This is a list of space probes that have left Earth orbit (or were launched with that intention but failed), organized by their planned destination. It includes planetary probes, solar probes, and probes to asteroids and comets. Flybys (such as gravity assists) that were incidental to the main purpose of the mission are also included.
Excluded are lunar missions, which are listed separately at List of lunar probes and List of Apollo missions. Flybys of Earth are listed separately at List of Earth flybys. Planned and proposed missions are in the List of proposed Solar System probes.
Tables
· Solar probes › 1960–1969
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Pioneer 5
Pioneer 5
Spacecraft
Pioneer 5
Spacecraft
NASA/
DOD
Organization
March–April 1960
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
measured magnetic field phenomena, solar flare particles, and ionization in the interplanetary region
Notes
Pioneer 6(A)
Pioneer 6(A)
Spacecraft
Pioneer 6(A)
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
December 1965 – still contactable in 2000
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
network of solar-orbiting "space weather" monitors, observing solar wind, cosmic rays, and magnetic fields
Notes
Pioneer 7(B)
Pioneer 7(B)
Spacecraft
Pioneer 7(B)
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
August 1966 – still contactable in 1995
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
1966-075A
Pioneer 8(C)
Pioneer 8(C)
Spacecraft
Pioneer 8(C)
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
December 1967 – still contactable in 2001
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
1967-123A
Pioneer 9(D)
Pioneer 9(D)
Spacecraft
Pioneer 9(D)
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
November 1968 – May 1983
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
1968-100A
Pioneer-E
Pioneer-E
Spacecraft
Pioneer-E
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
27 August 1969
Date
orbiter
Type
failure
Status
intended as part of the Pioneer 6–9 network; failed to reach orbit
Notes
Ranked list
Spacecraft
Organization
Date
Type
Status
Notes
Image
Ref
Pioneer 5
NASA/ DOD
March–April 1960
orbiter
success
measured magnetic field phenomena, solar flare particles, and ionization in the interplanetary region
1960-001A
Pioneer 6(A)
NASA
December 1965 – still contactable in 2000
orbiter
success
network of solar-orbiting "space weather" monitors, observing solar wind, cosmic rays, and magnetic fields
1965-105A
Pioneer 7(B)
NASA
August 1966 – still contactable in 1995
orbiter
success
1966-075A
Pioneer 8(C)
NASA
December 1967 – still contactable in 2001
orbiter
success
1967-123A
Pioneer 9(D)
NASA
November 1968 – May 1983
orbiter
success
1968-100A
Pioneer-E
NASA
27 August 1969
orbiter
failure
intended as part of the Pioneer 6–9 network; failed to reach orbit
PIONE
· Solar probes › 1974–1997
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Helios A
Helios A
Spacecraft
Helios A
Spacecraft
DFVLR/
NASA
Organization
November 1974 – 1982
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
observations of solar wind, magnetic and electric fields, cosmic rays and cosmic dust between Earth and Sun
Notes
Helios B
Helios B
Spacecraft
Helios B
Spacecraft
DFVLR/
NASA
Organization
January 1976 – 1985?
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
1976-003A
ISEE-3
ISEE-3
Spacecraft
ISEE-3
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
1978–1982
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
observed solar phenomena in conjunction with Earth-orbiting ISEE-1 and ISEE-2; later renamed International Cometary Explorer (ICE) and directed to Comet Giacobini-Zinner
Notes
Ulysses
(first pass)
Ulysses
(first pass)
Spacecraft
Ulysses
(first pass)
Spacecraft
ESA/
NASA
Organization
1994
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
south polar observations
Notes
1995
1995
Spacecraft
1995
Spacecraft
north polar observations
WIND
WIND
Spacecraft
WIND
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
November 1994 – still active as of October 2024
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
solar wind measurements
Notes
SOHO
SOHO
Spacecraft
SOHO
Spacecraft
ESA/
NASA
Organization
May 1996 – extended to December 2025
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
investigation of Sun's core, corona, and solar wind; comet discoveries
Notes
ACE
ACE
Spacecraft
ACE
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
August 1997 – projected until 2024
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
solar wind observations
Notes
Ranked list
Spacecraft
Organization
Date
Type
Status
Notes
Image
Ref
Helios A
DFVLR/ NASA
November 1974 – 1982
orbiter
success
observations of solar wind, magnetic and electric fields, cosmic rays and cosmic dust between Earth and Sun
1974-097A
Helios B
DFVLR/ NASA
January 1976 – 1985?
