Space: 5 events not to be missed in 2025

© SpaceX

Who said space was boring’? After an exceptional 2024 in many ways, 2025 could be even better. Many missions are planned for these 12 months to come, starting with commercial flights.

On the French side, several start-ups should enter a new era in 2025. This new year of development should allow several projects to take off, literally and figuratively. As for our astronauts, neither Thomas Pesquet nor Sophie Adenot are planned for the rotation to the ISS, so we will have to wait a few more years.

The great beginnings of New Glenn

But this year 2025 should above all be marked by the birth of a rivalry. While space is today dominated by one company (SpaceX) and one man (Elon Musk). A rival seems to be emerging from the shadows. Almost as rich as he is, Jeff Bezos wants to make his Blue Origin brand a leading solution for access to space.

2025 should be the year of the grand debut for its super-powerful New Glenn rocket. Like SpaceX's Falcon 9, its first stage is fully reusable. In the future, it could launch heavy satellites for the army, probes for NASA or even orbiters to the Moon or Mars.

Around the Earth, the founder of Amazon would like to compete with SpaceX with the “Kuiper project”. Behind this mystical name hides in reality the greatest threat to Starlink. Another mega-constellation of satellites, capable of connecting the world to the internet. The European Ariane 6 rocket is expected to help Blue Origin deploy this constellation with several satellites in space.

The Rubin Observatory

Closer to home, astronomers around the world are eagerly awaiting July 4. In addition to celebrating North American independence, this date will mark the first day of Rubin's observation of the night sky. The giant telescope (it is the largest device in the world) is expected to focus on observing dark matter.

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This invisible mass (discovered by scientist Vera Rubin) is believed to be at the heart of our Universe. By understanding it better, scientists hope to unravel the last mysteries of gravity in our world. Understanding dark matter could also contribute to the theory of everything, the ultimate quest of all scientists for over a century.

To the Moon…

In addition to observing the deep sky, 2025 should be the year of trips to our neighborhood. NASA is to conduct the Artemis 2 mission this year. With 4 astronauts on board, it will be the first manned flight to the Moon since the 1970s.

However, Artemis 2 will not land on our satellite. Instead, the spacecraft will make a close orbit around it. The 4 astronauts will then be able to take advantage of the Orion module to capture never-before-seen images of the Moon. This mission will be a big rehearsal before Artemis 3, and the return of Man to our satellite.

India enters the big leagues

Far from aiming for the Moon, India, whose space program is just beginning, will attempt to send its first astronauts into space. Shubhanshu Shukla is expected to join the International Space Station (ISS) in the spring. At the same time, India continues to develop its own spacecraft to access space without the help of a third party.

Presented last December, Gaganyaan is expected to take off in 2025, empty, to test its operation in the vacuum of space. If this mission is successful, it will pave the way for India's first sovereign manned missions.

Starship ever stronger, ever higher

Impossible to miss. In 2025 as in 2024, the attraction of the year will undoubtedly be Starship. SpaceX's giant ship is expected to fly again this year. After immense progress in 2024, the craft is expected to turn a corner.

An orbital mission is on everyone's mind and when we know the ability to successfully complete stages, no one dares to set limits to SpaceX in the development of its ship. Elon Musk's company will nevertheless have to remain irreproachable.

Starship will be the return ship for NASA astronauts during Artemis 3. It must, by then, finish convincing the American space agency of its proper functioning. 2025 is therefore shaping up to be a decisive year in the development of the Starship.

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