August 3, 2024

SHEETAL KUMARI

10 Space Missions That Might Find Alien Life

NASA's Perseverance Rover

NASA's Perseverance Rover, launched in July 2020, explores Mars to find signs of past life and collect soil and rock samples. It aims to study the planet's geology and climate to prepare for future human missions.

Image Credit: NASA

European Space Agency's PLATO

The European Space Agency's PLATO mission, set to launch in 2026, aims to discover and study exoplanets. By observing their parent stars, PLATO will provide insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems,

Image Credit: European Space Agency

NASA's Europa Clipper

Europa Clipper is a solar-powered robotic spacecraft designed for detailed exploration of Jupiter's icy moon, Europa. When its solar arrays are deployed, the spacecraft spans over 100 feet, roughly the length of a basketball court.

Image Credit: NASA

SpaceX's Starship

American Aerospace Company's Starship, aiming for a 2024 launch, is designed to transport humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. According To SpaceX, it holds the potential to establish permanent settlements and search for life.

Image Credit: SpaceX/X

NASA's Dragonfly

NASA's Dragonfly mission will deploy a robotic rotorcraft to Saturn's largest moon, Titan. The launch is scheduled for July 2028, with the spacecraft expected to arrive on Titan by 2034.

Image Credit: NASA

 European Space Agency's JUICE

The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA), is designed to study Jupiter and its three largest icy moons: Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto.

Image Credit: European Space Agency

NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder

NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder is a planned mission designed to search for Earth-like planets around other stars. It aims to detect and study potentially habitable worlds,

Image Credit: NASA

James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope, launched by NASA, ESA, and CSA in 2021, is designed to observe distant galaxies, stars, and exoplanets.

Image Credit: NASA

NASA's Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission

NASA's Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission aims to directly image and study Earth-like exoplanets around other stars. The mission focuses on detecting signs of habitability and potential life.

Image Credit:  NASA

 Breakthrough Starshot

Breakthrough Starshot, a mission by the Breakthrough Initiatives, aims to launch in 2025. It plans to use a laser-powered light sail to propel a nanocraft at 20% of light speed, facilitating the exploration of nearby star systems.

Image Credit: Breakthrough Initiatives