Running head: Space Exploration Using Space Probes

Space Exploration Using Space Probes

Patrick Kern
Eastern Illinois University

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Abstract
This paper examines the goals and importance of space probes with regards to exploring space.
What is a space probe? What tools do they use? According to Nasa, a probe is a spacecraft that
travels through space to collect scientific information. Probes do not have astronauts but they
send data back to Earth for scientists to study. Other topics that will be covered include how
space probes operate and navigate, the history of space probes, different missions of space
probes, the current Juno mission, and possible future missions of probes exploring space.

Space Exploration Using Space Probes

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On October 4th, 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first probe to go into
space. A short while later on January 31st 1958, the United States launched their first probe
named Explorer 1 (Dunbar 2016). The goal of both of these probes was to study the Earth from
Space and also learn more about what it is actually like to be in space. This was just the
beginning of the exploration for space probes, as numerous missions would launch in order to
gain new information and learn more about space and our neighboring planets in the solar
system. The goal of this paper will be to highlight the importance and value of space probes in
relation to exploring space. What are some other notable probes?
Voyager 1 is one of the most famous probes. It was launched in 1977 reached interstellar
space in August 2012. It is the most distant human-made object in modern existence. Voyager 1
explored the Jovian and Saturnian systems discovering new moons, active volcanoes and a
wealth of data about the outer solar system. (Nasa 2016) Voyager 1 had a twin as well, bluntly
named Voyager 2. They were designed to take advantage of a rare planetary alignment that
occurs only once in 176 years and remain the most well traveled spacecraft in history. (Nasa
2016) A very cool fact about the Voyagers is that it carries a time capsule called the Golden
Record, a gold-plated copper disk that contains sounds and images that tell the story of our Earth
and humans to potential extraterrestrials. How do probes operate and navigate space?
A lot of probes gather information and measure properties of space along with studying
the earth. Probes may also be equipped with different instruments and telescopes in order to
study different planets and stars, which also include taking pictures of planets. The first probe to
photograph a planet was the Mariner 4, which was able to capture an image of Mars on July
14th, 1965 (Dunbar 2016). From this image scientists were able to conclude that the surface of
Mars was cratered like the Moon. Six years later the Mariner 9 became the first probe to orbit a

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planet (Mars), and captured an image of the largest volcano in the solar system. Providing
images is by far one of the most valuable tools that probes provide.
Another amazing feature of space probes are their navigation capabilities while traveling
such far distances. In an article for Scientific American magazine, Jeremy Jones, chief of the
navigation team for the Cassini Project at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, offers this
explanation. The accurate navigation of space probes depends on four factors: First is the
measurement system for determining the position and speed of a probe. Second is the location
from which the measurements are taken. Third is an accurate model of the solar system, and
fourth, models of the motion of a probe.
The use of photography is also used in measuring the distance a probe may be from its
destination. The images are used as complementary data along with radio data to provide a more
direct tie with the destination. Calculation of the trajectory of a space probe requires the use of
an inertial coordinate system as well, wherein a grid is laid over the solar system and fixed
relative to the star background. (Jones 2016)
For missions to different planets, coordinate systems that originate at the center of the
solar system is used. measurements provide information on the position of the probe in relation
to an antenna. Measurements can be as accurate as about 0.5 kilometer. (Jones 2016)
The next aspect of navigation is providing an accurate model of the solar system. Gravity
is the most important force affecting a spacecraft. Determining the gravitational forces requires
pinpoint knowledge of locations such as the sun and all the planets, over the course of time
(Jones 2016).
The last aspect of navigation combines all the other elements and, using models of the
forces acting on a probe and orbital dynamics, estimates its location (Jones 2016). Regular

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measurements are taken over a period of time, and the probe's position and velocity can be
determined. Using a probe's known position and velocity, its future positions can be worked out.
Navigators compare these positions to the predicted location of the target body--based on the
ephemeris--to determine when a probe will reach its target. Then, all that's left to do is to collect
the flyby data, take a deep breath, and go on to the next encounter. (Jones 2016)
A more recent probe mission was that of Juno, NASAs $1.1 billion 5 year journey to
Jupiter (Palca 2016). Juno recently was set to begin orbit around Jupiter just this last July. The
scientists at NASA had only one shot at a successful flyby, and they were successful. Juno is
orbiting Jupiter as I write this. The main goal of the mission is to study the interior or core of
Jupiter, as much less is known about it compared to its gaseous exterior. The mission is also
expected to attempt measuring how much water Jupiter may have (Palca 2016).
When the Juno probe reached Jupiter, it would have been traveling at an astonishing
130,000mph (Palca 2016). The scientists will then fire Junos main engine, which will slow it by
about 1,000mph and allow Jupiter to coral the probe in its gravitational field. There are also
concerns about hazards that Jupiter may provide for the probe. The planet is surrounded by
powerful radiation that can fry any spacecraft that comes too near and this can damage electronic
equipment on board the probe (Palca 2016). Some of the equipment on board Juno includes;
Magnetometer (MAG), Microwave Radiometer (MWR), Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector
Instrument (JEDI), Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment (JADE), Waves, Ultraviolet
Imaging Spectrograph (UVS), Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) and the JunoCam
(NASA.gov 2016)
The mission team has designed a route from pole to pole that will attempt to avoid the
radiation over the clouds and under the radiation belts. The teams goal is to have Juno orbit

