List of missions to the outer planets

Short description: none

A total of nine spacecraft have been launched on missions that involve visits to the outer planets; all nine missions involve encounters with Jupiter, with four spacecraft also visiting Saturn. One spacecraft, Voyager 2, also visited Uranus and Neptune. The nine missions include two, Ulysses and New Horizons, whose primary objectives were not outer planets, but which flew past Jupiter to gain gravity assists en route to a polar orbit around the Sun (Ulysses), and to Pluto (New Horizons). Pluto was considered a planet at the time that New Horizons launched. Cassini–Huygens also flew past Jupiter for a gravity assist on its Mission to explore Saturn.

Only three of the missions to the outer planets have been orbiters: Galileo orbited Jupiter for eight years, while Cassini orbited Saturn for thirteen years. Juno has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016.

## Contents

* 1 Summary of missions to the outer Solar System
* 2 Jupiter
* 3 Saturn
* 4 Uranus
* 5 Neptune
* 6 See also
* 7 References

## Summary of missions to the outer Solar System

A sample of missions to the outer planets

System

Spacecraft

| Jupiter
Jupiter trojans | Saturn | Uranus
Uranus trojans | Neptune
Neptune trojans | Distant
minor planets

|
|
|
|
|

Pioneer 10 | 1973 flyby
Jupiter and moons  |  |  |  |
Pioneer 11 | 1974 flyby
Jupiter and moons  | 1979 flyby
Saturn and moons  |  |  |
Voyager 1 | 1979 flyby
Jupiter and moons  | 1980 flyby
Saturn and moons  |  |  |
Voyager 2 | 1979 flyby
Jupiter and moons  | 1981 flyby
Saturn and moons  | 1986 flyby
Uranus and moons  | 1989 flyby
Neptune and moons  |
Ulysses | 1992, 2004 gravity assist
Jupiter  |  |  |  |
Galileo | 1995-2003 orbiter
Jupiter and moons
1995 atmospheric
Jupiter  |  |  |  |
Cassini–Huygens | 2000 gravity assist
Jupiter and moons  | 2004-2017 orbiter
Saturn and moons
2005 lander
Titan  |  |  |
New Horizons | 2007 gravity assist
Jupiter and moons  |  |  |  | 2015 flyby
Pluto and moons
2019 flyby
486958 Arrokoth
Juno | 2016-2025 orbiter
Jupiter  |  |  |  |
Lucy | 2027- flyby mission (launched 2021)
3548 Eurybates
15094 Polymele
11351 Leucus
21900 Orus
617 Patroclus |  |  |  |
Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer | 2031- orbiter mission (launched 2023)
Jupiter and Ganymede  |  |  |  |

For proposed and planned future missions see: List of proposed Solar System spacecraft

## Jupiter

Main page: Astronomy:Exploration of Jupiter

Eight spacecraft have been launched to explore Jupiter, with two other spacecraft making gravity-assist flybys.

New Horizons, although eventually targeting Pluto, used Jupiter for a gravity assist and had an extensive almost half year observation campaign of Jupiter and its moons (hence it is counted in the eight).[1]

Timeline  Spacecraft  | Launch date  | Operator  | Mission  | Outcome  | Remarks  | Carrier rocket

