A Look into the Launches of 2024

As we embark on the exciting year of 2024, the European Space Agency (ESA) invites you to join us in looking ahead to the groundbreaking achievements and discoveries that lie ahead. With ambitious missions, advancements in space exploration technology, and collaborations with international partners like NASA, the coming year promises to be filled with scientific breakthroughs and awe-inspiring journeys into the cosmos.

In a significant milestone for Europe’s space program, the retirement of Ariane 5 in 2023 will make way for the highly anticipated launch of Ariane 6. Building upon the legacy of excellence and reliability established by its predecessor, Ariane 6 is set to make its inaugural flight from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou this year. This new heavy-duty launcher will ensure Europe’s continued access to space, reinforcing our commitment to independent space exploration.

Not only does Europe bring forth powerful launch capabilities with Ariane 6, but we also remain dedicated to affordability and versatility. The return-to-flight mission for Vega-C is scheduled for 2024. This lightweight launcher will provide Europe with a cost-effective means of launching payloads into space, further solidifying our position as a global player in the field of space exploration.

In a testament to the importance of international collaboration, ESA continues its partnership with NASA on the Artemis lunar program. Spring of 2024 will witness yet another milestone as the European Service Module ESM-3 journeys to the United States for mating with NASA’s Orion capsule. This critical component will play a vital role in enabling future Artemis missions, contributing to our collective efforts to explore the Moon and pave the way for human exploration of the solar system.

One of the most anticipated missions of 2024 is Proba-3. This groundbreaking project marks the first precision formation-flying mission. The Coronagraph and Occulter spacecraft will work in tandem to create a 144-meter coronagraph, capturing unprecedented data and allowing us to study the Sun’s corona from a closer vantage point than ever before. This mission holds the potential to unravel the mysteries surrounding our nearest star and enhance our understanding of its complex dynamics.

Rivalling the excitement surrounding Proba-3 is the launch of Hera later in 2024. Hera will embark on a journey to the binary asteroid system of Dimorphos and Didymos, observing the aftermath of the impact made by NASA’s Dart mission. By studying the effects of this collision, scientists hope to gain insights into planetary defense strategies and develop techniques to mitigate potential threats posed by near-Earth objects.

As we turn our gaze back towards Earth, several ambitious Earth observation missions are set to take flight in 2024. The ESA/JAXA EarthCARE mission, designed to monitor and study Earth’s climate and atmospheric processes, will take center stage. Additionally, the Arctic Weather Satellite mission will provide us with essential data on one of our planet’s most vulnerable regions. The launch of the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-1C and Sentinel-2C satellites will expand and enhance our ability to monitor and understand Earth’s changing ecosystems and climate patterns.

The Galileo satellite navigation system will experience significant developments in 2024. In April, two more first-generation satellites will be launched, with an additional two planned for later in the year. This expansion of the constellation will optimize Galileo’s performance, ensuring enhanced accuracy and availability for users worldwide. Simultaneously, hardware deliveries for the second-generation Galileo satellites will commence, ushering in a new era of cutting-edge satellite navigation technology.

Furthermore, 2024 marks a momentous milestone for our astronaut program. The five career astronauts from the 2022 astronaut class will complete their basic training, bringing them one step closer to their eventual mission assignments. Notably, Swedish project astronaut Marcus Wandt will launch to the International Space Station in January as a mission specialist on the Axiom-3 commercial mission. This opportunity will allow him to join his Danish colleague, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who is scheduled to return to Earth in February after a six-month stay aboard the space station.

As we look ahead to the future of space exploration, 2024 offers a wealth of exciting opportunities and scientific advancements. ESA’s unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and fostering international collaboration promises to open new doors of knowledge and shape the course of our understanding of the universe. Join us on this thrilling journey as we embark on daring missions, explore distant worlds, and unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. The next chapter in humanity’s exploration of space awaits!