Unmanned space missions

Remore-controlled spacecraft often are more effective in carrying out scientific and observational missions that are [Manned space missions]?.

The first such mission was the Sputnik I mission, launched October 4, 1957.

Unmanned programs through the ages (first mission year given, if known)

Early Earth-orbital missions

• Sputnik program, 1957 - Earth orbit
• Explorer program, 1958 - Earth orbit
• [Vanguard program]?, 1959 - Earth orbit

See also: Weather satellites, Communication satellites, etc.

Lunar exploration

• [Luna program]?, 1959 - Lunar exploration
• [Lunokhod program]? - unmanned Lunar Rover probes
• [Ranger program]? - Lunar hard-landing probes
• [Surveyor program]? - Lunar soft-landing probe
• [Orbiter program]? - Lunar orbital

Planetary exploration

• Mars program
• [Venera program]? - Venus orbital and landing
• Mariner program - Mercury, Venus and Mars, flyby and orbital
• [Mars Climate Orbiter]?
• Mars Odyssey
• [Mars Polar Lander]?
• [Viking program]? - Mars lander
• [Pioneer program]? - Jupiter and Saturn flyby
• [Voyager program]? - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune flyby
• [Galileo program]? - Jupiter orbiter and "lander"

See also space exploration, manned space missions.