The Solar System, with the Sun at its center and the planets orbiting it, has long been the main target of many space missions. Thanks to human space missions and robotic devices, we have had the opportunity to further explore planets, satellites and other phenomena in the solar system. From the first images of the Moon to new discoveries about Pluto, space missions have made great discoveries and changed humanity’s understanding of our place in the universe. .
Apollo Mission: First Steps on the Moon
One of humanity’s most famous missions is Apollo mission of NASA, especially Apollo 11 in 1969. This was the first time humans set foot on the Moon, an achievement that marked a great advancement in science and technology. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on the surface of the Moon, opening a new era of space exploration.
In addition to setting foot on the Moon, the Apollo mission also brought back soil and rock samples from the Moon, providing valuable data about the formation and evolution history of this satellite.
Voyager: Exploring Beyond the Solar System
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are two NASA spacecraft launched in 1977, with the mission of exploring planets outside the solar system. These missions yielded the first images and data of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Voyager also discovered many previously unknown moons and provided deeper insights into the solar system.
Currently, Voyager 1 has left the solar system and become the first artificial object to enter interstellar space, carrying humanity’s message to alien civilizations, if any.
Curiosity: Exploring Mars
Curiosity is a NASA probe launched to Mars in 2011 and landed on the planet’s surface in 2012. Curiosity’s mission is to search for signs of microbial life and study the chemical environment on Mars.
One of Curiosity’s biggest discoveries is the existence of organic compounds and methane gas, suggesting that Mars may have once had conditions that supported life. The findings from Curiosity have opened the door for future missions with the goal of discovering alien life.
New Horizons: Journey to Pluto
New Horizons was the first spacecraft in history to fly to Pluto and the Kuiper belt, the farthest region of the solar system. Launched in 2006, New Horizons flew by Pluto in 2015 and sent back to Earth the most detailed images of this dwarf planet.
Data collected from New Horizons has helped scientists better understand Pluto’s structure, terrain and atmosphere, changing previous ideas about this dwarf planet.
The Discovery of the Solar System
Space missions have brought great achievements in exploring the solar system. However, the journey of discovery does not stop here. With the advent of modern spacecraft like **James Webb**, scientists expect to have more new discoveries about distant planets and satellites.
The future of exploring the solar system promises to open up many questions and answers about the existence of extraterrestrial life and unanswered mysteries about the universe.
