In this second part, we explore some of the space missions and projects that hit obstacles in 2024. From shifting timelines to technical challenges, these experiences highlight the resilience and ingenuity of the space community. Each setback brought valuable lessons and adjustments that will guide future exploration efforts. Despite the hurdles, the determination to push the boundaries of space remains unshaken, showcasing humanity’s relentless drive to explore and innovate even in the toughest of circumstances.

The First Mission to Return Samples from a Martian Moon

The Japanese Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, initially scheduled for launch in 2024, has been delayed to 2026 due to issues with the H3 rocket, which is responsible for launching the spacecraft. The delay follows an unsuccessful test flight of the H3 rocket in March 2023, where an engine failure prevented it from reaching orbit. After reviewing the results of the test, Japan's space agency JAXA decided to push back the MMX mission to ensure sufficient time for further testing and verification of the spacecraft on the ground. The mission is now set to launch during the next available window in 2026 and aims to reach Mars' moon Phobos in 2027, returning samples to Earth in 2031.

The MMX mission is of great significance for the space sector as it will be the first mission to return samples from a Martian moon. The spacecraft will carry a variety of instruments, including a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer developed in cooperation with NASA and a small rover built with contributions from the French space agency CNES and the German aerospace agency DLR. These tools will help scientists explore Phobos and investigate whether the moons of Mars were formed from a large collision or if they are captured asteroids. The results of this mission are expected to provide new insights into the formation and history of the Martian system, as well as further our understanding of the broader solar system.

The first NASA mission to create a full-sky map using near-infrared spectroscopy

SPHEREx is a groundbreaking NASA space telescope designed to map the entire sky in near-infrared light, enabling scientists to study the rapid expansion of the universe after the Big Bang, explore the composition of young planetary systems, and investigate the history of galaxies. The mission's primary goal is to create the first full-sky map in near-infrared using a technique called spectroscopy, which will break light into its individual wavelengths. By doing so, SPHEREx will provide crucial insights into the chemical makeup of celestial objects, their distances from Earth, and the processes that shaped our universe. The mission’s scientific goals include examining the earliest stages of galaxy formation, searching for evidence of cosmic inflation, and identifying water ice and organic molecules in the formation of planetary systems.

Originally scheduled for launch in June 2024, the SPHEREx mission has been delayed to 2025. This rescheduling is due to the need for additional time to complete the necessary construction and testing of the spacecraft and its instruments. The delay is aimed at ensuring that all components meet the mission's high standards and can function effectively in the harsh environment of space. Once launched, SPHEREx will spend two years mapping the sky, providing invaluable data that will deepen our understanding of the origins of the universe and the conditions for life beyond Earth. The mission is a significant step forward in astrophysics, offering new perspectives on the cosmic history and the potential for life in the galaxy.

The launch of Quantum Encryption and Science Satellite (QEYSSat) rescheduled

The rise of quantum computing, expected to become mainstream within 10–20 years, threatens current encryption systems, jeopardizing sensitive data worldwide. QEYSSat tackles this issue by pioneering space-based quantum key distribution (QKD), a highly secure encryption method that uses photons to create encryption keys. Any interception attempt is instantly detectable, ensuring unparalleled data protection.

While ground-based QKD systems exist, their range is limited to 200 kilometers. QEYSSat overcomes this limitation by using satellites to transmit quantum keys, enabling secure communication across vast distances. The mission will test laser-transmitted photons between ground stations and the satellite, establishing secure keys and studying QKD's performance in space—laying the groundwork for a global quantum-secure network.

Originally planned for 2024, QEYSSat’s launch was rescheduled to 2025–2026 to allow for further testing and refinement. This mission is a crucial step toward building secure communication infrastructure resistant to quantum computing threats, paving the way for innovations in global cybersecurity.

Artemis II: Pioneering the Path to Deep Space Exploration

Artemis II marks NASA's first crewed mission in its ambitious Artemis program, aiming to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon and prepare for future missions to Mars. Originally planned for November 2024, this 10-day mission will send four astronauts on a historic journey around the Moon no earlier than September 2025.

Building on the success of the uncrewed Artemis I in 2022, Artemis II will serve as a critical flight test of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft in the challenging environment of deep space. This mission will evaluate the performance of key systems with a crew aboard, paving the way for future lunar landings, including the milestone Artemis III mission, which will see the first woman set foot on the Moon.

