250]
Mars Polar Lander Flag of the United States NASA December 3, 1999 lander failure contact lost just prior to entering Martian atmosphere [251]
Deep Space 2 "Amundsen" Flag of the United States NASA December 3, 1999 penetrator [252]
Deep Space 2 "Scott" Flag of the United States NASA December 3, 1999 penetrator
2001 Mars Odyssey Flag of the United States NASA October 24, 2001
still active (as of May 2008)
orbiter success [253]
Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander Flag of the United States NASA 2001 lander cancelled [254]
Nozomi Flag of Japan ISAS December 14, 2003 orbiter failure failed to attain Mars orbit, became flyby [255]
NetLander Flag of France CNES/
Flag of Europe ESA
lander cancelled [256]
Mars Express Flag of Europe ESA December 25, 2003 – still active (as of May 2008) orbiter success first European probe in Martian orbit [257]
Beagle 2 Flag of the United Kingdom UK December 25, 2003 lander failure no contact after landing [258]
MER-A "Spirit" Flag of the United States NASA January 4, 2004
still active (as of May 2008)
rover success [259]
MER-B "Opportunity" Flag of the United States NASA January 25, 2004
still active (as of May 2008)
rover success [260]
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA March 10, 2006
still active (as of May 2008)
orbiter success [261]
Rosetta Flag of Europe ESA February 25, 2007 flyby success gravity assist en route to asteroid and comet encounters [262]
Phoenix Flag of the United States NASA May 25, 2008 lander landed successfully will collect soil samples near the northern pole to investigate the history of water on Mars and the possibility of life there [263]
Dawn Flag of the United States NASA March 2009 flyby en route gravity assist en route to Vesta and Ceres [264]
Mars Telecommunications Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA 2010 orbiter cancelled [265]
Mars Science Laboratory Flag of the United States NASA 2010 rover under construction [266]
ExoMars Flag of Europe ESA 2013 rover planned [267]
Astrobiology Field Laboratory Flag of the United States NASA 2016 rover under study [268]
Mars Sample Return Mission Flag of the United States NASA/
Flag of Europe ESA
2024? orbiter, lander, rover, and sample return under study [269]

[edit] Phobos probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Phobos 1 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR July 7, 1988 (launch) lander failure contact lost en route to Mars [270]
Phobos 2 Flag of the Soviet Union USSR March 27, 1989 (contact lost) lander failure attained Mars orbit; contact lost prior to deployment of lander [271]
Aladdin Flag of the United States NASA sample return not selected [272]
Phobos-Grunt Flag of Russia RKA 2009 sample return planned

[edit] Jupiter probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Pioneer 10 Flag of the United States NASA December 3, 1973 flyby success first probe to cross the asteroid belt. first man-made object on an interstellar trajectory [273]
Pioneer 11 Flag of the United States NASA December 4, 1974 flyby success went on to visit Saturn [274]
Voyager 1 Flag of the United States NASA March 5, 1979 flyby success went on to visit Saturn [275]
Voyager 2 Flag of the United States NASA July 9, 1979 flyby success went on to visit Saturn, Uranus and Neptune [276]
Ulysses
(first pass)
Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of the United States NASA
February 1992 flyby success gravity assist en route to inclined heliocentric orbit for solar polar observations [277]
Galileo Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA/
Flag of Germany DLR
December 7, 1995 –
September 21, 2003
orbiter success also flew by various of Jupiter's moons; intentionally flown into Jupiter at end of mission; first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter; first spacecraft to flyby an asteroid [278]
   Galileo Probe Flag of the United States NASA/
Flag of Germany DLR
December 7, 1995 atmospheric probe success first probe to enter Jupiter's atmosphere [279]
Cassini Flag of the United States NASA/
Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of Italy ASI
December 2000 flyby success gravity assist en route to Saturn [280]
Ulysses
(second pass)
Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of the United States NASA
2003–04 distant flyby success [281]
New Horizons Flag of the United States NASA February 28, 2007 flyby success gravity assist en route to Pluto [282]
Juno Flag of the United States NASA 2016 orbiter in development [283]

[edit] Europa probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Europa Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA orbiter cancelled [284]
Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA orbiter cancelled [285]

[edit] Ganymede probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA orbiter cancelled [286]

[edit] Callisto probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA orbiter cancelled [287]

[edit] Saturn probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Pioneer 11 Flag of the United States NASA September 1, 1979 flyby success previously visited Jupiter [288]
Voyager 1 Flag of the United States NASA November 12, 1980 flyby success previously visited Jupiter [289]
Voyager 2 Flag of the United States NASA August 5, 1981 flyby success previously visited Jupiter, went on to visit Uranus and Neptune [290]
Cassini Flag of the United States NASA/
Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of Italy ASI
July 1, 2004
still active (as of May 2008)
orbiter success also performed flybys of a number of Saturn's moons, and deployed the Huygens Titan lander; first spacecraft to orbit Saturn [291]

