Exciting Space Missions on the Horizon for 2020
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The Future of Space Exploration
The year 2020 promises to be an exhilarating time for space exploration, with numerous missions planned to journey to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. With several nations and private companies gearing up for ambitious projects, here are the top seven missions to watch this year.
- Mars Missions, July 2020
This year marks a remarkable moment for Martian exploration, as four different missions are slated for launch around July. The highlight is NASA’s Mars 2020 rover, equipped with advanced tools aimed at discovering whether life ever existed—or still exists—on Mars. Notably, this rover will also deploy a helicopter drone! China is sending its Huoxing-1 rover to investigate the Martian surface and atmosphere over 90 days, while ESA and Roscosmos collaborate on the Rosalind Franklin rover, named after the chemist who helped unveil DNA's structure. Lastly, the UAE's Hope Mars Mission will orbit the planet to analyze its atmospheric chemistry.
- Commercial Crew, Q1 2020
After a long wait, American astronauts are set to launch from US soil for the first time since 2011. SpaceX and Boeing are in the final phases of safety testing and flight demonstrations, preparing to send NASA astronauts to the International Space Station aboard their Crew Dragon and Starliner vehicles. Both companies aim for crewed missions in the first quarter of 2020, but given previous delays, it's wise to stay cautiously optimistic.
The first video showcases the "Best Space Moments of 2020," highlighting key events and milestones in space exploration.
- Artemis 1, November 2020
Formerly known as Exploration Mission-1, NASA's Artemis 1 will mark the inaugural flight of the Space Launch System (SLS), which will eventually become the world's most powerful rocket. For now, the mission will utilize the initial version of the SLS to launch the Orion deep-space capsule on an uncrewed mission around the Moon, lasting about three weeks. However, there’s a strong possibility the mission could be postponed until 2021 due to frequent delays in SLS development.
- Chang’e 5, Late 2020
China will also undertake a significant lunar mission in 2020 with the Chang’e 5 mission, targeting a late-year launch. This ambitious project will involve a lander collecting approximately 4.5 pounds of lunar rocks and dust from the Moon's surface. After gathering samples, the ascent vehicle will return to rendezvous with an orbiter, which will then send a capsule back to Earth. If successful, this will be the first lunar sample return since the Soviet Luna 24 mission in 1976.
- Mega-Constellation Launches, Year-Round
In 2020, we expect to see the impact of large satellite networks, both positive and negative. By year’s end, SpaceX’s Starlink could comprise 720 satellites, with broadband services anticipated to be available to consumers in the latter half of the year. Simultaneously, OneWeb plans to commence monthly launches in January, aiming for over 600 satellites by year-end. However, concerns from astronomers and space traffic experts regarding these mega-constellations are expected to rise.
- Starship, TBD
SpaceX's Starship, a reusable spacecraft designed for interplanetary travel, is on the verge of significant test flights in 2020. Elon Musk envisions high-altitude tests and an orbital flight attempt in the second quarter of the year. Though Musk’s timelines are often ambitious, it's crucial to keep an eye on Starship’s development and upcoming flight tests.
- New Shepard Crewed Launch, TBD
Don’t forget about Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos and a competitor to SpaceX and Virgin Galactic. The New Shepard suborbital rocket is designed to carry tourists into space and has successfully launched 12 times, with six of those missions using the same rocket. The company is poised to send humans into space in 2020, making this a mission to closely monitor, especially given its history of meeting deadlines.
The second video, "The Most Exciting Space Missions To Look Forward To," highlights upcoming missions that are set to shape the future of space exploration.