September 05

Part of NASA's ambitious Voyager Program, Voyager 1 was sent to conduct flybys of Jupiter and Saturn, capturing detailed images and data. It revealed active volcanism on Jupiter's moon Io and provided close-up views of Saturn's rings. After completing its primary mission, Voyager 1 continued toward interstellar space and remains the farthest human-made object. The spacecraft has supplied invaluable information on cosmic rays and the heliosphere boundary. As it ventures into the unknown, Voyager 1 continues to communicate scientific discoveries back to Earth. Its pioneering journey has expanded our understanding of the solar system and inspired generations of exploration.

STS-41-D marked the maiden flight of Discovery, NASA's newest orbiter, demonstrating its capabilities in space. The mission's crew deployed satellites and tested the Remote Manipulator System for shuttle operations. They also conducted scientific experiments on Earth and crew health in microgravity. After nearly six days in orbit, Discovery touched down safely, validating design improvements over earlier orbiters. The mission's success paved the way for future satellite deployments and scientific research. Discovery went on to become the most-flown shuttle in NASA's fleet, contributing to construction of the International Space Station and deep space missions.