Important Space Missions in 2023

A Look into Exciting Space Missions in 2023

Hey Explorers,

2023 has been very exciting. 

This year we are going to witness some of the most fascinating advancements in Science. From biotech to quantum computing to Space; 2023 is going to be a complete package of super exciting stuffs.

The year started with SpaceX's Transporter-6 mission and since then in 18 days SpaceX's had another 3 mission; with 1 marking Falcon Heavy's 5th flight. 

While the space industry is already flourishing, here is the list of some of the most exciting space missions in 2023. 

#SkyIsTheLowerLimit

1. SpaceX's Crew 6

 

Launch Date: March 2nd, 2023

Operator: SpaceX

Crew 6 targets to launch from LC39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The SpaceX Dragon named Endeavour is set to carry two NASA astronauts along with UAE's astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and a Roscosmos cosmonaut.

2. Starship Orbital Test

Launch Date: April 17th 2023

Operator: SpaceX

This launch marked SpaceX Starship's first orbital test flight which was a very vital mission. Several upcoming space missions are scheduled with SpaceX's Starship including Artemis2 & Dear Moon.

Flight update: Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly before stage separation leading to a failed attempt for the orbital test but a successful attempt to gather important data for future flights.

Clearing that launch tower and lifting a 120m tall rocket with 10 Million pounds of propellant to 30+km isn’t less than a giant leap into development of Starship which will help humanity become a multiplanetary species.

3. Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight

Launch Date: November 2023

Operator: Boeing & NASA

Boeing's first crewed Starliner capsule flight aims to launch NASA astronauts Sunita Williams & Barry E. Wilmore to the International Space Station with its CST-100 Starliner. The crew module will be siting atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and will be launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

4. Polaris Dawn

Launch Date: end - 4th quarter of 2023

Operator: SpaceX

This will probably be the first crewed orbital flight of SpaceX's Starship & involve the first all civilian private space walk.  Polaris Dawn will mark setting several new records. The mission also involves Jared Isaacman and the crew performing various microg experiments that will further evolve our understanding of research in Space.

5. JUICE - JUpiter ICy moons Explorer

Launch Date: April 14th,  2023

Operator: ESA (European Space Agency)

JUICE will mark multiple flybys of Jupiter's moons Ganymede, Callisto & Europa before it goes into an orbit around Ganymede. The mission will help further explore these icy moons of Jupiter.

6. Chandrayaan 3

Launch Date: mid July2023

Operator: ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization)

This mission will put a lander and a rover in the unexplored highlands near Moon's south pole. Scheduled to launch on a GSLV Mark 3 heavy lift launch vehicle, Chandrayaan 3 will help us by collecting & studying regolith from the south pole of the Moon.

7. LUNA 25

Launch Date: July 2023

Operator: Roscosmos

LUNA 25 is Russia's first mission to moon since 1976. LUNA 25 (The Luna-Glob-Lander) is targeted to the south-polar region of the Moon to study the regolith and plasma & dust components of the moon's polar atmosphere.

8. OSIRIS REx

Return Date: September 24th 2023  

Operator: NASA & Lockheed Martin

OSIRIS REx (Original, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) mission is designed to return a sample of material from near Earth C-type asteroid 101955 Bennu. 

It was launched on September 8th 2016 and the return capsule will separate from spacecraft on September 24th 2023, 4hr before re-entry to Earth.

9. Psyche Asteroid Mission

Launch Date: October 1st 2023

Operator: JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA)

Psyche is a NASA Discovery mission designed to rendezvous with a metallic asteroid; 16 Psyche, in the main asteroid belt.

The spacecraft will study it from orbit and involves the first exploration of a metal asteroid. 

The launch is scheduled for October 1st 2023, while the spacecraft will reach the asteroid in August 2029.

10. Xuntian Space Telescope 

Launch Date: December 2023

Operator: CNSA (China National Space Administration)

Xuntian will reportedly have a view 300x wider than NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. It is scheduled to lifted aboard a Long March 5B rocket and will co-orbit Earth with  Tiangong Space Station with slightly different orbital phase. This telescope will later docked to Tiangong Space Station for any future upgradation.

11. Gaganyaan 1

Launch Date: end 2023

Operator: ISRO

Gaganyaan 1 will mark uncrewed test flight of Ganganyaan's service and crew module. It's a very cardinal space mission for ISRO as it'll be the first step for Indian Crew Missions. The spacecraft is set to launch on LVM3 from Satish Dhawan Space Center, India by the end of 2023.

Read more about Gaganyaan, its tests and experiments onboard here :- Gaganyaan - Blog

12. Dear Moon

Launch Date: end 2023

Operator: SpaceX

This is one of the most fascinating mission of the year, as it will mark several new records from the first all civilian lunar orbital flight, SpaceX's Starship's first lunar orbital flight, to the youngest person to travel to moon's orbit. 

There's no doubt that its one of the most exciting space mission of 2023 unless SpaceX announces a surprise mission of Starship orbital refueling test flight :)

These missions are going to be super duper exciting. 

I'll update the exact dates for these missions once they are announced. Till then we are GO For Launch :)

Dates updated after the blog was uploaded:

• SpaceX Crew6 mission

Mark your Calendars, 

Lets connect to explore Space together :)

Social Handles - Sahil Parmar - Click Here

Ig - thisissahilparmar

Twitter - astro_sahil