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Great Space Events in 2011

Several interesting missions in exploration are scheduled in 2011, with Juno, a polar orbiter at Jupiter, or the Mars Science Laboratory rover, taking the opportunity of the every 2 years or so to planet Mars. Above all 2011 is seeing two remarkable planetary missions arriving at their target, with the MESSENGER orbiter settling into its working orbit there by March and the DAWN mission reached this year Vesta, a minor planet before a ensuing journey to Ceres for arrival by 2015! Cassini at Saturn, or at least one of both Twin Rovers at Mars are further complementing that spate of planetary exploration making 2011 a important date in terms of the exploration of the solar system!

2011 now is the terminal date for the Space Shuttle program, the fleet of orbiters being retired next year as test flights or questions related to how the US access to orbit will be performed will likely keep in 2011. China is scheduled to launch the first module of a space station of its own and a docking of a spacecraft there

Several Earth science missions are scheduled to launch too and the Landsat Data Continuity Mission, continuing the Landsat series

Since 2010, we have entered a decade where the celebrations of numerous missions of the 1960's will have their celebration occurring. As far as 2011 is concerned, that will be the 50th anniversary the major feat when President Kennedy pronounced his famed May 25th, 1961 address, by which he announced that America was to send manned missions to Moon before the decade's end! That year is also to celebrate the Project Mercury first two flights, tow suborbital ones by Alan Shepard and Virgil Grissom in May and July, respectively which followed the first ever manned flight in space with the one of Soviet Yuri Gagarin on April 12th, 1961

All in all, a great year in terms of space!

(those pronostications from our best knowledge at the time of publication and may be subject to change. for updated information, checkmissions' launch calendar or other items with our Space section)

. see more about these events in our Space section. some missions featuring a special page!