Upcoming Solar System Missions
The next decade promises to be one of the most exciting periods in space exploration history, with missions planned to every corner of our solar system. From returning humans to the Moon to searching for life on distant moons, these missions represent humanity's continued quest to understand our cosmic neighborhood and our place within it.
This page highlights key upcoming missions from space agencies and private companies around the world, focusing on those with confirmed funding and development timelines. While launch dates are subject to change due to technical, budgetary, or political factors, these missions represent the current roadmap for solar system exploration through the early 2030s.
Lunar Missions
NASA Artemis III
Planned Launch: 2027Agency: NASA (with international partners)
Objectives: Return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, with the first woman and person of color to walk on the Moon. Establish foundation for sustainable lunar presence.
Key Technologies: Space Launch System (SLS), Orion spacecraft, Human Landing System (HLS) provided by SpaceX, Lunar Gateway station elements.
Status: In development. Artemis I completed successfully in 2022, Artemis II (crewed lunar flyby) scheduled for 2026.
Lunar Gateway
Initial Modules: 2026-2028Agency: NASA, ESA, JAXA, CSA
Objectives: Establish a space station in lunar orbit to serve as a staging point for lunar surface missions and deep space exploration. Support scientific research and technology demonstrations.
Key Components: Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), International Habitation Module (I-HAB), ESPRIT refueling module.
Status: Under construction. First elements (PPE and HALO) scheduled for launch in 2026.
VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover)
Planned Launch: Late 2025Agency: NASA
Objectives: Map water ice and other volatiles at the lunar south pole. Characterize the lunar water cycle and evaluate resources for future human missions.
Key Technologies: Mobile rover with drilling capability, neutron spectrometer, mass spectrometer, and near-infrared volatiles spectrometer.
Status: Final assembly and testing. Commercial lunar lander provider (Astrobotic) preparing for delivery.
International Lunar Research Station
Initial Construction: 2028-2035Agency: CNSA (China) and Roscosmos (Russia), with potential international partners
Objectives: Establish a permanent research base on the lunar surface, focusing on scientific research, resource utilization, and technology demonstration.
Key Components: Orbital facility, surface infrastructure, hopping robots, sample return missions, eventual crewed presence.
Status: In planning phase. Chang'e 6, 7, and 8 missions (2025-2028) will serve as precursors.
Mars Missions
Mars Sample Return
Planned Launch: 2028Agency: NASA and ESA
Objectives: Return samples collected by the Perseverance rover to Earth for detailed laboratory analysis. First-ever return of material from Mars.
Key Components: Sample Retrieval Lander, Mars Ascent Vehicle, Earth Return Orbiter, Capture/Containment and Return System.
Status: In development. Mission architecture revised in 2024 to reduce complexity and cost.
Tianwen-3
Planned Launch: 2028Agency: CNSA (China)
Objectives: China's first Mars sample return mission. Collect and return Martian soil and rock samples to Earth.
Key Components: Orbiter, lander, ascent vehicle, and Earth return capsule.
Status: In development. Follows successful Tianwen-1 mission that landed the Zhurong rover in 2021.
SpaceX Mars Program
First Cargo Missions: 2026-2028Agency: SpaceX (private company)
Objectives: Establish cargo delivery capability to Mars, followed by human missions. Long-term goal of establishing a self-sustaining city on Mars.
Key Technologies: Starship spacecraft, in-space refueling, Mars ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization).
Status: Starship development and testing ongoing. Initial uncrewed Mars missions planned for the 2026/2028 Mars transfer windows.
JAXA MMX (Martian Moons eXploration)
Planned Launch: 2026Agency: JAXA (Japan)
Objectives: Study Mars' moons Phobos and Deimos. Collect samples from Phobos and return them to Earth. Investigate the origin of the Martian moons.
Key Technologies: Sample collection system, return capsule, remote sensing instruments.
Status: In development. International contributions from NASA, ESA, CNES, and DLR.
Outer Solar System Missions
Europa Clipper
Planned Launch: October 2024Agency: NASA
Objectives: Investigate Jupiter's moon Europa to determine if it could harbor conditions suitable for life. Study the ice shell, subsurface ocean, composition, and geology.
Key Instruments: Cameras, spectrometers, ice-penetrating radar, magnetometer, thermal instrument, mass spectrometer.
