Outline of space exploration

Last updated February 15, 2025

Columbus Module at the International Space Station, launched into space on the U.S. Space Shuttle mission STS-122 in 2008. S122e008264.jpg — Columbus Module at the International Space Station, launched into space on the U.S. Space Shuttle mission STS-122 in 2008.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to space exploration.

Essence of space exploration

Space exploration

Big science – Term used to describe a series of changes in science occurred in industrial nations
Exploration – Process of investigating unfamiliar things
High tech – Most advanced technology available
Space – Void between celestial bodies
Spaceflight – Flight into or through outer space

Branches of space exploration

Human spaceflight – Spaceflight with a crew or passengers
Uncrewed spaceflight – Autonomous space travel without human

History of space exploration

Space agencies

List of government space agencies
- Space agencies capable of human spaceflight (as of January 2024)
  - NASA (USA)
  - CNSA (China)
  - RFSA (Russia)
- Space agencies with full launch capability
  - NASA (USA)
  - RFSA (Russia)
  - CNSA (China)
  - ESA (Europe)
  - JAXA (Japan)
  - ISRO (India)
  - ISA (Israel)
  - KARI (South Korea)

Active deep space missions and space stations

International Space Station
Europa Clipper (NASA)
Tiangong space station (CNSA)
Hakuto-R Mission 2 (ispace Inc.)
Blue Ghost M1 (Firefly Aerospace)
Chandrayaan-2 (ISRO)
Hera (ESA)
Chang'e 6 service module (CNSA)
Tiandu-1 and 2 (CNSA)
Queqiao relay satellite (CNSA)
Queqiao-2 relay satellite (CNSA)
ICUBE-Q (SUPARCO)
Chang'e 5 service module (CNSA)
DRO A/B (CAS)
Chang'e 4 (CNSA)
CAPSTONE (NASA)
Danuri (KARI)
Advanced Composition Explorer – NASA mission to observe solar wind
Deep Space Climate Observatory – NOAA observatory for space weather
Aditya-L1 (ISRO)
Mars Odyssey (NASA)
Mars Express – ESA satellite orbiting Mars
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (NASA)
Mars Science Laboratory – NASA rover to Mars
MAVEN – NASA satellite orbiting Mars
ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (ESA / Roscosmos) – Mars satellite
Tianwen-1 (CNSA)
Mars 2020 Perseverance rover – NASA rover to Mars
Akatsuki – JAXA satellite orbiting Venus
BepiColombo (ESA / JAXA)
STEREO – NASA mission to observe the Sun
Parker Solar Probe – NASA probe to Sun
Solar Orbiter – ESA probe to Sun
Hayabusa2♯ (JAXA) – sample return mission to asteroid Ryugu
OSIRIS-APEX (NASA) – probe to asteroid Apophis
Lucy – NASA probe to multiple Jupiter trojans
Psyche (NASA) – probe to asteroid Psyche
Juno – NASA satellite orbiting Jupiter
Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer – ESA probe to Jupiter and its moons
New Horizons – probe to Pluto
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 (NASA) – probes to outer Solar System and interstellar space

Future of space exploration

Lunar (the Moon)

Future lunar missions
Colonization of the Moon
Lunar outpost (NASA)

Sun

Sundiver (space mission)

Mercury

Colonization of Mercury

Venus

Exploration of Venus

Mars

Outer Solar System

Colonization of the outer Solar System
- Colonization of Titan

Beyond the Solar System

General space exploration concepts

Astronaut – Commander, pilot, or crew member of a spacecraft
Non-rocket spacelaunch – Concepts for launch into space
Space and survival – Idea that spacefaring is necessary for long-term human survival
Space vehicle – Combination of launch vehicle and spacecraft
- Launch vehicle – Rocket used to carry a spacecraft into space
- Spacecraft – Vehicle or machine designed to fly in space
Spaceflight – Flight into or through outer space
Space research – Scientific studies carried out using scientific equipment in outer space

Space exploration scholars

Leaders in space exploration

Yuri Gagarin – first man in space
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin – first men to walk on the Moon
John Glenn – oldest man in orbit

References

↑ "How Space is Explored". NASA. Archived from the original on 2009-07-02.

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[1] "How Space is Explored". NASA. Archived from the original on 2009-07-02.

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