2026-10-29 · space
Galileo's Historic Asteroid Encounter
On October 29, 1991, NASA's Galileo spacecraft made a groundbreaking flyby of the asteroid Gaspra, becoming the first spacecraft to visit an asteroid. This mission marked a significant milestone in space exploration, allowing scientists to gather vital information about the composition and characteristics of asteroids. The detailed images and data collected during this encounter enhanced our understanding of these celestial bodies and their role in the solar system.
Fun fact. Galileo's flyby of Gaspra provided the first close-up images of an asteroid.