# Outline of space exploration

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to space exploration.
Space exploration – use of astronomy and space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft.

## Essence of space exploration

Space exploration
* Big science – Term used to describe a series of changes in science occurred in industrial nations
* Exploration – Process of investigating unfamiliar things
* High tech – Most advanced technology available
* Space – Void between celestial bodies
* Spaceflight – Flight into or through outer space

## Branches of space exploration

* Human spaceflight – Spaceflight with a crew or passengers
* Uncrewed spaceflight – Autonomous space travel without human

## History of space exploration

* Remote sensing of Earth
* Exploration of the Moon
** Apollo program
** Moon landings
** Robotic exploration of the Moon
* Exploration of Mercury
* Exploration of Venus
* Exploration of Mars
** Mars landings
** Mars rovers
** Mars Rotorcrafts
** Mars flyby
* Exploration of Jupiter
* Exploration of Saturn
* Exploration of Uranus
* Exploration of Neptune
* History of human spaceflight
** Project Mercury
** Project Gemini
** Apollo program
** Space Shuttle program
** Vostok program
** Voskhod program
** Soyuz program
** Shenzhou program
* List of human spaceflights
* List of Space Shuttle missions
* Spaceflight records
* Emergence of market forces in spaceflight
* Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes
* Timeline of astronauts by nationality
* Timeline of first orbital launches by country
* Timeline of rocket and missile technology
* Timeline of space exploration
* Timeline of space travel by nationality
* Timeline of spaceflight
* Timeline of the Space Race
* Timeline of Solar System exploration

## Space agencies

* List of government space agencies
** Space agencies capable of human spaceflight (as of January 2024)
*** NASA (USA)
*** CNSA (China)
*** RFSA (Russia)
** Space agencies with full launch capability
*** NASA (USA)
*** RFSA (Russia)
*** CNSA (China)
*** ESA (Europe)
*** JAXA (Japan)
*** ISRO (India)
*** ISA (Israel)
*** KARI (South Korea)

## Active deep space missions and space stations

* International Space Station
* Europa Clipper (NASA)
* Tiangong space station (CNSA)
* Hakuto-R Mission 2 (ispace Inc.)
* Blue Ghost M1 (Firefly Aerospace)
* Chandrayaan-2 (ISRO)
* Hera (ESA)
* Chang'e 6 service module (CNSA)
* Tiandu-1 and 2 (CNSA)
* Queqiao relay satellite (CNSA)
* Queqiao-2 relay satellite (CNSA)
* ICUBE-Q (SUPARCO)
* Chang'e 5 service module (CNSA)
* DRO A/B (CAS)
* Chang'e 4 (CNSA)
* CAPSTONE (NASA)
* Danuri (KARI)
* Advanced Composition Explorer – NASA mission to observe solar wind
* Deep Space Climate Observatory – NOAA observatory for space weather
* Aditya-L1 (ISRO)
* Mars Odyssey (NASA)
* Mars Express – ESA satellite orbiting Mars
* Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (NASA)
* Mars Science Laboratory – NASA rover to Mars
* MAVEN – NASA satellite orbiting Mars
* ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (ESA / Roscosmos) – Mars satellite
* Tianwen-1 (CNSA)
* Mars 2020 Perseverance rover – NASA rover to Mars
* Akatsuki – JAXA satellite orbiting Venus
* BepiColombo (ESA / JAXA)
* STEREO – NASA mission to observe the Sun
* Parker Solar Probe – NASA probe to Sun
* Solar Orbiter – ESA probe to Sun
* Hayabusa2♯ (JAXA) – sample return mission to asteroid Ryugu
* OSIRIS-APEX (NASA) – probe to asteroid Apophis
* Lucy – NASA probe to multiple Jupiter trojans
* Psyche (NASA) – probe to asteroid Psyche
* Juno – NASA satellite orbiting Jupiter
* Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer – ESA probe to Jupiter and its moons
* New Horizons – probe to Pluto
* Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 (NASA) – probes to outer Solar System and interstellar space

## Future of space exploration

Lunar (the Moon)
* Future lunar missions
* Colonization of the Moon
* Lunar outpost (NASA)
Sun
* Sundiver (space mission)
Mercury
* Colonization of Mercury
Venus
* Exploration of Venus
Mars
* Colonization of Mars
* Human mission to Mars
* Mars to Stay
Outer Solar System
* Colonization of the outer Solar System
** Colonization of Titan
Beyond the Solar System
* Interstellar travel
** Nuclear rocket
** Fusion rocket
** Solar sail
** Einstein-Rosen bridge
** Alcubierre drive
* Intergalactic travel

## General space exploration concepts

* Astronaut – Commander, pilot, or crew member of a spacecraft
* Non-rocket spacelaunch – Concepts for launch into space
* Space and survival – Idea that spacefaring is necessary for long-term human survival
* Space vehicle – Combination of launch vehicle and spacecraft
** Launch vehicle – Rocket used to carry a spacecraft into space
** Spacecraft – Vehicle or machine designed to fly in space
* Spaceflight – Flight into or through outer space
* Space research – Scientific studies carried out using scientific equipment in outer space

## Leaders in space exploration

* Yuri Gagarin – first man in space
* Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin – first men to walk on the Moon
* John Glenn – oldest man in orbit