View source for Astronomy:Outline of space exploration

{{Short description|1=Overview of and topical guide to space exploration}}
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[[Image:S122e008264.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Organization:European Space Agency|European Space Agency]]'s Columbus Module at the International Space Station, launched into space on the U.S. Space Shuttle mission STS-122 in 2008.]]

The following [[Outline (list)|outline]] is provided as an overview of and topical guide to space exploration.

'''[[Astronomy:Space exploration|Space exploration]]''' &ndash; use of [[Astronomy:Astronomy|astronomy]] and [[Engineering:Space technology|space technology]] to explore [[Astronomy:Outer space|outer space]].<ref>
{{cite web | url = http://adc.gsfc.nasa.gov/adc/education/space_ex/exploration.html | title = How Space is Explored | publisher = NASA | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090702153058/http://adc.gsfc.nasa.gov/adc/education/space_ex/exploration.html | archivedate = 2009-07-02 }}</ref> Physical [[Exploration|exploration]] of space is conducted both by [[Astronomy:Human spaceflight|human spaceflight]]s and by [[Engineering:Robotic spacecraft|robotic spacecraft]].


== Essence of space exploration ==

[[Astronomy:Space exploration|Space exploration]]
* {{annotated link|Philosophy:Big science}}
* {{annotated link|Exploration}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Outer space|Space}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Spaceflight}}

== Branches of space exploration ==

* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Human spaceflight}}
* Uncrewed spaceflight – Autonomous space travel without human

== History of space exploration ==
* [[Earth:Remote sensing|Remote sensing of Earth]]
* [[Astronomy:Exploration of the Moon|Exploration of the Moon]]
** [[Astronomy:Apollo program|Apollo program]]
** [[Astronomy:Moon landing|Moon landing]]s
** Robotic exploration of the Moon
* [[Astronomy:Mercury (planet)#Research with space probes|Exploration of Mercury]]
* [[Astronomy:Observations and explorations of Venus#Observation by spacecraft|Exploration of Venus]]
* [[Astronomy:Mars#Exploration|Exploration of Mars]]
** [[Astronomy:Mars landing|Mars landing]]s
** [[Astronomy:Mars rover|Mars rover]]s
**[[Astronomy:Mars aircraft|Mars Rotorcraft]]s
* [[Astronomy:Jupiter#Exploration|Exploration of Jupiter]]
* [[Astronomy:Saturn#History of observation and exploration|Exploration of Saturn]]
* [[Astronomy:Exploration of Uranus|Exploration of Uranus]]
* [[Astronomy:Exploration of Neptune|Exploration of Neptune]]
* [[Astronomy:Human spaceflight#History|History of human spaceflight]]
** [[Astronomy:Project Mercury|Project Mercury]]
** [[Astronomy:Project Gemini|Project Gemini]]
** [[Astronomy:Apollo program|Apollo program]]
** [[Engineering:Space Shuttle program|Space Shuttle program]]
** Vostok program
** Voskhod program
** Soyuz program
** [[Astronomy:Shenzhou program|Shenzhou program]]
* [[Astronomy:List of human spaceflights|List of human spaceflights]]
* [[Engineering:List of Space Shuttle missions|List of Space Shuttle missions]]
* Spaceflight records
* [[Finance:Space launch market competition|Emergence of market forces in spaceflight]]
* [[Engineering:Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes|Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes]]
* Timeline of astronauts by nationality
* [[Engineering:Timeline of first orbital launches by country|Timeline of first orbital launches by country]]
* [[Engineering:Timeline of rocket and missile technology|Timeline of rocket and missile technology]]
* [[Astronomy:Timeline of space exploration|Timeline of space exploration]]
* [[Engineering:Timeline of space travel by nationality|Timeline of space travel by nationality]]
* [[Engineering:Timeline of spaceflight|Timeline of spaceflight]]
* [[Engineering:Timeline of the Space Race|Timeline of the Space Race]]
* [[Astronomy:Timeline of Solar System exploration|Timeline of Solar System exploration]]

== Space agencies ==

* [[Astronomy:List of government space agencies|List of government space agencies]]
** Space agencies capable of human spaceflight (as of January 2024)
*** [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] (USA)
*** CNSA (China)
*** RFSA (Russia)
** Space agencies with full launch capability
*** [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] (USA)
*** RFSA (Russia)
*** CNSA (China)
*** ESA (Europe)
*** [[Organization:JAXA|JAXA]] (Japan)
*** [[Astronomy:ISRO|ISRO]] (India)
*** ISA (Israel)
*** [[Organization:Korea Aerospace Research Institute|KARI]] (South Korea)

