MAN MADE OBJECTS LEAVING THE SOLAR SYSTEM

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.

Additionally, other objects will probably acquire enough kinetic energy to leave the Solar system after one or several close fly-bys of planets. For instance, the Ulysses Solar probe is thought to be slingshot out of heliocentric orbit during one of its next encounters with the Jovian system.

Estimated number of artificial objects: 11
Estimated total mass: 2.7 tons

Most notable objects leaving the Solar System:

  • 2 de-spin masses
  • 1 funeral capsule
  • COSPAR IDname typemissionquantitydry mass (kg)statusdate/epoch (UTC)
    1972-012CSTAR 37E #40016Booster (3rd stage)PIONEER 10183.1discardedMarch 3, 1972
    1972-012APIONEER 10, PIONEER FDeep space probePIONEER 101222EOM, defunctJanuary 23, 2003
    1973-019APIONEER 11, PIONEER GDeep space probePIONEER 111222EOM, defunctSeptember 30, 1995
    1977-076CSTAR 37E #40065Booster (4th stage)VOYAGER 2183.1discardedAugust 20, 1977
    1977-076AVOYAGER 2Deep space probe VOYAGER 21735activeAugust 20, 1977
    1977-084CSTAR 37E #40066Booster (4th stage)VOYAGER 1183.1discardedSeptember 5, 1977
    1977-084AVOYAGER 1Deep space probe VOYAGER 11735activeSeptember 5, 1977
    2006-001CSTAR 48BBooster (3rd stage)NEW HORIZONS, NEW FRONTIERS 11123.8discardedJanuary 19, 2006
    2006-001CYO-YO DE-SPIN MASS (NEW HORIZONS)Cables w/ weightsNEW HORIZONS, NEW FRONTIERS 120.014discardedJanuary 19, 2006
    2006-001ANEW HORIZONSDeep space probeNEW HORIZONS, NEW FRONTIERS 11401activeJanuary 19, 2006