Which planetary mission has lasted the longest in operation?
Quick Answer
NASA’s Juno mission at Jupiter has lasted many years and continues extended operations. For long-lived planetary spacecraft, missions are often extended far beyond their original plans.
The Full Story
Among active planetary missions, Juno has been one of NASA’s longest-running deep-space operations at Jupiter, far exceeding its original prime mission. It arrived at Jupiter in 2016 and has continued to send back valuable data on the planet’s atmosphere, gravity, and magnetic field. Long mission lifetimes are common in planetary exploration when spacecraft remain healthy and scientifically productive. Extended missions often reveal far more than the original mission goals.
Key Facts
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"The mission that keeps going at Jupiter"
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