The most advanced space craft of the recent time

[bearnard00]

What was the most advanced space craft of the recent time that surprised you the most? As you can see technology nowadays is a fast developing thing and a lot of stuff have been invented for the recent time that can make a scientific breakthrough. What was the most special for you?

[helicon]

Overall I like the solar sail concept...more likely to work than things like the Bussard ramjet...

[bearnard00]

Overall I like the solar sail concept...more likely to work than things like the Bussard ramjet...

Talking about solar sail concept the spacecraft that worth to to be mentioned isthe Parker Solar Probe. Simply for getting closer to the sun than any other spacecraft so far and considering how hard it is to get that close. The space craft which is capable to take samples from the outer corona of the Sun really makes you amazed by it, because of the high temperature it can endure.

[Unitron48]

I find most interesting the missions that have accomplished minor planet encounters, especially the ones that orbit and collect samples!

Dave

[Thefatkitty]

I was impressed by the CubeSats that flew past Mars when they accompanied the Insight probe. I just thought that was pretty cool; two spacecraft the size of a briefcase soaring by a planet!

bearnard00 echoes my next one, the Parker Solar Probe for all the reasons he mentioned

New Horizons as well, especially when the onboard computer cleared itself 10 days out from Pluto and the engineers had to upload all that code again over the space of billions of miles/kilometers. Alan Stern probably aged a few years in the span of a week... Talk about a close call!

And I know they're not at all recent, but you gotta be amazed by the Voyagers 1 & 2. All that 70's technology still chuffing along

You know, in thinking about it, I'm pretty amazed at anything that accomplishes its mission. Even me, getting out of bed in the morning. Every time I accomplish that mission, I'm amazed...

Fun thread; thanks bearnard00, and all the best,

[Graeme1858]

Hubble's contribution has still not been bettered.

New Horizons NASA mission to Pluto was the biggest wow ever.

That Falcon Heavy dual simultaneous landing was an awesome sight!

Regards

Graeme

[AstroBee]

As a teenager I was fascinated by the Voyager 1 & 2 missions. In more recent times, the New Horizons mission to Pluto and on to the Kuiper belt objects has been fascinating. I'm eagerly awaiting the launch of the James Webb telescope.

[bearnard00]

Also, I`d like to mention the Dawn Probe. It uses an advanced ion thruster, allowing it to be the first (man-made) spacecraft to orbit multiple non-terrestrial bodies (Vesta and Ceres). This feat would not be possible (practical) using conventional chemical thrusters, which have too low of a specific impulse.

[bearnard00]

Also, I`d like to mention rocket XL rocket XL as a great spacecraft of the recent time. It is a light class launch vehicle, intended for placing payloads into Sun- Synchronous Orbit. According to the information I`ve found such name as Sun- Synchronous Orbit spacecraft have also weather satellites, some kinds of microsatellites and some kind of scientific satellites.