orbiter
success
1976-003A
ISEE-3
NASA
1978–1982
orbiter
success
observed solar phenomena in conjunction with Earth-orbiting ISEE-1 and ISEE-2; later renamed International Cometary Explorer (ICE) and directed to Comet Giacobini-Zinner
1976-003A
Ulysses (first pass)
ESA/ NASA
1994
orbiter
success
south polar observations
1990-090B
1995
north polar observations
WIND
NASA
November 1994 – still active as of October 2024
orbiter
success
solar wind measurements
1994-071A
SOHO
ESA/ NASA
May 1996 – extended to December 2025
orbiter
success
investigation of Sun's core, corona, and solar wind; comet discoveries
1995-065A
ACE
NASA
August 1997 – projected until 2024
orbiter
success
solar wind observations
1997-045A
· Solar probes › Since 2000
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Ulysses
(second pass)
Ulysses
(second pass)
Spacecraft
Ulysses
(second pass)
Spacecraft
ESA/
NASA
Organization
2000
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
south polar observations
Notes
2001
2001
Spacecraft
2001
Spacecraft
north polar observations
Genesis
Genesis
Spacecraft
Genesis
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
2001–2004
Date
orbiter/
sample return
Type
success
Status
solar wind sample return; crash landed on return to Earth, much data salvaged
Notes
STEREO A
STEREO A
Spacecraft
STEREO A
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
December 2006 –
still active as of October 2024
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
stereoscopic imaging of coronal mass ejections and other solar phenomena
Notes
STEREO B
STEREO B
Spacecraft
STEREO B
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
December 2006 – October 2014.
August 2016 – October 2018
(communication lost between 1 October 2014 and 21 August 2016)
NASA directed that periodic recovery operations of Stereo-B cease with last support on October 17, 2018.
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
stereoscopic imaging of coronal mass ejections and other solar phenomena
Notes
Ulysses
(third pass)
Ulysses
(third pass)
Spacecraft
Ulysses
(third pass)
Spacecraft
ESA/
NASA
Organization
2007
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
south polar observations
Notes
2008
2008
Spacecraft
2008
Spacecraft
partial success
Organization
north polar observations; some data returned despite failing power and reduced transmission capacity
DSCOVR
DSCOVR
Spacecraft
DSCOVR
Spacecraft
NOAA
Organization
February 2015 – still active as of October 2024
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
solar wind and coronal mass ejection monitoring, as well as Earth climate monitoring
Notes
Parker Solar Probe
Parker Solar Probe
Spacecraft
Parker Solar Probe
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
November 2018 – December 2025
Date
orbiter/flyby
(approach 26 times)
Type
en route
Status
close-range solar coronal study
Notes
Solar Orbiter
Solar Orbiter
Spacecraft
Solar Orbiter
Spacecraft
ESA
Organization
10 February 2020 (launch)
Date
orbiter
Type
en route
Status
solar and heliospheric physics
Notes
Aditya-L1
Aditya-L1
Spacecraft
Aditya-L1
Spacecraft
ISRO
Organization
2 September 2023 (launch)
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
Solar corona observation
Notes
SWFO-L1
SWFO-L1
Spacecraft
SWFO-L1
Spacecraft
NOAA
Organization
24 September 2025 (launch)
Date
orbiter
Type
success
Status
Space weather, solar wind and coronal mass ejection monitoring
Notes
Ranked list
Spacecraft
Organization
Date
Type
Status
Notes
Image
Ref
Ulysses (second pass)
ESA/ NASA
2000
orbiter
success
south polar observations
1990-090B
2001
north polar observations
Genesis
NASA
2001–2004
orbiter/ sample return
success
solar wind sample return; crash landed on return to Earth, much data salvaged
2001-034A
STEREO A
NASA
December 2006 – still active as of October 2024
orbiter
success
stereoscopic imaging of coronal mass ejections and other solar phenomena
2006-047A
STEREO B
NASA
December 2006 – October 2014. August 2016 – October 2018 (communication lost between 1 October 2014 and 21 August 2016) NASA directed that periodic recovery operations of Stereo-B cease with last support on October 17, 2018.
