A space probe is a robot spacecraft that flies through space to explore planets, moons, and other objects. No people ride on space probes. They travel on their own and send pictures and information back to scientists on Earth. Space probes are our eyes and ears in the distant parts of our solar system!
Space probes are launched on rockets and then fly through space for months or even years to reach their destination. They carry cameras, sensors, and other tools to study whatever they visit. Some probes fly past a planet and take pictures. Others orbit around a planet for a long time. A few have even landed on other worlds!
- The Voyager 1 space probe has been flying since 1977 and is now the farthest human-made object from Earth.
- The New Horizons probe flew past Pluto and took the first close-up pictures of it.
- Some probes take years to reach their targets because the planets are so far away!
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