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From the Moon’s south pole to an ice-covered ocean world, several exciting space missions are slated for launch in 2024
Context
Expect lots of space missions to launch this coming year, with exciting new science to follow.
Exploring Cosmic Frontiers: Six Thrilling Space Missions Set for 2024
- The year 2023 witnessed remarkable achievements in space exploration, including NASA's asteroid-sampling OSIRIS-REx mission and India's lunar expedition, Chandrayaan-3. As we step into 2024, the cosmos beckons with anticipation, featuring an array of exciting missions. From lunar expeditions under NASA's Artemis plan to Mars-centric explorations, this year promises groundbreaking discoveries.
Journey to Europa: NASA's Clipper Mission:
- Probing Jupiter's Moon: NASA's Europa Clipper is set to launch in October 2024, embarking on a mission to explore Jupiter's moon, Europa. With a surface coated in ice concealing a potential subsurface ocean, scientists hope to unravel the mysteries of Europa and assess its suitability as a habitat for extraterrestrial life.
- Mission Details and Launch: The spacecraft, launching on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, aims to conduct approximately 50 flybys, studying Europa's icy shell, geology, and subsurface ocean. The launch window opens on October 10, 2024, with an expected arrival at Jupiter in 2030.
Artemis II: NASA's Lunar Odyssey Continues
- Return to the Moon: As part of NASA's Artemis program, Artemis II marks a significant step in returning humans to the Moon. Building on the success of Artemis I, an uncrewed mission in 2022, Artemis II is slated for a crewed launch, playing a pivotal role in NASA's broader lunar exploration plans.
- Scheduled Launch and Objectives: The launch is tentatively set for November 2024, carrying a crew of four astronauts. The mission involves lunar orbit and a subsequent return to Earth, laying the foundation for sustained human presence on the Moon.
VIPER Rover: Scouring the Moon for Water
- Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover: VIPER, a golf cart-sized rover, is poised to explore the Moon's south pole in late 2024. Tasked with searching for volatiles like water and carbon dioxide, VIPER's mission holds significance for future lunar exploration and potential resource utilization.
- Challenges and Launch Schedule: Originally planned for 2023, the mission was delayed for additional lander system tests. VIPER's journey, navigating extreme lunar conditions, is scheduled for a November 2024 launch.
"SIMPLEx Missions: Lunar Trailblazer and PRIME-1"
- Small, Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration: NASA's SIMPLEx program introduces cost-effective planetary missions, with Lunar Trailblazer and PRIME-1 among the endeavors. These missions, riding as secondary payloads, showcase innovation and efficiency in planetary exploration.
- Lunar Trailblazer and PRIME-1 Objectives: Lunar Trailblazer, set for early 2024 readiness, will orbit the Moon, mapping water molecules globally. PRIME-1, a mid-2024 mission, involves drilling into the Moon, serving as a precursor for VIPER's activities.
JAXA's MMX Mission: Unveiling Mars' Moons
- Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency's Endeavor: JAXA's Martian Moon eXploration (MMX) mission aims to study Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, launching around September 2024. The mission seeks to unravel the origin of these moons, addressing questions about their formation.
- Three-Year Martian Odyssey: Over a three-year period, MMX will conduct observations and land on Phobos to collect samples, contributing valuable insights into the Martian moon system.
ESA's Hera Mission: Exploring Asteroid Deflection
- European Space Agency's Hera Mission: ESA's Hera mission follows NASA's DART impact test on the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system in 2022. Hera's objective is to study the physical properties of these asteroids and assess the effectiveness of the kinetic impact technique for planetary defense.
- Scheduled Launch in October 2024: Launching in October 2024, Hera will reach Didymos and Dimorphos in late 2026, contributing vital data for future planetary defense strategies.
Way Forward:
- The year 2024 is poised to be a celestial spectacle, with diverse missions unlocking the secrets of distant moons, planets, and asteroids. As planetary scientists eagerly await these endeavors, the collective pursuit of cosmic knowledge propels humanity into a new era of space exploration.
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