2020s in spaceflight
NASA plans to assemble a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway as a permanent base in lunar orbit during the 2020s. | |
This article documents expected notable spaceflight events during the 2020s.
In 2020, NASA plans to launch the Mars 2020 rover[1], as well as carry out the maiden launch of the Space Launch System[2]; in 2022, NASA plans to carry out the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System.
The trend towards cost reduction in access to orbit is expected to continue. In 2020, Blue Origin plans the maiden flight of New Glenn with a reusable first stage.[3] In 2022, SpaceX plans to launch its new fully reusable BFR.[4]
NASA plans a return to the Moon sometime in the 2020s, first by assembling a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway in lunar orbit. A manned exploration of Mars could follow in the mid 2030s. An unmanned and then a manned trip to Jupiter and Europa have been commonly contemplated, but no space agencies or companies have yet announced definite plans to launch a manned mission further than Mars. SpaceX, a private company, has also announced plans to land humans on Mars in the mid-2020s, with the long-term goal of enabling the colonization of Mars.
India plans first crewed flight with a spacecraft called Gaganyaan for December 2021 on a home-grown GSLV-III rocket. The mission would make India the 4th nation to launch a manned space flight after Russia, US and China.
Orbital launches
2020
2021
2022
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |
Remarks | ||||||
1 June 2022[5] | ||||||
NASA | Selenocentric | Technology demonstration | ||||
NASA | Selenocentric | LOP-G assembly | ||||
First manned test flight of SLS and Orion and first assembly flight of the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway.[5] | ||||||
June 2022[6] | ||||||
ESA | Jovicentric | Jupiter orbiter | ||||
The spacecraft will embark on an 88-month journey including five gravity assist maneuvers at Earth, Venus, Earth, Mars, and again Earth. Arrival at Jupiter is scheduled for October 2029.[6] | ||||||
2022 (TBD)[7] | ||||||
Roscosmos | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | ||||
An unmanned test flight of Russia's new manned spacecraft. | ||||||
2022 (TBD)[7][8] | ||||||
Roscosmos | Selenocentric | Lunar lander | ||||
2023
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |
Remarks | ||||||
2023 (TBD)[9] | ||||||
Yusaku Maezawa | Lunar free return | Manned lunar flyby | ||||
Private spaceflight with 6 to 8 artists commissioned and funded by Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa.[9] | ||||||
2023 (TBD)[10] | ||||||
ISRO | Cytherocentric | Venus orbiter | ||||
2023 (TBD)[11] | ||||||
NASA | Jovicentric | Jupiter orbiter | ||||
2023 (TBD)[12] | ||||||
ESA | Polar | Space debris removal | ||||
2024
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |
Remarks | ||||||
September 2024[13] | ||||||
JAXA | Areocentric | Mars orbiter and Phobos lander | ||||
2024 (TBD)[14] | ||||||
CNSA | Low Earth | Space telescope | ||||
Xuntian ("Heavenly Cruiser") is a planned space telescope that will orbit close to the Chinese Space Station. | ||||||
2024 (TBD)[7] | ||||||
Roscosmos | Selenocentric | Lunar lander | ||||
2026
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |
Remarks | ||||||
2026 (TBD)[7] | ||||||
Roscosmos | Selenocentric | Lunar lander | ||||
Deep-space rendezvous after 2021
Date (UTC) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
21 August 2023 | Parker Solar Probe | Sixth gravity assist at Venus | |
24 September 2023 | OSIRIS-REx | Sample return to Earth | |
6 November 2024 | Parker Solar Probe | Seventh gravity assist at Venus | |
24 December 2024 | Parker Solar Probe | 22nd perihelion, closest approach to the Sun |
Notes
References
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Atlas-5". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ↑ Clark, Stephen (20 November 2017). "NASA expects first Space Launch System flight to slip into 2020". Spaceflight Now.
- ↑ Henry, Caleb (12 September 2017). "Blue Origin enlarges New Glenn's payload fairing, preparing to debut upgraded New Shepard". SpaceNews. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
- ↑ Elon Musk speech: Becoming a Multiplanet Species, 29 September 2017, 68th annual meeting of the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia
- 1 2 Gebhardt, Chris (22 September 2017). "SLS EM-1 & -2 launch dates realign; EM-3 gains notional mission outline". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- 1 2 "JUICE's journey to Jupiter". ESA. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 Pietrobon, Steven (17 August 2017). "Russian Launch Manifest". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ↑ "Russia's Luna-25 lunar landing station scheduled for 2019". Russian Aviation. January 25, 2018.
- 1 2 "SpaceX will send Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to the Moon".
- ↑ Pietrobon, Steven (2 September 2017). "Indian Launch Manifest". Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ↑ Sloss, Philip (11 September 2018). "NASA updates Lunar Gateway plans". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ↑ "E.DEORBIT Mission". ESA. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ↑ MMX Homepage. JAXA, 2017
- ↑ Pietrobon, Steven (3 August 2017). "Chinese Launch Manifest". Retrieved 3 August 2017.
External links
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