Editing Space exploration (section)

===Deep space exploration===
{{main|Deep space exploration}}
[[Image:Hubble ultra deep field high rez edit1.jpg|thumb|This high-resolution image of the [[Hubble Ultra Deep Field]] includes galaxies of various ages, sizes, shapes, and colors. The smallest, reddest galaxies, are some of the most distant galaxies to have been imaged by an optical telescope.]]

Deep space exploration is the branch of [[astronomy]], [[astronautics]] and [[space technology]] that is involved with the exploration of distant regions of outer space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://adc.gsfc.nasa.gov/adc/education/space_ex/exploration.html |title=Space and its Exploration: How Space is Explored |work=NASA.gov |access-date=2009-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090702153058/http://adc.gsfc.nasa.gov/adc/education/space_ex/exploration.html |archive-date=2 July 2009 }}</ref> Physical exploration of space is conducted both by [[human spaceflight]]s (deep-space astronautics) and by [[robotic spacecraft]].

Some of the best candidates for future deep space engine technologies include [[anti-matter]], [[nuclear power]] and [[beam-powered propulsion|beamed propulsion]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/exploration/futurespaceflight/index.shtml |title=Future Spaceflight |work=BBC |access-date=2009-07-01 |archive-date=22 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422162750/http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/exploration/futurespaceflight/index.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> Beamed propulsion, appears to be the best candidate for deep space exploration presently available, since it uses known physics and known technology that is being developed for other purposes.<ref name="Forward1996">{{cite journal |last=Forward |first=Robert L. |date=January 1996 |title=Ad Astra! |journal=Journal of the British Interplanetary Society |volume=49 |pages=23–32 |bibcode=1996JBIS...49...23F}}</ref>