Mission Archive

NASA · 1964

Mars

The first spacecraft to return close-up pictures of another planet, sending back 21 images of a cratered Mars from its flyby in July 1965.

NASA · 1962

Venus

The first spacecraft to fly past another planet and return data. Its measurements showed that Venus has a very hot surface beneath its clouds.

USSR · 1959

Moon

The first spacecraft to photograph the far side of the Moon, returning images that covered about 70% of it.

USSR · 1959

Moon

The first spacecraft to reach the surface of another world, striking the Moon after a flight of about a day and a half.