[edit] Titan probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Huygens Flag of Europe ESA January 14, 2005 atmospheric probe, lander success deployed by Cassini; first probe to land on a satellite of another planet [292]

[edit] Uranus probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Voyager 2 Flag of the United States NASA January 24, 1986 flyby success previously visited Jupiter and Saturn; went on to visit Neptune [293]

[edit] Neptune probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Voyager 2 Flag of the United States NASA August 25, 1989 flyby success previously visited Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus [294]
Neptune Orbiter Flag of the United States NASA 2030 orbiter under study [295]

[edit] Dwarf planet probes

[edit] Ceres probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Dawn Flag of the United States NASA 2015 orbiter yet to arrive will orbit Vesta first [296]

[edit] Pluto probes

Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
Pluto Fast Flyby Flag of the United States NASA 2010 flyby cancelled
Pluto Kuiper
Express
Flag of the United States NASA 2012 flyby cancelled [297]
New Horizons Flag of the United States NASA 2015 flyby yet to arrive flybys of other Kuiper Belt objects may follow (targets yet to be decided) [298]

[edit] Asteroid probes

Target Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
951 Gaspra Galileo Flag of the United States NASA October 29, 1991 flyby success en route to Jupiter; minimum distance 1900 km [299]
243 Ida Galileo Flag of the United States NASA August 28, 1993 flyby success en route to Jupiter; minimum distance 2400 km; discovery of the first asteroid satellite Dactyl [300]
1620 Geographos Clementine Flag of the United States BMDO/
NASA
1994 flyby failure flyby cancelled due to equipment malfunction [301]
253 Mathilde NEAR
Shoemaker
Flag of the United States NASA June 27, 1997 flyby success flew within 1200 km of 253 Mathilde en route to 433 Eros [302]
433 Eros NEAR
Shoemaker
Flag of the United States NASA January 1999 orbiter failure became flyby due to software and communications problems (later attempt at orbit insertion succeeded; see below) [303]
9969 Braille Deep Space 1 Flag of the United States NASA July 29, 1999 flyby partial success no close-up images due to camera pointing error; went on to visit comet 19P/Borrelly [304]
2685 Masursky Cassini Flag of the United States NASA/
Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of Italy ASI
January 23, 2000 distant flyby success en route to Saturn [305]
433 Eros NEAR
Shoemaker
Flag of the United States NASA February 2000 –
February 2001
orbiter, became lander success improvised landing by orbiter at end of mission [306]
5535 Annefrank Stardust Flag of the United States NASA November 2, 2002 distant flyby success went on to visit comet 81P/Wild [307]
4660 Nereus Hayabusa Flag of Japan ISAS sample return cancelled rerouted to 25143 Itokawa [308]
25143 Itokawa Hayabusa Flag of Japan ISAS 2005–07 sample return arrived return journey to Earth began in April 2007, scheduled to arrive in 2010; status of sample unclear [309]
    MINERVA Flag of Japan ISAS November 12, 2005 hopper failure missed target
3840 Mimistrobell Rosetta Flag of Europe ESA 2006 flyby cancelled rerouted [310]
4979 Otawara Rosetta Flag of Europe ESA 2006 flyby cancelled rerouted [311]
132524 APL New Horizons Flag of the United States NASA June 2006 distant flyby success en route to Pluto [312]
2867 Šteins Rosetta Flag of Europe ESA September 2008 flyby yet to arrive [313]
21 Lutetia Rosetta Flag of Europe ESA July 2010 flyby yet to arrive en route to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko [314]
4 Vesta Dawn Flag of the United States NASA September 2011 orbiter en route scheduled to continue to Ceres [315]
4660 Nereus Near Earth Asteroid Prospector SpaceDev sample return cancelled [316]

