1. Probes
A probe is an unmanned, unpiloted spacecraft carrying instruments intended for use in exploration of outer space or celestial bodies other than Earth.
Three Types of Probes
Interplanetary Probe/Fly-by Probe: Passes a celestial body collecting information as it travels.
Orbiter Probe: Flies closer to a planet and orbits the planet to study it for a number of years.
Lander Probe: touches down, or lands, on the celestial body’s surface.
National Geographic Probes Intro

2. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Launched : August, 2005
On a search for evidence that water persisted on the surface of Mars for a long period of time.

3. Sent to study Jupiter and its moons.
Galileo
Sent to study Jupiter and its moons.

4. New Horizons Space Probe Launched: 2006 Pluto Flyby: 2015
Flyby Pluto and gathered information on its atmosphere and surface.

5. On a mission to study the sun from orbit.
SOHO Probe Launched: 1995
On a mission to study the sun from orbit.

6. Mars Exploration Rovers 2003-2011
Gather data of Mars from the ground. It tookphotographs and data from rocks and soil on the surface.

7. Cassini-Huygens Probe Launch Date
On a mission to orbit Saturn. It is measuring atmosphere, wind, and cosmic dust.

8. Power Sources for Satellites
Batteries, Solar Panels, Nuclear Power, Heat Generators (dish of mirrors that
reflect the heat of the sun)

9. Research a Probe
Visit the NASA link below to learn about probes that have been or are going to be launched into space.
- Choose a probe to learn more about. Let the teacher know which probe you are choosing so that there are no repeats in research.
- Complete the Probes Project Organizer in Google Classroom to show your research. You may change the font or layout to suit your creativity.
Image of the nucleus of Comet Halley from Giotto Spacecraft (European Space Agency - ESA) in 1986.