Irish Examiner view: Ready for lift-off

Space agencies continue to explore our final frontier

With NASA's James Webb space telescope on board, Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket launched on Christmas Day from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Picture: NASA/AP

This year is an exciting one for space exploration, space travel, and space tourism.

First off the launch pad is Nasa’s much anticipated return to the Moon and beyond, scheduled for February. All going well, humans will again step on the Moon’s surface in 2025 as part of a wider plan to establish a lunar colony, setting the foundations for more regular trips to Mars.