What Is Space?

Space is a vast region beyond Earth's atmosphere, a place where there is no air, almost no matter, and the physical conditions are very different from those on Earth. Space begins about 100 kilometers above sea level, at a boundary called the Kármán Line.
Beyond this line lies the expanse of the universe, which includes countless celestial bodies such as stars, planets, moons, asteroids, and galaxies. Space is not completely empty — it contains traces of gas, dust, and energetic particles, as well as invisible phenomena like dark matter and dark energy. The universe itself is believed to have originated from the Big Bang, a massive explosion that occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago. Since then, space has been expanding, and astronomers continue to observe its evolution using advanced telescopes and space missions.

Milestones in Space Exploration

Human exploration of space began in the 20th century, with milestones such as the launch of Sputnik in 1957, the first manned Moon landing in 1969, and the ongoing research aboard the International Space Station (ISS). These missions have deepened our understanding of space environments, physics, and the potential for life beyond Earth. In recent decades, space exploration has entered a new phase marked by international cooperation and commercial innovation. Space agencies such as NASA (United States), ESA (Europe), Roscosmos (Russia), CNSA (China), and JAXA (Japan) continue to lead scientific missions, while private companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab are revolutionizing how we access and utilize space. One major focus of current exploration is the Moon, with programs like NASA’s Artemis aiming to return humans to the lunar surface and establish a sustainable presence. Mars has also become a key target, with robotic missions such as NASA’s Perseverance rover searching for signs of past life and preparing for future crewed missions.

Advancements in Space Exploration

Today, space exploration is advancing rapidly, driven by both government agencies like NASA and private companies such as SpaceX. Scientists are now studying distant exoplanets, searching for signs of life, and preparing for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

PLANET

Discover the wonders of the planets in our Solar System - from the heat of Venus to the majestic rings of Saturn. Explore the extraordinary world that surrounds our Sun!

Neptune

Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun. Neptune is the fourth largest planet by diameter (49,530 km) and the third largest by mass. Neptune is 17 times more massive than Earth, and slightly smaller than Uranus.Neptune is a giant ice planet with strong winds, the fastest in the solar system, reaching speeds of 2,100 km/hour. Neptune has a deep blue colour because the methane in its atmosphere absorbs red light.The planet is named after the Roman god of the seas. Its astronomical symbol is ♆, which is the trident of the god Neptune.

Uranus

Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and belongs to the group of ice giants along with Neptune. Uranus is known for its extreme tilt, as if the planet is ‘rolling’ as it orbits the Sun.Uranus rotates on its axis at an inclination of about 97.77 degrees, making it appear to roll in its orbit. Due to its unique rotation, Uranus experiences very long seasons, with one season lasting about 42 Earth years. Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar system, with the lowest temperature reaching -224°C. Uranus has a ring system, although it is not as clear and bright as Saturn's rings. Uranus is also the only planet to be named after a character in Greek mythology, from a Latinised version of the name of the Greek sky god Ouranos.

Saturn

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun in our solar system and is known as the most recognisable planet because it has the largest and brightest ring system. Saturn belongs to the group of gas giant planets along with Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune.Saturn is about 116,464 kilometres in diameter, almost 10 times larger than Earth. Saturn's atmosphere is dominated by hydrogen and helium, with small amounts of methane and ammonia.Saturn has more than 80 natural satellites, including Titan, which is the second largest satellite in the solar system and the only one with a thick atmosphere.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. It is also the fifth closest planet to the Sun. Jupiter is known as a ‘gas giant’ because it is mostly made up of hydrogen and helium. In addition, Jupiter has large red spots that are giant storms that have lasted for centuries. Jupiter has a diameter of about 140,000 kilometres, making it 11 times larger than Earth.Jupiter has a mass about 2.5 times the mass of all the other planets in the solar system combined. Jupiter, with its large mass, plays an important role in keeping the solar system stable by attracting asteroids and comets that might be harmful to the inner planets.

Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and is often nicknamed the ‘red planet’ because of its reddish appearance. It has features such as a thin atmosphere, a rocky surface with craters, volcanoes, valleys and ice caps at its poles. Mars has two moons named Phobos and Deimos. Mars' environment is more hospitable to life than that of Venus. However, it is not ideal for humans. The low temperature and low air pressure, coupled with the mostly carbon dioxide composition of the air, means that humans would have to use breathing apparatus if they wanted to live there.

