Masterplan of the Cosmos: The Future of Planned Space Missions

As we turn our sights to the Cosmos, our hunger for knowledge fuels our planned space missions - a panorama that evokes the thrilling prospect of pioneering adventures.

The Frontrunners: NASA’s Upcoming Missions

NASA, ever the vanguard of exploration, has a captivating roadmap of forthcoming expeditions.

Artemis Program

Under the spotlight is the bold and audacious Artemis Program aiming to return American astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024.

• Phase 1: Initial testing procedures with Artemis I
• Phase 2: Crewed mission around the Moon with Artemis II
• Phase 3: Landing astronauts on the lunar South pole with Artemis III

It doesn’t stop there - with the ultimate objective of creating sustainable lunar exploration by the late 2020s.

Mars Sample Return (MSR)

The Mars Sample Return mission, a collaboration with ESA (European Space Agency), seeks to answer the tantalizing riddle: was there ever life on Mars?

• Step 1: NASA’s Perseverance rover collects and caches samples
• Step 2: A fetch rover retrieves the samples
• Step 3: Sample transfer to an ascent vehicle and return to Earth

This mission vows to reveal secrets about the red planet we’re just itching to uncover.

Next Generation Players: SpaceX and Beyond

While NASA continues its storied legacy, rising stars like SpaceX sparkle with promise.

SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy

The twinkle in Elon Musk’s eye, SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy, are being built with the grand vision of carrying up to 100 people to Mars.

• The gigantic rocket, Super Heavy, propels Starship to break from Earth’s gravity.
• Starship flies independently across space.
• Eventually, Starship lands vertically on Mars.

This colossal leap aims to create a self-sustaining civilization on Mars within this century.

Blue Origin’s Lunar Lander

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin also joins the cosmic race with their planned Lunar Lander. With an aim towards sustainable lunar development, this project brings the Moon’s economic potential into sharp focus.

The Quest for Exoplanets: TESS and PLATO

The search for exoplanets—planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system—holds enormous implications for our understanding of life’s ubiquity.

TESS

NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) continues to detect exoplanet signatures within our cosmic neighbourhood and beyond.

PLATO

Following in TESS’s footsteps, ESA’s PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations (PLATO) intends to seek out Earth-sized exoplanets in habitable zones of Sun-like stars.

These missions might one day answer the age-old question: are we alone?

FAQ about Planned Space Missions

What is the goal of the Artemis Program?

Long term, the Artemis Program aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, setting the stage for future Mars missions.

What makes SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy uniquely suited to Mars missions?

Starship’s unparalleled payload capability and stage reusability make it a game-changer for cost-effective missions to Mars.

How do TESS and PLATO detect exoplanets?

Both missions utilize the transit method, detecting dips in a star’s brightness when an exoplanet passes between the star and the observing satellite.

As we embark on this new chapter in human exploration, remember that it’s not solely about the destination. Each mission, successful or not, brings us invaluable learning experiences that inspire subsequent attempts, as well as remarkable technological advances. Dare to venture into the unknown, and you may be rewarded with astounding discoveries.

Article updated at Tuesday, October 8, 2024