What Does 2025 Have in Store for Space Fans?
2024 has truly been an exciting year in space. We witnessed some monumental moments—the first CLPS landing, the maiden launch of ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket, mind-blowing starship flights, the historic first commercial spacewalk during Polars Dawn, and even the long-awaited first crewed flight of Boeing’s Starliner (although it ended up not being so thrilling). With less than three months left in 2024, you might wonder what 2025 has in store for space enthusiasts. Well, the next year is set to be even more action-packed and it definitely won’t disappoint! (Without considering delays, of course!)
Here are a few exciting missions currently scheduled for 2025!
Intuitive Machines Lunar Landings
Kicking off in January 2025, we’ll get to see the launch of Intuitive Machines' second Nova-C class lunar lander, as part of NASA’s CLPS program. The lander will carry several payloads, including space technology company Lunar Outpost’s first rover, which will collect lunar samples for NASA under a contract worth just $1!
IM2 will be followed by IM3 in October, which, if all goes well, will land in the Reiner Gamma region of the Moon. This mission, like previous ones, will carry a multitude of payloads—both commercial and research.
IM1 lander orbiting the moon. Credit: Intuitive Machines
Artemis 2: Back To The Moon
Without a doubt, Artemis 2 is one of the most anticipated events of 2025. Currently planned to launch no earlier than September 2025, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency will conduct the first crewed mission of the Artemis program. Artemis 2 will demonstrate critical capabilities required for the next mission, Artemis 3—which is set to land humans on the moon in 2026.
Artemis 2 astronauts. Credit: NASA
First Gateway Module
Also part of NASA’s lunar vision, we will witness the launch of the first two modules of Gateway—the first space station to orbit a body other than Earth! Falcon Heavy will launch the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) modules. As of the writing of this article, HALO is undergoing stress testing by Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy. Once the tests are complete, it will be moved to Gilbert, Arizona, where Northrop Grumman will finalize outfitting. Gateway will establish a foundation for permanent lunar settlements.
HALO undergoing stress testing in Italy. Credit: NASA
Starship HLS: The Mega Monster
It isn’t fair to talk about Artemis without including Starship, as it plays a major role in returning humans to the moon. SpaceX, one of the two Human Landing System (HLS) contractors, will utilize a specialized version of Starship. Next year, SpaceX is expected to conduct major tests, including a lunar landing and an ascent test. These demonstrations are vital for validating the Starship HLS's capabilities in a lunar environment. If all goes according to plan, Starship HLS is expected to land the first humans on the lunar surface by September 2026.
A render of HLS on the moon. Credit: SpaceX
Blue Origin’s Pathfinder MK1 & MK2
Blue Origin, the second HLS contractor, will be landing their Mark 1 Pathfinder on the Moon no earlier than March 2025. The Pathfinder Mission (MK1-SN001) will be a demonstration mission, with MK1-SN002 and subsequent missions available to payload customers. MK1-SN001 will prove critical systems, including the BE-7 engine, cryogenic fluid power and propulsion systems, avionics, continuous downlink communications, and precision landing within a 100-meter site accuracy.
A render of MK1 on the lunar surface. Credit: Blue Origin
A Haven In Space
Haven-1 is a planned space station being developed by the American aerospace company Vast, with a launch scheduled for no earlier than August 2025 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Designed for low Earth orbit, Haven-1 aims to facilitate missions involving crewed research and tourism, supporting a crew of four astronauts for up to 30 days at a time. The station will rely on the Crew Dragon spacecraft for life support and transportation, allowing for ongoing communication, power supply, and preloaded cargo. Once launched, Haven-1 will become the first private space station.
An illustration of Haven-1 inside a Falcon 9 fairing. Credit: Vast
Europe’s Rise
Europe is stepping up its game in the launch industry. Skyrora XL, operated by the UK company Skyrora, is expected to make its first-ever flight from Scotland in 2025. Skyrora XL is a three-stage vehicle intended to place payloads into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit ranging from 500 km to 1,000 km in altitude. The vehicle is also designed to place payloads into a Polar Orbit ranging from 200 km to 1,000 km in altitude.
Meanwhile, RFA One, from the German company Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), will launch on its maiden flight, becoming the first German orbital launch vehicle. RFA One is designed to transport small and micro-satellites of up to 1,300 kg into low-Earth polar and Sun-synchronous orbits.
Here’s a related article on RFA One
Moreover, the European Space Agency will launch the Space Rider spaceplane in the third quarter of 2025. This reusable space vehicle is designed to provide a platform for various missions, including technology demonstrations and scientific research.
Let's keep our fingers crossed for their successful flights 🤞
A render of ESA’s Space Rider. Credit: ESA
Neutron
In another first, Rocket Lab will debut its partially reusable Neutron launch vehicle sometime around June 2025. As a medium-lift two-stage launch vehicle, Neutron is capable of delivering up to 13,000kg to low Earth orbit and is built to focus on the medium-lift market, primarily the growing mega-constellation satellite delivery market. Neutron uses LOX and LCH4 for both stages.
Hot fire of Archimedes, the engine that will power the Neutron launch vehicle. Credit: Rocket Lab
An Expanding China
In Q2 2025, LandSpace of China will launch its new ZhuQue-3 vehicle. The first stage is equipped with nine Tianque-12B engines and landing legs in a configuration similar to that of Falcon 9. However, unlike the Falcon 9, it will utilize methane, a growing trend among new launch vehicles. If successful, ZhuQue-3 will become the first partially reusable Chinese launch vehicle.
Fun fact: The name ZhuQue means "Vermilion Bird," one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations.
Additionally, CNSA will launch Tianwen-2, an asteroid sample return mission to the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa. The mission is also planned to explore the main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS.
ZhuQue-3 VTVL test vehicle. Credit: Landspace
Mars Mission: EscaPADE
2025 won’t be restricted to exploring the Moon; ESCAPADE, a twin-spacecraft mission to study Mars' magnetosphere, will launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. The two spacecrafts, built by Rocket Lab for NASA, will be launched on a direct trajectory in the spring of 2025. After an 11-month journey, they will enter a highly elliptical orbit around Mars.
The twin EscaPADE spacecrafts. Credit: Rocket Lab
Gaganyaan: India’s Crewed Spaceflight
2025 will also bring the first crewed spaceflight from India. Gaganyaan, which stands for “Celestial Vehicle,” is part of the Indian Human Spaceflight Program. The capsule is designed to carry three astronauts at a time. The first uncrewed test flight is set to take place in December 2024.
Gaganyaan test flight capsule. Credit: ISRO
Griffin Mission 1
And we are back to CLPS. Astrobotic's Griffin lander is scheduled to land in the fall of 2025. Although NASA canceled the VIPER rover, which Griffin was meant to deliver, the mission will still go ahead.
The Griffin Lander. Credit: Astrobiotic
To Sum Up:
2025 is set to be an exciting year in space. With many planned lunar landings and debut launches of new rockets, there’s no doubt that space fans are going to be bored. The coming years will be crucial moments for the future of humanity, so buckle up and grab a bucket of popcorn!
Note: This list includes just a few of the exciting missions. Several other private companies such as Yuzhnoye (Ukraine/Canada) and Orienspace (China) are set to debut new launch vehicles. As always, any launch is an exciting launch!
