INNER PLANETS

5. The hottest planet in our solar system
6. Responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research in the US
9. The first European space craft to explore Venus
10. Currently on a mission to explore Mars to prepare for future human exploration
12. Did a "Flyby" of Venus on Dec 14, 1962
14. Makes up 21% of Earths atmosphere
15. 4th planet from the sun

1. A layer that protects life from the sun's radioactive waves
2. A layer of gases surrounding a planet or celestial body
3. Another word for inner planet
4. Named after Italian mathematician and engineer
7. First Satellite to be launched into the atmosphere. Launched by the Soviet Union
8. One year here is 88 earth days
11. I used Venus' gravitational pull to help guide my to Mercury
13. The only habitable planet in the solar system