After 9 years of flying in space, the New Horizons mission passed by Pluto on July 14, hitting the world with dazzlingly accurate and high-resolution images of the dwarf planet and its satellites. But what next? Some hope that the journey will last until 2019, and the ship will head for objects in the Kuiper Belt. But the next meeting will have to wait a very long time. To our happiness, the ship has the function of a strong approximation. Because of this, he can see and capture many objects of the solar system.
Jupiter
Next year we return to Jupiter! After two centuries, as Galileo Galilei studied the largest planet in the solar system, NASA's Juneau ship is expected to arrive there on July 4, 2016. More recently, NASA has approved some changes in the flight plan that will help avoid the effects of the strong gravity of the planet and its magnetic fields. As a "bonus", the process of the entire space mission instead of 15 months will take 20, but, despite this, all the missions of the spacecraft’s flight will be fulfilled.
Mercury (BEPICOLOMBO)
For these missions, regular updates are made for the NASA spacecraft message transmitter (MESSENGER). The European Space Agency plans to lead the expedition from the very beginning of its launch in early 2017. "BepiColombo" will use an electric motor, which will be enough for a full flyby of the Earth, Venus, Mercury and some other planets. The first gravitational maneuver to Mercury will be completed in 2020, and already in 2024 the ship will land on the planet and begin to fulfill its mission. In May 2016, "BepiColombo" announced the launch date, which was previously postponed due to the shelf life of some "critical units", as reported by the ESA.
Venus (AKATSUKI)
If everything goes according to plan, then this Japanese spacecraft will get a second chance to enter the orbit of Venus, but later in 2015. AKATSUKI should have already maneuvered near the planet in 2010, but the engine of the spacecraft was damaged, it was able to be kept only in the current orbit around the Sun. In February, JAXA (Japanese Space Agency) published an update saying that the equipment was still far enough away, so a landing is planned only for the next year. It was a pretty good circumstance because the European Space Agency ended its mission only a few months ago.
Mars (INSIGHT)
After sending several Mars rovers to Mars in recent years, NASA is going to drill a special crater on the planet for a stationary landing module so that it can learn more about ground rock. New mission called "INSIGHT". The ship is scheduled to ship in March next year, and a landing is expected in September. Along with him will fly a few tiny satellites "hitchhikers". "The CubeSats will be the first to fly beyond Earth, if all goes according to plan.
Mars (EXOMARS)
And this is not the last mission on Mars. The European Space Agency is also planning to launch the spacecraft in January 2016. From orbit (where it will arrive in October), it will observe residual gases in the atmosphere and will organize a special module for landing the demonstrator. Part of the "EXOMARS" in 2016 will be prepared for the landing of the rover - the first in Europe. Its landing is expected in 2018.
Asteroid 1999 JU3 (HAYABUSA2)
While other spacecraft are studying other planets, the HAYABUSA2 is trying to get to the remaining piece of solar matter in our system. The Japanese machine will not only study the orbit of the object, but also its very surface. You will have to make an effort to loosen the soil and take some surface samples. The mission also includes one lander and three (!) Rovers. So far their landing is planned for 2018.
