Space ExplorationSpace Exploration

1957 Through 19771957 Through 1977

ExplorerExplorer

►74 successful missions74 successful missions►4 unsuccessful4 unsuccessful►Explorer satellites have made Explorer satellites have made

important discoveries: important discoveries: Earth's magnetosphere and the shape of Earth's magnetosphere and the shape of

its gravity field; its gravity field; the solar wind; the solar wind; Some Explorer spacecraft have even Some Explorer spacecraft have even

traveled to other planets, and some traveled to other planets, and some have monitored the Sun. have monitored the Sun.

Explorer 1Explorer 1

PioneerPioneer

►Designed for Designed for planetary planetary explorationexploration

► Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 explored Pioneer 11 explored the outermost the outermost planets and left the planets and left the solar systemsolar system

► Pioneer 10 lasted Pioneer 10 lasted for almost 30 yearsfor almost 30 years

RangerRanger

►Designed to obtain Designed to obtain close-up images of close-up images of the moon.the moon.

►Designed to impact Designed to impact the moon after the moon after taking picturestaking pictures

► First image of the First image of the moon by Ranger 7 moon by Ranger 7 in 1964in 1964

►Nine missionsNine missions

MarinerMariner

► a series of robotic a series of robotic interplanetary probes interplanetary probes designed to designed to investigate Mars, investigate Mars, Venus and Mercury Venus and Mercury

► first planetary flyby, first planetary flyby, the first pictures from the first pictures from another planet, the another planet, the first planetary first planetary orbiter, and the first orbiter, and the first gravity assist gravity assist maneuver maneuver

► 10 vehicles—7 10 vehicles—7 successfulsuccessful

VoyagerVoyager

► Primary mission was Primary mission was to gain information to gain information about Jupiter and about Jupiter and SaturnSaturn

► Went on to explore Went on to explore Uranus and NeptuneUranus and Neptune

► 1 and 2 were 1 and 2 were deployed in 1977deployed in 1977

► Last pictures were Last pictures were sent in 1990sent in 1990

SurveyorSurveyor

► Sent seven robotic Sent seven robotic spacecraft to the spacecraft to the surface of the Moon. surface of the Moon. Its primary goal was Its primary goal was to demonstrate the to demonstrate the feasibility of soft feasibility of soft landings on the Moon. landings on the Moon.

► 5 of the 7 were 5 of the 7 were successfulsuccessful

► All 5 are still on the All 5 are still on the surface of the moonsurface of the moon

MercuryMercury

►First man-in-space programFirst man-in-space program►6 manned flights from 1961-19636 manned flights from 1961-1963►Previous unmanned mission carried a Previous unmanned mission carried a

chimpanzeechimpanzee►Goals:Goals:

To orbit a manned spacecraft around EarthTo orbit a manned spacecraft around Earth To investigate man’s ability to function in To investigate man’s ability to function in

spacespace To recover both man and spacecraft safelyTo recover both man and spacecraft safely

Virgil Grissom and Alan Virgil Grissom and Alan ShepardShepard

GeminiGemini

► 2 man space flights2 man space flights► 12 flights, including two unmanned flight 12 flights, including two unmanned flight

tests of the equipment tests of the equipment ►Goals:Goals:

To subject man and equipment to space flight up To subject man and equipment to space flight up to two weeks in duration. to two weeks in duration.

To rendezvous and dock with orbiting vehicles To rendezvous and dock with orbiting vehicles and to maneuver the docked combination by and to maneuver the docked combination by using the target vehicle's propulsion system; using the target vehicle's propulsion system;

To perfect methods of entering the atmosphere To perfect methods of entering the atmosphere and landing at a preselected point on land. Its and landing at a preselected point on land. Its goals were also met, with the exception of a land goals were also met, with the exception of a land landing, which was cancelled in 1964. landing, which was cancelled in 1964.

Edwin Aldrin in EVA Edwin Aldrin in EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity)(Extra Vehicular Activity)

ApolloApollo

►The Apollo program was designed to The Apollo program was designed to land humans on the Moon and bring land humans on the Moon and bring them safely back to Earth. them safely back to Earth.

►Six of the missions (Apollos 11, 12, 14, Six of the missions (Apollos 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17) achieved this goal. 15, 16, and 17) achieved this goal.

1966-19701966-1970

►Apollo 1 caught fire before liftoff, Apollo 1 caught fire before liftoff, killing all three men aboard.killing all three men aboard.

1966-19701966-1970

►Apollo 10 (USA) May 1969Apollo 10 (USA) May 1969 Lunar Manned OrbiterLunar Manned Orbiter tested the Lunar Module, separating it tested the Lunar Module, separating it

from the Command and Service Module from the Command and Service Module and descended to within 50,000 feet of and descended to within 50,000 feet of the lunar surface the lunar surface

►Apollo 11 (USA) July 1969Apollo 11 (USA) July 1969 Lunar Manned LanderLunar Manned Lander the first manned lunar landing, which took the first manned lunar landing, which took

place on July 20, 1969 place on July 20, 1969

1966-19701966-1970

►Apollo 12 (USA) November 1969Apollo 12 (USA) November 1969 Lunar Manned LanderLunar Manned Lander retrieved portions of Surveyor 3, including retrieved portions of Surveyor 3, including

the camera the camera Astronauts also deployed the Apollo lunar Astronauts also deployed the Apollo lunar

surface experiment package (ALSEP), an surface experiment package (ALSEP), an automated research station which was automated research station which was also deployed by all subsequent lunar also deployed by all subsequent lunar crews. crews.

1966-19701966-1970

►Apollo 13 (USA) April 1970Apollo 13 (USA) April 1970 Lunar FlybyLunar Flyby The Apollo 13 mission became one of The Apollo 13 mission became one of

survival for the astronauts on board. survival for the astronauts on board. During the translunar coast an explosion During the translunar coast an explosion destroyed both power and propulsion destroyed both power and propulsion systems of the Command Service Module. systems of the Command Service Module. The Lunar Module was used as a lifeboat The Lunar Module was used as a lifeboat for the astronauts. for the astronauts.

Apollo 11 Command Module Apollo 11 Command Module “Columbia”“Columbia”

Apollo 11 Lunar Module Apollo 11 Lunar Module “Eagle”“Eagle”

Sizes of CapsulesSizes of Capsules