List of NASA Missions to Ariel

Ariel, one of Uranus’s mid-sized icy moons, orbits in a cold, distant system where scars from past geological activity and impact craters tell a story of its evolution. Its mix of smooth plains and troughs makes Ariel an interesting target for both past flybys and future orbiters. Ariel appears in the 3D model of Uranus with its Voyager 2 surface map and at its real position on any date.

There are 2 NASA Missions to Ariel, ranging from Uranus Orbiter and Probe to Voyager 2. For each mission I list Year (YYYY),Mission type,Closest approach (km) so you can compare timing, objectives and how near each craft came — details you’ll find below.

How close did Voyager 2 come to Ariel?

Voyager 2 flew past the Uranian system in 1986 and imaged Ariel from a relatively distant flyby, providing the only close-up views we have today; exact closest-approach distances vary by target and are listed in the table below for precise numbers and imaging coverage.

Is a Uranus Orbiter and Probe planned to study Ariel more closely?

A Uranus Orbiter and Probe is a recommended mission concept under study and could provide detailed, long-term observations of Ariel if selected and funded; timelines are still tentative, so check the entries below for current proposed years and mission type details.

Nasa Missions to Ariel

Images and Descriptions

Voyager 2

Voyager 2 flew through the Uranus system in 1986 and imaged Ariel up close, revealing craters, faulted terrains and bright icy surfaces. Completed mission; its photos and spectra remain the only close-up data for Ariel used by scientists today.

Uranus Orbiter and Probe

A NASA flagship-class proposed mission to orbit Uranus and deploy an atmospheric probe; Ariel is explicitly listed as a principal moon target. Proposed status; would return high-resolution imaging, composition and interior data if approved and launched.