Embarking on Cosmic Frontiers: Unveiling the Spectacular Space Missions of 2024
“Anticipating an Exciting Space Mission Showcase in 2024: A Sneak Peek into Upcoming Explorations”
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Venturing into the cosmos reaches new heights in 2024 with an array of ambitious missions set for the moon, Venus, Jupiter, and beyond. Here’s a glimpse of the thrilling year ahead.
Peregrine Moon Lander: Breaking a 50-year hiatus since the Apollo program, private companies Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines are poised to land spacecraft on the moon. Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander, scheduled for a Jan. 8 launch, aims for a Feb. 23 touchdown in Sinus Viscositatis, investigating the mysterious Gruithuisen Domes. Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 will launch in mid-February, delivering the Nova-C lander near the moon’s south pole.
Japan’s “Moon Sniper”: On Jan. 20, Japan plans to deploy the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) on the moon’s near side. Termed the “moon sniper,” SLIM targets a precise landing site near the Shioli impact crater, potentially unraveling insights into lunar formation.
China’s Moon’s Far Side Sample-Return: In May, China’s Chang’e 6 is set to collect moon rocks from the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side. These samples may provide clues about the moon’s early evolution, Earth, and the solar system.
Ariane 6’s Inaugural Launch: Europe anticipates the maiden voyage of the Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket between June 15 and July 31, restoring independent access to space.
Hera Mission to Asteroid Dimorphos: Following DART’s planetary defense test on asteroid Dimorphos in September 2022, the Hera mission, launching in October, will study the impact aftermath and the physical properties of Dimorphos and its companion, Didymos.
Japan’s Sample Return from Martian Moon Phobos: Japan’s Martian Moon eXploration (MMX) aims to launch in September, studying Phobos and returning samples to Earth in 2029.
Europa Clipper: NASA’s October launch of Europa Clipper, exploring Jupiter’s moon Europa, targets its saltwater ocean to assess its potential habitability.
“Blue” and “Gold” Mars Satellites: NASA’s EscaPADE mission in October deploys satellites “Blue” and “Gold” to investigate Mars’ atmosphere and its interaction with solar wind.
Artemis II: NASA’s Artemis II mission, set for November, involves a 10-day trip around the moon to test the Orion spacecraft’s functionality for future lunar surface missions.
First Private Mission to Venus: Rocket Lab’s year-end mission to Venus, the Venus Life Finder spacecraft, will search for organic material in the planet’s atmosphere, potentially indicating signs of life.”