They Robots 5 Unmanned Spacecraft With Data Not Star Appeal

Between the International Space Station, the space shuttle and, now, the Orion crew exploration vehicle, manned missions gobble up most of NASA’s budget. But lesser-known robotic missions produce the majority of the science–and unmanned probes can be sexy, too. Witness Hubble’s panoramic images of star birth and Cassini’s spectacular documentation of Saturn and its moons. Here are five spacecraft that will continue this vital work–plumbing the secrets of creation, exploring the corners of the solar system and even, perhaps, finding life on other worlds. Next »> 1. New HorizonsMedia Platforms Design TeamIntroductionEditor’s Letter | Expert Opinions | NASA Chief Q&A | PollThe MoonLiving on the Lunar Base | Inside Orion Spacecraft | Moon’s Astronaut Threat | PodcastMarsSurviving the Red Planet | Buzz Aldrin’s Roadmap to Mars | Minding the Astronaut Brain | PodcastPrivate SpaceHandicapping the Race | Future of Space Business | Burt Rutan Q&A | PodcastSearch for LifeScouting Crucial Spacecraft | U.S. Satellites Targeted | MIT Prof Q&A | PodcastInteractive TimelineEvery Launch Since Sputnik[ 5 ] PHOENIXAfter it touches down next May near the arctic circle on Mars, Phoenix’s robotic arms will dig 3-ft.-deep trenches, excavating ice and soil for analysis in its two on-board laboratories.«< Previous 4. Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter Media Platforms Design TeamIntroductionEditor’s Letter | Expert Opinions | NASA Chief Q&A | PollThe MoonLiving on the Lunar Base | Inside Orion Spacecraft | Moon’s Astronaut Threat | PodcastMarsSurviving the Red Planet | Buzz Aldrin’s Roadmap to Mars | Minding the Astronaut Brain | PodcastPrivate SpaceHandicapping the Race | Future of Space Business | Burt Rutan Q&A | PodcastSearch for LifeScouting Crucial Spacecraft | U.S. Satellites Targeted | MIT Prof Q&A | PodcastInteractive TimelineEvery Launch Since Sputnik