// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Space Probe
A space probe is an uncrewed spacecraft sent to explore distant parts of space, often beyond Earth's orbit, to gather scientific data.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
A space probe is an uncrewed robotic spacecraft designed to travel beyond Earth's orbit to explore celestial bodies (planets, moons, asteroids, comets) or interstellar space, equipped with scientific instruments for remote sensing, in-situ analysis, and data transmission back to Earth.
BACKGROUND
The space industry of India is predominantly driven by its national space agency ISRO. The industry includes over 500 private suppliers and other various bodies of the Department of Space (DoS) in all commercial, research and arbitrary regards. Since the Indian space sector was opened up to private sector in 2020, numerous private space companies have emerged, working on various aspects of space exploration. In 2023, the space industry of India accounted for US$9 billion or 2%–3% of the global space industry and employed more than 45,000 people. The Government of India projects industry to grow four to five times over the next 8–10 years, potentially reaching US$40–45 billion, global share targeted to rise to 8% by 2030.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Spacecraft
- robotic explorer
- deep space mission
- interplanetary probe
USAGE NOTE
Space probes like Voyager 1 and 2 have provided invaluable data on the outer Solar System and interstellar space.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Space Probe.
A federally funded research and development center managed by Caltech for NASA. JPL is the leading U.S. center for robotic exploration of the solar system, having designed and managed iconic probes like the Voyager spacecraft, the Mars rovers (e.g., Perseverance), and the Juno Jupiter orbiter.
An intergovernmental organization of 22 member states dedicated to the exploration of space. ESA develops and launches probes for a wide range of scientific missions, such as the Rosetta mission to a comet, the Mars Express orbiter, and the upcoming Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE).
A major American aerospace and defense company that is a primary contractor for NASA. They have built numerous interplanetary spacecraft, including the Juno probe to Jupiter, the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample-return craft, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
The national space agency of China. CNSA has rapidly advanced its deep space exploration capabilities, successfully executing the Chang'e lunar sample-return missions and the Tianwen-1 mission, which placed an orbiter, lander, and rover on Mars.
The Japanese national aerospace and space agency. JAXA is renowned for its highly successful and technologically advanced sample-return missions, including Hayabusa and Hayabusa2, which collected and returned samples from asteroids.
A Franco-Italian aerospace manufacturer that serves as a key contractor for ESA and other space agencies. They have built or contributed major systems to numerous space probes, including the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, BepiColombo to Mercury, and Cassini-Huygens.
The national space agency of India. ISRO is known for its cost-effective approach to space exploration, successfully launching the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) and the Chandrayaan missions to the Moon.
A university-affiliated research center at Johns Hopkins University. APL designs, builds, and operates robotic spacecraft for NASA. Notable missions include the New Horizons probe to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, and the Parker Solar Probe, which is studying the Sun's corona.