For all space lovers, rockets and astronomical research enthusiasts, this 2024 we are going to have an extra dose of space missions and projects. The goal is to conquer the stars by 2030. It’s time to get moving.
India landed a robot on the Moon and NASA brought pieces of an asteroid back to Earth for study. A green comet illuminated the night skies and a “ring of fire” eclipse captivated viewers from Oregon to Brazil.
On the other hand, SpaceX launched nearly 100 rockets, and Japan and Europe put new and powerful space telescopes into orbit. For space and astronomy enthusiasts, these were some of the biggest events of 2023.
And this new year promises even more memorable events on launch platforms, in orbit, and around the solar system. Here’s what awaits us in 2024.
A 2024 in space keys
Return to the Moon
NASA wants to put astronauts on the lunar surface in the coming years with the Artemis III mission. Before that happens, however, many things have to go right, and two of the most important ones are planned for 2024.
The first one is the Artemis II mission. NASA introduced last year the four astronauts of Artemis II. As early as November, the four could travel around the Moon and return.
They would be the first humans to travel near the Moon since 1972, when the Apollo 17 mission concluded. To fly in 2024, NASA will have to solve problems with a thermal shield for the astronauts’ spacecraft, as well as overcome other possible delays.
The second obstacle is that the Orion capsule can only orbit the Moon, not land on it. Astronauts need another vehicle to travel to the surface. Currently, it is a version of Starship, the spacecraft being built by SpaceX, the private spaceflight company founded by Elon Musk. But Starship needs a lot of work before it is ready to take astronauts to the Moon.
The Starship prototypes were launched twice in 2023, and each mission ended in an explosion.
New Rockets and Space Missions
The Falcon 9 rockets, built and operated by SpaceX, have become the dominant model for reaching space. The launcher or its variant Falcon Heavy flew 96 times in 2023, and all the flights to orbit were successful. But SpaceX should expect new competitors in the launch platforms in 2024. Among them are:
- Vulcan, a rocket built by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The rocket’s engines are built by Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, from Amazon. It could fly on January 8th.
- Ariane 6, a European rocket. The European Space Agency has recently lacked a specific vehicle to reach orbit, forcing Europe to rely on SpaceX and others to carry spacecraft to the solar system. After a series of delays, the first flight of Ariane 6 could take place in June.
- H3, a Japanese rocket. This vehicle was first launched in March 2023, but failed in its attempt to put an imaging satellite into orbit. A second attempt could occur as early as February 15th.
- New Glenn, a rocket from Blue Origin. Bezos’ company has taken tourists to the edge of space in its small New Shepard vehicle. Its large orbital launcher could debut in 2024, revolutionizing private space flights if successful.
The new vehicles could also visit the International Space Station. Dream Chaser, a spacecraft built by Sierra Space, could transport cargo to the station for the first time this year.
In addition, Starliner, a capsule built by Boeing, could finally carry a crew of astronauts to the orbit station on April 14, after years of delays.
Many laps around the sun
All kinds of missions are set to explore the Solar System. The most important one is Europa Clipper, a NASA spacecraft that will head to Europa, Jupiter’s moon, in October.
Europa has an icy exterior that hides a vast ocean that, according to scientists, could have the right conditions for life. When Clipper arrives at Europa in 2030, the spacecraft will not attempt to land there, but it will study the moon during dozens of flybys.
Two new spacecraft could head to the red planet no earlier than August as part of NASA’s small ESCAPADE mission. The spacecraft will orbit Mars and study the magnetic bubble that surrounds it.
In October, the European Space Agency will launch the Hera mission to the asteroid Dimorphos. It will study the effects of a previous mission, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test, which crashed into Dimorphos in 2022 to check if altering the trajectory of a space rock could protect Earth from future asteroid impacts.
