2001

January

• January 15: Stardust makes a flyby of Earth.

February

• February 12: NEAR Shoemaker lands on Eros.
• February 28: Contact is lost with NEAR Shoemaker.

May

• May 22: The minor planet Ixion is discovered.

August

• August 8: Genesis is launched.
• August 13: Trinculo is discovered.

December

• December 9: Hermippe, Eurydome, Sponde, and Kale are discovered.
• December 10: Autonoe is discovered.
• December 11: Thyone, Pasithee, Euanthe, Orthosie, Euporie, and Aitne are discovered.