In 2023, space missions took significant strides in exploring the cosmos, with NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission successfully returning a sample from an asteroid and India's Chandrayaan-3 mission investigating the lunar south pole. As the year 2024 approaches, the world eagerly anticipates another thrilling chapter in space exploration. NASA's Artemis program and Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative will spearhead several new missions targeting the moon.

Ali M. Bramson, an assistant professor of Earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences at Purdue University, shares their excitement for these upcoming space missions. They highlight six missions that they believe will revolutionize our understanding of the universe.

The first mission on Bramson's list is NASA's Europa Clipper, set to launch in October 2024. This mission aims to explore Europa, one of Jupiter's largest moons. Europa's surface is composed of ice, and scientists believe it hides a saltwater ocean beneath its icy shell. This ocean is estimated to contain more than twice the amount of water present in all of Earth's oceans combined. Europa Clipper will conduct approximately 50 flybys of Europa, studying its icy shell, surface geology, and subsurface ocean. The mission also seeks to identify active geysers erupting from the moon. By investigating Europa's ocean, scientists hope to determine if it could support extraterrestrial life. The launch window for Europa Clipper opens on October 10, 2024, and lasts for 21 days. The spacecraft will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket and reach the Jupiter system in 2030.

The second mission Bramson highlights is Artemis II, a crucial step in NASA's Artemis program, named after Apollo's twin sister in Greek mythology. Artemis aims to return humans to the moon, including the first woman and the first person of color, and establish a sustainable presence in space for future Mars missions. Artemis II will be the first crewed mission, with four astronauts embarking on a 10-day journey. It follows the successful launch of Artemis I, an uncrewed mission that orbited the moon in late 2022. Artemis II is scheduled for launch in November 2024, although potential delays may occur if essential equipment like spacesuits and oxygen systems are not ready.

Another mission that Bramson is excited about is VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover). This golf cart-sized robot, developed by NASA, will explore the moon's south pole in late 2024. Originally planned for launch in 2023, VIPER's mission was postponed to conduct additional tests on the lander system, developed by private company Astrobotic as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. VIPER's objective is to search for volatiles, such as water and carbon dioxide, which could serve as resources for future human exploration on the moon. The robot will rely on batteries, heat pipes, and radiators to navigate the extreme temperatures of the lunar surface, ranging from scorching heat during daylight to freezing cold in shadowed regions. VIPER's launch and delivery to the moon are scheduled for November 2024.

Lunar Trailblazer, another mission Bramson mentions, is part of NASA's SIMPLEx program, focusing on small and cost-effective planetary missions. Lunar Trailblazer will orbit the moon, mapping the locations of water molecules and measuring the surface temperature. Its launch timing depends on the readiness of the primary payload, and it is expected to be ready by early 2024. The PRIME-1 mission, scheduled for mid-2024, will accompany Lunar Trailblazer and involve drilling into the moon's surface as a test run for VIPER's drilling capabilities. However, potential delays in earlier launches may affect the launch dates of PRIME-1 and Lunar Trailblazer.

While Earth's moon receives numerous visitors in 2024, Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, will also welcome a visitor. The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is developing the Martian Moon eXploration (MMX) mission, planned for launch in September 2024. MMX's primary objective is to determine the origin of Mars' moons. Scientists are uncertain whether Phobos and Deimos are captured asteroids or formed from existing debris around Mars. The spacecraft will spend three years around Mars, observing and collecting samples from Phobos before returning to Earth.

Lastly, Bramson mentions the European Space Agency's Hera mission. Hera aims to revisit the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system, which NASA's DART mission explored in 2022. DART collided with Dimorphos to test a planetary defense technique called "kinetic impact," altering the asteroid's orbit. Hera, launching in October 2024, will study the physical properties of the asteroids, providing valuable insights into potential defense strategies against hazardous objects on a collision course with Earth.

The year 2024 promises to be a remarkable period for space exploration, with these missions pushing the boundaries of our understanding of celestial bodies and paving the way for future discoveries.