Exploring the Mysteries of Deep Space

Deep-Space Exploration Missions: Pushing the Limits

Deep-space exploration missions are some of the most ambitious undertakings in science, aimed at studying distant planets, moons, and stars beyond our solar system. NASA’s Voyager 1 and 2, launched in 1977, are the most famous deep-space missions, and they continue to send data from interstellar space, over 14 billion miles from Earth.

Other missions, such as the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the recent Parker Solar Probe, are pushing the boundaries of space exploration, sending back vital information about the farthest reaches of our solar system and beyond. These missions help scientists better understand the universe’s structure, formation, and the potential for life on other planets.

Did You Know?

• Voyager 1 is the farthest human-made object from Earth, traveling in interstellar space.
• The New Horizons mission provided the first close-up images of Pluto.
• The Parker Solar Probe is the first spacecraft to fly directly into the Sun’s corona.
• The Voyager probes carry a golden record with sounds and images of Earth for potential extraterrestrial life.