Grand Cosmic Expeditions Envisioned in 2024
A sequence of novel celestial expeditions is on the horizon for the upcoming year. Let's delve into a preview of some noteworthy missions slated for 2024. Artemis II In 2022, the United States' space agency, NASA, initiated its inaugural journey in the Artemis program with Artemis I. This mission propelled the Orion spacecraft on a circumlunar odyssey. The overarching objective of Artemis is to reintroduce astronauts to the lunar surface, marking the first such venture since NASA's Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Artemis I served as a trial for the Orion spacecraft, or capsule, and NASA's colossal Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the vehicle that propelled it into space. This mission dispatched Orion more than 400,000 kilometers from Earth, executing a close lunar fly-by. The verdict from NASA officials declared Artemis I an unmitigated success. The forthcoming mission, Artemis II, is scheduled for a late 2024 launch. Anticipated to follow a trajectory akin to Artemis I's lunar circuit, Artemis II will carry four NASA astronauts aboard Orion. NASA's stipulated objective for Artemis II is "to validate all of the spacecraft's systems operate as designed with crew aboard in the actual environment of deep space." Lunar Lander Launches While Artemis II won't culminate in a lunar landing, several other lunar landers are poised to touch down on the moon's surface in 2024. The inaugural launch, set for January 8, features a lander named Peregrine. Crafted by the private American space company Astrobotic Technology, this 1.9-meter-tall spacecraft is slated to ascend aboard a Vulcan Centaur rocket, manufactured by United Launch Alliance (ULA). Peregrine is projected to ferry 20 research experiments to the moon, representing seven different countries. Its intended landing site is Sinus Viscositatis, situated adjacent to the Gruithuisen Domes, the most extensive dark region on the moon's near side. Another Astrobotic lander, Griffin, is set to embark on a journey to the moon's south pole later in 2024. Accompanied by an exploration robot, or rover, named VIPER, its mission is to seek out lunar water sources. In addition to these endeavors, the American space company Intuitive Machines is slated to furnish NASA with two landers, expected to launch next year. Japan, in mid-January, aspires to become the fifth nation to touch the moon's surface. The country's space agency launched the SLIM spacecraft in September, with a mission goal to test the feasibility of spacecraft landing on precise targets. ESA's Hera Mission The European Space Agency (ESA) has charted its course for October, intending to launch the Hera spacecraft on a mission to revisit an asteroid system previously explored by NASA's DART spacecraft in 2022. Hera is designed to collect data on the targeted system, Didymos, closely scrutinizing its physical properties and measuring the detailed aftermath of DART's collision. Europa Clipper NASA's aspirations include the October launch of the Europa Clipper mission. This orbiter is crafted for meticulous examinations of Jupiter's moon Europa, specifically seeking signs of conditions conducive to sustaining life. NASA envisions the orbiter maneuvering in orbit around Jupiter, executing repeated close flybys of the icy moon.
Boeing's Starliner Test Flight
NASA, in collaboration with Boeing, envisions launching the first crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, with a targeted readiness for flight in March 2024. A specific launch date remains pending.
Following its initial uncrewed flight test to the International Space Station (ISS) in May, the Starliner spacecraft encountered various technical challenges. Boeing has actively collaborated with NASA to address these issues in preparation for the planned crewed flight.
SpaceX Starship Test
SpaceX, a key NASA collaborator, is poised for a pivotal test flight in 2024 for its super-heavy Starship spacecraft. Although SpaceX faced setbacks with two failed Starship tests in 2023, they are committed to conducting another test as soon as possible. This endeavor, however, awaits the completion of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's investigation into launch site damage and subsequent approval for a new test.