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Exciting Space Exploration Milestones to Watch for in 2025

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Space Exploration

For thousands of years, humanity’s quest to explore the universe has never stopped, and 2025 will be no exception. In this year, a series of spacecraft will carry humanity’s curiosity as they venture into the “starry sea,” aiming to unveil the mysteries of the vast cosmos. Moreover, humans are eager to “soar upwards” and experience the wonders of space firsthand. In the new year, space tourism and commercial services will also open a new chapter.

Recently, multiple media outlets including New Scientist, The Economist, Forbes (U.S.), and the Planetary Society have listed major space events to watch in 2025.

The Moon Will Welcome Numerous “Visitors”

In 2025, about a dozen landers are scheduled to touch down at various locations on the Moon’s surface.

Following the failure of Israel’s Beresheet probe in 2019, Israel’s SpaceIL organization will once again challenge the Moon with the Beresheet 2 probe. This new mission consists of an orbiter and two landers. The orbiter will orbit the Moon and conduct scientific experiments, while the landers will touch down at two separate locations to perform additional scientific research.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) plans to launch the “Chandrayaan-4” probe to deploy scientific instruments on the lunar surface, studying its surface and mineral composition, thus enhancing our understanding of the Moon’s geology.

Private aerospace companies are also racing to the Moon. From the “Blue Ghost” lander by the U.S. company Firefly Aerospace, to the “Odyssey-2” probe by Intuitive Machines, and Japan’s space startup ispace’s second lunar lander “Resurrection” – these probes will be dispatched to various locations on the Moon to carry out their respective missions.

SpaceX plans to launch a project as early as March this year, involving transferring fuel from one Starship to another, with an on-orbit demonstration expected in the summer. This technological trial will pave the way for future crewless Starship landings on the Moon. NASA has already selected the Starship for its “Artemis 3” mission in 2027, aiming to send astronauts to the lunar surface.

Earth’s “Siblings” Continue to Attract Attention

Numerous other probes, fueled by the curiosity and anticipation of scientists, will also visit Earth’s “siblings.”

Venus, a hotbed for exploring the mysteries of life in the universe, will soon welcome new visitors. The Venus Life Finder, a collaborative project between MIT and Rocket Lab, is set to launch early this year. Weighing 315 kilograms, the spacecraft will carry a small probe deep into Venus’ atmosphere to explore whether conditions exist to support life.

This December, the “BepiColombo” Mercury probe, developed jointly by Japan and the European Space Agency, will be captured by Mercury’s gravity on its sixth flyby and enter orbit around the planet. The primary goal of this mission is to study Mercury’s structure, magnetic field, and atmosphere.

Deep space exploration of the solar system is surging, with asteroid exploration becoming a major direction of development. In May this year, China’s “Tianwen-2” probe will embark on its mission to the near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3. This marks China’s first mission to sample an asteroid and flyby a main-belt comet. According to The Conversation, the mission could provide new insights into the formation of the early solar system and the origins of organic material on Earth.

Space Surveying to “Paint” the Universe

NASA‘s SPHEREx mission, focusing on cosmic history, the reionization era, and ice exploration, will also launch in the first half of 2025. Over two years, SPHEREx will collect data from more than 450 million galaxies and over 100 million stars in the Milky Way to create a detailed and comprehensive “map” of the universe.

Scientists will use this all-sky map to uncover three major cosmic mysteries. First, the secrets of cosmic inflation—the rapid expansion of space immediately following the Big Bang—will be explored. SPHEREx will measure the distribution of billions of galaxies to reveal the “driving force” behind this phenomenon.

SPHEREx will also measure the glow from distant and nearby galaxies, providing a full picture of all the celestial bodies and radiation sources in the universe. Finally, SPHEREx will search for ice particles containing water, carbon dioxide, and other essential life components in the Milky Way, offering valuable clues in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Space Commercial Services on the Rise

“Reaching for the heavens” has always been a dream for many. Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic are constantly pushing technological boundaries to make space travel more convenient and comfortable. It is expected that 2025 will see a flourishing of space tourism.

Vast, a U.S. space habitat technology company, is developing the first commercial space station, with the first module, “Harbor 1,” set to be launched to low Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The company has scheduled two manned Dragon spacecraft missions to transport astronauts to this module, which can accommodate up to four astronauts, promoting space tourism and related research.

Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Starlink satellites will begin offering “direct cellular network” services this year, allowing regular smartphones to directly communicate with Starlink satellites. Amazon is also developing its own satellite constellation, “Kuiper,” and plans to begin providing broadband internet services later this year.

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