The next decade promises to be an exciting period for space exploration, with several high-profile missions set to push the boundaries of our knowledge and capabilities. Here are five space missions to watch closely:

### 1. **Artemis Program (NASA)**

   - **Objective**: NASA's Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence by the mid-2020s. The program will pave the way for future missions to Mars and beyond.
   - **Key Milestones**:
     - **Artemis I**: An uncrewed test flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, planned to demonstrate their capabilities in deep space.
     - **Artemis II**: The first crewed mission of Artemis, intended to orbit the Moon and return to Earth.
     - **Artemis III**: A mission to land astronauts on the lunar surface, specifically targeting the lunar South Pole.
   - **Highlights**: The Artemis missions will involve international collaboration and the development of the Lunar Gateway, a space station in lunar orbit.

### 2. **James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)**

   - **Objective**: The JWST, set to launch in December 2021 (delayed to 2022), will be the premier observatory for the next decade, succeeding the Hubble Space Telescope. It aims to observe the universe in infrared and study the formation of stars, galaxies, and planetary systems.
   - **Key Features**: The JWST will have a large, segmented mirror and advanced instruments capable of observing distant galaxies, exoplanets, and the early universe.
   - **Highlights**: JWST’s observations will provide unprecedented insights into the universe’s formation and evolution, potentially answering fundamental questions about the origins of life.

### 3. **Mars Sample Return Mission (NASA/ESA)**

   - **Objective**: This mission aims to collect samples from the surface of Mars and return them to Earth for detailed analysis. It is a collaborative effort between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
   - **Key Components**:
     - **Mars Rover**: The Perseverance rover, which is currently on Mars, will collect samples and store them in containers.
     - **Sample Retrieval Lander**: A lander and rocket system will be sent to Mars to retrieve the samples and launch them into orbit around Mars.
     - **Earth Return Orbiter**: A spacecraft will then retrieve the samples from Mars orbit and return them to Earth.
   - **Highlights**: This mission will be the first to bring back samples from another planet, providing critical data about Mars’ geology and potential signs of past life.

### 4. **Europa Clipper Mission (NASA)**

   - **Objective**: The Europa Clipper mission will explore Jupiter’s moon Europa, which is believed to have a subsurface ocean beneath its icy crust. The mission will investigate the moon’s habitability and search for signs of life.
   - **Key Features**: The spacecraft will carry a suite of scientific instruments to study Europa’s ice shell, subsurface ocean, and geology.
   - **Highlights**: The mission aims to understand the potential for life in Europa’s ocean and assess its habitability, contributing to our knowledge of icy moons and their potential to support life.

### 5. **China’s Lunar South Pole Mission**

   - **Objective**: China’s space agency plans to send missions to the lunar South Pole, a region of the Moon that is of particular interest due to its potential water ice deposits and unique scientific opportunities.
   - **Key Components**:
     - **Lunar Rover and Landers**: China will deploy landers and rovers to explore the South Pole’s surface and analyze its composition.
     - **Lunar Base Development**: Long-term plans include the establishment of a research base on the Moon’s South Pole.
   - **Highlights**: China’s missions will contribute to the international exploration of the Moon and may provide new insights into lunar resources and the Moon’s geology.

### **Conclusion**

The next decade in space exploration will be marked by ambitious missions that seek to expand our understanding of the universe, explore new frontiers, and prepare for future human exploration. From returning to the Moon and exploring Mars to studying distant moons and observing the cosmos, these missions represent the forefront of space exploration and will likely yield significant discoveries and advancements in science and technology.