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The US satellite NEAR Shoemaker became the first satellite to orbit an asteroid on February 14, 2000. Not only did it orbit the Eros(the asteroid), but it landed on it. The landing took place on February 12, 2001. The probe landed on a saddle-shaped crater. It sent many photos of the asteroid surface to NASA. After transmitting the last data, the craft shut down on February 28.
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Cassini Huygens, a spacecraft manufactured and operated by NASA, ESA, and ASI(Italy), became the first probe to ever orbit Saturn. The orbit started on July 1, 2004. Cassini Huygens's mission was to study Saturn's rings, study the geology of Saturn's moons, study Titan's(a moon) clouds and surface, and to study Saturn's atmosphere. With a small extension in the mission time, it was able to complete all objectives.
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The satellite Kepler was launched on March 6, 2009, by the US. This satellite is a space telescope, particularly designed to find Earth-like, habitable planets. It has done its job well. Recently, it has located an interesting planet in another solar system, light years away from us. This planet was named after the satellite that discovered it. After researching Kepler 22-b, scientists say it has characteristics similar to Earth, such as the distance from its star.
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On May 9, 2003, Japan launched satellite Hayabusa. The craft flew to asteroid 25143 Itokawa, powered by ion engines. Once it landed, it collected samples of rock from the asteroid's surface, and brought the first ever asteroid samples back to Earth. Hayabusa was operated by JAXA. Once the probe landed, the sample was analyzed by the JAXA scientists. Altogether, this was a great success for Japan.
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On March 18, 2011, NASA's Messenger became the first satellite to orbit Mercury. Its mission was to analyze the chemical make up of Mercury's surface, study the geological background, and try to study the condition of the planet's core. Messenger sent back many pictures of Mercury that revealed its surface to be plain and flat. Messenger is still up there today, its mission will be extended as soon as it receives the approval from NASA.