The science events to watch for in 2022
COVID-19 vaccines, biodiversity and particle physics are among the themes set to shape research next year — and 2022 will see a veritable armada of Moon missions. NASA will kick off its plan to put people back to the surface with an uncrewed test flight of its Artemis orbiter. And its CAPSTONE orbiter will conduct experiments in preparation for the Lunar Gateway, the first space station to orbit the Moon. India, Japan and Russia will send landers and orbiters, and South Korea will attempt its first lunar orbiter. And private companies will aim to carry NASA instruments and the United Arab Emirates’ Rashid rover to the surface.