OSIRIS-REx
OSIRIS-REx is NASA’s spacecraft on a mission to study the asteroid Bennu and return a sample to Earth. Learn about its design and objectives.
The complete database of
Exploratory Spacecraft
Exploratory spacecraft are robotic or crewed vehicles designed to explore outer space and study planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and other celestial phenomena. They are pivotal in advancing our understanding of the universe and our place within it! Embark on missions of discovery with cutting-edge probes and spacecraft, unraveling the mysteries of the universe and pushing the limits of human knowledge.
Quick jump to: Asteroid Sample Return • Deep Space Probes
Types of exploratory Spacecraft
Depending on their mission, exploratory spacecraft come in various types. Planetary orbiters circle planets or moons to gather long-term data about their atmospheres, surfaces, and magnetic fields, while landers touch down on celestial bodies to perform detailed surface analyses. Rovers take exploration a step further by moving across terrain, enabling in-depth study of multiple locations. Meanwhile, telescope and observatory spacecraft observe distant stars, galaxies, and cosmic events from space, free from Earth’s atmospheric interference. And space probes venture into uncharted regions, such as interstellar space or the Sun’s outer corona, to study phenomena in situ.
Asteroid Sample Return Spacecraft
Asteroid sample return spacecraft are like cosmic delivery drivers on a high-stakes mission: fly to an asteroid, grab a piece of it, and bring it back to Earth. These missions are incredibly ambitious because they involve long journeys, precise landings, and carefully scooping up material from an asteroid—sometimes with only seconds to get it right. Follow the daring quests to retrieve precious samples from space rocks, unlocking insights into the origins of our solar system and potential resources for future exploration.
Hayabusa Spacecraft
Discover the remarkable journey of Japan’s Hayabusa spacecraft, the first to successfully return samples from an asteroid.
Fobos-Grunt Spacecraft
Discover the ill-fated Fobos-Grunt spacecraft, designed in the Soviet Union to collect samples from the Martian moon Phobos.
Rosetta Spacecraft
Explore the remarkable journey of the Rosetta spacecraft, a pioneering mission that revolutionized our understanding of comets.
Hayabusa2 Spacecraft
Hayabusa2 is a Japanese spacecraft developed by JAXA and launched in 2014 with the mission of exploring the asteroid Ryugu.
Genesis Probe Spacecraft
The Genesis spacecraft was a NASA sample-return mission designed to collect solar wind particles and return them to Earth for analysis.
Chang’e 5 Lunar Sample Return
Chang’e 5 was a Chinese lunar sample return mission launched on November 23, 2020. It had an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a returner.
Deep Space Probes
Deep space probes are spacecraft sent far beyond Earth’s orbit to explore the outer solar system and beyond. They carry instruments to study planets, moons, comets, and even interstellar space. Famous examples like Voyager 1 and Pioneer 10 have ventured farther than any human-made objects, sending back groundbreaking data and images. Discover the intrepid explorers venturing into the depths of the cosmos, uncovering the secrets of distant planets, asteroids, and celestial phenomena.
Voyager 1
Discover Voyager 1, the iconic spacecraft exploring the depths of interstellar space. Learn about its historic mission and discoveries.
Voyager 2
Explore Voyager 2, the intrepid spacecraft journeying through the outer solar system and beyond. Learn about its mission and discoveries.
Interstellar Boundary Explorer
Explore the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX), a NASA spacecraft mapping the boundary between our solar system and interstellar space.
Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe
Learn about the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), a NASA spacecraft set to explore the outer boundaries of the heliosphere.
New Horizons Space Probe
New Horizons is a NASA space probe launched in 2006 with the primary mission of exploring Pluto and the outer regions of our solar system.
Exploratory Spacecraft FAQ
What is the purpose of exploratory spacecraft?
Exploratory spacecraft are designed to investigate celestial objects and phenomena in space, helping scientists gather data about planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and more. Their missions include studying atmospheres, surfaces, and interiors, searching for signs of life, and understanding the origins and evolution of the solar system and beyond.
How do exploratory spacecraft communicate with Earth?
Exploratory spacecraft use antennas to transmit data back to Earth via radio waves. This data is received by deep-space communication networks, such as NASA’s Deep Space Network, which processes and forwards the information to scientists for analysis. Depending on the distance, signals can take minutes to hours to travel between the spacecraft and Earth.
What powers exploratory spacecraft in space?
Exploratory spacecraft are typically powered by solar panels, which convert sunlight into electricity, or by radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which generate power from the heat released by radioactive decay. The choice depends on the mission’s location; solar panels are effective near the Sun, while RTGs are ideal for missions to distant, dark regions of the solar system.