Picturing Other Planets

Before we send people to other planets, we send satellites! These satellites are our first explorers, taking pictures and sending data back to Earth. Satellites have explored planets as "close" as Mars, and as far away as Pluto. Click on the photos below to uncover what these satellites have discovered!

An artists depiction of the magellan satellite with its solar panels unfolded as it approaches Venus.

Click here to learn more about the Magellan's mission to Venus.

A close up of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. It has a satellite dish "head" and solar panel "arms".

Click here to learn more about the MARS Reconnaissance Orbiter and the images it has taken of Mars.

The image shows the New Horizons spacecraft as a satellite dish with a compact golden body holding the rest of the machinery.

Click here to learn more abut the New Horizons Satellite and its journey to the edges of our solar system.

The voyager satellite on a black background. The spacecraft is a large satellite dish with a long boom extending from it.

Click here to learn about Voyager's out of this world mission.

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