Cluster is a European Space Agency mission to study the Earth's plasma environment and the effects of the solar wind on the Earth's magnetosphere. The four spacecraft orbit the Earth in a pyramid formation, so they can study plasma in the space between them in three dimensions.

Europlanet member countries with involvement in the Cluster mission:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
ASPOC	Active Spacecraft Potential Control
CIS	Cluster Ion Spectrometry
EDI	Electron Drift Instrument
EFW	Electric Field and Wave Experiment
FGM	Fluxgate Magnometer
PEACE	Plasma Electron And Current Experiment
RAPID	Research with Adaptive Particle Imaging Detectors
STAFF	Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Field Fluctuations
WBD	Wideband Plasma Wave Investigation
WHISPER	Wave of HIgh frequency and Sounder for Probing of Electron DEensity by Relaxation

ExoMars is the first mission in the European Space Agency's Aurora programme, Europe's long-term plan for exploring Mars. ExoMars, which includes an orbiter and a lander/rover, will search for traces of past and present life on Mars and gather information the Martian environment in preparation for future missions.

Europlanet member countries involved in ExoMars:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
AEP	Advance Environmental Package
LMC	Life Marker Chip
MEDUSA	Martian Environmental DUSt Analyser
MGD-MOLE	Mole Ground Demonstrator
Microseisometer
MOD-MOI	Mar Organic Detection/ Mars Oxidant Instrument
MOMA	Molecular Organic Molecule Analyser
NEIGE
PanCam	Panoramic Camera System
Raman/LIBS	Raman/Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometer
UV-VIS	Ultraviolet/Visible spectrometer
WISDOM
XRD	X-ray Diffractometer/ Spectrometer

Genesis is the first mission to bring a piece of the Sun to Earth.

The NASA mission spent two years bathing in the Solar Wind, a stream of particles emitted by the Sun. Particles from the Solar Wind became embedded in the spacecraft's collector arrays, which consist of wafers made from materials such as silicon and diamond.

In September 2004, Genesis returned to Earth - a little ahead of schedule. The parachutes that should have slowed the capsule during its descent did not open and the capsule hit the ground travelling at nearly 320 kilometres per hour. Despite this, the project team has managed to recover some samples and it believes that most of the science objectives of the mission will still be acheived.

Europlanet member countries involved in Genesis:

      

NASA's Juno mission to Jupiter will build on discoveries made by the Galileo mission, which ended in 2003. Juno will study the composition of Jupiter's atmosphere, study weather systems, determine whether Jupiter has an ice-rock core, investigate the origin of the Jovian magnetic field, and explore the planet's magnetosphere in polar regions.


Europlanet member countries with involvement in Juno:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
MWR	Microwave Radiometer
JIRAM	Jupiter InfraRed Auroral Mapper
MFI	Magnetic Field Investigation
PMS	Polar Magnetosphere Suite
GSE	Gravity Science Experiment
JCM	JunoCam

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) will gather data to prepare for future manned missions to the Moon. The development of a Lunar base is the first step in NASA's plans for an eventual manned mission to Mars. LRO will measure radiation levels in Lunar orbit, make detailed visual and temperature maps of the surface, look for water-ice near the surface, and study the light-levels at the poles.

Europlanet member countries involved in Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
CRaTER	Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation
Diviner	Lunar Radiometer Experiment
LAMP	Lyman Alpha Mapping Project
LEND	Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector
LOLA	Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter
LROC	Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera

Mars Express is the European Space Agency's first mission to the Red Planet. The spacecraft is investigating the history of water on Mars and mapping the planet in unprecedented detail.


Mars Express orbiter
The orbiter is making a detailed investigation of the Martian surface and atmosphere. Instruments are monitoring gas concentrations in the atmosphere and the processes that drive Martian dust storms. Mars Express will map the entire Martian surface, producing full colour, 3-dimensional images. Mars Express is also finding out what happened to the water that once flowed across the Martian surface. It is measuring how much water has been lost to interplanetary space and using Radar to look beneath the surface for underground lakes and ice.


Beagle 2
Beagle 2 was designed to look for the chemical signatures of life in Martian soil and investigate the atmospheric conditions and geology of the landing site. Beagle 2 was unfortunately lost on landing. However, its ground-breaking miniaturisation technology will be used on future missions.

