Space probe facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Voyager spacecraft
Voyager 2 in interplanetary space.

A space probe is an unmanned space mission, usually a small spacecraft sent out to find out information about a planet or other far away thing. As a tool of space exploration a planetary probe may land on the planet, or orbit around it, or merely fly by closely. Probes use radio waves to send information back to Earth or sometimes to a manned spacecraft. A space observatory leaves the Earth to look at distant objects, but does not go near the objects, so it is not called a "probe".

The space agencies of the USSR (now Russia and Ukraine), the United States, the European Union, Japan, China, India, and Israel have collectively launched probes to several planets and moons of the Solar System, as well as to a number of asteroids and comets. Approximately 15 missions are currently operational.

Images for kids

  • What's Up in the Solar System, active space probes 2016-12

    Space probes operational as of December 2016

  • Voyager 1's view of Solar System (artist's impression)

    Voyager 1's view of Solar System (artist's impression).

  • Pioneer H

    A planned 1974 probe, Pioneer H, on display in the National Air and Space Museum.

  • Huygens surface color

    The Huygens landing site on Titan

  • Lunokhod-1 in Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics 01

    The Lunokhod 1 unmanned rover on the surface of Moon, displayed in Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics.

  • PIA16239 High-Resolution Self-Portrait by Curiosity Rover Arm Camera

    The Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars.

  • Rosetta and Philae at comet (11206660686)

    The Rosetta orbiter and Philae lander nearing comet 67P.

  • Art1 deepimpact

    Artist's concept of Deep Impact prior to its planned collision with comet Tempel 1.

  • Voyager

    Photograph of Voyager 1 / Voyager 2

  • Pioneer10-11

    Artist's concept of Pioneer 10 / Pioneer 11

  • Pioneer 10 at Jupiter

    Artist's concept of Pioneer 10 near Jupiter

  • 15-011a-NewHorizons-PlutoFlyby-ArtistConcept-14July2015-20150115

    Artist's concept of New Horizons approaching Pluto.

  • PIA19703-PlutoFlyby-NewHorizons-ArtistConcept-20150709

    Artist's concept of New horizons near Pluto.

  • Cassini Saturn Orbit Insertion

    Artist's concept of Cassini in Saturn's Orbit

  • Galileo encounter with Io

    Artist's concept of Galileo encounter with Io

  • Stardust20110323-full

    Artist depiction of Stardust during the 'burn-to-depletion' phase

  • Mars global surveyor

    Artist depiction of Mars Global Surveyor

  • Titan4B on Launch Complex 40

    Titan4b on Launch pad


All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Space probe Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.