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Space Exploration

Resources

Ongoing Explorations March 3, 2014

Facts and Figures June 10, 2010

Explorations in 2009 January 7, 2009

Explorations of Minor Bodies July 7, 2008

Explorations of Outer Planets July 7, 2008

Explorations of the Inner Solar System July 7, 2008

Featured Images

Enceladus sets behind Saturn

Saying Goodbye September 15, 2017
Cassini flies between Saturn and its rings

Final Act September 13, 2017
Apollo 17 commander Eugene Cernan poses on the Moon in 1972

Last Walk January 16, 2017
John Glenn, astronaut

Departed Hero December 9, 2016
Before and after views of the landing site of the Schiaparelli probe

Lost and Found October 22, 2016
NASA NEEMO mission

Exotic but Close October 12, 2016
Biosphere 2

A New World September 25, 2016
Galileo view of the asteroid Gaspra

First Look July 30, 2016
Giotto view of Halley's Comet, March 1986

Assault on a Comet March 5, 2016

First Eyes on Mars July 13, 2015
Artist's concept of New Horizons passing by Pluto

First Encounter July 9, 2015

Stepping Out June 3, 2015
The Messenger spacecraft's final image of the surface of Mercury

The End April 30, 2015
Canopus, the second-brightest star in the night sky, from the space station

Stellar Beacon February 24, 2015
India's Mars Orbiter Mission

On Target Again September 24, 2014
Artist's concept of MAVEN orbiting MARS

On Target September 20, 2014
August 6, 2014, view of Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko by Rosetta

Getting Closer August 7, 2014
Ranger 7 images of the Moon, July 31, 1964

Success at Last July 31, 2014
Artist's concept of a solar sail

Sailing Along April 3, 2014
Mariner 10 at Mercury

First Encounter March 29, 2014
Artist's concept of a Mars Exploration Rover landing on Mars in 2004

Follow the Bouncing Rover January 4, 2014

Almost Ready November 18, 2013
Artist's concept of MAVEN Mars orbiter

Mars Maven November 17, 2013
Galileo enters Jupiter's atmosphere

Fiery Farewell September 21, 2013
Space-faring spider Arabella spins her first web in orbit, 1973

Spiders in Space July 29, 2013
Artist's concept of Mariner 2 flying past Venus, December 14, 1962

First Encounter December 13, 2012
Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan drives his lunar rover

End of the Road December 10, 2012
A Voyager spacecraft and the cover of a record of Earth sights and sounds

Words From Home August 20, 2012
Skycrane lowers Mars Science Laboratory to the Martian surface

Rube Goldberg Meets Mars August 5, 2012
Artist's concept of Mars Science Laboratory approaching the Red Planet

Final Approach August 3, 2012
Space shuttle Discovery flies above Washington, DC, April 17, 2012

Last Stop April 19, 2012
The Russian Phobos-Grunt Mars mission launches on November 8, 2011

Phobos Flop? November 11, 2011
The moon Phobos floats above Mars

Martian Target November 3, 2011
An aquanaut practices space exploration techniques underwater

Diving into the Future October 17, 2011
Atlantis launches on the final space shuttle mission, July 8, 2011

Last Call July 8, 2011
Launches of Vostok 1, STS-1 (space shuttle Columbia)

Double Date April 12, 2011
MIT professor Dava Newman models a new type of space suit

