|
|
Article: NASA's new space age.(new probes)
- Article from:
- Popular Mechanics
- Article date:
- April 1, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Hearst Communications, reprinted with permission of Hearst. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
* NASA's first age of interplanetary exploration included the Luna, Mariner, Ranger and Lunar Orbiter spacecraft of the 1960s-primitive vehicles that explored outer space for the first time in the history of mankind. The second age featured high-cost specialized craft like Viking and Voyager. The third age, just concluding, featured the ultra-expensive, one-of-a-kind Galileo, Mars Observer and Cassini. Now, in preparation for the 21st century, NASA is embarking on a fourth age of space exploration. This includes the low-cost Discovery probes and new, miniaturized high-tech craft exemplified by the New Mirennium spacecraft.
With today's massive budget deficits, every ...