Space probes and rovers are robotic explorers sent to distant planets, moons, asteroids, and beyond. They gather valuable data, perform experiments, and transmit images that help us understand the solar system and our place in it.

Probes are uncrewed spacecraft designed to travel far from Earth and perform flybys, orbits, or landings on other celestial bodies. They carry scientific instruments, cameras, and sensors.

• Voyager 1 & 2: Launched in 1977, still transmitting data from interstellar space.
• New Horizons: Flew by Pluto in 2015 and now explores the Kuiper Belt.
• Juno: Currently studying Jupiter’s atmosphere and magnetic field.
• Parker Solar Probe: Flying closer to the Sun than any spacecraft in history.

Rovers are mobile robots that land on planetary surfaces and move around to perform geological and atmospheric analysis. Most rovers are used on the Moon and Mars.

• Sojourner: The first Mars rover, part of the Pathfinder mission in 1997.
• Opportunity & Spirit: Twin Mars rovers that far outlived their expected lifespans.
• Curiosity: Exploring Gale Crater since 2012, studying climate and habitability.
• Perseverance: Deployed in 2021 to collect Martian soil samples for future return.
• Zhurong: China’s first Mars rover, landed successfully in 2021.

• Dragonfly (NASA): A rotorcraft heading to Saturn’s moon Titan in the 2030s.
• Europa Clipper: Will explore Jupiter’s icy moon Europa for signs of life.
• Mars Sample Return: A joint NASA–ESA effort to bring Martian samples back to Earth.

These robotic explorers extend humanity’s reach across the solar system—paving the way for future crewed missions and helping us uncover the secrets of distant worlds.