Cosmic Vision

Cosmic Vision was the third big plan for space science and exploration for the European Space Agency (ESA). It started in 2005 with a plan called Cosmic Vision: Space Science for Europe 2015–2025. This plan came after another plan called Horizon 2000 Plus. Cosmic Vision aimed to send many different spacecraft to study stars, planets, and other objects in space.

Ten different missions were planned under Cosmic Vision. These missions were grouped into four categories and were set to launch after 2015. The first mission, called CHEOPS, was sent into space in December 2019. Some of the exciting missions planned include a trip to the Galilean moons with the JUICE spacecraft, a chance to visit a comet with the Comet Interceptor, and one of the first space telescopes to study gravitational waves called LISA. These missions help scientists learn more about our universe.

History

In 2004, a call for ideas was started in Paris to explore important questions about space. These questions focused on Astronomy, Astrophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Physics.

By 2006, plans were made for a 10-year program with four big questions: What leads to planet formation and the emergence of life? How does our Solar System work? What are the basic laws of the Universe? And how did the Universe begin and what is it made of? In 2007, many ideas for missions were suggested. Later, in 2012, the European Space Agency started planning small science missions for future launches.

Missions

Small class

Small class missions, called S-class, cost no more than 50 million euros. In March 2012, ESA asked scientists for ideas for these missions. In October 2012, they picked the first one. Here are the current S-class missions:

• S1, CHEOPS, which measures the size of known planets outside our solar system; it launched on December 18, 2019.
• S2, SMILE, a joint mission with the Chinese Academy of Sciences to study how Earth’s magnetic field interacts with sunlight. SMILE was chosen in June 2015 and will launch in spring 2026.

Medium class

Medium class missions, or M-class, are larger projects costing up to about 500 million euros. The first two, M1 and M2, were chosen in October 2011. Here are some of the M-class missions:

• M1, Solar Orbiter, a mission to study the Sun up close; it launched on February 10, 2020.
• M2, Euclid, a telescope to study mysterious forces in space; it launched on July 1, 2023.
• M3, PLATO, a mission to find planets around other stars; it was chosen in February 2014 and will launch in 2026.
• M4, ARIEL, a telescope to study the atmospheres of planets around other stars; it will launch in 2029.
• M5, EnVision, a mission to map parts of the planet Venus; it was chosen in June 2021 and will launch in 2031.

Large class

Large class missions, called L-class, are the biggest projects and were meant to work with other space agencies. Three have been chosen so far:

• L1, JUICE, a mission to explore Jupiter’s moons; it launched on April 14, 2023.
• L2, Athena, a powerful X-ray telescope; it is now planned to launch in 2037.
• L3, LISA, a mission to detect ripples in space caused by huge cosmic events; it will launch in 2035.

Fast class

In May 2018, ESA suggested a new type of mission called Fast class, or F-class. These missions would launch with M-class missions and explore new science topics. Two have been chosen:

• F1, Comet Interceptor, a mission to study a comet or an object from outside our solar system; it will launch with M4, ARIEL in 2029.
• F2, ARRAKIHS, a mission to study nearby galaxies and their history; it will launch in the early 2030s.

Missions of opportunity

Sometimes, the European Space Agency helps with space missions led by other space agencies. These missions include:

• Hinode – an X-ray space telescope led by JAXA, launched in 2006
• IRIS – a solar space instrument led by NASA, launched in 2013
• Microscope – a small satellite to study free fall led by CNES, active from 2016 to 2018
• XRISM – an X-ray space telescope led by JAXA, launched in 2023
• ExoMars – a set of Mars probes worked on with Roscosmos, with an orbiter running since 2017 and a rover planned for the late 2020s
• Einstein Probe – a mission to study high-energy space events led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, launched in 2024
• PROBA-3 – a spacecraft to test new space technology, launched in 2024
• MMX – a mission to collect samples from Mars' moons led by JAXA, planned for 2027
• Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope – a space telescope led by NASA, planned for 2027

The idea to help with SPICA (a space infrared telescope for studying the universe) was once considered, but it is no longer part of these plans. It was one of the possible missions for a later stage.