2021 has finally started. In 2020, new coronavirus infections occurred all over the world. Even in difficult circumstances, many major events that will lead to future space exploration and missions that change the historical flow are being held. You may be able to see even more amazing sights this year. So, I would like to introduce the space exploration mission scheduled for 2021!
Related article:2020 “Space Astronomical News” 10 Big News-First Half, Space Development-
■ Spacecraft from three countries arrive on Mars
NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance (Credit: NASA / JPL)
The Mars spacecraft launched one after another in July last year will finally arrive and start observing.
UAE Mars rover “HOPE”Was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on July 20, last year. It will be put into the orbit around Mars to observe the atmosphere of Mars.Was subsequently launchedChinese Mars probe “Tianwen-1”“Consists of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover. After being put into orbit on Mars, the lander will land on the Utopia Plains.And it was launched on July 30th.NASA’s Mars rover “Perseverance” (Perseverance, Perseverance)Will land on the Jezero Crater around February 18, this year, and will begin exploration for the purpose of exploring the life that may have been born on Mars. Also,PerseveranceAttached to the bottom ofSmall helicopter “Ingenuity”Will make the first extraterrestrial powered flight in history.
Related article
・ The destination of the Mars rover “Perseverance” is the crater where there used to be a lake.
・ Mars rover “Perseverance” passes the middle point, landing on Mars in February 2021
・ Launch of H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 42. Equipped with UAE’s Mars probe “HOPE”
・ China launches Mars probe “Tianwen-1” Arrive on Mars in 2021
■ James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is finally launched
James Webb Space Telescope (Credit: NASA)
James Webb Space TelescopeWill be launched from the Guiana Space Center on October 31, 2021 (scheduled) using the Ariane 5 rocket. JWST isThe successor to the Hubble Space TelescopeIt is a space telescope for infrared observation developed as. The primary mirror is 6.5 m and has a structure in which 18 hexagonal segment mirrors are combined. It will be launched at Lagrange point L2
which is about 1.5 million km away from the earth. It is a space telescope for the purpose of observing galaxies in deep space and immediately after the Big Bang.
Lagrange point: A place where the gravity of two celestial bodies is balanced. There are 5 places, each named L1 to L5.
■ First ever! “Lucy” exploring Jupiter Trojan asteroids
“Lucy” (Credit: NASA) exploring Trojan asteroids“Lucy” (Credit: NASA) exploring Trojan asteroidsNASA“Lucy” missionIs
Exploration of Jupiter Trojan asteroids for the first time in the worldto hold.The launch is scheduled for September 2021
Exploring eight different asteroids over 12 years
To do. Jupiter Trojans are asteroids that exist at the Sun and Jupiter’s Lagrange points L4 and L5. It is hoped that this mission will lead to the elucidation of the history of the early solar system.
Related article: Lucy project reveals small satellites on asteroids to be explored■ Protect the Earth from asteroid collisions! “DART” missionNASA around June 2021Conduct an asteroid orbit change experimentMission
「DART」Will be done.DART is an experimental plan to collide the asteroid with the asteroid and change its orbit in preparation for the risk of the asteroid colliding with the earth. The target asteroid for this mission is “
Didymos
The spacecraft collided with Didymos at a speed of 6.6 km / s. After that, it is to confirm whether the orbit has been changed by observation from the earth.
Related article: Following Hayabusa2!Introducing an asteroid exploration mission jointly developed by the European Space Agency with NASA
” width=”1041″ height=”781″/>
■ Artemis program finally started
Large rocket SLS (Credit: NASA) under development at NASALarge rocket SLS (Credit: NASA) under development at NASAThe United States plans to land humanity on the moon again by 2024Artemis program“Finally starts. First, “Artemis 1, NASA’s new rocket “
Space Launch System（SLS) ”Flight test and Orion spacecraft test will be conducted.The test is unmanned and travels back and forth between the earth and the moon. Also,
Two lunar explorers being developed by JAXA and the University of TokyoWill be installed as a piggyback satellite for Artemis 1.・
OMOTENASHI: Aim to land on the moon, the smallest in the world. Measure the radiation.・
EQUULUS
: Demonstrate orbit control technology in the sun-earth-moon zone. Head to Lagrange point L2.
■ NASA’s Monthly Transportation Mission (CLPS) Starts
Intuitive Machines Lunar Module (Credit: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani)Intuitive Machines Lunar Module (Credit: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani)NASA
Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS)Is scheduled to be implemented from around June 2021.CLPS is a service in which NASA funds private companies and purchases privately-developed lunar transport aircraft.First, around June in the United StatesAstrobotic’s lunar lander “Peregrine”Will be mounted on the Vulcan Rocket, a new rocket from the United Launch Alliance (ULA), and head for the moon.In addition, for PeregrineEquipped with Japan’s small rover “YAOKI”, which conducts the world’s first lunar exploration by the private sectorWill be done. YAOKI is being developed by Daimon Co., Ltd.And in October, headquartered in Houston, USAIntuitive MachinesIs
Lunar Module “Nova-C”
Will be launched with a Falcon 9 rocket.
Related article
・ SpaceX, Falcon 9 to launch a private lunar lander in 2021
Dimon Lunar Rover agrees with Astrobotic to land on the moon in 2021
・ Intuitive Machines implements lunar module plan in October 2021
In 2021, exploration of the moon and Mars is likely to be a big big event. Along with that, it is expected that it will be clarified in future research. This year is likely to be a year to keep an eye on space exploration.
Image Credit: NASA
Reference: Space.com
Text/Export Falcon Poem
Related article link (external site)
Is Zenit’s failure due to a failure of the engine thrust vectoring device?
