So far, 2015 is shaping up to be a good year for space exploration. We've got missions finally reaching their targets out there in deep space and we've got testing on new technologies that will eventually take us farther than we've ever been before.
Here are the top ten space-related missions of 2015 to look forward to.
SpaceX attempts landing its reusable rocket on a barge
Although SpaceX planned test landing its Falcon 9 rocket on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean last month, the agency delayed the attempt until this year. As Falcon 9 is the world's first reusable rocket, returning it to land intact is a prime goal for SpaceX. Once the Falcon 9 learns to nail its landing (and all signs point to this happening in 2015), the reusable rocket will save space agencies millions of dollars.
New Horizons reaches Pluto
When NASA's New Horizons spacecraft launched in 2006, Pluto was still a planet. However, even though Pluto is now just a dwarf planet, we're still interested in it because it remains the largest object in the mysterious Kuiper Belt, that region of space where debris remain from the birth of the solar system. New Horizons will reach Pluto this month and deliver the first close-up images of Pluto that we've ever seen.
Rosetta's closest flyby of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Although the European Space Agency's Rosetta Mission has already made history twice, first by becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a comet and then launching the first vehicle to ever land on a comet, the mission is far from over. In March, Rosetta will fly closest to the comet, within 5 miles of its surface. There's also a chance that Rosetta's Philae Lander, currently hibernating on the surface of Comet 67P, will wake up in spring and resume its scientific missions. In August, Rosetta will make its closest approach to the sun as it accompanies the comet.
Dawn reaches Ceres
NASA is on a roll with exploration this year, along with many firsts. In addition to New Horizons reaching Pluto, the agency's Dawn spacecraft will rendezvous with the mysterious dwarf planet Ceres, which sits in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Several years ago, Ceres also explored protoplanet Vesta, so when it meets up with Ceres, in March, it will become the first spacecraft to ever explore two planetary bodies. Perhaps what's most exciting about this mission is that we know next to nothing about Ceres, so whatever discoveries Dawn makes will be surprising.
Two astronauts begin year-long stay on the ISS
In March, two experienced astronauts will arrive at the International Space Station (ISS) and spend a full year there, the longest stay ever on the station. The two astronauts are part of a scientific mission to study the effects of long-term space travel on the human body and mind. This is one of many first steps in learning key facts that will eventually lead to manned space exploration missions to deep space, including Mars.
The Hubble Space Telescope's 25th birthday
It may seem hard to believe, but the Hubble Space Telescope celebrates its 25th anniversary in space in April. And although its technology is also 25 years old, the telescope is still providing glimpses into our Universe unlike anything we've seen before, including beautiful photos of the cosmos, discovering new celestial bodies and providing proof (and disproof) of current scientific theories.
The ESA's eLISA launches into space
The Evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA) makes its way to space sometime later this year with three satellites that will detect and measure gravitational waves, or ripples in the fabric of space and time. This will be the first space-based gravitational wave detector and may tell us much about the birth of our Universe, especially since we can't detect the waves from Earth.
Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft possibly enters orbit of Venus
A few years ago, the Japanese Akatsuki spacecraft attempted orbit around Venus, but failed. However, this year, the spacecraft gets a second chance. Engineers figured out a way to get Akatsuki back on the right path and hope that the spacecraft will be orbiting Venus in November. This would mark the first time Japan has successfully put a spacecraft in orbit around another planet.
Cassini repeats flybys of Saturn moons
NASA's Cassini spacecraft is still out there and chugging along. Its plans for this year include more flybys of Dione and Enceladus, but it will also snap a few photos of Saturn's more distant moons.
Advanced LIGO goes up
The ESA's eLISA won't be the only thing searching for gravitational waves. The Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observer (LIGO) includes two detectors, one in Louisiana and the other in Washington. The Advanced LIGO features ten times more sensitivity than the previous model.
"LIGO will enable the establishment of a brand new field of astronomy, using a completely new information carrier: the gravitational field," writes the LIGO website.
[Photo Credit: Hubble Space Telescope]
