Out-of-the-world space expeditions

Since the 'Space Race' era of explorationbetween United States and Soviet Union, space technology has witnessed major developments.

Astronomers have carried out the study of space with telescopes and have progressed to take forwardphysical exploration, both by unmanned robotic probes and human spaceflights.

Early space explorations were carried out for military, communications and security purposesbut now space colonisation, or space humanisation, is also emerging as a new frontier.

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If you want to know how we fare in terms of space travel in the future, have a look at some of the most kickass upcoming space missions:

Asteroid mining technology

This year, the world will witness the first flight in connection with the long-term goal of asteroid mining.The Prospector-X test flightis a precursor to the Prospector-1 missionand will test the company’s water-based propulsion, avionics and navigation systems. If successful, the Prospector-1 mission will take place before the end of the decade.

Blue Origin

Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin private space firm has a manned test flight dated for early this year. It will be a sub-orbital hop rather than a full-fledged journey into orbit. They also have a space capsule offeringlarge windows and space for up to six people.

Cassini's grand finale

NASA’sCassini probe has been orbiting Saturn since 2004, andthe space agency is set for a finale this year.Cassini willundertake 22orbits between the inner rings and the planet, capturing information and images. Once theorbits are complete, the probe will burnin Saturn’s upper atmosphere.Cassini has made many important discoveries since its launch. It spotted liquid-hydrocarbon lakes on Titan and geysers of water ice blasting from the south polar region of Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

Chinese probe toland on moon and return with samples

This is perhaps the most ambitious mission undertaken by the Chinese space agency. So far, China has sent a rover to the moon, but returning back with samples is risky. Chang’e 5 mission will see a lunar lander touching down on the moon, gathering samples and bringing them back to Earth. Returning back is difficult as the probe needs to be protected during re-entry.

Dawn's mission

NASA's Dawn spacecraft will complete its task this year. The $467-million Dawn mission was launched in September 2007 to study Vesta and Ceres, the two largest objects in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The spacecraft has revealed a lotabout dry, rocky Vesta and icy Ceresand has found evidence of water ice beingcommon just beneath the dwarf planet's surface.

Exoplanet hunter

NASA will continue the search for exoplanets this year. It is teaming up with SpaceX to launch the TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) space telescope. TESS will monitor more than 200,000 stars for temporary drops in brightness caused by planetary transits. These planets range from gas giants to potential Earth-like planets. It will spend the early years looking for alien planets that cross the faces of their parent stars.

ESA to launch exoplanet telescope

The year will witnesstwo space telescopes being launched.CHEOPS, one of the telescopes, will be looking at nearby starsalready known to host exoplanets. This will give new information about existing planets.

Falcon Heavy

Expected to launch in spring/summer, Falcon Heavy will be the most powerful rocket in the world. It will becapable of carrying 60 tons (54 metric tons) to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and 24.5 tons (22.2 metric tons) to the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).

Green alternative to chemical propulsion

NASA will be launching the Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM)for a new form of green propulsion, as an alternative to hydrazine, the fuel used today. It will lead tofuel loading becoming much safer, faster and less expensive. The alternative also has a higher density than hydrazine with a better thrust and a lower freezing point.

Launching satellites from a Boeing 747

We have had plenty of satellites being launched into space from a jet aircraft, but firing satellites from a Boeing is completely unheard of. Virgin Galactic will be testing its new LauncherOneprogramme, which aims to carrya 200 kg payloadinto a 'sun synchronous orbit'for less than $10 million.

Private moon landing

For an award prize of$30 million, two companies will be fighting to land a robotic craft on the moon, a first for a private entity.Google‘s Lunar X Prize, in the form of Israel’s SpaceIL and the USA’s Moon Express programmes are looking to award the company which can achieve this feat. To win, they will not just land the spacecraft but will travel 500 metres and transmit HD video/pictures back to Earth.

Space debris

The mission is set to launch this year and will test a device that is aimed at capturingorbiting space debris. There will also be a system of spacing junk with an attached dragsail that will allowthe existingdebris to be pushed out of the orbit. If successful, we might just have lessspace junk floating around our planet.

(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)