Spacecraft propulsion has evolved from simple chemical rockets to electric propulsion systems, ion thrusters and plasma engines, which are more fuel efficient, resulting in longer mission lifetimes.
The Space Shuttle, which was operational from 1981 to 2011, was a part-reusable spacecraft that helped to construct the International Space Station and launch the Hubble Telescope, among other missions.
Satellite technology has evolved radically with developments in miniaturization. The first satellite, Sputnik, weighed 184 pounds whereas modern CubeSats can weigh just a few pounds.
The International Space Station is a marvel of modern technology. Its a habitable artificial satellite that serves as a space environment research laboratory, where scientific research is conducted in astrobiology, astronomy, and more.
Manned Mars missions have been a long-standing goal for NASA. To this end, the agency is developing the Artemis program to return humans to the Moon first, as a stepping-stone for Mars.
Space telescopes, like the Hubble and upcoming James Webb, have evolved tremendously. These telescopes capture clear, detailed images of the universe, free from the distortion of the Earths atmosphere.