[edit] Comet probes

Target Spacecraft Organization Date Type Status Notes Image Ref
21P/Giacobini-Zinner ICE (formerly ISEE3) Flag of the United States NASA September 11, 1985 flyby success previously solar monitor ISEE3; went on to observe Halley's Comet [317]
1P/Halley Vega 1 Flag of the Soviet Union SAS March 6, 1986 flyby success minimum distance 8,890 km; previously visited Venus [318]
1P/Halley Suisei Flag of Japan ISAS March 8, 1986 flyby success 151,000 km [319]
1P/Halley Vega 2 Flag of the Soviet Union SAS March 9, 1986 flyby success minimum distance 8,890 km; previously visited Venus [320]
1P/Halley Sakigake Flag of Japan ISAS March 1986 distant flyby partial success minimum distance 6.99 million km [321]
1P/Halley Giotto Flag of Europe ESA March 14, 1986 flyby success minimum distance 596 km; went on to visit comet 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup [322]
1P/Halley ICE (formerly ISEE3) Flag of the United States NASA March 28, 1986 distant obser-
vations
success minimum distance 32 million km; previously visited comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner [323]
26P/Grigg-Skjellerup Giotto Flag of Europe ESA July 10, 1992 flyby success previously visited Halley's Comet [324]
45P/
Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova
Sakigake Flag of Japan ISAS 1996 flyby failure contact lost; previously visited Halley's Comet [325]
21P/Giacobini-Zinner Sakigake Flag of Japan ISAS 1998 flyby failure
55P/Tempel-Tuttle Suisei Flag of Japan ISAS 1998 flyby failure abandoned due to lack of fuel; previously visited Halley's Comet [326]
21P/Giacobini-Zinner Suisei Flag of Japan ISAS 1998 flyby failure
19P/Borrelly Deep Space 1 Flag of the United States NASA September 22, 2001 flyby success previously visited asteroid 9969 Braille [327]
2P/Encke CONTOUR Flag of the United States NASA 2003 flyby failure contact lost shortly after launch [328]
81P/Wild Stardust Flag of the United States NASA January 2, 2004 flyby, sample return success sample returned January 2006; also visited asteroid 5535 Annefrank [329]
9P/Tempel Deep Impact Flag of the United States NASA July 2005 flyby success [330]
    Impactor Flag of the United States NASA July 4, 2005 impactor success
73P/
Schwassmann-Wachmann
CONTOUR Flag of the United States NASA 2006 flyby failure contact lost shortly after launch [331]
6P/d'Arrest CONTOUR Flag of the United States NASA 2008 flyby failure contact lost shortly after launch [332]
103P/Hartley Deep Impact (redesignated EPOXI) Flag of the United States NASA October 11, 2010 flyby yet to arrive mission extension (target changed from comet Boethin) [333]
9P/Tempel Stardust (redesignated NExT) Flag of the United States NASA February 14, 2011 flyby yet to arrive mission extension [334]
46P/Wirtanen Rosetta Flag of Europe ESA 2011 orbiter cancelled rerouted to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko [335]
67P/Churyumov-
Gerasimenko
Rosetta Flag of Europe ESA 2014–15 orbiter yet to arrive flybys of asteroids 2867 Šteins and 21 Lutetia also scheduled [336]
    Philae Flag of Europe ESA 2014 lander yet to arrive [337]

[edit] Probes leaving the Solar System

Spacecraft Organization Notes Image Ref
Pioneer 10 Flag of the United States NASA Left Jupiter in December 1973. Mission ended March 1997. Last contact January 23, 2003. Craft now presumed dead; no further contact attempts planned. [338]
Pioneer 11 Flag of the United States NASA Left Saturn in September 1979. Last contact September 1995. The craft's antenna cannot be manoeuvred to point to Earth, and it is not known if it is still transmitting. No further contact attempts are planned. [339]
Voyager 1 Flag of the United States NASA Left Saturn in November 1980. Still in regular contact and transmitting scientific data (as of May 2008). Contact hoped to be maintained until at least 2020. [340]
Voyager 2 Flag of the United States NASA Left Neptune in August 1989. Still in regular contact and transmitting scientific data (as of May 2008). Contact hoped to be maintained until at least 2020. [341]
New Horizons Flag of the United States NASA Currently en route to outer Solar System. Expected to reach Pluto in July 2015. [342]

[edit] Other probes to leave Earth orbit

For completeness, this section lists probes that have left (or will leave) Earth orbit, but are not targeted at any of the above bodies.

Spacecraft Organization Date Location Status Notes Image Ref
WMAP Flag of the United States NASA June 30, 2001 (launch) – still active (as of April 2008[2]) Sun-Earth L2 point success cosmic background radiation observations [343]
Spitzer Space Telescope Flag of the United States NASA August 25, 2003 (launch) – still active (as of May 2008) Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit success infrared astronomy [344]
Herschel Space Observatory Flag of Europe ESA/
Flag of the United States NASA
October 2008 (launch) Sun-Earth L2 point in development study of formation and evolution of galaxies and stars [345]
Planck Surveyor Flag of Europe ESA October 2008 (launch) Sun-Earth L2 point in development cosmic microwave background observations [346]
Kepler Flag of the United States NASA February 2009 (launch) Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit planned search for extrasolar planets [347]
LISA Pathfinder Flag of Europe ESA 2009 (launch) Sun-Earth L1 point planned test mission for proposed LISA gravitational wave observatory [348]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lockheed Martin Press Release, April 30, 2008
  2. ^ "WMAP 5-year results reveal neutrinos and tighten inflation", CERN Courier, Apr 16, 2008