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Jupiter 30 times before eventually sending the probe plunging into the planet to remain forever
(Palca 2016). To orbit Jupiter 30 times will take approximately twenty months and the mission is
set to end in February of 2018 (NASA.gov 2016). The scientists hope to gain a greater
understanding of the entire solar system through a better understanding of Jupiter.
One planet that may be the destination for more future probes is Venus. According to
Alexander Rodin of Scientific American, Space agencies have paid too little attention to the
most Earth-like planet in our solar system. Rodin goes on to explain that in recent years Mars
has seen far more attention than Venus, and this may be due to the fact that Mars is a far more
hospitable planet. Although Venus is far more earth like in its size, composition and surface
gravity, yet its harsh environment leaves scientists with little hope that life could exist there.
There are still good reasons to study the planet though, Rodin claims, Venus's surface is rich in
volcanoes, lava flows and other geologic evidence of past tectonic activity. If tectonic activity is
still going on, which might well be the case, studying it could give us important information
about the planet's inner structure and dynamics. (2016)
Venuss atmosphere and orbit are also of particular interest to Rodin. The orbit of Venus
being like no other planet, as it rotates in the opposite direction of its path around the sun. Rodin
also compares the atmosphere of Venus to a hurricane, with each pole being eyes of the
hurricane. Scientists hope that a probe could help them to understand, predict or even control
hurricanes.
Some scientists also argue that Venuss atmosphere, although very volatile, could support
some forms of life. They argue that the abundant aerosol particles in Venus's atmosphere could
in principle host some form of life. All the necessary components are there: a moderate thermal
regime at 50 to 70 kilometers above the surface, liquid water and rich chemistry. (Rodin 2016)

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Rodin concludes that Venus has been poorly studied and needs more probes launched to
further investigate. The most recent probe to Venus was the Venus Express launched in 2005,
and prior to that there were no probes launched to Venus for 20 years. Will more probes be
launching to Venus in the near future?
Other future probes are also being planned for launch by Nasa and other countries around
the globe over the next 10 years. Nasa is planning to launch sometime this year the Deep Space
Atomic Clock, or DSAC. The clock is an ultra-precise, mercury-ion atomic clock. It will be
launched into Earth orbit to test its potential as a future tool for space probe navigation, radio
science and global positioning systems. The technology is designed to improve navigation of
spacecraft and probes to distant destinations and enable collection of more data with better
precision, is 50 times more accurate than today's best navigation clocks. (Nasa 2016)
In conclusion, the importance and value of space probes as a tool and resource to explore
and study space is absolutely vital. With the use of probes only just approaching sixty years in
service, the technology, information and data that is collected will help improve future
expeditions and lead to new answers and questions about the makeup of our universe. Probes
can also continue to provide us with answers and possible solutions to problems we may
experience here on Earth with the environment. Finally, one day, a probe may possibly even
make the thrilling discovery of thriving life far away from our home here on Earth. The
possibilities are endless.

References

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Dunbar, B. (2010). What Is a Space Probe? Retrieved November 18, 2016, from
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/jpl/education/spaceprobe-20100225.html

Jones, J. (2016). How do space probes navigate large distances with such accuracy and how
do
the mission controllers know when they've reached their target? (2006). Retrieved
November 18, 2016
Fromhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-space-probes-navig/

(n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/juno/

Palca, J. (n.d.). Juno Space Probe Is Set To Enter Jupiter's Orbit On Monday. Retrieved
November 18, 2016, from
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/03/482534266/juno-space-probe-is-set-t
o-enter-jupiters-orbit-on-monday
Rodin, A. (2016). We Need More Space Probes to Venus. Retrieved November 18, 2016, from
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-need-more-space-probes-to-venus/