Europlanet member countries involved in Mars Express:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
ASPERA-3	Analyser of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms
HRSC	High Resolution Stereo Cameras
MaRS	Mars Radio Science
MARSIS	Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding
OMEGA	Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activité
PFS	Planetary Fourier Spectrometer
SPICAM	Spectroscopy for Investigation of Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars
Beagle 2	Lander (Geochemical laboratory)

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is laying the groundwork for future exploration of the Red Planet.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will carry on the work started by Mars Odyssey, Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Express. It will study the surface, subsurface, and atmosphere of Mars and will also identify potential landing sites for future missions.

The orbiter carries a high-resolution camera that will focus in on areas of interest and any potential landing sites. A second camera will take wide-angle images that will help put the detail into context. Instruments will map the mineralogy of the surface and monitor the Martian atmosphere. A Radar will also scan beneath the surface to see if water or ice is hidden beneath the Martian crust.

Europlanet member countries involved in Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
HiRISE	High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment
CTX	Context Camera
MARCI	Mars Color Imager
CRISM	Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars
MCS	Mars Climate Sounder
SHARAD	Shallow Radar

Mars Science Laboratory is a NASA rover that will analyse the composition of Martian rock samples. It is due to be launched in 2009 and will land on Mars in October 2010.

Europlanet member countries involved in Mars Science Laboratory:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
MastCam	Mast Camera
MAHLI	Mars Hand Lens Imager
MARDI	Mars Descent Imager
APXS	Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer
ChemCam	Laser-Induced Remote Sensing for Chemistry and Micro-Imaging
CheMin	Chemistry & Mineralogy X-Ray Diffraction
SAM	Sample Analysis at Mars Instrument Suite
RAD	Radiation Assessment Detector
DAN	Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons
REMS	Rover Environmental Monitoring Station

Rosetta is the first space mission to attempt to land on a comet. The mission is operated by the European Space Agency.

Rosetta will spend two years travelling with Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko along its orbital path around the Sun. The Rosetta orbiter will map the surface of the nucleus and analyse gases and dust in the comet's atmosphere. The Rosetta lander will drop down onto the surface to take ground-based measurements and drill samples from below the surface for analysis.

Sightseeing en-route

Rosetta will take 10 years to reach its target, Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko. During its journey it has undergone gravity-assist manoeuvres and asteroid flybys.

To build up speed, Rosetta swung by the Earth three times during its journey. In 2007, it also made a slingshot around Mars. As Rosetta approached the Red Planet, it took pictures and measurements of the Martian surface to find out which minerals are present in the soil.

Rosetta has also studied two asteroids during its journey: Steins in 2008 and Lutetia in 2010. Rosetta's instruments measured the size, shape and rotational period of the asteroids and looked for traces of dust and gas around them.

Europlanet member countries involved in Rosetta:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
Rosetta Orbiter
CONSERT	Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission	(PI)
COSIMA	Cometary Secondary Ion Mass Analyzer	(PI)
GIADA	Grain Impact Analyser and Dust Accumulator	(PI)
MIDAS	Micro-Imaging Dust Analysis System	(PI)
MIRO	Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter	(PI: JPL)
OSIRIS	Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System	(PI)
ROSINA	Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis	(PI)
RPC	Rosetta Plasma Consortium	(PIs)
RSI	Radio Science Investigation	(PI)
VIRTIS	Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer	(PI)
Philae Lander
APXS	Alpha X-ray Spectrometer
CIVA	Six identical microcameras
CONSERT	COmet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radio-wave Transmission
COSAC	COmetary Sampling and Composition experiment
MUPUS	Multi-Purpose Sensors for Surface and Sub-surface Science
Ptolemy	Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer
ROLIS	Rosetta Lander Imaging System
ROMAP	Rosetta Lander Magnetometer and Plasma Monitor
SD2	Sampling, drilling and distribution subsystem
SESAME	Surface Electrical, Seismic and Acoustic Monitoring Experiments

SMART-1 was the European Space Agency's first mission to the Moon. It tested out new technologies and mapped the geochemistry of the lunar surface.

Launched in September 2003, SMART-1 took a spiral route to the Moon, arriving in November 2004. SMART-1's instruments gathed data about the Moon's surface, orbit and plasma environment. Data from the mission will answer questions about the Moon's origin and evolution. On 3rd September 2006, the SMART-1 mission ended with the probe being deliberately crashed into the Moon's "Sea of Excellence". Ground based telescopes were used to observe the dust cloud generated. Data from these observations gave information about the geochemistry of the lunar surface.

