Space exploration is entering an exciting new era in 2025, with a remarkable lineup of missions poised to deepen our understanding of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. These missions, led by NASA, ISRO, ESA, JAXA, and private companies, will not only advance scientific knowledge but also pave the way for future human exploration and technological innovation. From crewed lunar orbits to robotic explorers on distant moons, here are the top 10 space missions to watch in the coming years.
From lunar landers to interplanetary explorers: The most ambitious space missions ahead
1. Intuitive Machines IM-3 (PRISM)
Launch Date: 2026Destination: MoonObjective: Deliver scientific payloads and rovers to study lunar geology and test technologies for future Artemis missions.Overview: The IM-3 mission is a critical part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, designed to help establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. It will carry advanced instruments to analyze the lunar surface, including rovers that can traverse and study the terrain. Beyond science, IM-3 will test new landing technologies and autonomous systems that will be essential for future crewed Artemis missions. Success here will build confidence in commercial partnerships supporting lunar exploration.
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2. ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers)
Launch Date: December 2025Destination: Mars OrbitObjective: Study Mars’ plasma environment and magnetic fields to understand atmospheric loss.Overview: ESCAPADE consists of two small satellites, “Blue” and “Gold,” orbiting Mars at different altitudes to provide a detailed picture of how solar wind strips away the Martian atmosphere. This process is key to understanding why Mars lost much of its atmosphere and surface water, transforming from a potentially habitable planet to the cold desert we see today. The mission’s data will improve models of planetary atmospheres and help assess Mars’ past habitability.
3. NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)
Launch Date: 2025Destination: Earth OrbitObjective: Monitor Earth’s surface changes with high precision to study natural disasters and environmental shifts.Overview: NISAR is a groundbreaking collaboration between NASA and ISRO, equipped with dual-frequency radar that can penetrate clouds and darkness to provide detailed maps of Earth’s surface. It will track land deformation caused by earthquakes and volcanic activity, monitor deforestation, and measure ice sheet dynamics. This mission will provide timely data to improve disaster response and deepen understanding of climate change impacts, making it a vital tool for scientists and policymakers worldwide.
4. Artemis II
Launch Date: April 2026Destination: Lunar OrbitObjective: Conduct the first crewed mission of the Artemis program to test spacecraft systems in lunar orbit.Overview: Artemis II marks NASA’s return to crewed lunar missions after decades. Four astronauts will orbit the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, launched by the powerful Space Launch System (SLS). This 10-day mission will test life support, navigation, and communication systems in the deep space environment, ensuring readiness for the subsequent Artemis III landing mission. Artemis II is a major step toward establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon.
5. Gaganyaan-2
Launch Date: 2025 (Test Flights)Destination: Low Earth OrbitObjective: Validate safety, life support, and avionics systems for India’s first crewed spaceflight.Overview: Gaganyaan-2 is part of India’s ambitious human spaceflight program. The uncrewed test flights will rigorously evaluate the spacecraft’s critical systems, including environmental controls and emergency procedures. These tests are essential to ensure astronaut safety for the planned Gaganyaan-3 mission. Success will place India among the few nations capable of independently sending humans to space, marking a significant milestone in its space capabilities.
6. Dragonfly
Launch Date: July 2028Destination: Titan (Saturn’s Moon)Objective: Explore Titan’s organic-rich surface and study prebiotic chemistry.Overview: Dragonfly is a unique rotorcraft lander designed to fly across Titan’s diverse and complex terrain. Titan’s thick atmosphere and organic molecules make it one of the most intriguing places to study prebiotic chemistry and the potential for life beyond Earth. Dragonfly will analyze surface composition, weather patterns, and chemical processes, providing unprecedented insight into how life’s building blocks might form in environments vastly different from Earth.
7. Martian Moons eXploration (MMX)
Launch Date: September 2026Destination: Phobos (Mars’ Moon)Objective: Explore Mars’ moons and return samples from Phobos to Earth.Overview: JAXA’s MMX mission aims to solve the mystery of Mars’ moons’ origins by collecting and returning samples from Phobos. The mission will also conduct detailed observations of Deimos. Understanding whether these moons are captured asteroids or formed from Mars itself will shed light on the history of the Martian system and the early solar system. The sample return is a complex feat that will provide invaluable material for laboratory analysis on Earth.
8. Space Rider
Launch Date: 2027Destination: Low Earth OrbitObjective: Conduct reusable microgravity experiments in orbit.Overview: ESA’s Space Rider is a reusable, autonomous spaceplane designed to carry payloads for scientific and technological experiments in microgravity. It will enable longer-duration studies on biological processes, materials science, and plant growth, helping researchers understand how space conditions affect various systems. Its reusability lowers costs and increases access to space for European researchers and industry.
9. SPHEREx
Launch Date: April 2025Destination: Earth OrbitObjective: Conduct an all-sky infrared survey to study galaxy evolution, cosmic inflation, and dark energy.Overview: SPHEREx will map the entire sky in infrared light, providing a treasure trove of data about the universe’s structure and history. It will investigate the origins of galaxies, measure cosmic inflation’s fingerprints, and explore the mysterious dark energy driving the universe’s accelerated expansion. This mission promises to answer fundamental questions about the cosmos with a new level of precision.
10. VERITAS
Launch Date: 2028Destination: VenusObjective: Map Venus’ surface geology to understand its tectonics and volcanic history.Overview: VERITAS will produce high-resolution maps of Venus’ surface using radar to penetrate its thick clouds. By studying Venus’ tectonic activity and volcanic processes, the mission seeks to explain why Venus evolved so differently from Earth despite their similar size and composition. VERITAS will also help assess Venus’ potential for past habitability and provide context for comparative planetology.These missions represent the cutting edge of space exploration, combining human spaceflight, robotic explorers, and Earth observation to expand our knowledge of the solar system and our home planet. As they launch and unfold over the next decade, they will inspire new discoveries and redefine humanity’s place in the cosmos.
