Discovery and exploration of the Solar System Discovery and exploration of the Solar System Discovery and exploration of the Solar System is observation, visitation, and increase in knowledge and understanding of Earth's "cosmic neighborhood". This includes the Sun, Earth and the Moon, the major planets including Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, their satellites, as well as smaller bodies including comets, asteroids, and dust. For many thousands of years, astronomers maintained a geocentric world view and did not recognize the existence of a Solar System. Most believed Earth was stationary at the center of the Universe and categorically different from the divine or ethereal objects
Venus Atmospheric Maneuverable Platform of a lenticular shape which would significantly simplify packing, deployment sequence and structural mass, but it would not cruise so efficiently. The vehicle concept was also presented in May 2017 as a proof-of-concept for exploration of other planets and moons of the Solar System with an atmosphere. The 2013 preliminary concept envisions a suite of instruments NASA calls the 'Venus Flagship Design Reference Mission' for a balloon. Its mass is estimated at 20 kg and would require 50 W of electrical power to operate. The notional intuments consist on: There are ongoing discussions about possible NASA participation in Russia's Venera-D