Deep space exploration

This high-resolution image of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field includes galaxies of various ages, sizes, shapes, and colors. The smallest, reddest galaxies, are some of the most distant galaxies to have been imaged by an optical telescope.

Deep space exploration (or deep-space exploration) is the branch of astronomy, astronautics and space technology that is involved with exploring the distant regions of outer space.^[1] Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights (deep-space astronautics) and by robotic spacecraft.

At present the furthest space probe mankind has constructed and launched from Earth is Voyager 1, which was announced on December 5, 2011^[2] to have reached the outer edge of the Solar system,^[3] and entered interstellar space on August 25, 2012.^[4] Deep space exploration further than this vessel's capacity is not yet possible due to limitations in the space-engine technology currently available.

Some of the best candidates for future deep space engine technologies include anti-matter, nuclear power and beamed propulsion.^[5] 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.^[6]

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.^[7] Upon awarding the money to Jemison, a "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".^[8]

Research in deep space is ongoing and rapidly developing. In 2011, after the 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.^[9] 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.^[10]

The Single Aperture Far-Infrared Observatory (SAFIR), a proposed cryogenic space telescope, is tentatively set to launch in 2015 with the hopes of exploring "the formation of the first stars and galaxies" in deep space. The telescope will be more than 1000 times more sensitive than two current telescope spacecrafts, the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Herschel Space Observatory. NASA hopes to use SAFIR to learn about black holes, galaxy formation and evolution and the formation of star systems in the far reaches of space.^[11]

See also

• Intergalactic travel
• Interplanetary spaceflight
• Interstellar travel
• List of artificial objects leaving the Solar System

References

External links

• Human Space Flight at NASA.gov
• Solar System Exploration at NASA.gov

Spaceflight
General	Astrodynamics History Timeline Space Race Asian Space Race Records Accidents and incidents Space policy China European Union India Japan Russia Soviet Union United States Space law Outer Space Treaty Rescue Agreement Space Liability Convention Registration Convention Moon Treaty Private spaceflight
Applications	Astronomy Earth observation Archaeology Imagery and mapping Reconnaissance Weather and environment monitoring Satellite communications Internet Radio Telephone Television Satellite navigation Commercial use of space Space launch market competition Militarisation of space Space architecture Space exploration Space research Space technology Space weather
Human spaceflight	General Astronaut Life support system Animals in space Bioastronautics Space suit Extravehicular activity Weightlessness Space tourism Space colonization Programs Vostok Mercury Voskhod Gemini Soyuz Apollo Skylab Apollo–Soyuz Space Shuttle Mir Shuttle–Mir International Space Station Shenzhou Tiangong Health issues Effect of spaceflight on the human body Space adaptation syndrome Health threat from cosmic rays Psychological and sociological effects of spaceflight Space and survival Space medicine Space nursing
Spacecraft	Launch vehicle Rocket Spaceplane Robotic spacecraft Satellite Space probe Lander Rover Self-replicating spacecraft Spacecraft propulsion Rocket engine Electric propulsion Solar sail Gravity assist
Destinations	Sub-orbital Orbital Geocentric Geosynchronous Interplanetary Interstellar Intergalactic
Space launch	Direct ascent Escape velocity Expendable and reusable launch systems Launch pad Non-rocket spacelaunch Spaceport
Ground segment	Flight controller Ground station (Pass) Mission control center
Space agencies	CoNAE  AEB  CSA  CNSA  ESA  CNES  DLR  ISRO  LAPAN  ISA  ISA  ASI  JAXA  NADA  KARI  SUPARCO  Roscosmos  SNSB  SSAU  UKSA  NASA
Category   Portal   WikiProject

The Solar System
The Sun Mercury Venus Earth Mars Ceres Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Haumea Makemake Eris
Planets	Terrestrial planets Mercury Venus Earth Mars Giant planets Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Dwarf planets Ceres Pluto Haumea Makemake Eris
Rings	Jovian Saturnian (Rhean) Charikloan Chironean Uranian Neptunian
Moons	1 Terrestrial (Moon) Other near-Earth objects 2 Martian Phobos Deimos 69 Jovian Ganymede Callisto Io Europa all 62 Saturnian Titan Rhea Iapetus Dione Tethys Enceladus Mimas Hyperion Phoebe all 27 Uranian Titania Oberon Umbriel Ariel Miranda all 14 Neptunian Triton Proteus Nereid all 5 Plutonian Charon Nix Hydra Kerberos Styx 2 Haumean Hiʻiaka Namaka 1 Makemakean (S/2015 (136472) 1) 1 Eridian (Dysnomia)
Lists	Solar System objects By size By discovery date Minor planets Gravitationally rounded objects Possible dwarf planets Natural satellites Comets
Small Solar System bodies	Meteoroids Minor planets moons Comets Damocloids Mercury-crossers Venus-crossers Venus trojans Near-Earth objects Earth-crossers Earth trojans Mars-crossers Mars trojans Asteroid belt Asteroids first discovered: Ceres Pallas Juno Vesta Families Notable asteroids Kirkwood gap Main-belt comets Jupiter trojans Jupiter-crossers Centaurs Saturn-crossers Uranus trojans Uranus-crossers Neptune trojans Cis-Neptunian objects Trans-Neptunian objects Neptune-crossers Plutoids Kuiper belt Plutinos Cubewanos Scattered disc Detached objects Sednoids Hills cloud Oort cloud
Hypothetical objects	Vulcan Vulcanoids Phaeton Planet V Theia Fifth giant Planets beyond Neptune Tyche Nemesis Planet Nine
Exploration (outline)	Discovery Astronomy Timeline Spaceflight Robotic spacecraft Human spaceflight Colonization List of probes Timeline Mercury Venus Moon Mars Ceres Asteroids Mining Comets Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Deep space
Outline of the Solar System Portals Solar System Astronomy Earth sciences Mars Jupiter Uranus Cosmology Solar System → Local Interstellar Cloud → Local Bubble → Gould Belt → Orion Arm → Milky Way → Milky Way subgroup → Local Group → Virgo Supercluster → Laniakea Supercluster → Observable universe → Universe Each arrow (→) may be read as "within" or "part of".