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Important Unmanned Planetary Probes

Luna Probes
- 1959-1976 (Soviet)
- first probe to reach the Moon
- soft landings and sample return
Mariner Probes
- 1962-1973 (U.S.)
- first to orbit Mars
- first to view Mercury up close
Surveyor Probes
- 1966-1981 (U.S.)
- U.S. version of the Luna probes.
Venera 4 & 5
- 1967-1981 (Soviet)
- Venus probes
Viking 1 & 2
- 1975 (U.S.)
- Mars orbiter and soft landing
- images from the surface
- soil analysis
Pioneer Venus 1 & 2
- 1978 (U.S.)
- Venus probe
Vega 1 & 2
- 1985 (Soviet)
- first and only successful soft landing on Venus
- images from the surface
Phobos Mission
- 1988 (Soviet)
- Martian moons probe
Magellan
- 1989 (U.S.)
- Venus probe equipped with SLAR returned detailed images of surface.

Manned Planetary Exploration

Apollo 11 - July 16-24, 1969 (U.S.)
- first manned landing on the Moon
Apollo 12, 14, 15, 16 - 1969-1972 (U.S.)
- Moon landings in various locations
- geologic studies & samples collected
Apollo 17 - Dec. 7-19, 1972 (U.S.)
- last manned lunar mission

Detailed information on all of NASA's planetary missions can be found at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory web page. Additional information on manned and planetary missions can best be found through the use of the NASA Search Engine. Many of the planetary mission have their own web pages with mission status, probe information, press releases and images.

Another excellent site with summaries of NASA and USSR planetary missions can be found at the Robot Planetary Explorers page at the ENCYCLOPEDIA ASTRONAUTICA.

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