Welcome to the Space Exploration Current Missions section of SpaceTravel.tech! Here, you will find detailed information about the most exciting and groundbreaking missions currently being conducted in space exploration. These missions are expanding our understanding of the universe and paving the way for future exploration.

Mars Missions

1. Perseverance Rover (2020-Present)

  • Country: USA
  • Agency: NASA
  • Overview: Launched on July 30, 2020, and landed on Mars on February 18, 2021.
  • Objectives: Search for signs of ancient life, collect samples for future return to Earth, and test new technology for future human exploration.
  • Key Achievements: Successful landing in Jezero Crater, first helicopter flight on another planet (Ingenuity), and ongoing collection of rock and soil samples.

2. Tianwen-1 (2020-Present)

  • Country: China
  • Agency: CNSA (China National Space Administration)
  • Overview: Launched on July 23, 2020, and entered Mars orbit in February 2021. Includes an orbiter, lander, and rover (Zhurong).
  • Objectives: Study Martian soil, geology, and climate, and search for signs of water and potential life.
  • Key Achievements: Successful landing of the Zhurong rover in Utopia Planitia, extensive scientific data collection.

3. ExoMars (2022-Present)

  • Country: Europe/Russia
  • Agencies: ESA (European Space Agency) / Roscosmos
  • Overview: Joint mission consisting of an orbiter (launched in 2016) and a planned rover mission (postponed to 2022).
  • Objectives: Search for biosignatures of past life, study Martian environment, and investigate the history of water on Mars.
  • Key Achievements: Trace Gas Orbiter successfully mapping and analyzing the Martian atmosphere, preparations ongoing for the rover launch.

Lunar Missions

1. Artemis Program (2021-Present)

  • Country: USA
  • Agency: NASA
  • Overview: A series of missions aimed at returning humans to the Moon and establishing a sustainable presence.
  • Objectives: Test new technologies, conduct scientific research, and prepare for human missions to Mars.
  • Key Achievements: Successful uncrewed Artemis I mission, development of the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, and partnerships with commercial and international partners.

2. Chang’e 5 (2020-Present)

  • Country: China
  • Agency: CNSA
  • Overview: Launched on November 23, 2020, and successfully returned lunar samples to Earth on December 17, 2020.
  • Objectives: Collect and return lunar samples, study lunar geology and history.
  • Key Achievements: Successful collection and return of lunar samples, providing new insights into the Moon’s history.

3. Chandrayaan-3 (Planned for 2023)

  • Country: India
  • Agency: ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)
  • Overview: Follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2, aiming to land on the lunar surface.
  • Objectives: Demonstrate safe landing and roving on the Moon, conduct scientific experiments.
  • Key Achievements: Ongoing preparations for launch, building on the lessons learned from Chandrayaan-2.

Asteroid and Comet Missions

1. OSIRIS-REx (2016-Present)

  • Country: USA
  • Agency: NASA
  • Overview: Launched on September 8, 2016, to study asteroid Bennu and return samples to Earth.
  • Objectives: Study the asteroid’s composition and structure, return samples to Earth for analysis.
  • Key Achievements: Successful sample collection from Bennu in October 2020, return of samples planned for 2023.

2. Hayabusa2 (2014-Present)

  • Country: Japan
  • Agency: JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
  • Overview: Launched on December 3, 2014, to study asteroid Ryugu and return samples to Earth.
  • Objectives: Analyze the composition and structure of Ryugu, understand the origins of the solar system.
  • Key Achievements: Successful sample return in December 2020, ongoing extended mission to other asteroids.

3. DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) (2021-Present)

  • Country: USA
  • Agency: NASA
  • Overview: Launched on November 24, 2021, to test planetary defense techniques by impacting an asteroid.
  • Objectives: Demonstrate the ability to alter an asteroid’s trajectory as a potential method of planetary defense.
  • Key Achievements: Successful impact on asteroid moonlet Dimorphos in September 2022, data analysis ongoing.

Space Telescopes and Observatories

1. James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) (2021-Present)

  • Country: International
  • Agencies: NASA/ESA/CSA (Canadian Space Agency)
  • Overview: Launched on December 25, 2021, JWST is designed to be the premier observatory of the next decade.
  • Objectives: Study the formation of stars and galaxies, investigate the atmospheres of exoplanets, and look deeper into the universe than ever before.
  • Key Achievements: Successful launch and deployment, first stunning images and data received, ongoing scientific operations.

2. Hubble Space Telescope (1990-Present)

  • Country: International
  • Agencies: NASA/ESA
  • Overview: Launched on April 24, 1990, Hubble has provided groundbreaking images and data for over three decades.
  • Objectives: Study galaxies, stars, and planets, and contribute to discoveries about the universe’s expansion, dark matter, and more.
  • Key Achievements: Numerous scientific breakthroughs, ongoing operations and maintenance, invaluable contributions to astronomy.

3. TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) (2018-Present)

  • Country: USA
  • Agency: NASA
  • Overview: Launched on April 18, 2018, TESS is designed to search for exoplanets using the transit method.
  • Objectives: Discover exoplanets around the brightest stars near Earth, study their properties and potential habitability.
  • Key Achievements: Identification of thousands of exoplanet candidates, ongoing analysis and discoveries.

International Space Station (ISS)

1. International Space Station (1998-Present)

  • Countries: USA/Russia/International Partners
  • Agencies: NASA/Roscosmos/ESA/JAXA/CSA
  • Overview: A collaborative space station serving as a microgravity laboratory and observatory.
  • Objectives: Conduct scientific research, test new technologies, prepare for future space missions.
  • Key Achievements: Over 20 years of continuous human presence in space, numerous scientific discoveries and technological advancements.

Future and Planned Missions

1. Mars Sample Return (Late 2020s)

  • Countries: USA/ESA
  • Agencies: NASA/ESA
  • Overview: An ambitious mission to collect and return samples from Mars to Earth.
  • Objectives: Provide direct samples from Mars for detailed analysis, enhance our understanding of Martian geology and potential for past life.
  • Key Achievements: Planning and development stages, collaboration between NASA and ESA.

2. Artemis II and Artemis III (Mid-2020s)

  • Country: USA
  • Agency: NASA
  • Overview: Follow-up missions to Artemis I, aiming to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence.
  • Objectives: Test new technologies, conduct scientific research, prepare for human missions to Mars.
  • Key Achievements: Ongoing development of the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, partnerships with commercial and international entities.

3. Europa Clipper (2024)

  • Country: USA
  • Agency: NASA
  • Overview: A mission to study Jupiter’s moon Europa, set to launch in 2024.
  • Objectives: Investigate Europa’s ice shell and subsurface ocean, assess its habitability.
  • Key Achievements: In development, aiming to provide detailed images and scientific data about Europa’s potential for supporting life.

Explore Further

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Clear Skies,
The SpaceTravel.tech Team