|
|
|
|
|
|

Pioneer 10 | 3 March 1972[2] | NASA
United States | Flyby  | Successful[3] | Closest approach at 02:25 UTC on 4 December 1973[4] | Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D[5]
Pioneer 11 | 6 April 1973[2] | NASA
United States | Flyby  | Successful[6] | Closest approach at 05:22 UTC on 3 December 1974, later flew past Saturn[7] | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1A[5]
Voyager 2 | 20 August 1977[2] | NASA
United States | Flyby  | Successful  | Closest approach at 22:29 on 9 July 1979, later flew past Saturn, Uranus and Neptune[8] | Titan IIIE Centaur-D1T[9]
Voyager 1 | 5 September 1977[2] | NASA
United States | Flyby  | Successful  | Closest approach at 12:05 UTC on 5 March 1979, later flew past Saturn[10] | Titan IIIE Centaur-D1T[9]
Galileo | 18 October 1989[2] | NASA
United States | Orbiter/Atmospheric  | Successful[11] | Atmospheric probe entered atmosphere at 22:04 UTC on 7 December 1995 and operated for 57 minutes; main spacecraft entered orbit at 00:27 UTC on 8 December.[12] Spacecraft was deorbited on 21 September 2003, impacting Jupiter's atmosphere at 18:57:18 UTC.[13] | Space Shuttle Atlantis
STS-34 / IUS[14]
Ulysses | 6 October 1990[2] | NASA
United States / ESA | Gravity assist  | Successful  | Flyby on 8 February 1992 to reach a high-inclination heliocentric orbit.[15] Also made a distant incidental flyby on 4 February 2004[16] | Space Shuttle Discovery
STS-41 / IUS[17]
Cassini–Huygens | 15 October 1997[2] | NASA
United States / ESA | Gravity assist  | Successful  | Flyby on 30 December 2000 en route to Saturn[18] | Titan IV(401)B Centaur-T[19]
New Horizons | 19 January 2006[2] | NASA
United States | Gravity assist[20]
Major observation campaign from Jan-June[1] | Successful  | Flyby on 28 February 2007 (closest approach at 05:43:40[21]) en route to Pluto[22] | Atlas V 551[20]
Juno | 5 August 2011[2] | NASA
United States | Orbiter of Jupiter  | Operational  | Entered orbit 4 July 2016[23] | Atlas V 551[24]
JUICE | 14 April 2023  | ESA | Orbiter of Jupiter
Orbiter of Ganymede  | Enroute  |  | Ariane 5 ECA

Missions whose primary objectives were not related to the exploration of Jupiter are indicated in grey

## Saturn

Main page: Astronomy:Exploration of Saturn

Four spacecraft have visited Saturn; Pioneer 11, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 made flybys, while Cassini–Huygens entered orbit, and deployed a probe into the atmosphere of Titan.

Timeline  Spacecraft  | Launch date  | Operator  | Mission  | Outcome  | Remarks  | Carrier rocket

|
|
|
|
|
|

Pioneer 11 | 6 April 1973[2] | NASA
United States | Flyby  | Successful  | Closest approach on 1 September 1979 at 16:31 UTC[7] | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1A[5]
Voyager 2 | 20 August 1977[2] | NASA
United States | Flyby  | Successful  | Closest approach at 01:21 UTC on 26 August 1981, later flew past Uranus and Neptune[8] | Titan IIIE Centaur-D1T[9]
Voyager 1 | 5 September 1977[2] | NASA
United States | Flyby  | Successful  | Closest approach on 12 November 1980 at 23:45 UTC[10] | Titan IIIE Centaur-D1T[9]
Cassini | 15 October 1997[2] | NASA
United States | Orbiter  | Successful  | Entered orbit 1 July 2004; mission concluded on 15 September 2017[25] | Titan IV(401)B Centaur-T[19]
Huygens | 15 October 1997[2] | ESA / ASI
Italy | Titan lander  | Successful  | Deployed from Cassini; landed on Titan at 10:13 UTC on 14 January 2005  | Titan IV(401)B Centaur-T[19]

## Uranus

Main page: Astronomy:Exploration of Uranus

Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have visited Uranus, making a single flyby as part of its grand tour of the outer planets.

Timeline  Spacecraft  | Launch date  | Operator  | Mission  | Outcome  | Remarks  | Carrier rocket

|
|
|
|
|
|

Voyager 2 | 20 August 1977[2] | NASA
United States | Flyby  | Successful  | Closest approach at 17:59 UTC on 24 January 1986, later flew past Neptune[8] | Titan IIIE Centaur-D1T[9]

## Neptune

Main page: Astronomy:Exploration of Neptune

Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have visited Neptune, making a single flyby as part of its grand tour of the outer planets.

