Planetary Probes: Extending Astronomy Beyond Earth

Planetary probes are robotic spacecraft sent to study planets, moons, and other bodies up close.
The first successful probe, Mariner 2, flew by Venus in 1962.
Probes like Voyager 1 and 2 explored the outer planets and are now in interstellar space.
Pioneer 10 and 11 were the first probes to fly past Jupiter and Saturn.
Mars has hosted many probes, from Viking landers to modern rovers like Perseverance.
Cassini-Huygens revealed Saturn’s rings, Titan’s lakes, and Enceladus’s icy plumes.
The New Horizons probe gave humanity its first close-up of Pluto in 2015.
Planetary probes carry instruments for imaging, spectroscopy, and environmental measurements.
They act as humanity’s remote senses, exploring where astronauts cannot yet go.
Every probe adds a new piece to the puzzle of our solar system’s history and habitability.