Lunar events and astronaut ‘rescue’: the space missions of 2025

Although they are not technically stranded, as there are regular crew and supply trips that could bring them back at a later date, the pair were forced to remain on the station longer. They are expected to return to Earth in March, aboard a SpaceX mission.

Measuring life on Earth from space

In 2025, the European Space Agency (ESA) will begin analyzing Earth’s ecosystems from space. The FLuorescence EXplorer (Flex) mission will provide global maps of plant health and stress. Flex has a project duration of three and a half years from launch.

The satellite will include new instruments capable of measuring photosynthetic activity from space for the first time. The instrument will be able to record plant photosynthesis on a large scale, providing a better understanding of how plant ecosystems affect the global carbon cycle.

A separate ESA mission, also scheduled for 2025, will analyze Earth’s forests. The Biomass mission will measure information about the state of biomes and how they are changing. The results of both missions can help guide policies related to climate change protection, agricultural management and food security.

Next steps for Artemis, but no action in 2025

2025 will be a pivotal year for NASA’s plans to return humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program.