Dressed for Success (in Space) September 15, 2010

Radio Programs

End of Cassini The final day of a grand tour September 14, 2017

Langley Research Center A research center turns 100 July 14, 2017

Radio Power Sailing on a “breeze” of radio waves May 24, 2017

More Moon and Venus Leaving the planet Venus alone May 21, 2017

Soyuz 1 A tragedy for the Soviet space program April 24, 2017

Space Heading into space — wherever it may be January 5, 2017

Moon and Jupiter Gassing up for the outer solar system November 23, 2016

Visiting the Neighbors A big trip for a little chip November 11, 2016

Moon and Planets Rafting on a distant moon November 1, 2016

Seas and Caves Exploring exotic worlds on Earth October 12, 2016

Biosphere 2 Stepping into a new world September 25, 2016

OSIRIS-Rex Digging into some leftovers September 6, 2016

Calling Cards Calling cards from planet Earth May 26, 2016

More Moon and Jupiter Gaining weight on another world May 15, 2016

Moon and Mars A familiar yet alien world April 23, 2016

Assault on a Comet A fleet takes aim at a comet March 5, 2016

Mars on Earth Getting ready for Mars February 27, 2016

More Plutonium Powering up trips to deep space February 25, 2016

Going Long Getting to the stars in a hurry December 29, 2015

Going Small Small plans for space exploration December 28, 2015

Morning Trio The first look at a hidden landscape October 21, 2015

Gemini 5 Powering up for a trip to space August 22, 2015

Mariner 4 Getting the first good look at Mars July 12, 2015

Moon and Venus Losing our eyes and ears on Venus June 18, 2015

Gemini 4 Floating into the history books June 2, 2015

The Next Phase 99 days to Pluto April 5, 2015

Small Steps Small steps in the exploration of space March 17, 2015

Canopus III Navigating by a bright star February 23, 2015

Huygens Parachuting through alien skies January 13, 2015

Moon and Jupiter Closing in on two dwarf planets January 6, 2015

Moon and Mars Jet lag after a long trip November 24, 2014

Morning Mercury Getting closer to a little planet October 29, 2014

Close to Mars II Hiding behind the Red Planet October 16, 2014

Moon and Jupiter Traveling to a deadly planet October 14, 2014

Close to the End A Venus-watching spacecraft nears its end October 12, 2014

MAVEN Probing Mars’s escaping atmosphere September 20, 2014

The Next Wave A new wave of explorers at Mars September 15, 2014

Mars at Opposition III The hazards of living on Mars April 8, 2014

Moon and Jupiter Winging through the skies of Jupiter April 5, 2014

Stepping Stone A long trip to nowhere April 3, 2014

To the Stars A tall ship and a star to sail her by April 2, 2014

Fermi’s Paradox Where are all the little green men? April 1, 2014

Canopus Navigating by a special star January 19, 2014

Moon and Companions Growing fresh veggies on the Moon November 24, 2013

More Moon and Jupiter Wrapping a spacecraft in plastic October 24, 2013

Mars on Earth Looking for Mars on Earth October 8, 2013

Juno at Earth Getting a boost from home October 7, 2013

Journey’s End A long journey comes to an end September 20, 2013

Moon and Venus An unforgiving environment August 8, 2013

Tardigrades Water bears in space July 30, 2013

Orbital Menagerie An entire zoo of space travelers July 29, 2013

Spinning in Orbit Spinning around the Earth July 28, 2013

Breaking Ground A “seagull” takes flight June 15, 2013

Faith 7 The end of a space-age singles act May 15, 2013

Skylab High-flying eyes on the Sun May 13, 2013

Storm Probes Plunging into the danger zone December 19, 2012

Mariner 2 Pioneering a path to another world December 12, 2012

Moon and Venus Long pauses in long-distance calls October 10, 2012

Moon and Mars Prime real estate on other worlds September 18, 2012

OSIRIS-Rex Studying a threatening space rock August 25, 2012

Dawn III Speeding toward a new target August 23, 2012

Voyagers Beginning a voyage to the stars August 19, 2012

Sky Crane A complicated landing for a complicated rover August 4, 2012

Martian Nuke Powering up a Mars rover August 3, 2012

Looking for ET Looking for signs of alien visitors April 18, 2012

Warp Drive Engaging the warp drive April 17, 2012

New Ideas New ideas for exploring the universe April 16, 2012

Friendship 7 Getting back in the Space Race February 19, 2012

Moon and Mars Historic monuments on another world February 8, 2012