Space exploration refers to the investigation and study of outer space through the use of space technologies and missions. It involves the use of spacecraft, satellites, telescopes, and other tools to collect data about celestial bodies, such as planets, moons, asteroids, and comets, as well as the broader universe. This field encompasses both manned missions, where astronauts travel into space, and unmanned missions, such as robotic spacecraft and landers that explore distant locations without human presence.
Space exploration is driven by various scientific, technological, and economic motivations, including the desire to understand the origins and structure of the universe, to search for extraterrestrial life, and to expand human knowledge and capabilities. It also includes the development of technologies that can benefit life on Earth, as well as considerations for potential future human settlements on other planets, particularly Mars and the Moon.
Overall, space exploration is a multidisciplinary endeavor that combines aspects of astronomy, geology, biology, and engineering, with implications for science, international cooperation, and the future of humanity.