The European Space Agency used SMART-1 to test advanced technologies needed for future missions. The spacecraft was propelled towards the Moon by an innovative solar electric propulsion system. SMART-1's instruments used the latest miniaturisation technologies.


Europlanet member countries involved in the SMART-1 mission:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
AMIE	Advance Moon micro-Imager Experiment
D-CIXS	Demonstration of a Compact Imaging Spectrometer
SIR	SMART-1 Infrared Spectrometer
SPEDE	Spacecraft Potential, Electron and Dust Experiment
RSIS	Radio Science Investigation with SMART-1
XSM	X-ray Solar Monitor

The SOlar Heliospheric Observatory is a joint mission by the European Space Agency and NASA to study the Sun, from its inner core to the outer layers and the corona.
Europlanet member countries involved in the SMART-1 mission:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
CDS	Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer
CELIAS	Charge, Element, and Isotope Analysis System
COSTEP	Comprehensive Suprathermal and Energetic Particle Analyzer (LION & EPHIN)
EIT	Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope
ERNE	Energetic and Relativistic Nuclei and Electron experiment
GOLF	Global Oscillations at Low Frequencies
LASCO	Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph
MDI/SOI	Michelson Doppler Imager/Solar Oscillations Investigation
SUMER	Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation
SWAN	Solar Wind Anisotropies
UVCS	Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer
VIRGO	Variability of Solar Irradiance and Gravity Oscillations

NASA's Stardust mission has brought samples from a comet's tail back to Earth for analysis.

Stardust's deployable collector arrays were fitted with blocks of aerogel, a silicon foam that is 99.8% air. The aerogel slowed down and captured dust particles from the comet's tail, which were travelling six times faster than a bullet, and samples of interstellar dust.

Stardust flew through the tail of Comet Wild-2 in January 2004. During the encounter, it analysed and collected dust particles from the coma. On 15th January 2006, the sample return capsule parachuted back down to Earth. Scientists are now examining the precious comet samples.

Europlanet member countries involved in Stardust:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
	Aerogel Sample Collectors
CIDA	Cometary and Interstellar Dust Analyzer
NavCam	Navigation Camera
DFMI	Dust Flux Monitor Instrument

NASA's Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) consists of two almost identical spacecraft that will provide stereo images of the Sun in order to study coronal mass ejections.

Europlanet member countries involved in STEREO:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
SECCHI	Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation
SWAVES	STEREO/WAVES
IMPACT	In-situ Measurements of Particles and CME Transients
PLASTIC	PLAsma and SupraThermal Ion Composition

Ulysses is a joint mission by the European Space Agency and NASA to study the Sun. It the first-ever spacecraft to monitor the Sun's environment in space from the equator to the poles, and over a wide range of solar activity conditions.

Europlanet member countries involved in Ulysses:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
VHM/FGM	Magnetometer
SWOOPS	Ulysses Solar Wind Plasma Investigation
SWICS	Solar Wind Ion Composition Spectrometer
URAP	The Ulysses Unified Radio & Plasma Wave Investigation
EPAC	Ulysses Energetic Particle Investigation
GAS	Ulysses Interstellar Neutral Gas Experiment
HISCALE	Heliosphere Instrument for Spectra, Composition & Anisotropy at Low Energies
COSPIN	Cosmic Ray and Solar Particle Investigation
GRB	Ulysses Gamma Ray Burst Experiment
DUST	Ulysses Cosmic Dust Experiment
SCE	Ulysses Coronal Sounding Experiment
GWE	Gravitational Wave Experiment

Venus Express is the first spacecraft to visit Venus in over 10 years.

The European Space Agency mission is carrying many of the same instruments as Rosetta and Mars Express. Venus Express will follow an eccentric orbit, so that it can take global measurements from a distance as well as detailed close-ups. Instruments carried by the spacecraft will study the Venusian atmosphere and find out what drives the planet's high-speed winds.

Europlanet member countries involved in Venus Express:

Instrument	Function	Europlanet member countries involved
ASPERA-4	Analyser of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms
PFS	Planetary Fourier Spectrometer
SPICAV	Spectroscopy for Investigation of Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Venus
VeRA	Venus Radio Science
VEX-MAG	Magnetometer
VIRTIS	Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer
VMC	Venus Monitoring Camera

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NB Please note that these pages are undergoing revision. The involvement of some countries in missions may be omitted at present.