Inspired by the UFO thread, i thought we could keep up a list of currently active missions that go beyond lunar orbit and are in active contact with Earth. The below are only space missions, not things rolling around on surfaces.
Outer Solar System: Jupiter and Beyond
Cassini
- NASA/ESA
- scientific observation of the Saturn system
- orbiting Saturn since 2004, with regular flybys of Titan and Enceladus
- successfully dropped Huygens lander on Titan
- mass: 5250 kg wet (without lander)
- planned operations until mid 2017
Rosetta
- ESA
- comet chaser, will orbit comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko
- in pursuit of comet; will soon enter braking phase to "jump" into orbit in August '14
- carries Philae lander for dropping on comet surface in November '14
- mass: 2900 kg wet (without lander)
- planned operations until end of 2015
New Horizons
- NASA
- Pluto/Charon flyby in July 2015; possible later KBO flyby
- hibernating on path to Pluto after Jupiter flyby in 2007; about 4.3 AU from Pluto
- mass: 480 kg wet
Inner Solar System : Below Jupiter
Dawn
- NASA
- exploration of main asteroid belt; planned orbital insertion around Ceres in February '15, previously orbited Vesta
- currently on spiraling path within asteroid belt from Vesta to Ceres
- mass: 1240 kg wet
Mars Express
- ESA
- long-term orbital observation and mapping of Mars' atmosphere and surface
- orbiting Mars since 2004
- unsuccessfully attempted to drop Beagle 2 lander
- mass: 1220 kg wet (without lander)
- planned operations until end of 2015
Mars Odyssey
- NASA
- Mars orbiter; surface mapping and communications array (for surface missions)
- in Mars orbit since 2001
- mass: 380 kg wet
MAVEN
- NASA
- Mars orbiter; atmosphere observation
- enroute to Mars since November '13
- mass: 2450 kg wet
- planned operations until end of 2015
Mars Orbiter Mission
- India
- mission: getting something to Mars; mars orbiter
- enroute to Mars since November '13
- mass: 1340 kg wet
- planned operations 6-10 months in Mars orbit
STEREO 1
- NASA
- solar observation
- heliocentric orbit, currently somewhere between SEL4 and Earth
- mass: 620 kg wet
STEREO 2
- NASA
- solar observation
- heliocentric orbit, currently somewhere between SEL5 and SEL3
- mass: 620 kg wet
Chang'e 2
- China
- deep-space tracking and control target after scientific missions concluded in 2012
- outbound from SEL2 at ca 0.65 AU from earth
- mass: 2480 kg
Inner Solar System : In the Neighborhood
SOHO
- NASA / ESA
- space observatory
- orbiting SEL1 since 1995
- mass: 1850 kg wet
- planned operations until end of 2016
GCS WIND
- NASA
- solar wind observation
- orbiting SEL1 since 2004
- mass: 1300 kg wet
Advanced Composition Explorer
- NASA
- cosmic ray observation
- orbiting SEL1 since 2004
- mass: 600 kg wet
Gaia
- ESA
- space observatory
- orbiting SEL2 since January 2014
- mass: 2030 kg
Inner Solar System : Below Earth
Venus Express
- ESA
- long-term orbital observation of Venus' atmosphere
- orbiting Venus since 2006
- mass: 1270 kg wet (note: design directly derived from Mars Express)
- planned operations until end of 2014
Akatsuki
- Japan
- meteorologic orbital observation of Venus
- failed to enter Venus orbit in 2010, will reattempt in 2015 on next close pass
- in heliocentric orbit near Venus
- mass: 520 kg wet
MESSENGER
- NASA
- orbital exploration of Mercury; achieved 100% mapping and water discovery
- second probe to ever explore the planet
- in Mercury orbit since 2011
- mass: 480 kg wet
If i've missed any (already launched and still in active contact!) add 'em.
Outer Solar System: Jupiter and Beyond
Cassini
- NASA/ESA
- scientific observation of the Saturn system
- orbiting Saturn since 2004, with regular flybys of Titan and Enceladus
- successfully dropped Huygens lander on Titan
- mass: 5250 kg wet (without lander)
- planned operations until mid 2017
Rosetta
- ESA
- comet chaser, will orbit comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko
- in pursuit of comet; will soon enter braking phase to "jump" into orbit in August '14
- carries Philae lander for dropping on comet surface in November '14
- mass: 2900 kg wet (without lander)
- planned operations until end of 2015
New Horizons
- NASA
- Pluto/Charon flyby in July 2015; possible later KBO flyby
- hibernating on path to Pluto after Jupiter flyby in 2007; about 4.3 AU from Pluto
- mass: 480 kg wet
Inner Solar System : Below Jupiter
Dawn
- NASA
- exploration of main asteroid belt; planned orbital insertion around Ceres in February '15, previously orbited Vesta
- currently on spiraling path within asteroid belt from Vesta to Ceres
- mass: 1240 kg wet
Mars Express
- ESA
- long-term orbital observation and mapping of Mars' atmosphere and surface
- orbiting Mars since 2004
- unsuccessfully attempted to drop Beagle 2 lander
- mass: 1220 kg wet (without lander)
- planned operations until end of 2015
Mars Odyssey
- NASA
- Mars orbiter; surface mapping and communications array (for surface missions)
- in Mars orbit since 2001
- mass: 380 kg wet
MAVEN
- NASA
- Mars orbiter; atmosphere observation
- enroute to Mars since November '13
- mass: 2450 kg wet
- planned operations until end of 2015
Mars Orbiter Mission
- India
- mission: getting something to Mars; mars orbiter
- enroute to Mars since November '13
- mass: 1340 kg wet
- planned operations 6-10 months in Mars orbit
STEREO 1
- NASA
- solar observation
- heliocentric orbit, currently somewhere between SEL4 and Earth
- mass: 620 kg wet
STEREO 2
- NASA
- solar observation
- heliocentric orbit, currently somewhere between SEL5 and SEL3
- mass: 620 kg wet
Chang'e 2
- China
- deep-space tracking and control target after scientific missions concluded in 2012
- outbound from SEL2 at ca 0.65 AU from earth
- mass: 2480 kg
Inner Solar System : In the Neighborhood
SOHO
- NASA / ESA
- space observatory
- orbiting SEL1 since 1995
- mass: 1850 kg wet
- planned operations until end of 2016
GCS WIND
- NASA
- solar wind observation
- orbiting SEL1 since 2004
- mass: 1300 kg wet
Advanced Composition Explorer
- NASA
- cosmic ray observation
- orbiting SEL1 since 2004
- mass: 600 kg wet
Gaia
- ESA
- space observatory
- orbiting SEL2 since January 2014
- mass: 2030 kg
Inner Solar System : Below Earth
Venus Express
- ESA
- long-term orbital observation of Venus' atmosphere
- orbiting Venus since 2006
- mass: 1270 kg wet (note: design directly derived from Mars Express)
- planned operations until end of 2014
Akatsuki
- Japan
- meteorologic orbital observation of Venus
- failed to enter Venus orbit in 2010, will reattempt in 2015 on next close pass
- in heliocentric orbit near Venus
- mass: 520 kg wet
MESSENGER
- NASA
- orbital exploration of Mercury; achieved 100% mapping and water discovery
- second probe to ever explore the planet
- in Mercury orbit since 2011
- mass: 480 kg wet
If i've missed any (already launched and still in active contact!) add 'em.
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