Glimpse at the 10 major expeditions to space in 2015

With the help of highly sensitive particle detectors, some of the world's most powerful lasers, and good-old-fashioned quantum mechanics, astronomers from around the world made important discoveries last year. 

From detecting elusive water particles forged in the core of the earth to sending satellites to Mars, scientists’ have helped us better understand the universe in which we live as well as pave the way for a future of space exploration. 

With the onset of 2015 let’s take a look at the streak of space missions set to be accomplished in the year.

While 2014 will be remembered as the year ESA landed on a comet , 2015 may be known as the year of Pluto. Here are the 10 amazing space expeditions in store this year!
NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which orbited the giant asteroid Vesta from July 2011 to September 2012,  is expected to start circling another target, the dwarf planet Ceres.

The Deep Space Climate Observatory, designed to monitor solar wind from about 900,000 miles from Earth, is set for launch on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

Europe is due to launch a test flight of its reusable Intermediate experimental Vehicle. The spacecraft is designed to make it back through Earth's atmosphere safely after flying to space

NASA's Messenger mission, currently orbiting Mercury, is expected come to an end by about March with a planned impact into the closest planet to the sun.

One-year mission of NASA, astronauts are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station for a one-year stay in space. This will mark the first time an American has ever spent a continuous year in space, and it is the first-ever mission of this length attempted on the space station.

New Horizons spacecraft, it will make its much-anticipated flyby of the dwarf planet Pluto. The probe will start making observations of the relatively small cosmic body, but it will get its best look at Pluto during the flyby. 

The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft will accompany Comet 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko on its closest approach to the sun. Rosetta will monitor the way the comet changes as it gets closer to the star, beaming back unprecedented science as it goes.

NASA's Curiosity rover will celebrate its third anniversary on the planet Mars on Aug. 5. The 1-ton robot has already discovered some incredible things about the Red Planet during its time on the Martian surface.

Japanese Akatsuki spacecraft, after missing its chance to enter into orbit around Venus in December 2010,Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft will have another chance to make it into orbit around the planet in November.

The European Space Agency's LISA Pathfinder mission, designed as a technology demonstration to detect ripples in space-time produced by the mergers of massive cosmic bodies, is expected to launch to space in 2015.

Of course, that’s not all. The Rosetta mission will continue through the year and potentially beyond, making more discoveries as the spacecraft studies its comet up close.  Here is an infographic of the space exploration highlights coming up in 2015.