Lunar and Planetary Science at the NSSDCA

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What's New in Lunar & Planetary Science

The European Space Agency has announced that, in part due to effects of the COVID19 pandemic, the launch of the ExoMars 2020 mission, now designated ExoMars 2022, will be delayed until the next Mars launch opportunity in 2022.

Four proposals have been selected as finalists for the next one, or possibly two, Discovery missions: DAVINCI+, a Venus atmospheric probe; IVO, the Io Volcano Observer; TRIDENT, a Triton flyby; and VERITAS, a Venus radar mapper. More...

The European Space Agency Solar Orbiter launched successfully from Cape Canaveral on 10 February at 4:03 UT (09 February 11:03 p.m. EST). The mission will orbit within 0.28 AU of the Sun and make multiple flybys of Venus. More...

A primary sampling site has been chosen for the OSIRIS-REx mission. The site, designated Nightingale, is located in a crater in the high northern hemisphere of asteroid Bennu. Sample collection is scheduled for August 2020. More...

This Day in Planetary and Lunar Exploration History

1926: Goddard launches second liquid fuel rocket, aloft 4.2 seconds, lands 50 ft from test stand.
1965: Launch of Snapshot military satellite, first nuclear reactor in space.