Space probe facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

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".

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.

  • Voyager spacecraft

    Voyager 2 in interplanetary space.

  • 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


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Space probe Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.