This year, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will launch several long-awaited space missions. These missions cover a wide range of scientific goals, from studying water on the Moon to understanding the transformation of the universe after the Big Bang.
NASA JPL, Center for Space Exploration and Innovation
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is one of the world's leading research and development centers focused on space exploration. Since its founding in 1936, JPL has been a pioneer in rocket technology and space exploration. Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has played a key role in many successful space missions, including the Mars landing, outer planet exploration, and observations of the universe.
NASA JPL's Planned Spacecraft to Launch This Year
Here are some of the spacecraft that will be launched by NASA JPL this year.
SPHEREx: Exploring the History of the Universe
One of NASA JPL’s major missions this year is the launch of SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer). The mission aims to create a 3D map of the entire sky to improve humanity’s understanding of the universe, including how it evolved after the Big Bang and where the ingredients for life might be found in ice grains. SPHEREx is scheduled to launch no earlier than Feb. 27 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Lunar Trailblazer: Uncovering the Mystery of Water on the Moon
NASA JPL will also launch Lunar Trailblazer, a small satellite designed to map water on the lunar surface in unprecedented detail. This mission will help answer questions about the presence of water on the Moon, including in craters that have always been in shadow and have not seen direct sunlight for billions of years. Lunar Trailblazer will launch in late February along with the Intuitive Machines-2 mission through NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.
NISAR: Observing Changes in the Earth's Surface
NISAR (NASA-Indian Space Research Organisation Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a collaboration between the United States and India that will be a vital addition to the fleet of satellites studying our changing planet. The spacecraft will carry L-band and S-band radars, which will enable observations of surface changes related to volcanoes, earthquakes, ice sheet movement, deforestation and more in unprecedented detail. NISAR is scheduled to launch in the coming months.
Sentinel-6B: Measuring Global Sea Levels
Sentinel-6B is a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) that will provide highly accurate measurements of global sea level. This data will improve climate models and hurricane tracking, as well as our understanding of phenomena such as El Niño. Sentinel-6B is scheduled to launch in November and will succeed its sister mission, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, which launched in 2020.
CADRE: Mars Exploration with Autonomous Robots
NASA JPL is also preparing to launch CADRE (Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers), a mission that will send autonomous robots to Mars for further exploration. These robots will work together to explore the Martian surface and collect valuable scientific data.
Mars Gravity Assist: Helping the Europa Clipper Mission
In addition to the new spacecraft launch, NASA JPL will also perform a gravity assist maneuver on Mars to help the Europa Clipper mission. Europa Clipper is a mission designed to study Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, which is believed to have an ocean beneath its icy surface. This gravity assist maneuver will help Europa Clipper reach its destination more efficiently.
Conclusion
This year will be a busy one for NASA JPL with several long-awaited spacecraft launches. These missions will not only advance our understanding of the universe and our planet, but also pave the way for new discoveries that could change the way we see the world. With cutting-edge technology and international collaboration, NASA JPL continues to lead the way in space exploration and scientific research.
