Uncrewed spaceflight refers to missions where spacecraft or probes are sent into space without human astronauts aboard. These missions are conducted for various scientific, exploratory, and technological purposes.

• Scientific Exploration: Uncrewed missions enable the study of celestial bodies such as planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. They gather data through instruments like cameras, spectrometers, and radar to analyze surface features, atmospheres, and compositions.
• Technological Development: These missions pioneer new technologies for space travel, including propulsion systems, navigation techniques, communication systems, and robotic operations. Advancements made during uncrewed missions often pave the way for crewed missions in the future.
• Sample Collection: Some missions involve collecting samples from celestial bodies, such as soil from the Moon, rocks from Mars, or particles from asteroids. These samples are brought back to Earth for detailed analysis in laboratories.
• Space Telescopes and Observatories: Uncrewed missions include space telescopes and observatories like the Hubble Space Telescope, which observe distant galaxies, stars, and cosmic phenomena in various wavelengths of light. These observatories provide crucial data for astrophysical research.
• Planetary Defense: Missions to study asteroids and comets also contribute to understanding potential impact hazards and developing strategies for planetary defense.
• Interplanetary Missions: Uncrewed spacecraft travel beyond Earth orbit to explore other planets, moons, and asteroids within our solar system. They provide valuable information about planetary evolution, geology, and potential habitability.
• Space Probes and Landers: Probes and landers are deployed to investigate the surfaces and atmospheres of celestial bodies. They may perform experiments, take photographs, and transmit data back to Earth for analysis.

1959-1969:

1. Luna 1 (1959) - Soviet probe, first to reach the vicinity of the Moon.
2. Pioneer 4 (1959) - NASA probe, first successful U.S. mission to fly-by the Moon.
3. Mariner 2 (1962) - NASA's first successful interplanetary mission, flew by Venus and provided close-up data.
4. Luna 9 (1966) - Soviet probe, first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon and transmit images.
5. Surveyor 1 (1966) - NASA's first successful soft landing on the Moon, precursor to Apollo missions.
6. Lunar Orbiter 1 (1966) - NASA's orbiter, mapped the Moon in preparation for crewed missions.

1970s-1980s:

1. Venera 7 (1970) - Soviet probe, first to successfully land on Venus and transmit data from the surface.
2. Viking 1 and Viking 2 (1975) - NASA's orbiters and landers, conducted experiments and searched for life on Mars.
3. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 (1977) - NASA's probes, explored outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) and continue into interstellar space.
4. Hubble Space Telescope (1990) - Deployed by Space Shuttle Discovery, revolutionized astronomy with high-resolution images from space.
5. Magellan (1989) - NASA's orbiter, mapped the surface of Venus with radar imaging.

1990s-2000s:

1. Clementine (1994) - NASA mission, mapped the Moon and studied its surface composition.
2. NEAR Shoemaker (1996) - NASA's asteroid orbiter and lander, studied asteroid Eros.
3. Mars Pathfinder (1996) - Landed the Sojourner rover on Mars, demonstrating airbag landing system and performing experiments.
4. Cassini-Huygens (1997) - NASA-ESA mission, orbited Saturn and deployed ESA's Huygens probe to Titan, Saturn's moon.
5. Chang'e 1 and Chang'e 2 (2007-2010) - China's lunar orbiters, mapped the Moon's surface and studied its composition.

2010s-2020s:

1. Hayabusa2 (2014) - JAXA's mission to asteroid Ryugu, collected samples and returned them to Earth in 2020.
2. New Horizons (2006) - NASA's probe, flew by Pluto and explored the Kuiper Belt, providing close-up images of Pluto and its moons.
3. Rosetta and Philae (2014) - ESA's mission to comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, orbited and deployed a lander (Philae).
4. OSIRIS-REx (2016) - NASA's mission to asteroid Bennu, collected samples for return to Earth.
5. Perseverance Rover (2021) - NASA's Mars rover, searching for signs of ancient microbial life and collecting Martian samples for future return to Earth.