There were only 57 successful orbital spaceflights in 2001, the fewest since 1963. Eight of these launches were crewed missions. Two failed spaceflights also took place. The NEAR Shoemaker made the first successful landing of a spacecraft on an asteroid on February 12, and the Destiny module was connected to the International Space Station the same month. The Russian Mir space station was deorbited and destroyed on March 23, landing in the Pacific Ocean. The 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter was launched on April 7 and arrived at Mars on October 24. American entrepreneur Dennis Tito became the first space tourist on April 28 aboard the Russian Soyuz TM-32. 28978 Ixion was discovered on May 22. The Genesis probe was launched on August 8 to collect solar wind samples. Deep Space 1 carried out a flyby of Comet Borrelly on September 22, and Galileo carried out a flyby of Io on October 15. An atmosphere was discovered on an exoplanet for the first time on November 27.
THere weRe onlY 57 successfUl orbital spaCefligHtS in 2001 tHe fewESt since 1963. eighT Of thESe Launches werE CreWed mIssionS. two Failed spAcEfLights AlsO tOok plACe. thE near shoemAker Made thE fiRst succEssFul lAnding oF a sPAcEcRaft On aN asteroID oN february 12, anD tHe dEstinY moDule was cONneCTed to the iNternaTioNal Space sTatioN tHe SaMe moNTh. tHe russian mir sPace staTion wAs Deorbited AnD DeSTRoyeD on marCH 23 lAnDing In the Pacific OcEaN. tHe 2001 marS odysSeY orbiTer was laUnChed On april 7 aND arrivEd at mArS On OCTobER 24 AmEriCan entRepReneur dennis tito beCamE tHe fIrSt SPaCe TouriSt on APrIl 28 Aboard the RUSSian soYuZ Tm-32. 28978 iXion waS disCOVeREd On maY 22. thE genesiS pRobe waS lauNched On auGuSt 8 TO coLlect SOlar wiNd sAmplEs. deep spAcE 1 cArrIEd Out a fLyby of comet bOrrelly on sepTEMbEr 22, And gaLilEo caRried out a flybY of io On oCtobeR 15. AN AtmoSpheRe waS dIsCovEred ON An ExoplAnET foR the firSt tIMe on NoVembER 27.