Space Missions We’re Most Excited to Follow Next

Roman is travelling toward its observing orbit with a field of view far wider than Hubble’s. Its surveys should transform studies of dark energy, exoplanets and the changing sky.

Artemis III is intended to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo. The mission’s hardware, schedule and landing plan make every milestone consequential.

Chang’e 7 will investigate the Moon’s south pole with an orbiter, lander, rover and small flying probe. China’s integrated mission could reveal resources and terrain important to later bases.

Europa Clipper will make repeated close passes of Jupiter’s ice-covered moon to study its ocean, chemistry and habitability. Few destinations offer a more compelling test for life beyond Earth.

Hera will inspect the asteroid Dimorphos after NASA’s DART impact, measuring the crater and internal structure. It turns a successful deflection demonstration into usable planetary-defense knowledge.

BepiColombo will study Mercury’s surface, interior and magnetic environment using two coordinated orbiters. The difficult journey is finally approaching the sustained science phase.

Dragonfly will fly a nuclear-powered rotorcraft across Titan, sampling several sites on a world with organic chemistry and a thick atmosphere. The mission design is almost absurdly ambitious.

ESA’s PLATO will monitor bright nearby stars for Earth-sized planets and measure stellar oscillations. That combination should improve both planet detection and estimates of system ages.

Europe’s JUICE spacecraft will examine Jupiter and three icy moons before orbiting Ganymede. The long campaign should connect magnetic fields, subsurface oceans and the wider Jovian system.

Psyche is travelling to a metal-rich asteroid unlike any world previously visited. Its composition may preserve evidence about the cores of early planetary bodies.