orbiter
success
stereoscopic imaging of coronal mass ejections and other solar phenomena
2006-047B
Ulysses (third pass)
ESA/ NASA
2007
orbiter
success
south polar observations
1990-090B
2008
partial success
north polar observations; some data returned despite failing power and reduced transmission capacity
DSCOVR
NOAA
February 2015 – still active as of October 2024
orbiter
success
solar wind and coronal mass ejection monitoring, as well as Earth climate monitoring
2015-007A
Parker Solar Probe
NASA
November 2018 – December 2025
orbiter/flyby (approach 26 times)
en route
close-range solar coronal study
2018-065A
Solar Orbiter
ESA
10 February 2020 (launch)
orbiter
en route
solar and heliospheric physics
2020-010A
Aditya-L1
ISRO
2 September 2023 (launch)
orbiter
success
Solar corona observation
2023-132A
SWFO-L1
NOAA
24 September 2025 (launch)
orbiter
success
Space weather, solar wind and coronal mass ejection monitoring
2025-215B
· Mercury probes
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Mariner 10
Mariner 10
Spacecraft
Mariner 10
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
29 March 1974
Date
flyby
Type
success
Status
minimum distance 704 km
Notes
21 September 1974
21 September 1974
Spacecraft
21 September 1974
Spacecraft
48,069 km
16 March 1975
16 March 1975
Spacecraft
16 March 1975
Spacecraft
327 km
MESSENGER
MESSENGER
Spacecraft
MESSENGER
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
14 January 2008
Date
flyby
Type
success
Status
minimum distance 200 km
Notes
6 October 2008
6 October 2008
Spacecraft
6 October 2008
Spacecraft
minimum distance 200 km
29 September 2009
29 September 2009
Spacecraft
29 September 2009
Spacecraft
minimum distance 228 km
18 March 2011 –
30 April 2015
18 March 2011 –
30 April 2015
Spacecraft
18 March 2011 –
30 April 2015
Spacecraft
orbiter
Organization
success
Date
first spacecraft to orbit Mercury; unavoidable impact on the surface at end of mission
BepiColombo
(Mercury Cruise System)
BepiColombo
(Mercury Cruise System)
Spacecraft
BepiColombo
(Mercury Cruise System)
Spacecraft
ESA/
JAXA
Organization
1 October 2021
Date
flyby
Type
success
Status
minimum distance 199 km
Notes
23 June 2022
23 June 2022
Spacecraft
23 June 2022
Spacecraft
minimum distance 200 km
19 June 2023
19 June 2023
Spacecraft
19 June 2023
Spacecraft
minimum distance 236 km
4 September 2024
4 September 2024
Spacecraft
4 September 2024
Spacecraft
minimum distance 165 km - closest planetary flyby ever performed
1 December 2024
1 December 2024
Spacecraft
1 December 2024
Spacecraft
minimum distance 37,626 km
8 January 2025
8 January 2025
Spacecraft
8 January 2025
Spacecraft
minimum distance 295 km
Mio
(Mercury
Magnetospheric Orbiter)
Mio
(Mercury
Magnetospheric Orbiter)
Spacecraft
Mio
(Mercury
Magnetospheric Orbiter)
Spacecraft
JAXA
Organization
21 November 2026 (orbital insertion)
Date
orbiter
Type
en route (attached to Mercury Cruise System)
Ranked list
Spacecraft
Organization
Date
Type
Status
Notes
Image
Ref
Mariner 10
NASA
29 March 1974
flyby
success
minimum distance 704 km
1973-085A
21 September 1974
48,069 km
16 March 1975
327 km
MESSENGER
NASA
14 January 2008
flyby
success
minimum distance 200 km
2004-030A
6 October 2008
minimum distance 200 km
29 September 2009
minimum distance 228 km
18 March 2011 – 30 April 2015
orbiter
success
