The Most Exciting New Planetary Missions Set to Transform Our Understanding of the Solar System

As space agencies and private companies continue to explore and expand our knowledge of our solar system, a series of ambitious planetary missions are set to transform our understanding of these celestial bodies. These exciting new missions include landers, orbiters, rovers, and more, each designed to provide unique insights into the formation, history, and potential habitability of these distant worlds. Let's explore some of the most anticipated missions set to launch in the coming years.

InSight: NASA's Journey to Mars

The InSight lander, operated by NASA, is en route to Mars and is expected to land in November 2018. This mission aims to study the internal structure of Mars by drilling into the surface. With this information, scientists hope to gain a greater understanding of the planet's core and its formation. (Also read Shivansh Singh's article on how the NASAs Insight rover works).

BepiColombo: ESA and JAXA's Mission to Mercury

BepiColombo, a joint mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is scheduled to launch in October 2018. The mission consists of two orbiters, which will study the interior, surface, and magnetosphere of Mercury. The spacecraft will complete a series of flybys, including two of Earth, two of Venus, and six of Mercury, before arriving in December 2025.

ExoMars: Searching for Past Life on Mars

The ExoMars rover, part of the joint mission by ESA and Roscosmos, is set to launch in 2020. This solar-powered rover will embark on a seven-month mission to search for signs of past life on Mars. The rover will operate as a data-relay satellite, building on the success of the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, launched in 2016.

Mars2020: Curiosity’s Successor

NASA's Mars2020 mission, launching in mid-2020, includes a rover and a helicopter drone to study the past life on Mars. Designed partly from the Curiosity rover, Mars2020 will carry different scientific payloads to further our understanding of the Red Planet.

JUICE: Exploring Jupiter's Moons

The JUICE mission, operated by ESA, is set to launch in the early 2020s. This ambitious project aims to study Jupiter's Galilean moons, except Io, by orbiting Ganymede. JUICE will be the first spacecraft to orbit a moon of a planet other than Earth and could potentially unlock new discoveries about icy worlds that might harbor life.

Venera-D: NASA and Russia's Collaboration on Venus

Venera-D, an orbiter and lander mission led by Russia's Roscosmos, is scheduled for launch in the mid-2020s. This mission aims to study the geological processes that have formed and modified the surface of Venus. Potential collaborations with NASA could yield unprecedented insights into the planet's geology and chemistry. (For more details, visit Venera-D’s Mission Overview and Collaborations).

Mercury-P: Russia's Proposed Landing on Mercury

Mercury-P, a highly tentative project by Roscosmos, is proposed to land on the surface of Mercury in the 2030s. If successful, it would be the first lander on the planet. The mission would include a flyby of Venus, insertion into the orbit around Mercury, and the delivery of a lander to its surface.

These missions represent some of the most exciting developments in planetary exploration. Each mission is designed to expand our knowledge of the solar system, from the geology of Mars to the icy moons of Jupiter, and from the surface of Venus to the composition of Mercury. As these missions launch and gather data, we can expect a wealth of new discoveries that will further enrich our understanding of our cosmic neighborhood.