Space exploration has captivated the human mind for centuries, and there have been many advancements in technology which are bringing us closer to realizing dreams that were once thought of as impossible. The next frontier in space exploration promises to not only enhance our understanding of the universe but also helps to bring forth significant technological, societal, and economic benefits. Below are a few key areas where space exploration is currently heading.
MARS AND BEYOND
Mars has been at the forefront of future space explorations. The first successful flyby of Mars was in 1965, when the Mariner 4 captured the first close up pictures of Mars that the world had ever seen. Then in 1971, the Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet and mapped out over 70% of the planet’s surface. There was a NASA program launched in the 1970s called the Viking Program. It included orbiters and landers that provided high-resolution pictures of Mars and even conducted experiments in an attempt to find life on Mars. NASA’s Artemis program aims to return humans to the moon by this year (2024) to establish a sustainable presence as a stepping stone to Mars. SpaceX’s starship is designed for deep space travel and aspires to send humans to Mars within the next decade. These missions aim to study the planet’s geology, climate, and potential for supporting human life on Mars. The long-term goal is to establish a human settlement on the planet.
LUNAR EXPLORATION
The moon is not just a stop on the journey of exploration to Mars; it is also a valuable target for exploration. There were many early missions to the moon that began in the 1950s, leading to the infamous Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States. The Soviets were the first to send a man-made spacecraft to the moon in 1959, and the United States was the first to send a human being to the moon through NASA’s Apollo programs. In the present day, countries like China, the USA, and India have put forth many resources into accomplishing lunar exploration and allowing us to learn more about the moon. Lunar missions focus on utilizing resources, such as mining lunar ice for water, oxygen, and hydrogen. The establishment of lunar bases could serve as hubs for scientific research and deep space mission preparation. International collaborations, like those seen in the Artemis Accords (mentioned above), will focus on the cooperative nature of future lunar exploration.
COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT AND TOURISM
The commercial spaceflight industry is also rapidly growing, with companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin paving the way. Companies like these have achieved many successes, such as reusing rockets and sending people to space! Space tourism was once a distant dream and is now slowly becoming a reality as these companies begin to develop and roll out reusable spacecraft and suborbital flights. Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, focuses on reusing rockets. Virgin Galactic, founded by Richard Branson, targets suborbital space tourism and has even successfully tested its spaceship vehicles, called the SpaceShipTwo. These companies partner with government agencies like NASA to contribute to space missions and to further advance space technology. This industry could make space accessible to a much broader audience and help to inspire future generations to generate further interest and investment in space technology.
SPACE STATIONS AND HABITATS
Space stations and habitats are extremely important for the durability of long term missions, as they not only allow space explorers to stop by, but are centers for research as well. The International Space Station (ISS) has demonstrated the viability of long-term human habitation in space, meaning that future space stations (like NASA’s Gateway that is currently orbiting the moon) will expand this specific capability. There is a collaborative project between NASA and many other companies like JAXA, ESA, and CSA that have worked together to form a microgravity laboratory that has been operational since 2000. These habitats support scientific research, industrial activities, and will even potentially act as launch points for deep space missions in the future.
