Space: What does the future hold? A return to the moon? Manned flights to Mars? Embark on a galactic journey of exploration and discovery.

The celestial sky is studded with countless stars and immeasurable galaxies. As experts forecast new possibilities in space exploration, advanced technologies enable our continual study of Earth from orbit—taking us to places far beyond the reach of our imagination.

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As experts forecast new possibilities in space exploration, advanced technologies enable our study of Earth from orbit—taking us beyond the reach of our imagination.

From There to Here

The Moon is our closest celestial companion—lighting our night sky and gently tugging at our shores. Although only a few have walked on the surface, there has been a recent surge in robotic exploration. Once again, we view the moon with renewed interest … and with the hope of returning very soon.

Only a few have walked on the surface of the Moon: our closest celestial companion. But with the recent surge in robotic exploration, man hopes to return very soon.

Return to The Moon

Mercury’s proximity to the sun and the harsh climate on Venus have challenged our ability to explore our closest planets. To understand why Mercury and Venus differ so dramatically from Earth, scientists must overcome these obstacles.

Why are Mercury and Venus so different from Earth? Scientists must overcome tough challenges in order to explore our closest planets.

The Inner Worlds

The dry, barren planet Mars once flowed with vast reservoirs of water, making it likely the only other place in our Solar System that Man might one day call “home.” A favorite target for recent exploration, Mars is a destination for increasingly complex probes and plans for manned missions.

Mars: another planet we might one day call “home.” A target for recent exploration, Mars is a destination for increasingly complex probes and plans for manned missions.

Next Stop Mars

Since the beginning of our Solar System 4.5 billion years ago, asteroids and comets have contained clues to its evolution. They were the building blocks of our planets and perhaps carry the origins of life itself. Finally, these rocks of ice and dust are ready to give up their secrets.

Asteroids and comets contain clues to the evolution of our Solar System. What can we learn about these rocks of ice and dust: the building blocks of our planets?

The Planet Makers

Beyond the asteroid belt lay two ice giants: Uranus and Neptune. What secrets do they hold? We are sending cameras to the edge of our Solar System to gain new insights into the evolution of our galaxy.

Beyond the asteroid belt lay two ice giants: Uranus and Neptune. We are sending cameras to the edge of our Solar System to unmask their secrets.

The Ice Giants

These are the mysterious moons of the gas giants: Jupiter and Saturn. At the outer rim of our Solar System, each moon is unique—with oceans of water, geysers of sulfur or atmospheres of plastic. They may hold more interest than we ever imagined.

Explore the mysterious moons of the gas giants: Jupiter and Saturn. Each one is unique—with oceans of water, geysers of sulfur or atmospheres of plastic.

The Moons of Olympus

The Sun. It bathes our planet in warmth and light. It powers the machinery of nature—our weather—and it encourages and sustains life on land and at sea. If we study the Sun closely, it can reveal the secrets of all other stars above.

The Sun. It bathes our planet in light, powers the machinery of nature—our weather—and sustains life on land and at sea. If we study the Sun, what secrets will it reveal?

The Sun

As astronomers use advanced technology to peer more closely at nearby stars, they are discovering countless exo planets: worlds outside of our Solar System. According to scientific calculations, there could be as many as 40 billion Earth-like planets in the Milky Way galaxy alone!

Astronomers are discovering countless exo planets: worlds outside of our Solar System. There could be 40 billion Earth-like planets in the Milky Way galaxy alone!

Exo Planets

The night sky is a time machine: the further we look out into the universe, the further back we reach. We know very little about the dark matter and dark energy that we see, but we do know it is only a small percentage of what the Universe contains.

The further we look out into the universe, the further back we reach in time, but we know very little about the dark matter and dark energy that we see.