Resin pyramid containing a model of 'Ulysses', ESA branded, with blue cardboard box, by European Space Agency, 1995

Ulysses was a joint ESA/NASA mission to study the sun, with ESA providing the spacecraft (built by the German Dornier systems) and managing operations, whilst NASA facilitated the launch and provided the radioisotope thermoelectric generator which powered the probe, as well as the technology needed to get Ulysses into orbit. The probe contained 12 instruments provided by both space agencies.

It was launched in October 1990 aboard Discovery and remained in operation for almost 20 years despite the initial intention of a 5 year mission. Ulysses remains in the Sun’s orbit.