Nothing went as planned in the space sector either 2019. Like almost all sectors, space activities have been hit hard by the pandemic. Observers were particularly looking forward to the start of seven planned space missions, some things went great: SpaceX sent astronauts into space, China brought moon rocks back to Earth.

But many other missions were not implemented: The Rosalind Franklin Rover and the European-Russian co-mission were on 2022 postponed. The SpaceX Starship also didn’t make it into space (but still quite far). All hopes that Artemis 1, the first mission in NASA’s new lunar exploration program to bring humans back to the moon during the decade, still 2019 would start were smashed. Because most of the NASA facilities had to cease operations for the time being due to the pandemic.

And yet: 2021 promises to be an exciting year for space travel. One can expect a lot: NASA’s ambitions to return to the moon are growing. The private space industry continues to grow faster than ever. The following are the eleven missions which the TR editorial team finds most exciting and which could most likely represent new milestones. Nevertheless, the following applies: Little can be predicted for missions into space and it may well be that many of these projects have to be postponed for months or even years.

February: A Trio of Mars missions Mars will be able to welcome not just one, not two, but three missions – each of them started and operated by a different nation. The United Arab Emirates are sending the Hope Orbiter, NASA is entering the race with the Perseverance Rover and the Chinese are sending the Tianwen-1 mission (including space probe, landing module and rover). All three missions will reach Mars’ orbit in February.

Perseverance is then expected to reach the surface later this month, followed by Tianwen-1 in April. Hope is designed to help scientists clarify questions about the atmosphere, such as why the planet is giving off oxygen and hydrogen. Tianwen-1 and Perseverance will be looking for signs of life and trying to understand the geology of Mars. While Mars missions are now standard for NASA, it is the first opportunity for China and the UAE to get a closer look at the planet.

Probability of success: 9 / 10. The missions have started, but everyone has to make the trip and two of them manage to land.

March: Boeing’s second Starliner test SpaceX’s Crew Dragon may have safely returned a manned mission to US soil, but it is not the only spacecraft NASA hopes to bring astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS) create. Boeing also has a spacecraft called the Starliner on offer, whose unnamed mission to the ISS failed in December 2019.

The spaceship’s software was riddled with bugs, including a flaw that could have completely destroyed the capsule. Not exactly Boeing’s most colorful moment. But the company is repeating this test mission in late March after combing through all of the Starliner code and rigorously checking the operating system. If everything goes well, the Starliner could send people to the ISS by the end of the year.

Probability of success: 8 / 10. After everything that has happened, nothing from Boeing is a sure thing. June and October: The first CLPS missions to the moon NASA’s Artemis program, successor to Apollo, will not just consist of a few quick round trips to the moon. Artemis is to return to the moon in the long term, private companies are also involved. A commercial lunar payload service that accepts orders (Commercial Lunar Payload Services, CLPS for short) offers opportunities for small companies that want to do something on the moon – be it flying in small payloads with new spaceships, testing new space technology towards the moon or carrying out lunar research .

Astrobotic Technology Peregrine Lander, which is scheduled to make its maiden flight on United Launchs Alliance’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket, will receive an initial shipment of 28 CLPS payloads to fly to the moon in June, 14 of which from NASA. If all goes well, it will be the first private spaceship to land on the moon. Intuitive Machines will send its Nova-C lander towards the moon aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in October. In total, it will take at least five NASA payload flights to the moon, plus further deliveries from other groups.

Probability of success: 6 / 10. Landing on the moon is difficult for any newcomer. June: The end of Juno Since July 2016 the NASA Juno spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter and is providing the best data on its atmosphere so far, the gravitational field, the magnetic field and the geology. Juno has provided some surprising insights into the largest planet in the solar system and also provided some stunning images of Jupiter’s colorful clouds from above. But the mission ends on 30. July, when Juno will dive into its atmosphere and collect as much data as possible before the tremendous pressure tears the spaceship apart.