Latest articles by Hanneke Weitering
On Sept. 24, 2014, India's first interplanetary mission entered into orbit around Mars in a stunning feat of space engineering. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 23, 1962, "The Jetsons" first debuted on ABC to bring a vision of family life in the future to TV screens around the world. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 22, 2006, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency launched a sun-observing satellite called Hinode to study the sun's magnetic field. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 21, 2003, NASA's Galileo mission to Jupiter and its moons came to an end. Here's why it mattered for Jupiter exploration.
On Sept. 20, 1970, the Soviet Union's Luna 16 moon probe landed on the moon to retrieve a soil sample and return it to Earth. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 19, 1996, the space shuttle Atlantis rendezvoused with Russia's Mir space station to deliver supplies and equipment. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 18, 1977, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft took its first photo of Earth and the moon. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 16, 1949, the U.S. launched a V-2 rocket with a monkey named Albert III on board. Here's how it happened and why it mattered.
On Sept. 15, 1968, the Soviet Union launched the Zond 5 spacecraft carrying tortoises and more on a mission to loop around the moon and return to Earth. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 14, 1966, NASA's Gemini 11 mission set an spaceflight altitude record that lasted for nearly six decades. Here's why the mission mattered.
On Sept. 13, 2007, Japan launched the Kaguya spacecraft on a mission to the moon. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 12, 1992, NASA astronaut Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to go to space. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 11, 1985, the International Cometary Explorer, or "ICE," became the first spacecraft to fly by a comet. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 10, 2011, NASA's GRAIL spacecraft launched on a mission to the moon! Here's why the moon gravity mapping mission mattered.
On Sept. 9, 1982, the first private rocket, Conestoga 1, launched into space from a Texas cattle ranch. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 8, 2004, NASA's Genesis spacecraft crash-landed in Utah after its parachutes failed to deploy. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 7, 1995, the space shuttle Endeavour launched on mission STS-69, NASA's 100th astronaut flight. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 6, 1947, a V-2 rocket launched from an U.S. Navy aircraft carrier for the first time. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 5, 1977, Voyager 1 began its epic journey through deep space with a glorious morning launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 4, 1962, NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft performed the first-ever rocket maneuver in deep space as it did a quick mid-course correction on its way to Venus. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 3, 2006, a European satellite named SMART-1 crashed into the moon! Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 2, 2016, the European Space Agency finally located Philae, its long-lost comet lander on the surface of the Comet 67P. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 1, 1979, NASA's robotic space probe Pioneer 11 became the first spacecraft to fly by Saturn. Here's why it mattered.
