Modern Space Exploration: Space Tech

The Dragon spacecraft is capable of carrying up to 7 passengers to and from Earth orbit, and beyond. It is the only spacecraft currently flying that is capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth, and is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the space station.

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is the first spacecraft to explore Pluto up close, flying by the dwarf planet and its moons on July 14, 2015. In early 2019, New Horizons flew past its second major science target—2014 MU69, the most distant object ever explored up close.

OSIRIS-REx traveled to near-Earth asteroid Bennu and is bringing a small sample back to Earth for study. The mission launched Sept. 8, 2016, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The spacecraft reached Bennu in 2018 and will return a sample to Earth in 2023.

Launched in 1977 to fly by Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 1 crossed into interstellar space in August 2012 and continues to collect data.

NASA's Voyager 2 is the second spacecraft to enter interstellar space. On Dec. 10, 2018, the spacecraft joined its twin—Voyager 1—as the only human-made objects to enter the space between the stars.

European Space Agency

NASA eBook

Nasa Space Place article with video

Scitech Daily July 10, 2020

Sustained investments in NASA technology advance the agency's space exploration, science and aeronautics capabilities.

Space.com

Rocket Rundown is dedicated to bringing our readers the most interesting and informative stories of humankind striving to touch the stars. Specifically, our content focuses on following and documenting global efforts of governments and private companies to explore our solar system and beyond.