== Active deep space missions and space stations ==
* [[Astronomy:International Space Station|International Space Station]]
* Tiangong space station (CNSA)
* [[Astronomy:Chandrayaan-2|Chandrayaan-2]] ([[Astronomy:Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO]])
* [[Astronomy:Chang'e 4|Chang'e 4]] (CNSA)
* [[Astronomy:CAPSTONE|CAPSTONE]] (NASA)
* [[Astronomy:Danuri|Danuri]] ([[Organization:Korea Aerospace Research Institute|KARI]])
* [[Astronomy:Smart Lander for Investigating Moon|SLIM lander, LEV-1 and 2 rovers]] (JAXA)
* [[Astronomy:Advanced Composition Explorer|Advanced Composition Explorer]] &ndash; NASA mission to observe [[Astronomy:Solar wind|solar wind]]
* [[Engineering:Deep Space Climate Observatory|Deep Space Climate Observatory]] &ndash; [[Organization:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]] observatory for [[Astronomy:Space weather|space weather]]
* [[Astronomy:Aditya-L1|Aditya-L1]] (ISRO)
* [[Astronomy:2001 Mars Odyssey|Mars Odyssey]] (NASA)
* [[Astronomy:Mars Express|Mars Express]]  &ndash; [[Organization:European Space Agency|ESA]] satellite orbiting Mars
* [[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]] (NASA)
* [[Organization:Mars Science Laboratory|Mars Science Laboratory]] &ndash; NASA rover to Mars
* [[Astronomy:MAVEN|MAVEN]]  &ndash; NASA satellite orbiting Mars
* [[Astronomy:ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter|ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter]] (ESA / Roscosmos) &ndash; Mars satellite
* [[Astronomy:Tianwen-1|Tianwen-1]] (CNSA)
* [[Astronomy:Mars 2020|Mars 2020]] [[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance rover]] &ndash; NASA rover to Mars
* [[Engineering:Akatsuki (spacecraft)|Akatsuki]] &ndash; JAXA satellite orbiting Venus
* [[Astronomy:BepiColombo|BepiColombo]] (ESA / JAXA)
* [[Astronomy:STEREO|STEREO]] &ndash; NASA mission to observe the Sun
* [[Astronomy:Parker Solar Probe|Parker Solar Probe]] &ndash; NASA probe to Sun
* [[Astronomy:Solar Orbiter|Solar Orbiter]] &ndash; ESA probe to Sun
* [[Astronomy:Hayabusa2|Hayabusa2]] (JAXA) &ndash; sample return mission to asteroid [[Astronomy:162173 Ryugu|Ryugu]]
* OSIRIS-APEX (NASA) &ndash; probe to asteroid [[Astronomy:99942 Apophis|Apophis]]
* [[Engineering:Lucy (spacecraft)|Lucy]] &ndash; NASA probe to multiple [[Astronomy:Jupiter trojan|Jupiter trojan]]s
* [[Engineering:Psyche (spacecraft)|Psyche]] (NASA) &ndash; probe to asteroid [[Astronomy:16 Psyche|Psyche]]
* [[Engineering:Juno (spacecraft)|Juno]] &ndash; NASA satellite orbiting Jupiter
* [[Astronomy:Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer|Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer]] &ndash; ESA probe to Jupiter and its moons
* ''[[Astronomy:New Horizons|New Horizons]]'' &ndash; probe to Pluto
* [[Astronomy:Voyager 1|Voyager 1]] and [[Astronomy:Voyager 2|Voyager 2]] (NASA) &ndash; probes to outer Solar System and interstellar space

== Future of space exploration ==

Lunar (the Moon)
* Future lunar missions
* [[Astronomy:Colonization of the Moon|Colonization of the Moon]]
* [[Astronomy:Lunar outpost (NASA)|Lunar outpost (NASA)]]
Sun
* [[Engineering:Sundiver (space mission)|Sundiver (space mission)]]
Mercury
* [[Astronomy:Colonization of Mercury|Colonization of Mercury]]
Venus
* Exploration of Venus
Mars
* [[Astronomy:Colonization of Mars|Colonization of Mars]]
* [[Astronomy:Human mission to Mars|Human mission to Mars]]
* [[Astronomy:Mars to Stay|Mars to Stay]]
Outer Solar System
* [[Astronomy:Colonization of the outer Solar System|Colonization of the outer Solar System]]
** [[Astronomy:Colonization of Titan|Colonization of Titan]]
Beyond the Solar System
* [[Engineering:Interstellar travel|Interstellar travel]]
** Nuclear rocket
** [[Physics:Fusion rocket|Fusion rocket]]
** [[Physics:Solar sail|Solar sail]]
** [[Astronomy:Einstein-Rosen bridge|Einstein-Rosen bridge]]
** [[Alcubierre drive]]
* [[Astronomy:Intergalactic travel|Intergalactic travel]]

== General space exploration concepts ==

* {{annotated link|Astronaut}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Non-rocket spacelaunch}}
* {{annotated link|Medicine:Space and survival}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Space vehicle}}
** {{annotated link|Engineering:Launch vehicle}}
** {{annotated link|Engineering:Spacecraft}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Spaceflight}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Space research}}

== Space exploration scholars ==
{{category see also | Early spaceflight scientists}}

== Leaders in space exploration ==
*[[Biography:Yuri Gagarin|Yuri Gagarin]] &ndash; first man in space
*Neil Armstrong and [[Biography:Buzz Aldrin|Buzz Aldrin]] &ndash; first men to walk on the [[Astronomy:Moon|Moon]]
*[[Biography:John Glenn|John Glenn]] &ndash; oldest man in orbit

