• UGI USER
  • Jan 05, 2024
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SIX SPACE MISSIONS TO BE EXCITED FOR IN 2024

Europa Clipper Mission:

  • Objective: NASA’s mission to explore Jupiter’s moon, Europa, aims to study its icy shell, surface geology, subsurface ocean, and potential habitability for extraterrestrial life.
  • Launch Window: Scheduled for October 10, 2024, using SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, with arrival at the Jupiter system expected in 2030.
  • Significance: The mission introduces a novel habitability signature to detect liquid water and offers insights into ocean worlds like Europa.

Artemis II Lunar Mission:

  • Artemis Program: NASA’s initiative to return humans to the Moon includes Artemis II, the first crewed mission since 1972, planned for November 2024.
  • Mission Scope: Building on Artemis I, it involves placing astronauts into lunar orbit before their return, paving the way for future Moon missions and Mars exploration.
  • Launch Readiness: Potential launch in 2025 if all necessary equipment, including spacesuits and oxygen gear, is prepared on schedule.

VIPER Moon Exploration:

  • Mission Name: Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) is a robotic exploration mission.
  • Objective: Scheduled for November 2024, VIPER will explore the Moon’s south pole, searching for volatiles like water and carbon dioxide, crucial for potential human exploration.
  • Challenges: VIPER’s 100-day mission involves navigating extreme lunar conditions, from high temperatures in daylight to frigid shadowed regions.

Lunar Trailblazer and PRIME-1:

  • SIMPLEx Missions: NASA’s Small, Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration include Lunar Trailblazer and PRIME-1.
  • Lunar Trailblazer: Aiming to orbit the Moon, measure surface temperatures, and map water molecules’ locations, expected readiness by early 2024.
  • PRIME-1 Mission: A mid-2024 mission involving drilling into the Moon, serving as a test run for VIPER’s drilling mechanism.

JAXA’s Martian Moon eXploration (MMX):

  • Mission Objective: Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency’s MMX mission to study Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos.
  • Launch Date: Targeted for September 2024, MMX will observe, land on Phobos’ surface, collect samples, and return to Earth over three years.
  • Scientific Goal: Determining the origin of Mars’ moons and understanding whether they are captured asteroids or formed from existing debris.

ESA’s Hera Mission:

  • Objective: European Space Agency’s Hera mission follows NASA’s DART mission to the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system.
  • Kinetic Impact Technique: Testing planetary defence techniques, Hera will study the physical properties of the asteroids after DART’s kinetic impact.
  • Launch Detail: October 2024, with arrival at Didymos-Dimorphos expected in late 2026, contributing valuable insights for planetary defence strategies.