As a crewed lunar flyby, Artemis II represents a significant leap in humanity's return to the Moon and the broader goal of advancing deep space exploration.

ULA's New Rocket Faces Challenges Ahead of Key Space Force Missions

United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket, a key addition to the U.S. military’s space launch capabilities, is facing delays in its certification process, pushing back two important Space Force missions until 2025. Originally scheduled to launch its first Space Force payloads by the end of 2024, Vulcan encountered issues during its second test flight in October, particularly with one of its solid rocket boosters. This anomaly has required extensive review and data analysis, delaying its certification by the U.S. Space Force.

The two delayed missions, USSF-106 and USSF-87, were initially planned for earlier launches. USSF-106 features the Navigation Technology Satellite-3, an experimental spacecraft designed to enhance the military’s GPS capabilities, while USSF-87 is a classified mission. The delays also impact other launches, including several GPS III satellites waiting in storage until the Vulcan rocket is approved for military use.

Vulcan is set to replace ULA’s legacy rockets, the Atlas V and Delta IV, and marks a significant step forward in the company’s offerings for national security launches. Despite the setbacks, the Space Force and ULA remain confident in Vulcan’s eventual certification, with investigations into the solid rocket booster anomaly nearing completion. Once cleared, the rocket is expected to play a critical role in supporting national security missions and advancing U.S. capabilities in space.

On the Horizon: Other Space Missions to Watch in 2025

Lunar Pathfinder: Enabling Robot and Human Exploration on the Moon

The Lunar Pathfinder mission is a crucial first step in the European Space Agency's (ESA) vision for a global network of communication and data relay satellites designed to support lunar exploration. With an increasing number of missions planned for the Moon, including NASA's Artemis program, commercial lunar landers, and Russia's Luna 25 and 27 missions, reliable communication is essential for operations, particularly in the far side and polar regions, where interest in resources like water, fuel, and oxygen is growing. Lunar Pathfinder will enable continuous communication for both robotic and human missions to the Moon, ensuring that explorers have the necessary data links to operate successfully.

In addition to its role as a communications relay satellite, Lunar Pathfinder will also support two significant ESA experiments: one focusing on the potential use of existing navigation satellites for positioning on the Moon, and the other on monitoring space weather and radiation levels in the Moon’s environment, crucial data for the safety of future human explorers.

Scheduled for launch in 2025, this important step in lunar exploration will see the satellite deployed into lunar orbit, where it will begin providing critical communications services for both robotic and human missions. Its launch will support ESA’s Moonlight vision and establish a vital infrastructure for exploration of the Moon’s far side and polar regions.

Unveiling Mercury: BepiColombo's Journey to the Sun's Mysterious World

BepiColombo is an ambitious space mission aiming to explore Mercury, the least explored planet in the inner Solar System. Launched in 2018, it comprises two orbiters—one for planetary observation and the other for studying Mercury's magnetic field—and a transfer module. The mission seeks to answer crucial questions about the planet's ice, magnetic field, and mysterious surface features like "hollows." After multiple flybys, BepiColombo will reach Mercury in November 2026, with science operations beginning in early 2027.

China's Tianwen 2: Pioneering Asteroid and Comet Exploration

China's Tianwen 2 mission, launching in May 2025 aboard a Long March 3B rocket, aims to explore both an asteroid and a comet. The probe will first collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid Kamo'oalewa, using innovative touch-and-go and anchor-and-attach methods with robotic arms. Following this, it will journey to the main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS. This ambitious mission will help test technologies for asteroid sample retrieval and deep space exploration, laying the groundwork for future space resource extraction and asteroid defense strategies.

Looking Ahead: Resilience, Progress, and the Promise of 2025

The challenges and delays faced in 2024 highlight an essential truth: space exploration is a journey of resilience. Every postponed launch and recalibrated mission brings valuable lessons, strengthening our collective knowledge and capabilities. These delays are not failures but necessary steps in the relentless pursuit of discovery.

As we enter 2025, the missions on the horizon promise to redefine our understanding of the universe, advance critical technologies, and inspire future generations. Whether returning Martian moon samples, enabling secure quantum communications, or pioneering deep space exploration, each effort reaffirms humanity's unwavering determination to reach further, adapt smarter, and dream bigger.

In space, as in life, setbacks are temporary, but progress endures.