Solar System Mission Insignia

Exploration missions through the Solar System each receive their own unique mission insignia. The twin Voyager probes were launched in 1977 on a mission that would take them to the outer planets. These two spacecraft taught us more during their missions than anything that came before. Both spacecraft are now well beyond the planets and are close to leaving the influence of our solar system. Since Voyager, an army of new spacecraft have been sent forth to explore the Solar System. Galileo spent eight years studying and photographing Jupiter ans its moons. Launched in 1997, Cassini was sent to study and photograph Saturn and its system of moons. Dozens of new discoveries have been made by these two spacecraft. Mars is of particular interest because of the possibility is once contained liquid water, and possible life. Dozens of spacecraft has explored the red planet. The latest additions to this fleet include rover vehicles that are capable of traveling on the planet's surface photographing the terrain and testing for possible signs of water and life. Many new missions are currently in development, and planetary exploration remains one of the most exciting areas of space exploration and research.