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Nov 9, 2017 · Dozens of spacecraft have launched to explore Venus, but not all have been successful. NASA's Mariner 2 was the first spacecraft to visit any planet beyond Earth when it flew past Venus on Dec. 14, 1962.
- Mariner 10 - Science@NASA
Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft sent to the planet...
- 55 Years Ago: Mariner 2 First to Venus - NASA
In 1962, Mariner 2 completed the first successful close-up...
- 45 Years Ago, Mariner 10 Off to Venus and Mercury - NASA
It was the first spacecraft to take close-up photographs of...
- Mariner 2: First to Explore Another Planet - NASA Science
Mariner 2 flew by Venus on Dec. 14, 1962, becoming the...
- Mariner 10 - Science@NASA
Venera 7 was the first lander overall and first for the Soviet Union, touching down on 15 December 1970. Pioneer Venus 2 contained the first spacecraft to land from the United States, the Day Probe. It soft landed on 9 December 1978.
SpacecraftLaunch Date [7]OperatorMission10 February 2020Gravity assist20 October 2018Gravity assist12 August 2018NASA United StatesGravity assist20 May 2010UNISEC JapanFlyby- Venus Express. The European Space Agency's Venus Express studied the planet's ionosphere and atmosphere, enabling scientists to draw important conclusions about the surface.
- MESSENGER. NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft flew past Venus twice on its way to Mercury.
- Cassini-Huygens. NASA and the European Space Agency's Cassini-Huygens mission visited Venus twice during its long trek out to Saturn.
- Magellan. NASA's Magellan orbiter mapped over 98% of Venus at a resolution of 100 meters or better using its radar.
Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft sent to the planet Mercury; the first mission to explore two planets (Mercury and Venus) during a single mission; the first to return to its primary destination for another look; and the first to use a gravity assist to change its flight path.
- United States of America (USA)
- Mariner-73J / Mariner-J
- Mercury Flyby, Venus Flyby
- 1,100 pounds (502.9 kilograms)
Dec 14, 2017 · In 1962, Mariner 2 completed the first successful close-up observations of another planet when it flew by Venus. The spacecraft made a number of important scientific discoveries not only about the planet but also about interplanetary space during its transit.
Nov 5, 2018 · It was the first spacecraft to take close-up photographs of Venus and the first to explore Mercury. In just over 500 days, on a journey of more than a billion kilometers, Mariner 10 visited Venus once and Mercury three times, returning 7,000 photographs and greatly expanding our understanding of both planets.
Sep 24, 2018 · Mariner 2 flew by Venus on Dec. 14, 1962, becoming the world's first successful interplanetary spacecraft. In addition to being the first spacecraft to cruise interplanetary space, it also measured solar wind for the first time.
