Tuesday Trivia

Hey folks,

The Mars Space Lab(MSL) also nicknamed "Curiosity" landed just over two weeks ago. This mission, of course, isn't even close to the first time NASA sent something to Mars! The two rovers from the Viking Program landed in 1976, and the Mars Pathfinder probe began its mission in 1997. Then, in 2003, two new rovers-Spirit and Opportunity- hit Martian soil in 2003.

Mars, however,  is in our own back yard compared to the distances that we have sent other spacecraft. Cassini (see previous post) has been orbiting Saturn and its moons since 2004. But here's your question for the week...

What two probes, launched in 1977, were sent on a mission to study the outer solar system and regions beyond?

BONUS: How far away are these probes today, and what region of space might they enter, being the first man-made machine to accomplish this?

Good luck!

Mr. C