Earth

Earth is the third closest planet to the Sun and the fifth most populous and largest of the eight planets in our Solar System. Earth is also the largest of the four terrestrial planets in the Solar System. Earth is home to millions of living things, including humans.Earth's mineral resources and other products of the biosphere contribute to the provision of resources to support the global human population. Earth's human-inhabited regions are grouped into 200 sovereign states, which interact with each other through diplomacy, travel, trade and military action.

Venus

Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is one of the closest planets to Earth. Venus is known to be the hottest planet in our solar system, even though it is not the closest to the Sun. This is because Venus' thick, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere creates a very strong greenhouse effect. Venus is similar in size and mass to Earth, often referred to as Earth's ‘twin sister’. Venus' surface temperature can reach 471 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest planet in the solar system. Venus looks very bright in the night sky and is often referred to as the twilight star or the Morning Star because of its bright appearance.

Mercury

Mercury is the first and smallest planet in our Solar System and the closest to the Sun. Its revolutionary period is the shortest of all the planets in the Solar System at 87.79 days. Like Venus, Mercury is an inferior planet whose orbit lies inside the Earth's orbit, and when observed from Earth, its angular distance from the Sun never exceeds 28°. Due to its close proximity to the Sun, the planet can only be seen near the western horizon after sunset or the eastern horizon before sunrise, or usually at dawn. Mercury will appear like a bright star if observed at these times, but it is often much harder to observe than Venus. If observed from a telescope, Mercury will display a series of phases similar to those of Venus and the Moon, as it moves in its inner orbit relative to Earth and repeats itself in one synodic cycle, which is about 116 days.

SPACE EXPLORATION

Space exploration is humanity's greatest adventure—a journey beyond Earth to uncover the mysteries of our solar system, the stars, and the vast universe. Through satellites, robotic missions, and human spaceflight, we expand the boundaries of what's possible, pushing science, technology, and imagination to new frontiers.

Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface during Apollo 11 (NASA)

Apollo 11

July 16-24, 1969

Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins

First Moon Landing

Historic Achievement

Apollo 11 was the United States space mission that landed the first humans on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC.

Mission Timeline

Launch: July 16 from Kennedy Space Center
Lunar Orbit: July 19
Landing: July 20 at 20:17 UTC
First Step: Armstrong at 02:56 UTC July 21
Moonwalk: 2 hours 31 minutes
Return: Splashdown July 24

Legacy

The mission fulfilled President Kennedy's 1961 goal of landing humans on the Moon before the end of the decade. They collected 21.5kg of lunar material and left behind scientific instruments that continue to transmit data.

"That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

- Neil Armstrong

Voyager 1 spacecraft (NASA)

Voyager Missions

Launched 1977

Still Operational

Interstellar Space

Historic Journey

The Voyager program consists of two robotic probes, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched in 1977 to study the outer Solar System and beyond. Voyager 1 entered interstellar space in 2012, becoming the first human-made object to do so.

Mission Timeline

Launch: September 5, 1977 (Voyager 1)
Jupiter Flyby: March 1979
Saturn Flyby: November 1980
Interstellar Space: August 2012
Current Distance: Over 14 billion miles

Golden Record

Each Voyager carries a Golden Record containing sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth, intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life that might find them.

"The spacecraft will be encountered and the record played only if there are advanced spacefaring civilizations in interstellar space."

- Carl Sagan

Hubble Space Telescope (NASA)

Hubble Telescope

Launched 1990

Deep Field Images

5 Servicing Missions

Window to the Universe

The Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized astronomy by providing unprecedented views of the universe. Orbiting above Earth's atmosphere, it can observe astronomical objects with minimal distortion.

Key Discoveries

Age of Universe: Refined to 13.8 billion years
Dark Energy: Helped confirm its existence
Exoplanets: First direct images of planets outside our solar system
Galaxies: Deep Field images showing thousands of galaxies

Technical Specs

Hubble has a 2.4-meter mirror and instruments that observe in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectra. Despite initial problems with its mirror, servicing missions have kept it operational for decades.

"Hubble has given us not just pretty pictures, but profound insights into the nature of our universe."

- NASA Administrator