ROBOTIC SPACE MISSIONS

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

RESOURCES

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

ORGANISING EVENTS

FUNDING BODIES

USEFUL CONTACTS

 

PAST MISSIONS

CURRENT MISSIONS

FUTURE MISSIONS

ESA EXOMARS MISSION

UK VANGUARD MISSION

FUTURE MISSIONS

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (USA)
Due to be launched in Spring 2009.  It will map the lunar surface at high resolution for about 1 year.  This may be followed by an extended mission of up to 5 years in a low maintenance orbit that allows continued observations and possibly its use as a communication relay satellite.   (2009-?)

Phobos-Grunt (Russia)
Due to be launched in October 2009.  It will land on Mars's moon Phobos in 2010, collect soil samples and return them to Earth for analysis.  The sample return capsule will be released as the spacecraft swings by Earth in 2012.  (2009-2012)

Mars Science Laboratory (USA)
Due to be launched in Autumn 2011.  The rover will make a precision landing on Mars and explore the surface for a full martian year or longer, searching for habitable environments and the basic building blocks of life.  It will be powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG).  (2011-?)

BepiColombo (ESA and Japan)
Due to be launched in August 2013.  The Mercury Planetary Orbiter (ESA) will study the surface and internal composition of the planet.  The Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Japan) will study the magnetosphere.  (2013-2020)

ExoMars (ESA)
Due to be launched in 2015.  It will characterise the biological environment on Mars, using a descent module and rover, in preparation for subsequent robotic and human exploration.  (2015-?)