In 2024, space exploration shocked the world.
NASA’s Europa Clipper has begun its mission to study Jupiter’s moon Europa. SpaceX’s Starship has achieved its first successful landing, a milestone for future deep space missions. China made headlines with the Chang’e 6 mission, which successfully returned samples from the far side of the Moon. Meanwhile, the International Space Station continued to host international crews, including private missions such as Axiom Mission 3.
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As an aeronautical engineer, I am excited for 2025, when space agencies around the world are preparing for even more ambitious goals. Here’s a look at the most exciting missions planned for the coming year, which will expand humanity’s horizons even further, from the Moon and Mars to asteroids and beyond.
Checking the lunar surface with CLPS
NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services, or CLPS, mission aims to bring scientific and technological payloads to the moon using commercial astronauts. CLPS delivered Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lander to the Moon in February 2024, marking the first US lunar landing since Apollo.
By 2025, NASA has several CLPS missions planned, including launches by Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace companies.
These missions will transport various scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to different regions of the moon. The benefits will include experiments to study the geology of the moon, to test new methods for future human activities and to gather information about the environment of the Moon.
Exploring the sky with SPHEREx
In February 2025, NASA plans to launch the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, or SPHEREx, observatory. The mission will scan the atmosphere with near-infrared light, a type of light that is invisible to the naked eye but can be detected by special equipment. Near-infrared light is useful for observing objects that are too cool or too far away to be seen in visible light.
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SPHEREx will create a complete map of the universe by observing and collecting data on more than 450 million galaxies as well as more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way. Astronomers will use this information to answer big questions about the origin of galaxies and the distribution of water and organic molecules in interstellar regions – where stars are born from gas and dust.
Learning about low Earth orbit with Space Rider
The European Space Agency, or ESA, plans to make an orbital test flight of its unmanned Space Rider spacecraft in the third quarter of 2025. Space Rider is a reusable spacecraft designed to perform various experiments of science in the lower part of the Earth.
These scientific experiments will include research in microgravity, which is the almost weightless environment of space. Scientists will study how plants grow, how materials behave and how biological processes occur without the influence of gravity.
Space Rider will also demonstrate new technologies for future missions. For example, it will test advanced communication systems, which are essential for maintaining communication with spacecraft during long journeys. It will also test new robotic probes for use in future missions to the Moon or Mars.
Exploring the Moon with M2/Resilience
Japan’s M2/Resilience mission, scheduled for January 2025, will launch a lander and micro-rover on the lunar surface.
This mission will study the lunar soil to understand its composition and properties. Researchers will also test splitting water to produce oxygen and hydrogen by extracting water from the lunar surface, heating the water and separating the captured steam. The produced water, oxygen and hydrogen can be used to facilitate long-term exploration of the moon.
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The project will also showcase new technologies, such as advanced navigation systems for better landing and autonomous rover control systems. This technology is essential for future lunar exploration and could be used in missions to Mars and beyond.
The M2/Resilience project is part of Japan’s broader efforts to contribute to the international lunar exploration. It is based on the success of Japan’s Smart Lander for the Exploration of the Moon, or SLIM, mission, which reached the Moon using a precision landing system in March 2024.
Researching the asteroid containing Tianwen-2
China’s Tianwen-2 mission is a major asteroid sample retrieval and comet research mission. Scheduled to launch in May 2025, Tianwen-2 aims to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid and study the comet. The project will advance scientists’ understanding of solar system formation and evolution, building on the success of China’s first lunar mission to Mars.
The mission’s first target is the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa. This asteroid is a quasi-satellite of Earth, meaning it orbits the Sun but stays close to Earth. Kamoʻolewa is about 131-328 feet (40-100 meters) in diameter and may be a fragment of the Moon, ejected from space by a previous impact event.
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By studying this asteroid, scientists hope to learn about the early planetary system and the processes that formed it. The spacecraft will use touch-and-go techniques to collect samples from the asteroid’s surface. .
After collecting samples from Kamoʻoalewa, Tianwen-2 will return them to Earth and set a course for its second target, the main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS. This comet is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
By examining comet materials, researchers hope to learn more about the conditions that existed in the early solar system, and possibly the origin of water and living molecules on Earth.
Flight of the solar system
In addition to the activities planned above, many space agencies are planning to carry out interesting missions of deep flight in 2025.
A flyby, or gravity flyby, is when a spacecraft passes close to a planet or moon to use its own gravity to increase speed. As the spacecraft approaches, it is attracted by the planet’s gravity, which helps it accelerate.
After orbiting the planet, the spacecraft is thrown back into space, allowing it to change direction and continue on its intended path using less fuel.
BepiColombo, a joint venture between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, will make its sixth flyby of Mercury in January 2025. This approach will enable the spacecraft to enter Mercury’s orbit in November 2026. BepiColombo aims to study Mercury’s structure, atmosphere and surface geology.
NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, launched in October 2024, will make significant progress on the journey to Jupiter’s moon Europa. In March 2025, the spacecraft will make a flyby of Mars.
This method will help the aircraft to find the necessary speed and direction for its long journey. Later in December 2026, the Europa Clipper will make a flyby of Earth, using Earth’s gravity to increase its speed to reach Europa in April 2030.
ESA’s Hera mission will also fly by Mars in March 2025. Hera is part of the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment mission, which plans to study the Didymos binary asteroid system. The project will provide important information on asteroid deflection patterns and contribute to planetary defense strategies.
NASA’s Lucy mission will continue its mission to explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, which share Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun, in 2025. Another important event for Lucy is its flyby inside the belt. of asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson, scheduled for April 20, 2025.
This flyby will provide important information about this ancient asteroid’s structure and surface features, which could help researchers gain insights into the early solar system. The asteroid is named after the paleoanthropologist who discovered the remains of “Lucy”.
ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or JUICE, mission will perform a Venus flyby in August 2025. This approach will help JUICE find the speed and trajectory needed for its journey to Jupiter. Once there, JUICE will study Jupiter’s icy moons to understand their ability to support life.
2025 promises to be an important year for space exploration. With NASA’s ambitious goals and major contributions from other countries, we are poised to take remarkable strides in humanity’s understanding of the universe. These activities will not only advance scientific knowledge but will also inspire future generations to look at the stars.
This article was originally published by The Conversation.
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