Status: Final assembly and testing. Launch vehicle (SpaceX Falcon Heavy) confirmed.
JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer)
Launched: April 2023Agency: ESA
Objectives: Study Jupiter and its moons Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. Focus on Ganymede as a planetary body and potential habitat.
Key Instruments: Optical cameras, spectrometers, ice-penetrating radar, magnetometer, particle package, radio science hardware.
Status: In transit to Jupiter. Arrival expected in 2031 after multiple gravity assists.
Dragonfly
Planned Launch: 2028Agency: NASA
Objectives: Explore Saturn's moon Titan using a rotorcraft lander. Study prebiotic chemistry and evaluate habitability.
Key Technologies: Multi-rotor drone design, radioisotope power system, sampling system, mass spectrometer, gamma-ray spectrometer.
Status: In development. Arrival at Titan expected in mid-2030s.
Uranus Orbiter and Probe
Proposed Launch: Early 2030sAgency: NASA (proposed)
Objectives: First dedicated mission to Uranus. Study the ice giant's atmosphere, interior, magnetosphere, rings, and moons.
Key Components: Orbiter spacecraft and atmospheric probe.
Status: Recommended as highest priority flagship mission in the 2022 Planetary Science Decadal Survey. Preliminary concept studies underway.
Asteroid and Comet Missions
Psyche
Launched: October 2023Agency: NASA
Objectives: Study the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, which may be the exposed core of an early planet. Investigate the formation of terrestrial planets.
Key Instruments: Multispectral imager, gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, magnetometer.
Status: In transit. Arrival at Psyche expected in 2029 after Mars gravity assist.
DART Follow-up Mission
Planned Launch: 2026Agency: NASA (proposed)
Objectives: Return to the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system to study the long-term effects of the DART impact that successfully altered Dimorphos' orbit in 2022.
Key Technologies: High-resolution imaging, possible landing elements.
Status: In early planning stages. Building on the success of the DART planetary defense demonstration.
Comet Interceptor
Planned Launch: 2029Agency: ESA with JAXA contribution
Objectives: Encounter a dynamically new comet or interstellar object. First mission designed to visit a truly pristine comet or interstellar visitor.
Key Components: Main spacecraft and two sub-probes for multi-point observations.
Status: In development. Will launch to L2 and wait for suitable target discovery.
Venus Missions
DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging)
Planned Launch: 2029Agency: NASA
Objectives: Study Venus' atmosphere during descent to the surface. Analyze atmospheric composition and take high-resolution images of the Alpha Regio highlands.
Key Components: Carrier spacecraft and atmospheric descent probe.
Status: In development as part of NASA's Discovery Program.
VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy)
Planned Launch: 2031Agency: NASA
Objectives: Create global, high-resolution topographic and imaging maps of Venus. Study surface composition and search for active volcanism.
Key Technologies: Synthetic aperture radar, infrared spectrometer, gravity science investigation.
Status: In development. Launch delayed from 2028 due to budget constraints.
EnVision
Planned Launch: Early 2030sAgency: ESA with NASA contribution
Objectives: Study Venus from its inner core to upper atmosphere. Investigate why Venus and Earth evolved so differently.
Key Instruments: Synthetic aperture radar, subsurface radar, spectrometers, radio science experiment.
Status: In development as ESA's fifth medium-class mission.
The Future of Solar System Exploration
The coming decade represents a renaissance in solar system exploration, with more nations and private entities participating than ever before. Several key trends are emerging:
- Return to the Moon: After decades of absence, multiple nations are targeting lunar exploration, with a focus on sustainable presence and resource utilization.
- Sample Return Missions: The scientific value of returning physical samples to Earth laboratories is driving missions to Mars, asteroids, and moons throughout the solar system.
- Search for Life: Many missions are explicitly designed to investigate potentially habitable environments, particularly the ocean worlds of Europa, Enceladus, and Titan.
- International Collaboration: While competition exists, many missions feature unprecedented levels of international cooperation, sharing costs and expertise.
- Private Sector Involvement: Commercial companies are moving beyond launch services to develop their own exploration capabilities, particularly for the Moon and Mars.
This page will be updated regularly as mission details evolve, new projects are announced, and timelines adjust. Check back for the latest information on humanity's ongoing exploration of our cosmic neighborhood.