If the twentieth century was the dawn of spaceflight, then the twenty-first century is its full, brilliant daybreak. We have robots and probes all across our solar system, telescopes in orbit that survey the whole galaxy and nearby objects, and the International Space Station, which serves as a permanent presence in space. We’ve also entered the era of commercial space travel when SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully docked with the International Space Station.
These remarkable technologies are helping to shape what space travel will look like in the twenty-first century.
1. Cassini-Huygens Probe
Cassini-Huygens is a collaborative project between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). Huygens, a European Space Agency (ESA) probe, was lowered into the atmosphere of Titan, a mystery moon of Saturn, by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft in 2004. Data from Titan and Cassini’s numerous onboard sensors are still being analyzed by scientists, and we’re learning more and more about Saturn, its magnetosphere, and its ice, watery moon Enceladus. Recently, there have been some stunning images of Saturn. That’s all due to Cassini’s efforts.
2. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), launched by NASA in 2005, is now circling Mars and examining the planet’s water history. A spectrometer is used to evaluate the Martian surface’s chemical composition, as well as analyze topographical features like canyons that may have been formed by water. A photograph from NASA’s HiRISE camera, which can see things “smaller than a dining table,” shows three Martian rovers now rolling (or stopped) on the Martian surface. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has made significant contributions to our understanding of the planet’s water and weather history, as well as stunning views of its surface. A rarely-seen Martian landslide was captured by the MRO in the image above.
3. Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, is one of the best space devices ever built. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, it has seen substantial changes. The Hubble, powered by the sun and outfitted with various sensors and cameras, has given us views of the cosmos that would have been impossible for Earth-based telescopes to capture. We have found dark energy, identified quasars, established a more precise date for the beginning of the universe, and discovered several galaxies at various stages of their life cycles using Hubble. More than 10,000 scientific articles have been generated using Hubble data, according to NASA estimates.
4. Kepler Spacecraft
Exoplanets in our Milky Way galaxy may now be found with this low-cost orbital telescope, which was launched in 2009. According to NASA, 2,740 “potential planets circling 2,036 stars” have been identified since then. As a result of our discovery of so many planets, our concept of our position in the galaxy and the cosmos has been revolutionized.
5. WISE and NeoWISE Probe
During its time as a probe, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer completed two missions. First and foremost, it carried out one of the most comprehensive scans of the galaxy in human history, uncovering everything from brown dwarf stars (which are often candidates for planets) to stellar nascent systems. As a result of its huge sky survey, astronomers are still deciphering the data. NeoWISE, a follow-up project, used the telescope to look for asteroids and comets in the solar system and the surrounding expanse of space. “Near Earth objects” (NEOs) were urgently required to be mapped so we could better comprehend the threats that face our planet. This information helps us determine if we are at danger of a possibly disastrous effect from NEOs. After the 2009 launch, the mission was extended numerous times to collect additional data.
6. Curiosity
One of the most powerful robots ever to set foot on the surface of Mars has snapped this self-portrait. With a more powerful set of instruments and a wider variety of equipment, it joins its elder brothers Spirit and Opportunity. An innovative landing system known as a “sky crane” let the Curiosity rover reach the surface of Mars in 2012. The only purpose of Curiosity, also known as the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), is to investigate whether or not Mars might ever be habitable. In order to find out whether there were ever circumstances on Mars that might have supported life as we know it, and if those conditions still exist now, the instruments of this mission are constructed.
7. Spirit and Opportunity Rovers
The image of Opportunity’s footprints was captured by the rover. Since their launch in 2004, Spirit and Opportunity have been exploring the Martian surface for much longer than predicted. In 2004, Opportunity arrived on Mars and is currently exploring the planet’s craters and learning more about the planet’s geology and rock formations today. Known as the Geologists, the twin robots were sent out to investigate rocks and soils up close, returning back a wealth of data that would allow us to get a closer look at an alien world than we’d ever been able to get before.
8. SELENE Lunar Orbiter
This lunar satellite was launched in 2007 by Japan’s space agency, JAXA. The Japanese moon princess Kaguya inspired the name of the spacecraft, which was given the codename “Kaguya” and given the goal of studying the lunar magnetic field and geology. As a consequence, we now have the most accurate and exact maps of the lunar surface ever created. Maps drawn by Kaguya will undoubtedly be used by future lunar explorers when they begin building on the Moon.
9. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket
Despite the fact that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket did not represent a significant leap forward in terms of technology, it was revolutionary for the future feasibility of commercial space transportation. Elon Musk’s privately-owned spaceship, the Dragon, is the first to assist a vehicle (the Dragon) in its rendezvous with the International Space Station. It has taken over from NASA’s Space Shuttles. Commercial spaceflight may soon become a reality, transforming the solar system like the seas of the fifteenth century.
10. International Space Station
Humanity’s first long-term space station, the International Space Station (ISS), launched in late 2000 to usher in the new millennium and the new century. In its thirteenth year, the International Space Station has grown tremendously, hosted several missions, and enabled scientists to perform hundreds of experiments in Earth orbit. More than anything else, the ISS serves as a demonstration of human endurance in microgravity for extended periods of time. It is allowing us to better understand the physical and psychological implications of living in space. For the first time, we’re taking our first steps on the path to human civilisation outside our planet’s boundaries.
