{"id":38406,"date":"2024-12-27T13:45:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-27T13:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=38406"},"modified":"2025-01-05T16:59:37","modified_gmt":"2025-01-05T16:59:37","slug":"from-new-commercial-moon-landers-to-asteroid-investigations-expect-a-slate-of-exciting-space-missions-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/from-new-commercial-moon-landers-to-asteroid-investigations-expect-a-slate-of-exciting-space-missions-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"From new commercial Moon landers to asteroid investigations, expect a slate of exciting space missions in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Zhenbo Wang<\/a>, University of Tennessee<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, space exploration dazzled the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NASA\u2019s Europa Clipper<\/a> began its journey to study Jupiter\u2019s moon Europa. SpaceX\u2019s Starship<\/a> achieved its first successful landing, a critical milestone for future deep space missions. China made headlines with the Chang\u2019e 6 mission<\/a>, which successfully returned samples from the far side of the Moon. Meanwhile, the International Space Station<\/a> continued to host international crews, including private missions like Axiom Mission 3<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an aerospace engineer<\/a>, I\u2019m excited<\/a> for 2025, when space agencies worldwide are gearing up for even more ambitious goals. Here\u2019s a look at the most exciting missions planned for the coming year, which will expand humanity\u2019s horizons even further, from the Moon and Mars to asteroids and beyond:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scouting the lunar surface with CLPS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

NASA\u2019s Commercial Lunar Payload Services<\/a>, or CLPS, initiative aims to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon using commercial landers. CLPS is what brought Intuitive Machines\u2019 Odysseus lander<\/a> to the Moon in February 2024, marking the first U.S. Moon landing since Apollo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, NASA has several CLPS missions planned, including deliveries by companies Astrobotic<\/a>, Intuitive Machines<\/a> and Firefly Aerospace<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These missions will carry a variety of scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to different lunar locations. The payloads will include experiments to study lunar geology, test new technologies for future human missions and gather data on the Moon\u2019s environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surveying the sky with SPHEREx<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In February 2025, NASA plans to launch the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, or SPHEREx<\/a>, observatory. This mission will survey the sky in near-infrared light<\/a>, which is a type of light that is invisible to the naked eye but that special instruments can detect. Near-infrared light is useful for observing objects that are too cool or too distant to be seen in visible light<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPHEREx will create a comprehensive map of the universe by surveying and collecting data on more than 450 million galaxies along with over 100 million stars in the Milky Way<\/a>. Astronomers will use this data to answer big questions about the origins of galaxies and the distribution of water and organic molecules in stellar nurseries<\/a> \u2013 where stars are born from gas and dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studying low Earth orbit with Space Rider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The European Space Agency, or ESA, plans to conduct an orbital test flight of its Space Rider<\/a> uncrewed spaceplane in the third quarter of 2025. Space Rider is a reusable spacecraft designed to carry out various scientific experiments in low Earth orbit<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These scientific experiments will include research in microgravity<\/a>, which is the near-weightless environment of space. Scientists will study how plants grow, how materials behave and how biological processes occur without the influence of gravity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Space Rider will also demonstrate new technologies for future missions. For example, it will test advanced telecommunication systems<\/a>, which are crucial for maintaining communication with spacecraft over long distances. It will also test new robotic exploration tools<\/a> for use on future missions to the Moon or Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exploring the Moon with M2\/Resilience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Japan\u2019s M2\/Resilience mission<\/a>, scheduled for January 2025, will launch a lander and micro-rover to the lunar surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mission will study<\/a> the lunar soil to understand its composition and properties. Researchers will also conduct a water-splitting test to produce oxygen and hydrogen by extracting water from the lunar surface, heating the water and splitting the captured steam. The generated water, oxygen and hydrogen can be used for enabling long-term lunar exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mission will also demonstrate new technologies, such as advanced navigation systems for precise landings and systems to operate the rover autonomously. These technologies are essential for future lunar exploration and could be used in missions to Mars and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The M2\/Resilience mission is part of Japan\u2019s broader efforts to contribute to international lunar exploration<\/a>. It builds on the success of Japan\u2019s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon<\/a>, or SLIM, mission, which landed on the Moon using a precise landing technique in March 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigating an asteroid with Tianwen-2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

