On This Date in History - November 16

Deep Space: a phrase used to denote any region in space outside the solar system.

1967: Mariner 5 - USA Venus Flyby (June 14 to Nov, '67) finished its journey. Arrived at Venus on Oct. 19, '67, 1 day after Venera 4. Passed within 3,900 km of the planet's surface. It studied the Venusian magnetic field & found that its atmosphere was composed of 85-99% CO2. Now in a solar orbit.

1969: Apollo 12 - USA Lunar Manned Lander (Nov. 14-24, '69) Crew: Charles Conrad Jr., Alan Bean, Richard Gordon, Jr. Was a manned lunar landing which took place on Nov. 19, '69. Landing site was Oceanus Procellarum at latitude 3°12' S & longitude 23°23' W. Was the landing site for Surveyor 3. Conrad & Bean retrieved portions of Surveyor 3, including the camera. Samples amounting to 34.4 kg were returned. Astronauts also deployed the Apollo lunar surface experiment package (ALSEP), an automated research station which was also deployed by all subsequent lunar crews.

1995: Pioneer 11 - USA Jupiter/Saturn Flyby - 259 kg - (Apr. 6, '73 - Nov. '95) left the solar system. It flew by Jupiter on December 1, '74 passing 42,900 kilometers from Jupiter's cloud tops. It took better pictures than Pioneer 10, & measured Jupiter's intense charged-particle & magnet field environment. As it flew by Jupiter it was given a gravity assist which swung it onto a course for Saturn. On Sep. 1, '79, it flew past the outer edge of Saturn's A ring at a range of 3,500 kilometers. It traveled underneath the ring system & passed 20,930 kilometers from Saturn's cloud tops.

1996: Mars 96 - Russia Orbiter & Lander launched. It consisted of an orbiter, 2 landers, & 2 soil penetrators that were to reach the planet in Sep. '97. Lifted off successfully, but as it entered orbit the rocket's 4th stage ignited prematurely & sent the probe into a wild tumble. It crashed into the ocean somewhere between Chile & Easter Island and sank, carrying with it 270 grams of plutonium-238.