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Great Space Events in 2012

As the Landsat Data Continuity Mission should launch by late 2012 and continue the mission of the Landsat series which supply images and data about the Earth, the new NASA's Martian rover, the Mars Science Laboratory, if launched on schedule in 2011, should arrive at Mars in August. Cassini in the Saturnian system, Opportunity at Mars, MESSENGER at Mercury should keep working as DAWN should leave minor planet Vesta to Ceres after one year of studies. A European module and robotic arm should be carried to the International Space System by May 2012 aboard a Russian Proton launcher. China is to continue the experimentation with its Tiangong-1 space station module with maybe a female astronaut part of one of both missions as Chinese space facts often occur by late summer and early autumn, with Chinese weather usually clear as that matches too China's National Day. A lunar rover might be launched too in 2012

As late 2011 should have seen test flights from private space operators like determined by the Obama administration, one more such flight should occur in 2012

Since 2010, we have entered a decade where the celebrations of numerous missions of the 1960's will be occurring. As far as 2012 is concerned, that will especially concerns the first flight of a American in space, Major John H. Glenn on February 20th, 1962 aboard a Mercury capsule

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

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