Feature Astronomy

Astronomical milestones of 2015

Pluto stole the spotlight, but plenty of other stuff happened in space this year

MESSENGER

FORGET PLUTO  The Mercury orbiter MESSENGER (shown) crash-landed into the planet in one of several monumental moments for space missions this year. 

NASA, JHUAPL, Carnegie Institution of Science

By Christopher Crockett

- More than 2 years ago

The New Horizons mission to Pluto might get all the attention, but 2015 had plenty of other amazing space mission firsts — and lasts, as scientists said good-bye to two orbiters.