View source for Astronomy:Deep space exploration

[[File:NASA's Deep Space Antenna Upgrade to Affect Voyager.jpg|thumb|330x330px|70-meter-wide radio antenna at the Deep Space Network's Canberra facility in Australia.]]
'''Deep space exploration''' (or '''deep-space exploration''') is the branch of [[Astronomy:Astronomy|astronomy]], [[Earth:Astronautics|astronautics]] and [[Engineering:Space technology|space technology]] that is involved with exploring the distant regions of [[Astronomy:Outer space|outer space]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://adc.gsfc.nasa.gov/adc/education/space_ex/exploration.html |title=Space and its Exploration: How Space is Explored |work=NASA.gov |access-date=2009-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090702153058/http://adc.gsfc.nasa.gov/adc/education/space_ex/exploration.html |archive-date=2009-07-02 }}</ref> However, there is little consensus on the meaning of "distant" regions. In some contexts, it is used to refer to interstellar space. The [[Organization:International Telecommunication Union|International Telecommunication Union]] defines "deep space" to start at a distance of 2 million km (approximately 0.01 [[Astronomy:Astronomical unit|AU]]) from the Earth's surface. NASA's [[Astronomy:NASA Deep Space Network|Deep Space Network]] has variously used criteria of 16,000 to 32,000 km from Earth. Physical [[Astronomy:Space exploration|exploration of space]] is conducted both by [[Astronomy:Human spaceflight|human spaceflight]]s (deep-space astronautics) and by [[Engineering:Robotic spacecraft|robotic spacecraft]].

At present the farthest space probe humankind has constructed and launched from Earth is ''[[Astronomy:Voyager 1|Voyager 1]]'', which was announced on December 5, 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/news/new_region.html |title=Voyager - the Interstellar Mission |access-date=2011-12-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106063528/http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/news/new_region.html |archive-date=2012-01-06 }}</ref> to have reached the outer edge of the [[Astronomy:Solar System|Solar System]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/980224b.html |title=The Farthest Spacecraft |work=NASA.gov |date=1998-02-24 |access-date=2009-07-01 |archive-date=2014-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107234524/http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/980224b.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and entered interstellar space on August 25, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2013/0912_voyager-heliosphere.shtml |first=Brandon |last=Bryn |title=Voyager 1 Now Probing Unexplored Region of Space |work=Science |date=2013-09-12}}</ref> Deep space exploration further than this vessel's capacity is not yet possible due to limitations in the propulsion technology currently available.

Some of the best candidates for future deep space engine technologies include anti-matter, [[Physics:Nuclear power|nuclear power]] and [[Astronomy:Beam-powered propulsion|beamed propulsion]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/exploration/futurespaceflight/index.shtml |title=Future Spaceflight |work=BBC |access-date=2009-07-01}}</ref> The latter, beamed propulsion, appears to be the best candidate for deep space exploration presently available, since it uses known physics and known technology that is being developed for other purposes.<ref name="Forward1996">{{cite journal |title=Ad Astra! |journal=Journal of the British Interplanetary Society |first=Robert L |last=Forward |volume=49 |pages=23–32 |date=January 1996 |bibcode = 1996JBIS...49...23F }}</ref>

==Current research==

In 2012, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced the award of $500,000 to former astronaut Mae Jemison to fund a project with the goal of sending future astronauts out of the Solar System. Jemison aims to increase public interest in future deep space exploration projects.<ref>{{cite news |last=Vastag |first=Brian |title=Starship dreamers launch 100-year mission with DARPA grant |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/starship-dreamers-launch-100-year-mission-with-darpa-grant/2012/05/22/gIQA2k8wiU_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 22, 2012}}</ref> Upon awarding the money to Jemison, a "[[Astronomy:100 Year Starship|100 Year Starship]]" symposium was held in Houston, Texas, to discuss interstellar travel. Topics discussed include "time-distance solutions, life sciences in space exploration, destinations and habitats, becoming an interstellar civilization, space technologies enhancing life on Earth, and commercial opportunities from interstellar efforts".<ref>{{cite web|last=Moskowitz|first=Clara|title=Interstellar Starship Meeting Warps Into Houston This Week|url=http://www.space.com/17507-interstellar-space-travel-100-year-starship.html|work=Space.com|date=10 September 2012|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref>

Research in deep space is ongoing and rapidly developing. In 2011, after the [[Engineering:Space Shuttle retirement|retirement of the Space Shuttle]], NASA announced its intentions to invest money into developing three technologies vital to deep space exploration. The "must-have technologies" include a deep space atomic clock, a large solar sail and a more advanced laser communications system to improve communication, navigation, and propulsion in future missions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wall|first=Mike|title=NASA Picks 3 Pioneering Technologies for Deep Space Travel|url=http://www.space.com/12697-nasa-space-technology-demonstration-missions.html|work=Space.com|date=22 August 2011|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref> In June 2013, NASA announced the selection of eight American astronauts that will begin to train for future deep space missions beyond low Earth orbit. NASA intends that these eight astronauts to train for future Mars or asteroid travel.<ref>{{cite web|last=Moskowitz|first=Clara|title=NASA Unveils New Astronaut Class for Deep-Space Exploration|url=http://www.space.com/21585-nasa-unveils-astronauts-deep-space.html|work=Space.com|date=17 June 2013|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Astronomy:Intergalactic travel|Intergalactic travel]]
*[[Astronomy:Interplanetary spaceflight|Interplanetary spaceflight]]
*[[Engineering:Interstellar travel|Interstellar travel]]
*List of artificial objects leaving the Solar System
*[[Engineering:Space colonization|Space colonization]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://spaceflight.nasa.gov Human Space Flight] at NASA.gov
*[http://solarsystem.nasa.gov Solar System Exploration] at NASA.gov

{{Spaceflight}}
{{Solar System}}

[[Category:Spaceflight concepts]]
[[Category:Space exploration]]

{{Sourceattribution|Deep space exploration}}