Timeline  Spacecraft  | Launch date  | Operator  | Mission  | Outcome  | Remarks  | Carrier rocket

|
|
|
|
|
|

Voyager 2 | 20 August 1977[2] | NASA
United States | Flyby  | Successful  | Closest approach at 03:26 UTC on 25 August 1989[8] | Titan IIIE Centaur-D1T[9]

## See also

* List of trans-Neptunian objects (numbered, excludes comets, see Trans-Neptunian object)
* List of missions to the Moon
* List of missions to Venus
* List of missions to Mars
* List of proposed Solar System spacecraft
* Interstellar probe
* Kuiper belt (approx. 30-50 AU, Pluto largest of this group)
* List of extraterrestrial orbiters
* List of artificial objects leaving the Solar System

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 NASA Jupiter Press Kit (pdf)
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
3. ↑ "Solar System Exploration - Pioneer 10". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=Pioneer_10. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
4. ↑ "Solar System Exploration - Pioneer 10". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?MCode=Pioneer_10&Display=ReadMore. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Krebs, Gunter. "Pioneer 10, 11, H". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/pioneer-1011.htm. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
6. ↑ "Solar System Exploration - Pioneer 11". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=Pioneer_11. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Solar System Exploration - Pioneer 11". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=Pioneer_11&Display=ReadMore. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Solar System Exploration - Voyager 2". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=Voyager_2&Display=ReadMore. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Krebs, Gunter. "Voyager 1, 2". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/voyager.htm. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Solar System Exploration - Voyager 1". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=Voyager_1&Display=ReadMore. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
11. ↑ "Solar System Exploration - Galileo". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=Galileo. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
12. ↑ "Solar System Exploration - Galileo". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=Galileo&Display=ReadMore. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
13. ↑ "Solar System Exploration - Galileo - Dates". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=Galileo&Display=Dates. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
14. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Galileo". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/galileo.htm. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
15. ↑ "Solar System Exploration - Ulysses". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=Ulysses&Display=ReadMore. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
16. ↑ "Ulysses - Encounter Trajectory". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130216040047/http://ulysses.jpl.nasa.gov/science/Encounter.html. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
17. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Ulyssees". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/ulysses.htm. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
18. ↑ "Solar System Exploration - Cassini - Dates". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=Cassini&Display=Dates. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Krebs, Gunter. "Cassini". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/cassini.htm. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Krebs, Gunter. "New Horizons". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/new-horizons.htm. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
21. ↑ Muller, Daniel. "New Horizons Full Mission Timeline". http://www.dmuller.net/spaceflight/mission.php?mission=newhorizons&appear=black&mtype=scet&showimg=yes&dispwide=no. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
22. ↑ "New Horizons targets Jupiter kick". BBC News. 19 January 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6279423.stm. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
23. ↑ Amos, Jonathan (4 July 2016). "Juno probe enters into orbit around Jupiter". BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36710768. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
24. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Juno (New Frontiers 2)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/juno.htm. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
25. ↑ "Solar System Exploration - Cassini". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=Cassini. Retrieved 6 January 2013.

* v
* t
* e

Space missions by destination

Planets|

* Mercury
* Venus
* Mars
* Outer planets
* Jupiter
* Saturn
* Uranus
* Neptune

Others|

* The Moon
* lunar probes
* Minor planets
* Comets

Orbiters|

* Extraterrestrial orbiters
* Mars orbiters
* Objects in heliocentric orbit

* v
* t
* e

Spacecraft missions to Jupiter

Flybys|

* Pioneer program
* Pioneer 10
* 11
* Voyager program
* Voyager 1
* 2
* Ulysses
* Cassini–Huygens
* New Horizons

Orbiters|

* Galileo
* Juno (active)

Atmospheric probes|

* Galileo Probe

Planned missions|

* Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) (2022)
* Europa Clipper (2023)

Proposed missions|

* Io Volcano Observer (2021)
* Laplace-P (2023)
* Europa Lander (2024)
* FIRE (2024)
* OKEANOS (2027)
* Smara (2030)

Cancelled / Concepts|

* Argo (proposed)
* Europa Jupiter System Mission-Laplace
* Jupiter Europa Orbiter
* Jupiter Ganymede Orbiter
* Jupiter Magnetospheric Orbiter
* Europa Orbiter
* Innovative Interstellar Explorer
* Jovian Europa Orbiter
* Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter
* Neptune Orbiter
* New Horizons 2
* Pioneer H
* Tsiolkovsky mission

