Key Space Events and Missions to Watch in 2025

Imagine looking up at the night sky and knowing that soon, the universe will hold more wonders for us than ever before. 2025 is shaping up to be a spectacular year, with an array of stunning space activities and groundbreaking missions that will captivate scientists and space enthusiasts alike.

From extraordinary celestial phenomena to exciting new discoveries, this year promises to go deeper and make us wonder like never before. Whether you’re a stargazer, a space enthusiast, or just an individual fascinated by the mysteries of the universe, 2025 promises to be an unforgettable year. This is your chance to get in on the action as we chart the course for the most anticipated events and missions in space.

Also Read | List of Astronomy Events 2025: Don’t Miss 10 Amazing Astronomy Events Coming Up in India

Read more to get a comprehensive overview of major space activities and missions planned for 2025, including those of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and other global missions.

date Activities/Tasks detail
January 3 Quadrantid meteor shower peak Excellent viewing opportunity for meteor lovers.
January 16 Mars opposition Mars will reach its brightest state, making it an excellent time for observation.
January 2025 GSLV-F15/NVS-02 released Launch of NVS-02 navigation satellite to enhance India’s NavIC system. This will mark ISRO’s 100th mission.
February 2025 GSLV-F16/NISAR launch Launches NISAR satellite, advanced Earth observation in partnership with NASA.
February 2025 Gaganyaan G1 unmanned orbital mission The first unmanned test flight of India’s “Gaganyaan” program is aimed at verifying the system for future manned spaceflight.
March 2025 LVM3-M5 commercial mission The launch of the BlueBird Block-2 satellite under contract with AST SpaceMobile demonstrates ISRO’s commercial capabilities.
March 14 total lunar eclipse A total lunar eclipse will be visible in parts of North and South America.
April 20 Lucy flyby NASA’s Lucy spacecraft will fly by asteroid Donald Johnson as part of its mission to study Trojan asteroids.
May 6 Eta Aquariid meteor shower peak Peak of the Eta Aquariid meteor shower, although visibility may be affected by the moon.
June 21 June solstice Marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
August 12 Perseid meteor shower peak The peak of one of the most popular meteor showers, although the nearly full moon may hinder visibility.
October 21 Orionid meteor shower peak At the peak of the Orionid meteor shower, the new moon brings the best viewing conditions.
December 14 Geminid meteor shower peak The peak of the Geminid meteor shower is known for its bright meteors, although visibility may be affected in part by the illuminated moon.

ISRO mission details

In addition to these global activities, ISRO has a series of ambitious missions planned for 2025:

  1. NVS-02 (GSLV-F15)
    • Release date: January 2025
    • Details: This navigation satellite will enhance the NavIC system and is part of India’s efforts to provide precise positioning services.
  2. Nisar(GSLV-F16)
    • Release date: February 2025
    • Details: A joint mission with NASA using advanced Earth-observing radar technology to map global change every 12 days.
  3. Gaganyan G1
    • Release date: February 2025
    • Details: The first uncrewed test flight of India’s manned space program is crucial to validate crew safety systems.
  4. LVM3-M5
    • Release date: March 2025
    • Details: Commercial mission to deploy BlueBird Block-2 satellite under contract with AST SpaceMobile.
  5. OceanSat 3 (PSLV-C11)
    • Release date: TBD
    • Details: Enhance India’s capabilities to monitor marine phenomena and support marine resource management.
  6. View weather satellites
    • Release date: TBD
    • Details: Developed by DRDO for military applications, focusing on surveillance and reconnaissance.
  7. Mars Orbiter Mission 2
    • Release date: February 18, 2025
    • Details: India’s second interplanetary mission is targeting Mars with a lander and rover similar to NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter.

January

January 3: The Quadrantid meteor shower reaches its peak. This is a great opportunity to see shooting stars, as the moon will be crescent-shaped and therefore won’t be very bright and less likely to cause disturbance.

January 16: Mars opposition is the best time to observe the red planet, which will be at its brightest.

This month, the Lunar Trailblazer and Nova-C IM-2 lunar missions will launch on SpaceX Falcon 9, with the goal of landing on the moon carrying multiple NASA payloads.

Sometime this month: The Blue Ghost lunar mission, led by Firefly Aerospace, will attempt to land on the moon with a PlanetVac sample on board.

February

February 16: Venus is at its brightest, with the planet brighter than at any other time in 2025.

February 25: Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams return to the International Space Station after an anomaly forces them to extend their trip.

March

March 1: The Europa Clipper is expected to perform a gravity-assisted maneuver on Mars, embarking on a course to study Jupiter’s moon Europa.

March 14: A total lunar eclipse will be visible in parts of North and South America

March 29: Partial solar eclipse – best seen in northeastern Canada, but will extend to parts of Europe and North Africa

Also Read | Monthly Calendar 2025: Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse and other Moon Phases with Date and Time

April

April 20: NASA’s Lucy spacecraft will fly by asteroid 52246 Donald Johnson, its second in a series of ten.

April 22: The Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak with minimal lunar interference.

possible

May 6: The Eta Aquarids meteor shower reaches its peak, although the mostly illuminated Moon may hinder visibility.

Sometime this month: China’s Tianwen-2 mission will launch toward the asteroid Kamo’oalewa, continuing its journey to study comet 311P/PANSTARRS.

June

June 21: June solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

June 30: Asteroid Day, aimed at raising awareness of asteroid risks and planetary defense.

July

July 31: The southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower reaches its peak; viewing conditions will be good as there will be only slight illumination from the moon.

August

August 12: Peak night of the famous Perseid meteor shower. However, visibility may be reduced near the full moon.

August 31: The European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft will perform a gravity assist at Venus on its way to Jupiter.

September

September 7: The second of two total lunar eclipses will be visible across much of Asia and Australia.

September 21: A partial solar eclipse will be visible in New Zealand and Antarctica as Saturn reaches opposition, making it easily visible in the night sky.

October

October 4-10: World Space Week, celebrating the achievements of space technology and exploration.

October 21: The Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak, coinciding with the new moon, for best viewing.

November

November 9: Celebrates Carl Sagan’s birthday and honors his work in science communication.

November 17: The Leonid meteor shower reaches its peak, and the appearance of the new moon brings favorable viewing conditions.

December

December 14: The best day for the famous Geminid meteor shower, although the brightness of the illuminated moon may spoil the view somewhat.

December 21: Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

2025 space missions

  • In addition to events in the sky, several notable space missions are planned to be launched this year:
  • NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions are mounted on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets and are designed to conduct Earth observations.
  • The Blue Origin Blue Moon Pathfinder mission is on its way to explore the moon.
  • Axiom Mission 4 and Mission 5 plan to use the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to transport private astronauts to the International Space Station.

Intuitive Machines and Astrobotic will fly the first lunar mission, and the ESA Space Rider space plane will make its first flight in 2025.

It’s going to be an action-packed year in space for space enthusiasts and for spectacular celestial events and landmark missions that can have a huge impact on understanding the universe and our place in it.