first spacecraft to orbit Mercury; unavoidable impact on the surface at end of mission
BepiColombo (Mercury Cruise System)
ESA/ JAXA
1 October 2021
flyby
success
minimum distance 199 km
2018-080A
23 June 2022
minimum distance 200 km
19 June 2023
minimum distance 236 km
4 September 2024
minimum distance 165 km - closest planetary flyby ever performed
1 December 2024
minimum distance 37,626 km
8 January 2025
minimum distance 295 km
Mercury Planetary Orbiter
ESA
21 November 2026 (orbital insertion) TBD 2027 (final MPO orbit)
orbiter
en route (attached to Mercury Cruise System)
Mio (Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter)
JAXA
21 November 2026 (orbital insertion)
orbiter
en route (attached to Mercury Cruise System)
· Venus probes › 1961–1969
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Tyazhely Sputnik
Tyazhely Sputnik
Spacecraft
Tyazhely Sputnik
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
4 February 1961
Date
lander
Type
failure
Status
failed to escape from Earth orbit
Venera 1
Venera 1
Spacecraft
Venera 1
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
19 May 1961 –
20 May 1961
Date
flyby
Type
failure
Status
contact lost 7 days after launch; first spacecraft to fly by another planet
Mariner 1
Mariner 1
Spacecraft
Mariner 1
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
22 July 1962
Date
flyby
Type
failure
Status
guidance failure shortly after launch
Sputnik 19
Sputnik 19
Spacecraft
Sputnik 19
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
25 August 1962
Date
lander
Type
failure
Status
failed to escape Earth orbit
Sputnik 20
Sputnik 20
Spacecraft
Sputnik 20
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
1 September 1962
Date
lander
Type
failure
Status
failed to escape Earth orbit
Sputnik 21
Sputnik 21
Spacecraft
Sputnik 21
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
12 September 1962
Date
flyby
Type
failure
Status
third stage exploded
Mariner 2
Mariner 2
Spacecraft
Mariner 2
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
14 December 1962
Date
flyby
Type
success
Status
first successful Venus flyby; minimum distance 34,773 km
Notes
Cosmos 21†
Cosmos 21†
Spacecraft
Cosmos 21†
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
11 November 1963
Date
flyby
Type
failure
Status
failed to escape Earth orbit
Venera 1964A†
Venera 1964A†
Spacecraft
Venera 1964A†
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
19 February 1964
Date
flyby
Type
failure
Status
failed to reach Earth orbit
Venera 1964B†
Venera 1964B†
Spacecraft
Venera 1964B†
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
1 March 1964
Date
flyby
Type
failure
Status
failed to reach Earth orbit
Cosmos 27
Cosmos 27
Spacecraft
Cosmos 27
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
27 March 1964
Date
flyby
Type
failure
Status
failed to escape Earth orbit
Zond 1
Zond 1
Spacecraft
Zond 1
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
1964
Date
flyby and possible lander
Type
failure
Status
contact lost en route
Cosmos 96
Cosmos 96
Spacecraft
Cosmos 96
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
23 November 1965
Date
lander
Type
failure
Status
did not depart low Earth orbit due to a launch failure
Venera 1965A†
Venera 1965A†
Spacecraft
Venera 1965A†
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
26 November 1965
Date
flyby
Type
failure
Status
launch vehicle failure?
