As 2024 comes to a close, the anticipation for space exploration is building as we head into 2025. Recently, President-elect Donald Trump appointed Jared Isaacman, the billionaire private astronaut and CEO of Shift4 Payments, as the new NASA administrator. With his experience from two SpaceX missions, Isaacman is expected to be a strong advocate for the burgeoning commercial space sector.

In December, SpaceX marked a significant achievement by launching a new radio satellite for SiriusXM from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. On another exciting note, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made history on Christmas Eve by getting closer to the sun than any previous probe, flying within 3.8 million miles. Since its launch in 2018, the probe has been on a gradual approach through 22 orbits, aiming to study the sun’s atmosphere by passing through its corona.

However, not all missions in December went smoothly. Japanese startup Space One faced a setback on December 18 when its Kairos rocket self-destructed shortly after liftoff in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture. This unfortunate incident marked Space One’s second failure this year in its quest to become Japan’s first private company to successfully launch a satellite into orbit.

Looking forward to the new year, a host of thrilling space missions are set to unfold from both governmental organizations and private aerospace firms.

Here are five space missions to watch for in January 2025:

1. SpaceX’s seventh Starship test: On January 11, SpaceX will conduct its seventh test of the Starship, which stands nearly 400 feet tall and is recognized as the largest and most powerful rocket in existence. This test will focus on attempting a controlled landing of the upper-stage capsule in the Indian Ocean, along with the retrieval of its Super Heavy booster back at the Boca Chica launch site in Texas.

2. NASA’s lunar water exploration: NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission is slated to begin its orbit around the moon next month, tasked with deepening our understanding of lunar water resources. This satellite will be launched via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, aiming to map the distribution, form, and location of water on the moon from an altitude of 60 miles.

3. China’s Long March 8A rocket debut: January will also see the first-ever launch of China’s Long March 8A rocket, which has been developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology for missions targeting medium- and low-Earth orbits. After 28 months of development and 44 ground tests, this rocket will lift off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, China.

4. Firefly Aerospace’s lunar mission: Based in Cedar Park, Texas, Firefly Aerospace is gearing up for a lunar mission called “Ghost Riders in the Sky.” This mission will involve launching the Blue Ghost lander on a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in mid-January. The lander is expected to orbit the moon for approximately 45 days before conducting research in a volcanic area of the Mare Crisium basin, delivering ten NASA payloads to the lunar surface.

5. ispace’s second lunar landing attempt: Japanese company ispace will join Firefly’s lunar mission with its Resilience lunar lander, also aboard the Falcon 9 launch. Partially funded by JAXA, the Japanese space agency, this mission aims to land near Mare Frigoris, a basalt plain in the moon’s northern hemisphere, four to five months post-launch. The lander will perform various tasks, including collecting soil samples and studying radiation, in collaboration with NASA.

As we anticipate these upcoming space missions, the new year promises to start with a bang in the field of space exploration. Stay tuned for more thrilling updates from beyond our planet!