Related topics|

* Exploration of Jupiter
* Atmosphere of Jupiter
* Magnetosphere of Jupiter
* Moons of Jupiter
* Io
* Exploration
* Europa
* Colonization
* Ganymede
* Callisto
* Rings of Jupiter
* Deep Space Network
* Missions to the outer planets
* Colonization of the outer Solar System

* v
* t
* e

Spacecraft missions to Saturn

Past|

| Flybys|

* Pioneer 11
* Voyager 1
* Voyager 2

|

Orbiters|

* Cassini–Huygens
* timeline
* retirement

Landers|

* Huygens (on Titan)

Planned|

* Dragonfly (to Titan, 2026)

Proposed|

| to Saturn and rings|

* Kronos
* Saturn Atmospheric Entry Probe
* SPRITE
* Titan Saturn System Mission

|

to Enceladus|

* Enceladus Life Finder
* Enceladus Explorer
* Life Investigation For Enceladus

to Titan|

* AVIATR
* Oceanus
* TALISE
* Titan Mare Explorer

to several moons|

* Explorer of Enceladus and Titan
* Journey to Enceladus and Titan

* There are no ongoing missions to Saturn

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

Jupiter

* Outline of Jupiter

Geography|

* Atmosphere
* Great Red Spot
* Magnetosphere
* Rings

Moons|

| Inner moons|

* Adrastea
* Amalthea
* Metis
* Thebe

|

Galilean moons|

* Callisto
* Europa
* Ganymede
* Io

Irregular moons|

* Ananke group
* Carme group
* Himalia group
* Pasiphae group

Ungrouped moons|

* Carpo
* Themisto
* Valetudo

Astronomy|

| General|

* Jupiter-crossing minor planets
* Solar eclipses

|

Trojans|

* Greek camp
* Trojan camp

Impact events|

* Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9
* 2009 Jupiter impact event
* 2010 Jupiter impact event

Exploration and
orbiting missions|

| Current|

* Juno

|

Past|

* Cassini
* Galileo
* New Horizons
* Pioneer program
* Pioneer 10
* Pioneer 11
* Ulysses
* Voyager program
* Voyager 1
* Voyager 2

Future|

* Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (2022)
* Europa Clipper (2025)

Proposed|

* Io Volcano Observer (2021)
* Laplace-P (2023)
* Smara (2030)

Related|

* Fiction
* Jovian
* Moons
* Mythology

* Book
* Category

* v
* t
* e

Saturn

* Outline of Saturn

Geography|

* Dragon Storm
* Great White Spot
* Hexagon
* Magnetosphere
* Rings

Moons|

* S/2009 S 1
* Ring moonlets
* Pan
* Daphnis
* Atlas
* Prometheus
* S/2004 S 6
* S/2004 S 4
* S/2004 S 3
* Pandora
* Epimetheus
* Janus
* Aegaeon
* Mimas
* Methone
* Anthe
* Pallene
* Enceladus
* Tethys
* Telesto
* Calypso
* Dione
* Helene
* Polydeuces
* Rhea
* Titan
* Hyperion
* Iapetus
* Kiviuq
* Ijiraq
* Phoebe
* Paaliaq
* Skathi
* S/2004 S 37
* Albiorix
* S/2007 S 2
* S/2004 S 29
* Bebhionn
* Erriapus
* Skoll
* S/2004 S 31
* Siarnaq
* Tarqeq
* S/2004 S 13
* Greip
* Hyrrokkin
* Jarnsaxa
* Tarvos
* Mundilfari
* S/2006 S 1
* S/2004 S 17
* Bergelmir
* Narvi
* S/2004 S 20
* Suttungr
* Hati
* S/2004 S 12
* S/2004 S 27
* Farbauti
* Thrymr
* S/2004 S 30
* Aegir
* S/2007 S 3
* Bestla
* S/2004 S 7
* S/2004 S 22
* S/2004 S 23
* S/2004 S 25
* S/2004 S 32
* S/2006 S 3
* S/2004 S 38
* Fenrir
* S/2004 S 28
* Surtur
* Kari
* S/2004 S 35
* Ymir
* S/2004 S 21
* S/2004 S 24
* Loge
* S/2004 S 36
* S/2004 S 39
* S/2004 S 33
* S/2004 S 34
* Fornjot
* S/2004 S 26

