The Space Missions and Events We’re Most Looking Forward to in 2015

The New Horizons spacecraft has been traversing the solar system for nearly nine years, and will begin its approach to Pluto on Jan. 15. Currently, the best images of Pluto reveal a grayish smudge. But as the spacecraft reaches its closest approach in July, it’s expected to reveal a dazzling world—maybe one with volcanoes and geysers spewing water. JHU-APL/SwRI

The New Horizons spacecraft has been traversing the solar system for nearly nine years, and will begin its approach to Pluto on Jan. 15. Currently, the best images of Pluto reveal a grayish smudge. But as the spacecraft reaches its closest approach in July, it’s expected to reveal a dazzling world—maybe one with volcanoes and geysers spewing water.

JHU-APL/SwRI

After orbiting Mercury for nearly four years, the MESSENGER spacecraft is about out of gas. The mission was slated to end in March, but mission engineers were able to eke out more propellant using helium to extend the mission for another month. The spacecraft will then crash into Mercury—but not before taking unprecedented close-up data and pictures from mere miles above the planet’s surface. NASA/JHU-APL/CIW

After orbiting Mercury for nearly four years, the MESSENGER spacecraft is about out of gas. The mission was slated to end in March, but mission engineers were able to eke out more propellant using helium to extend the mission for another month. The spacecraft will then crash into Mercury—but not before taking unprecedented close-up data and pictures from mere miles above the planet’s surface.

NASA/JHU-APL/CIW

There will be two total lunar eclipses this year, on April 4 and Sept. 28, completing the four-eclipse series in 2014-2015 known as a tetrad. Both should be visible from most of the Americas. And if you find yourself near the arctic, you can catch the only total solar eclipse of the year on March 20. There will be a partial solar eclipse over Africa and the Indian Ocean on Sept. 13. The Hinode spacecraft captured this solar eclipse in 2011. Hinode

There will be two total lunar eclipses this year, on April 4 and Sept. 28, completing the four-eclipse series in 2014-2015 known as a tetrad. Both should be visible from most of the Americas. And if you find yourself near the arctic, you can catch the only total solar eclipse of the year on March 20. There will be a partial solar eclipse over Africa and the Indian Ocean on Sept. 13. The Hinode spacecraft captured this solar eclipse in 2011.

Hinode

Physicists at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland discovered the Higgs boson in 2012. After two years of maintenance and upgrades, the LHC is set to begin another three-year run in March and is boud to discover more about the space, and the universe. Physicists will crank up its energy to 13 GeV (gigaelectron volts, a unit of energy), almost twice that of its previous run. More powerful collisions hopefully means more discoveries. CERN

Physicists at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland discovered the Higgs boson in 2012. After two years of maintenance and upgrades, the LHC is set to begin another three-year run in March and is boud to discover more about the space, and the universe. Physicists will crank up its energy to 13 GeV (gigaelectron volts, a unit of energy), almost twice that of its previous run. More powerful collisions hopefully means more discoveries.

CERN

Last year, astronomers discovered plumes of water on Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Whether the jets are from volcanoes or sublimation—which produces the tail on a comet—remains a mystery. The Dawn mission scientists hope to find answers when the spacecraft arrives at Ceres in March. Water comprises about 40 percent of the dwarf planet by volume, making it a true water world. NASA/JPL-Caltech

Last year, astronomers discovered plumes of water on Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Whether the jets are from volcanoes or sublimation—which produces the tail on a comet—remains a mystery. The Dawn mission scientists hope to find answers when the spacecraft arrives at Ceres in March. Water comprises about 40 percent of the dwarf planet by volume, making it a true water world.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

The European Space Agency’s eLISA mission will be the first space-based instrument to detect ripples of space and time called gravitational waves, which are created, for example, by colliding black holes. The LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, shown in this illustration and scheduled for launch this year, will demonstrate the technology needed to measure the subtle fluctuations in the fabric of the cosmos. ESA–D. Ducros, 2010

The European Space Agency’s eLISA mission will be the first space-based instrument to detect ripples of space and time called gravitational waves, which are created, for example, by colliding black holes. The LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, shown in this illustration and scheduled for launch this year, will demonstrate the technology needed to measure the subtle fluctuations in the fabric of the cosmos.

ESA–D. Ducros, 2010

Rosetta's primary science mission is just beginning, as the orbiter accompanies comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko toward its closest approach to the sun this summer. The spacecraft will study the comet as the increasing sunlight triggers jets of gas and dust to erupt. In February, Rosetta will make its most dramatic flyby, swooping in within four miles of the comet’s surface. ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team

Rosetta's primary science mission is just beginning, as the orbiter accompanies comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko toward its closest approach to the sun this summer. The spacecraft will study the comet as the increasing sunlight triggers jets of gas and dust to erupt. In February, Rosetta will make its most dramatic flyby, swooping in within four miles of the comet’s surface.

ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team

NASA and private companies continue to work toward sending humans beyond low-Earth orbit. SpaceX plans more missions using its Dragon spacecraft, seen here, to deliver cargo and supplies to the International Space Station, including an expandable, habitable module built by Bigelow Aerospace. Orbital Sciences, whose Antares rocket exploded last October, will try again, sending its Cygnus spacecraft on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket. SpaceX

NASA and private companies continue to work toward sending humans beyond low-Earth orbit. SpaceX plans more missions using its Dragon spacecraft, seen here, to deliver cargo and supplies to the International Space Station, including an expandable, habitable module built by Bigelow Aerospace. Orbital Sciences, whose Antares rocket exploded last October, will try again, sending its Cygnus spacecraft on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket.

SpaceX

This year will be another exciting one for space exploration. While 2014 may be remembered as the year we landed on a comet(!), 2015 may be known as the year of Pluto (and other dwarf planets). The New Horizons spacecraft begins its approach to Pluto this month, and will get closest to the dwarf planet in July, taking in the best view ever of the icy, remote world—possibly revealing a dramatic landscape with mountains, volcanoes, and geysers. In March, the Dawn spacecraft will arrive at Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Ceres is another icy world, possibly with liquid water under a frozen surface, making it potentially habitable for life.

Of course, that’s not all. The Rosetta mission will continue through the year and potentially beyond, making more discoveries as the spacecraft studies its comet up close. Despite tragedy and a rocket that exploded, private companies continue to push forward to make human spaceflight routine. Here are just a few of the highlights coming up in 2015.