SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION
This month's International Year of Astronomy feature explores how Saturn has been a consistent source of surprises for 400 years.
Read more | Solar System Exploration site
CASSINI MISSION TO SATURN
The mission's extension, which is set to go through September 2017, is named for the Saturnian summer solstice occurring in May 2017.
Cassini-Huygens to Saturn
Studying Saturn and its rings and moons.
› Mission home page
Dawn
Dawn, the first spacecraft ever planned to orbit two different bodies after leaving Earth, will orbit Vesta and Ceres, two of the largest asteroids in the solar system.
› Mission home page
Epoxi
The Epoxi mission recycles the already "in flight" Deep Impact spacecraft to investigate two distinct celestial targets of opportunity.
› Mission overview
Mars Exploration Rovers
Spirit and Opportunity have been exploring Mars since January 2004. Clues found in some rocks indicate liquid water once covered the ground.
› Mission home page
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
This orbiter has the most powerful telescopic camera ever to another planet, plus five other scientific instruments.
› Mission home page
Mars Odyssey
This orbiter studies Mars' surface composition and radiation environment and has instruments to detect water and shallow buried ice.
› Mission home page
Microwave Instrument
on Rosetta Orbiter
This JPL instrument will study gases given off by a comet as the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft orbits the comet. Rendezvous with the comet is scheduled for 2014.
› Rosetta home page
Stardust-NExT
The Stardust-NExT mission recycles the already "in flight" Stardust spacecraft to flyby and investigate comet Tempel 1 in Feb. 2011.
› Mission overview
Voyager
Voyager 1 and 2 flew past Jupiter and Saturn. Voyager 2 also flew by Uranus and Neptune. Voyager 1 is now approaching interstellar space.
› Mission home page
|
NASA Administrator Visits JPL, Talks Asteroids
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden met with members of the asteroid initiative team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., today.
|
|
Forecast for Titan: Wild Weather Could be Ahead
Two new models with implications for NASA's Cassini mission suggest the onset of spring in Titan's northern hemisphere could bring waves and hurricanes.
|
|
NASA Mars Rover Curiosity Drills Second Rock Target
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has used the drill on its robotic arm to collect a powdered sample from the interior of a rock called "Cumberland."
|
 |
Rover Readies for Second Drilling Curiosity prepares for a second drilling and a tutorial on the complicated choreography to get the drill sample to her instruments. |
|
'Spring Break' Over; Commanding Resumes Curiosity gets new software and new capabilities for the long trek to Mt. Sharp. |
 |
What's up for May 2013? Spot popular astronomical sights this month including nebulae, a galaxy trio and the site of a recent planetary discovery. |
Read more