Future scientific spacecraft

Satellites and space probes have proven to be extremely useful tools for the scientific exploration of space. Spacecraft carrying scientific instrumentation have returned large volumes of information on the earth’s environment during the first six years of the Space Age, initiated October 4, 1957, with the successful launch of Sputnik 1. Although currently overshadowed by the Apollo manned lunar landing program, both in budget and publicity, a broad variety of future scientific spacecraft is planned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and an increasing number of foreign governments are organizing space‐research programs. This article will review the various scientific satellites and space probes to be launched in the next few years and will discuss their scientific objectives.

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