For planetary scientists, 2003 to 2005 is an age of discovery. The European Space Agency and NASA have sent a fleet of spacecraft to explore our Solar System. The data that these missions send back will tell us about the origins of the planets and give us clues to how life began on Earth.

Activity 1: Pre-reading task

Do you know the order of the planets from the sun? Do this activity to see.

Activity 2: Comprehension task

Follow the links below and read the short texts:

The Missions (A-R)
The Missions (S-Z)

Now do an activity to test your comprehension.

Activity 3: Follow-up task

Which of the missions do you think is most important and/or interesting? Why?

Send us your opinions on the subject.