Space probes are unmanned spacecraft designed to travel beyond Earth’s orbit to collect scientific data about various celestial bodies, including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. Unlike satellites, which typically remain in Earth’s orbit, space probes are sent on specific missions to explore the solar system and beyond, often employing a range of scientific instruments to gather information about their targets.
These probes can be flyby, orbiter, or lander types, depending on their mission objectives. Flyby probes pass close to their target and gather data from a distance, orbiter probes enter orbit around a celestial body to conduct long-term studies, and landers are designed to touch down on a surface and analyze material directly.
Space probes have played a critical role in enhancing our understanding of the universe, providing insights into planetary atmospheres, geology, and potential for extraterrestrial life. Notable examples include Voyager 1 and 2, which have traveled beyond the solar system, and Mars rovers like Curiosity and Perseverance, which analyze the Martian surface.
Exploring the Future of Solar Research NASA's Parker Solar Probe has made significant strides, reaching unprecedented distances in its journey to study the sun. Launched in 2018, this groundbreaking mission…