Spectacular catch – NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator is retrieved from the Pacific after a near-space test flight. The LDSD project is evaluating landing technologies for future Mars missions

Ready for the big event – Rosetta mission selfie taken on 7 October at a distance of about 16 km from its target comet

Me too – Curiosity Mars rover’s selfie at the ‘Windjana’ drilling site. Curiosity has accomplished its main goal by confirming that Mars once possessed conditions favourable for microbial life

I was here – Rosetta’s self-portrait as it passes Mars, one of four planetary gravity assists needed to boost the spacecraft onto the trajectory to meet its target, comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko

Martian celebration – An art installation in Kolkata, inspired by India’s successful Mars mission, forms part of the Hindu Durga Puja festival, which celebrates the triumph of good over evil