Space exploration is set to take another leap forward in 2024, with exciting new missions and developments on the horizon. After a year of groundbreaking achievements in space, including India’s successful landing on the moon’s south pole with Chandrayaan-3, 2024 promises to be just as thrilling.
One of the most anticipated events is the launch of Artemis 2 by NASA in November 2024. This mission will send four astronauts on a 10-day lunar flyby, marking a crucial step before Artemis 3 attempts to land astronauts on the moon in 2025, a feat not accomplished since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
Artemis 2 is part of the larger Artemis moon exploration program, which involves several major space agencies, including NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). Additionally, NASA will deploy multiple landers to the moon as part of the CLPS initiatives, aiming to collect valuable scientific data from the lunar surface.
China is also gearing up for a significant mission in 2024, with plans to send the Chang’e 6 robotic lunar exploration mission to the far side of the moon. This mission will mark the first collection of lunar samples from this region, with contributions from other countries including Pakistan, France, Italy, and Sweden.
Furthermore, Japan is preparing to launch the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission in 2024, signaling an increased interest in exploring moons beyond our own.
