What is Space probe?
[[File:PioneerH2011.jpg|thumb|222x222px|Abandoned 1974 Pioneer H space probe as it hangs in the National Air and Space Museum.]] A '''space probe''' is a type of [[spacecraft]], usually an unmanned space mission, sent out to find out information about a [[planet]] or other far away thing. As a tool of [[space exploration]] a planetary probe may land on the planet, or [[orbit]] around it, or merely fly by closely. Probes use [[radio wave]]s to send information back to [[Earth]] or sometimes to a manned spacecraft. A [[space observatory]] leaves the Earth to look at distant objects, but does not go near the objects, so it is not called a probe. The first successful space probe to explore a planet is [[Mariner 2]], which was launched in August 1962 to fly by Venus. Over time, more space probes were launched, and more information about our solar system was gathered. A notable space probe is [[Voyager 2]], which flew by [[Jupiter]], [[Saturn]], [[Uranus]] and [[Neptune]] before leaving the [[Solar System]] into interstellar space, a place between the stars. == Related pages == * [[Exploration of Mars]] [[Category:Spacecraft|Probe]] {{tech-stub}}