Venera 2
Venera 2
Spacecraft
Venera 2
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
27 February 1966
Date
flyby
Type
failure
Status
ceased to operate en route
Venera 3
Venera 3
Spacecraft
Venera 3
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
1 March 1966
Date
lander
Type
failure
Status
contact lost before arrival; first spacecraft to impact on the surface of another planet
Kosmos 167
Kosmos 167
Spacecraft
Kosmos 167
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
17 June 1967
Date
lander
Type
failure
Status
failed to escape Earth orbit
Venera 4
Venera 4
Spacecraft
Venera 4
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
18 October 1967
Date
atmospheric probe
Type
success
Status
continued to transmit to an altitude of 25 km
Mariner 5
Mariner 5
Spacecraft
Mariner 5
Spacecraft
NASA
Organization
19 October 1967
Date
flyby
Type
success
Status
minimum distance 5,000 km
Notes
Venera 5
Venera 5
Spacecraft
Venera 5
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
16 May 1969
Date
atmospheric probe
Type
success
Status
transmitted atmospheric data for 53 minutes, to an altitude of about 26 km
Venera 6
Venera 6
Spacecraft
Venera 6
Spacecraft
(USSR)
Organization
17 May 1969
Date
atmospheric probe
Type
success
Status
transmitted atmospheric data for 51 minutes, to an altitude of perhaps 10–12 km
Ranked list
Spacecraft
Organization
Date
Type
Status
Notes
Image
Ref
Tyazhely Sputnik
(USSR)
4 February 1961
lander
failure
failed to escape from Earth orbit
1961-002A
Venera 1
(USSR)
19 May 1961 – 20 May 1961
flyby
failure
contact lost 7 days after launch; first spacecraft to fly by another planet
1961-003A
Mariner 1
NASA
22 July 1962
flyby
failure
guidance failure shortly after launch
MARIN1
Sputnik 19
(USSR)
25 August 1962
lander
failure
failed to escape Earth orbit
1962-040A
Sputnik 20
(USSR)
1 September 1962
lander
failure
failed to escape Earth orbit
1962-043A
Sputnik 21
(USSR)
12 September 1962
flyby
failure
third stage exploded
1962-045A
Mariner 2
NASA
14 December 1962
flyby
success
first successful Venus flyby; minimum distance 34,773 km
1962-041A
Cosmos 21†
(USSR)
11 November 1963
flyby
failure
failed to escape Earth orbit
1963-044A
Venera 1964A†
(USSR)
19 February 1964
flyby
failure
failed to reach Earth orbit
Venera 1964B†
(USSR)
1 March 1964
flyby
failure
failed to reach Earth orbit
Cosmos 27
(USSR)
27 March 1964
flyby
failure
failed to escape Earth orbit
1964-014A
Zond 1
(USSR)
1964
flyby and possible lander
failure
contact lost en route
1964-016D
Cosmos 96
(USSR)
23 November 1965
lander
failure
did not depart low Earth orbit due to a launch failure
1965-094A
Venera 1965A†
(USSR)
26 November 1965
flyby
failure
launch vehicle failure?
Venera 2
(USSR)
27 February 1966
flyby
failure
ceased to operate en route
1965-091A
Venera 3
(USSR)
1 March 1966
lander
failure
contact lost before arrival; first spacecraft to impact on the surface of another planet
1965-092A
Kosmos 167
(USSR)
17 June 1967
lander
failure
failed to escape Earth orbit
1967-063A
Venera 4
(USSR)
18 October 1967
atmospheric probe
success
continued to transmit to an altitude of 25 km
1967-058A
Mariner 5
NASA
19 October 1967
flyby
success
minimum distance 5,000 km
1967-060A
Venera 5
(USSR)
16 May 1969
atmospheric probe
success
transmitted atmospheric data for 53 minutes, to an altitude of about 26 km
1969-001A
Venera 6
(USSR)
17 May 1969
atmospheric probe
success
transmitted atmospheric data for 51 minutes, to an altitude of perhaps 10–12 km