China\u2019s Tianwen-2<\/a> mission is an ambitious asteroid sample return and comet probe mission. Scheduled for launch in May 2025, Tianwen-2 aims to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid and study a comet. This mission will advance scientists\u2019 understanding of the solar system\u2019s formation and evolution<\/a>, building on the success of China\u2019s previous lunar and Mars missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mission\u2019s first target is the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamo\u02bboalewa<\/a>. This asteroid is a quasi-satellite of Earth, meaning it orbits the Sun but stays close to Earth. Kamo\u02bboalewa is roughly 131-328 feet (40-100 meters) in diameter and may be a fragment of the Moon, ejected into space by a past impact event<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By studying this asteroid, scientists hope to learn about the early solar system and the processes that shaped it. The spacecraft will use both touch-and-go<\/a> and anchor-and-attach<\/a> techniques to collect samples from the asteroid\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After collecting samples from Kamo\u02bboalewa, Tianwen-2 will return them to Earth and then set course for its second target, the main-belt comet 311P\/PANSTARRS<\/a>. This comet is located in the asteroid belt<\/a> between Mars and Jupiter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By analyzing the comet\u2019s materials, researchers hope to learn more about the conditions that existed in the early solar system<\/a> and possibly the origins of water and organic molecules on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solar system flybys<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Besides the above planned launch missions, several space agencies plan to perform exciting deep-space flyby missions in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A flyby<\/a>, or gravity assist, is when a spacecraft passes close enough to a planet or moon to use its gravity for a speed boost. As the spacecraft approaches, it gets pulled in by the planet\u2019s gravity, which helps it accelerate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After swinging around the planet, the spacecraft is flung back out into space, allowing it to change direction and continue on its intended path using less fuel<\/a>. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0iAGrdITIiE?wmode=transparent&start=0 Spacecraft can fly by a planet to get a boost using gravity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BepiColombo<\/a>, a joint mission by ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, will make its sixth flyby of Mercury in January 2025. This maneuver will help the spacecraft enter orbit around Mercury by November 2026. BepiColombo aims to study Mercury\u2019s composition, atmosphere and surface geology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NASA\u2019s Europa Clipper<\/a> mission, which launched in October 2024, will make significant progress on its journey to Jupiter\u2019s moon Europa<\/a>. In March 2025, the spacecraft will perform a flyby maneuver at Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This maneuver will help the spacecraft gain the necessary speed and trajectory for its long voyage. Later in December 2026, Europa Clipper will perform a flyby of Earth, using Earth\u2019s gravity to further increase its momentum so it can arrive at Europa in April 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ESA\u2019s Hera mission<\/a> will also perform a flyby of Mars in March 2025. Hera is part of the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment<\/a> mission, which plans to study the Didymos binary asteroid system. The mission will provide valuable data on asteroid deflection techniques and contribute to planetary defense strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NASA\u2019s Lucy<\/a> mission will continue its journey to explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, which share Jupiter\u2019s orbit around the Sun, in 2025. One key event for Lucy is its flyby of the inner main-belt asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson<\/a>, scheduled for April 20, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This flyby will provide valuable data on this ancient asteroid\u2019s composition and surface features, which can help researchers gain insights into the early solar system. The asteroid is named after the paleoanthropologist who discovered the famous \u201cLucy\u201d fossil<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ESA\u2019s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer<\/a>, or JUICE, mission will perform a Venus flyby in August 2025. This maneuver will help JUICE gain the necessary speed and trajectory for its journey to Jupiter. Once it arrives, JUICE will study Jupiter\u2019s icy moons<\/a> to understand their potential for harboring life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 promises to be a groundbreaking year for space exploration. With NASA\u2019s ambitious missions and significant contributions from other countries, we are set to make remarkable strides in humanity\u2019s understanding of the universe. These missions will not only advance scientific knowledge but also inspire future generations to look to the stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zhenbo Wang<\/a>, Associate Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Zhenbo Wang, University of Tennessee In 2024, space exploration dazzled the world. NASA\u2019s Europa Clipper began its journey to study Jupiter\u2019s moon Europa. SpaceX\u2019s Starship achieved its first successful landing, a critical milestone for future deep space missions. China made headlines with the Chang\u2019e 6 mission, which successfully returned samples from the far side of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":38407,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,115,276,1862,4,3410],"tags":[10351,15005,3164,885,891,886,860,4492,15873],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38406"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/56"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38406"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38408,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38406\/revisions\/38408"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}