As we approach 2025, major players in space exploration including NASA, SpaceX and Blue Origin are gearing up for everything from lunar exploration to Mars missions.
Here are the most notable rocket launches, missions and space programs taking place in the next year.
January 2025
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1
As part of NASA's CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) program, private aerospace company Firefly Aerospace will launch Blue Ghost Mission 1 in mid-January 2025.
SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost using a Falcon 9 rocket to transport the lunar lander from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to the moon's surface.
The mission's primary objective is to deliver 10 scientific and technological payloads to the moon's Mare Crisium region, advancing our understanding of lunar geology and the space environment.
Notable Payloads:
- Next Generation Lunar Retroreflector (NGLR): A device that will enable precise measurements of the distance between Earth and the moon, refining our lunar coordinate system.
- Radiation Tolerant Computer System (RadPC): A technology demonstration aimed at testing a computer system's resilience to the moon's harsh radiation environment.
- Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder (LMS): An instrument designed to probe the moon's interior by measuring natural electric and magnetic fields.
These payloads represent cutting-edge research in lunar science and technology, contributing to the broader goals of NASA's Artemis program.
"These investigations will help pave the way for humanity's return to the moon. The data captured will also benefit humans on Earth by providing insights into how space weather and other cosmic forces impact Earth, among other valuable research," Firefly Aerospace said on its website.
February 2025
SpaceX Crew-10
SpaceX Crew-10 is the 10th operational crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Scheduled for launch no earlier than February 2025, the mission will transport four astronauts to the ISS for a planned six-month stay.
During their tenure aboard the ISS, the Crew-10 astronauts will engage in scientific research and technology demonstrations aimed at advancing human space exploration and benefiting life on Earth.
March 2025
Soyuz MS-27 Crew Heads to the ISS
In March 2025, the Soyuz MS-27 mission will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, transporting a trio of astronauts to the ISS. The crew includes NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos (the Russian State Corporation for Space Activities) cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky.
This mission underscores the long-standing partnership between NASA and Roscosmos, ensuring continuous human presence aboard the ISS. Over their approximately eight-month stay, the crew will engage in a variety of scientific experiments and maintenance tasks critical to ongoing space research.
Spring 2025
NASA's Lunar Trailblazer Mission
In the early months of 2025, NASA is set to launch the Lunar Trailblazer, a pioneering small satellite designed to map the distribution of water on the moon's surface. Selected under NASA's Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program in 2019, Lunar Trailblazer aims to unravel the mysteries surrounding lunar water—a discovery that has significant implications for future manned missions to the moon.
The spacecraft will hitch a ride aboard Intuitive Machines' IM-2 mission, a part of NASA's CLPS initiative. Once in lunar orbit, Lunar Trailblazer will use its advanced instruments to detect and map water in its various forms, providing valuable data that could support the sustainability of future lunar bases.
NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Mission
NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are collaborating to launch the NISAR mission. Scheduled for early 2025, this Earth-observing satellite will use advanced radar systems to monitor changes in Earth's ecosystems, ice masses and crust, providing critical data on natural hazards and climate change.
Equipped with advanced dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar instruments, NISAR will offer unprecedented high-resolution imaging. The mission will enhance the ability to predict and respond to natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.
New Glenn's Maiden Flight with EscaPADE Mission
Spring 2025 is set to witness the inaugural flight of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, named after John Glenn, the first U.S. astronaut to orbit Earth. New Glenn will carry NASA's Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (EscaPADE) mission to Mars.
This mission involves two identical spacecraft, Blue and Gold, developed by Rocket Lab and equipped with scientific instruments from the University of California, Berkeley.
The EscaPADE mission aims to study Mars' magnetosphere and its interaction with solar wind, shedding light on the planet's atmospheric loss and climate history. The data collected could be pivotal in understanding Mars' potential to support life and preparing for future human exploration.
April 2025
NASA's SPHEREx Mission
In April 2025, NASA plans to launch the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) mission. This space observatory will conduct an extensive all-sky survey in optical and near-infrared light, mapping hundreds of millions of galaxies and stars.
SPHEREx aims to address fundamental questions about the origin of the universe, galaxy formation, and the prevalence of life-forming molecules in our galaxy. By analyzing the cosmic background radiation and interstellar ices, SPHEREx will provide insights into the processes that shaped the early universe.
SpaceX Powers Private Space Travel
Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is an upcoming private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS), organized by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX. The mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than April 2025 and is expected to last approximately 14 days.
The Ax-4 mission will be led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, marking her second command of an Axiom Space mission.
This mission signifies a notable collaboration between Axiom Space and international partners, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). Notably, it will be the first time a Polish astronaut has flown to space in over 40 years.
Ax-4 aims to conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations aboard the ISS, contributing to the commercialization of low-Earth orbit.
May 2025
Vulcan Centaur Launches Dream Chaser 1
In May 2025, United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket is scheduled to launch Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spacecraft on its first mission to the ISS. ULA is an American spacecraft launch service provider formed as a joint venture between aerospace giants Lockheed Martin Space and Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
Dream Chaser is a reusable lifting-body spaceplane designed to deliver cargo—and eventually crew—to low Earth orbit destinations.
The spacecraft's ability to land on conventional runways makes it ideal for transporting sensitive experiments and returning them to Earth promptly. This mission marks a significant milestone in expanding commercial cargo services to the ISS under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract.
NASA's Boeing Starliner-1 Mission
Also slated for May 2025 is NASA's Boeing Starliner-1 mission, the first operational crewed flight of the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. The mission will transport NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Scott Tingle, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, to the ISS for a six-month expedition.
This mission follows extensive testing and marks Boeing's entry into providing regular crew transportation services to the ISS, complementing SpaceX's Crew Dragon missions and enhancing the robustness of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
SpaceX Propels NASA's Solar Experiment
SpaceX is contracted by NASA to launch the Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 (TSIS-2) mission. The mission is scheduled for launch in October 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.
TSIS-2 is a NASA mission designed to measure the Sun's energy input to Earth, continuing a data record that began in 1978. It will operate from a free-flying spacecraft, unlike its predecessor, TSIS-1, which functions aboard the International Space Station.
September 2025
Artemis II Prepares for Lunar Exploration
September 2025 is expected to see the launch of Artemis II, NASA's first crewed mission under the Artemis program. This mission will carry four astronauts on a journey around the moon, testing the Orion spacecraft's life support systems, navigation, and communication in deep space.
Artemis II serves as a crucial step toward landing the first woman and the next man on the moon with Artemis III. The mission aims to validate the technologies and systems necessary for sustainable lunar exploration and pave the way for future missions to Mars.
Late 2025
The Sonic Boom Revolution with NASA's X-59
Toward the end of the year, NASA's X-59 QueSST (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) experimental aircraft is scheduled for its first flight in late 2025. Developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, the X-59 aims to demonstrate the ability to fly at supersonic speeds while significantly reducing the loudness of the sonic boom to a soft "thump."
If successful, the technology could lead to new regulations permitting supersonic flight over land, revolutionizing commercial air travel by drastically reducing flight times without disturbing communities on the ground.
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