Astronomy|

* Delta Octantis
* Saturn-crossing minor planets

Exploration|

* Cassini–Huygens (Huygens)
* timeline
* retirement
* Pioneer 11
* Voyager program
* Voyager 1
* Voyager 2

Related|

* Fiction
* Moons
* The Day the Earth Smiled
* In Saturn's Rings (2018 documentary)

* v
* t
* e

Uranus (Outline of Uranus

Geography|

* Atmosphere
* Climate
* Dark Spot
* Magnetosphere
* Rings

Moons|

* Ariel
* Miranda
* Oberon
* Puck
* Titania
* Umbriel

Astronomy|

| Discovery|

* William Herschel
* Gerard Kuiper
* James L. Elliot
* William Lassell

|

General|

* 15 Orionis
* Uranus-crossing minor planets

Trojans|

* 2011 QF99
* 2014 YX49

Exploration|

| Past|

* Voyager 2 (1986 flyby)

|

Proposals|

* MUSE
* Oceanus
* ODINUS
* NASA Uranus orbiter and probe
* Uranus Pathfinder

Related|

* Fiction

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Neptune

* Outline of Neptune

Geography|

* Great Dark Spot
* Small Dark Spot
* Rings

Moons|

* Despina
* Galatea
* Halimede
* Hippocamp
* Laomedeia
* Larissa
* Naiad
* Nereid
* Neso
* Proteus
* Psamathe
* Sao
* Thalassa
* Triton

Astronomy|

| Discovery|

* Urbain Le Verrier
* Johann Gottfried Galle
* John Couch Adams
* Heinrich Louis d'Arrest
* William Lassell

|

General|

* Kuiper belt
* Neptune-crossing minor planets

Trojans|

* 2001 QR322
* 2004 KV18
* 2004 UP10
* 2005 TN53
* 2005 TO74
* 2006 RJ103
* (527604) 2007 VL305
* 2008 LC18
* 2011 HM102

Exploration|

| Past|

* Voyager 2 (1989 flyby)

|

Proposals|

* ODINUS
* Triton Hopper
* Argo
* Trident

Cancelled|

* Mariner Mark II
* Neptune Orbiter
* New Horizons 2

Related|

* Fiction
* Mythology

* Book
* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Pluto

Geography
(features)|

| Regions|

* "Brass Knuckles"
* Krun
* Ala
* Balrog
* Vucub-Came
* Hun-Came
* Meng-p'o
* Cadejo
* Cthulhu
* Hayabusa
* Lowell
* Morgoth
* Pioneer
* Tombaugh "The Heart"
* Venera
* Viking
* Voyager

|

Mountains|

* Challenger Colles
* Coleta de Dados Colles
* Hillary Montes
* Tenzing Montes

Plains|

* Sputnik Planitia

Valleys and
depressions|

* Quidlivun Cavus

Lineae|

* Luna Linea

General|

* Atmosphere
* Geology

Moons|

| Charon
(features)|

| Regions|

* Gallifrey
* Mordor
* Vulcan

|

Mountains|

* Kubrick Mons

Chasms|

* Nostromo Chasma

Craters|

* Kirk Crater
* Ripley Crater
* Vader Crater

Geology|

* Geology

Other moons|

* Styx
* Nix
* Kerberos
* Hydra

Astronomy|

| Definition|

* Alan Stern
* Definition of planet
* Double planet
* Dwarf planet
* IAU definition of planet
* International Astronomical Union
* Michael E. Brown
* Neil deGrasse Tyson
* Planet
* Plutino
* Plutoid
* Trans-Neptunian object

|

Discovery|

* Clyde Tombaugh
* James W. Christy
* Lowell Observatory
* Percival Lowell
* Planet X
* Roger Putnam

Eclipses|

* Solar eclipses on Pluto

General|

* Kuiper belt

Exploration|

| Current|

* Hubble Space Telescope

|

Former|

* New Horizons

Cancelled|

* Pluto Fast Flyby/Pluto Kuiper Express
* Mariner Mark II

Old proposals|

* Voyager 1
* TAU

Related|

* Venetia Burney
* Pluto in fiction
* Mythology

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