== See also ==
* [[Outline of space science]]
* [[Outline of aerospace]]
* [[Astronomy:Timeline of Solar System exploration|Timeline of Solar System exploration]]
* [[Astronomy:Scientific research on the International Space Station|Scientific research on the International Space Station]]

; Lists
* [[Astronomy:Assembly of the International Space Station|Assembly of the International Space Station]]
* Space Shuttle crews
* [[Astronomy:List of Apollo astronauts|List of Apollo astronauts]]
* [[Astronomy:List of Apollo missions|List of Apollo missions]]
* [[Astronomy:List of Artemis missions|List of Artemis missions]]
* [[Astronomy:List of artificial objects on extra-terrestrial surfaces|List of artificial objects on extra-terrestrial surfaces]]
* List of astronauts by name
* List of astronauts by selection
* [[Astronomy:List of communication satellite companies|List of communication satellite companies]]
* [[Engineering:List of communications satellite firsts|List of communications satellite firsts]]
* [[Astronomy:List of Constellation missions|List of Constellation missions]]
* List of Cosmos satellites
* [[Engineering:List of crewed spacecraft|List of crewed spacecraft]]
* [[Astronomy:List of cumulative spacewalk records|List of cumulative spacewalk records]]
* [[Earth:List of Earth observation satellites|List of Earth observation satellites]]
* [[Astronomy:List of human spaceflight programs|List of human spaceflight programs]]
* [[Astronomy:List of human spaceflights|List of human spaceflights]]
* List of human spaceflights to the International Space Station
* [[Engineering:List of interplanetary voyages|List of interplanetary voyages]]
* List of ISS spacewalks
* [[Astronomy:List of International Space Station expeditions|List of International Space Station expeditions]]
* [[Astronomy:List of International Space Station visitors|List of International Space Station visitors]]
* [[Engineering:List of landings on extraterrestrial bodies|List of landings on extraterrestrial bodies]]
* List of launch vehicles
* [[Astronomy:List of Mir expeditions|List of Mir expeditions]]
* [[Astronomy:List of Mir spacewalks|List of Mir spacewalks]]
* [[Astronomy:List of NASA missions|List of NASA missions]]
* [[Astronomy:List of objects at Lagrangian points|List of objects at Lagrangian points]]
* [[Astronomy:List of private spaceflight companies|List of private spaceflight companies]]
* List of probes by operational status
* List of rockets
* Lists of rocket launches
** [[Engineering:List of Ariane launches|List of Ariane launches]]
** [[Engineering:List of Atlas launches|List of Atlas launches]]
** [[Engineering:List of Black Brant launches|List of Black Brant launches]]
** List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches
** [[Engineering:List of Long March launches|List of Long March launches]]
** [[Engineering:List of Proton launches|List of Proton launches]]
** [[Engineering:List of R-7 launches|List of R-7 launches]]
** [[Engineering:List of Scout launches|List of Scout launches]]
** [[Engineering:List of Space Launch System launches|List of Space Launch System launches]]
** [[Engineering:List of Thor and Delta launches|List of Thor and Delta launches]]
** [[Engineering:List of Titan launches|List of Titan launches]]
** [[Engineering:List of V-2 test launches|List of V-2 test launches]]
** [[Engineering:List of Zenit launches|List of Zenit launches]]
* [[Astronomy:List of Russian human spaceflight missions|List of Russian human spaceflight missions]]
* [[Astronomy:List of satellites in geosynchronous orbit|List of satellites in geosynchronous orbit]]
* List of satellites which have provided data on Earth's magnetosphere
* [[Astronomy:List of Solar System probes|List of Solar System probes]]
* [[Astronomy:List of Soviet human spaceflight missions|List of Soviet human spaceflight missions]]
* List of space agencies
* [[Engineering:List of Space Shuttle missions|List of Space Shuttle missions]]
* List of space travelers by name
* List of space travelers by nationality
* List of spacecraft and crews that visited Mir
* [[Astronomy:List of spacecraft manufacturers|List of spacecraft manufacturers]]
* [[Astronomy:List of spaceflight records|List of spaceflight records]]
* List of spaceports
* List of spacewalks and moonwalks
* List of the largest fixed satellite operators
* [[Engineering:List of uncrewed spacecraft by program|List of uncrewed spacecraft by program]]
* [[Astronomy:Uncrewed spaceflights to the International Space Station|Uncrewed spaceflights to the International Space Station]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://wayback.vefsafn.is/wayback/20041021162716/http://www.spaceref.com/ Space related news]
* [http://spaceflight.nasa.gov NASA's website on human space travel]
* [http://www.esa.int/esaHS/ESARW78708D_index_0.html ESA: Building the ISS]
* [http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/space/shuttle/manifest.txt Unofficial Shuttle Launch Manifest]
* [http://www.space-video.info/iss/assembly-animation.html ISS Assembly Animation]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Space Exploration}}
[[Category:Outlines|Space exploration]]
[[Category:Space lists|Space exploration]]
[[Category:Technology-related lists|Space 
exploration]]
[[Category:Space exploration|*Outline]]

{{Sourceattribution|Outline of space exploration}}