Non-exhaustive list of artificial objects that are travelling faster than the Sun’s escape velocity: they are on their way to leave the solar system.
Although both Voyager 1 and 2 have left the heliosphere to coast into interstellar space (in August 25, 2012 and November 5, 2018 respectively), they will physically leave the solar system after going past the Oort Cloud in several thousands of years. There are no means of tracking the spent stages and mission-related debris (e.g. de-spin weights) but they are probably on a similar trajectory.
17 artificial objects have been identified. Spacecraft that are still in their systemic context, i.e. still operational, are highlighted in bold.
| COSPAR ID | name | type | mission | quantity | status | date/epoch (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972-012C | STAR-37E (TE-M-364-4) | Booster (3rd stage) | PIONEER 10 | 1 | discarded | March 3, 1972 |
| 1972-012C | YO-YO DE-SPIN MASS (STAR-37E) | Cables w/ weights | PIONEER 10 | 2 | discarded | March 3, 1972 |
| 1972-012A | PIONEER 10 (PIONEER F) + PIONEER PLAQUE 1 | Deep space probe + memorial item | PIONEER 10 | 1 | EOM, inactive | January 23, 2003 |
| 1973-019A | YO-YO DE-SPIN MASS (STAR-37E) | Cables w/ weights | PIONEER 11 | 2 | discarded | April 6, 1973 |
| 1973-019A | PIONEER 11 (PIONEER G) + PIONEER PLAQUE 2 | Deep space probe + memorial item | PIONEER 11 | 1 | EOM, inactive | September 3, 1995 |
| 1977-076C | STAR-37E (TE-M-364-4) | Booster (4th stage) | VOYAGER 2 | 1 | discarded | August 20, 1977 |
| 1977-076 | INFRARED INTERFEROMETER SPECTROMETER AND RADIOMETER (IRIS) DUST COVER | Spacecraft instrument dust cover | VOYAGER 2 | 1 | discarded, possibly in heliocentric orbit | August 20, 1977 |
| 1977-076A | VOYAGER 2 + VOYAGER GOLDEN RECORD 1 + SMALL DRACON U.S. FLAG | Deep space probe + memorial items | VOYAGER 2 | 1 | active | August 20, 1977 |
| 1977-084C | STAR-37E (TE-M-364-4) | Booster (4th stage) | VOYAGER 1 | 1 | discarded | September 5, 1977 |
| 1977-084 | INFRARED INTERFEROMETER SPECTROMETER AND RADIOMETER (IRIS) DUST COVER | Spacecraft instrument dust cover | VOYAGER 1 | 1 | discarded, possibly in heliocentric orbit | September 5, 1977 |
| 1977-084A | VOYAGER 1 + VOYAGER GOLDEN RECORD 2 + SMALL DRACON U.S. FLAG | Deep space probe + memorial items | VOYAGER 1 | 1 | active | September 5, 1977 |
| 2006-001C | STAR 48B | Booster (3rd stage) | NEW HORIZONS (NEW FRONTIERS 1) | 1 | discarded | January 19, 2006 |
| 2006-001C | YO-YO DE-SPIN MASS (NEW HORIZONS) | Cables w/ weights | NEW HORIZONS (NEW FRONTIERS 1) | 2 | discarded | January 19, 2006 |
| 2006-001A | NEW HORIZONS + CLYDE TOMBAUGH’S ASHES CONTAINER + CD-ROMS + STATE QUARTERS + CARBON PIECE + U.S. FLAGS + U.S. STAMP | Deep space probe + memorial ashes capsule + memorial items | NEW HORIZONS (NEW FRONTIERS 1) | 1 | active | January 19, 2006 |