Recent and future space missions Chapter 19 Lesson 3

Missions to the sun and the moon Two main goals- send probes to the Sun and sending probes to the moon. Solar Probes- The solar probe Ulysses, launched in 1990, orbited the Sun and gathered data for 19 years. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2009, collects data that will help scientists select the best location for a future lunar outpost.

Missions to the inner planets The inner planets- Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars- are closest to the Sun. Probes are being sent to the other planets to learn how the inner planets formed, what geologic forces are active on them, and whether any of them could support life.

Missions to the outer planets The outer planets- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Missions to these planets are long and difficult because the planets are so far away from Earth. The next major mission to the outer planets will be an international mission to Jupiter and its four largest moons.

Future Space Missions A visit to Mars will probably not occur for several more decades. NASA plans to send additional probes to the planet. Astronauts will need secure housing once they establish a suitable landing area on Mars.

Studying Jupiter The largest planet in the solar system is going to be studied by the Juno spacecraft. It will take Juno 5 years to reach the planet. Juno will study Jupiter’s atmosphere, gravity, magnetic fields, and atmospheric conditions.

The Search for life No one knows if life exists beyond Earth, but people thought about the possibility for a long time. Life that originates outside Earth is extraterrestrial life.

Conditions needed for life Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe, including life on Earth and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Astrobiology also can help scientists locate environments in space where humans and other Earth life might be able to survive.

Water in the solar system A lunar space probe found water in a crater on the Moon. Evidence from other space probes suggests that water vapor or ice exists on many planets and moons in the solar system.