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Why has NASA sent probes instead of manned missions to places like moon and mars?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Lots of reasons, many of them having to do with fuel efficiency.
A robot probe may (or may not) actually weigh less than a man, but a probe doesn't require food, water, or oxygen so the total mission weight can be much less. Also, the travel time for the mission is irrelevant to a probe (within reason), allowing engineers to select very fuel-efficient routes even though they may significantly increase travel time.
A probe can be constructed to withstand shocks that would kill a man, meaning that less fuel is needed to land safely.
Finally, it's usually not necessary to make arrangements for a probe to come back (see the rather poignant as it stands "Spirit" link in the related links section, then imagine that it had been a manned mission). The fuel savings from that can be significant as well (particularly when you also factor in consumables... air, water, food... for the return trip).
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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How is a space probe helpful?
Space probes are sent out on missions to gather scientific data. They are unmanned, which means that they can go farther than a manned shuttle could.
How do space probes send images to earth?
Any information obtained from any space hardware during the mission reaches earth by radio. (That includes manned missions as well.)
Are there any manned space probes in space?
yes
How many spacecrafts have visited Jupiter?
No manned missions have gone farther away than the moon. If you mean space probes or satellites, I think three
Did NASA send the voyager probes into space?
Yes, the Voyager missions were run by NASA and they sent the probes.
Did NASA visit Saturn?
NASA has sent several unmanned space probes to Saturn, but no manned missions.
What advantages and disadvantages does a crewed space exploration and space probes?
Manned missions allow for real time interaction with the environment instead of waiting for sent commands to be processed, and confirmation returned. But manned missions require expensive, large habitable environments and support systems to keep the astronauts alive.
Did the Russians really go to the moon?
No. The Russians have sent unmanned probes, but the only manned missions to the moon were American.
How many spacecraft visited Jupiter?
No manned missions have gone farther away than the moon. If you mean space probes or satellites, I think three
How is a space probe helpful?
Space probes are sent out on missions to gather scientific data. They are unmanned, which means that they can go farther than a manned shuttle could.
What is safer space probes or manned space flights?
Space probes would be safer.
How do space probes send images to earth?
Any information obtained from any space hardware during the mission reaches earth by radio. (That includes manned missions as well.)
Are there any manned space probes in space?
yes
Where there any probes or missions to mars?
Yes, there are 44 missions.
How many spacecrafts have visited Jupiter?
No manned missions have gone farther away than the moon. If you mean space probes or satellites, I think three
Where there probes or missions to the planet mercury?
aliens
Is it possible for humans to go to the sun?
No, not with any manned missions. The energy would fry anything that comes close. Perhaps we will be able to send probes to reasonable distances, or to Mercury, to make observations. We currently have probes in our general vacinity that are taking amazingly beautiful and informative 3D images of the sun.
