2021 is an exciting year for the space lover as some interesting space missions will take place this year.

In 2020 space exploration grabbed much attention despite the pandemic, including the commercial human spaceflight and coming back with an asteroid sample.

Space exploration is the term used to investigate the universe beyond Earth’s atmosphere with the help of uncrewed and crewed spacecraft. This helps to increase the knowledge of the cosmos.

In this article, we would talk about some of those space missions that are scheduled for 2021.

Artemis 1

Artemis 1 is the first integrated flight of the agency’s Space Launch System and Orion MPCV. It is planned for NASA’s Artemis program as an uncrewed test flight. The launch is scheduled for November 2021.

The space mission was originally known as Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), which was later renamed after the program used in the making. The launch of Artemis 1 will take place at the Kennedy Space Center at Launch Complex 39B. The spacecraft will be sent for a three-week flight around the Moon and will cover a distance of 450,000km from the Earth.

It will be the most powerful rocket in operation, launched into the Earth’s orbit on the NASA Space Launch System. Artemis 1 will use the Block 1 variant of the Space Launch System. It will use five-segment solid rocket boosters, which will produce a large force of 39,000 kN during liftoff. The upper stage (Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage) consists of one RL10 engine based on the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage (used in Delta III and Delta IV rockets). In contrast, the core stage will use the four RS-25D engines of the Space Shuttle.

The space mission’s original plan was to follow the trans-lunar trajectory without actually entering the Moon’s orbit. However, the Orion spacecraft is now designed to spend three weeks in space, including the stable orbiting around the Moon for six days.

The mission’s completion will certify the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft for crewed and second flight test as Artemis 2, which is scheduled for 2023, a week-long mission with four crew members.

Chandrayaan-3

Chandrayaan-3 (moon craft) is designed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and is planned for the third lunar exploration mission. ISRO is planning to launch the spacecraft around late 2021 or early 2022.

The first Indian lunar probe, Chandrayaan 1, was launched in October 2008. The mission included an orbiter and an impactor. The second mission, named Chandrayaan 2,  was launched on 22 July 2019. It consisted of three parts- a lunar orbiter (a machine designed to fly in outer space), a lander Vikram (the surface of the astronomical body that comes to rest on), and the Pragyan lunar rover.

After a few months of the mission, the researchers announced the next mission, Chandrayaan 3, and revealed that the spacecraft would only consist of two parts- lander and rover. The orbiter from the last launch is still providing data.

If the mission goes well, the lander of Chandrayaan 3 will touch the lunar south pole’s Aitken basin.

James Webb Space Telescope

James Webb Space Telescope is a space telescope known as the Hubble Space Telescope’s successor as NASA’s flagship astrophysics mission. The telescope will improve the infrared sensitivity and resolution over Hubble. It will help in the wide range of investigations in the field of cosmology and astronomy.

NASA has developed the James Webb Space Telescope with the contribution from the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. It will help focus on the infrared wavelength band, whereas Hubble provides some incredible views of the universe and ultraviolet light region.

Source: https://directoryrelt.com/blog/space-missions-that-will-launch-in-2021/