2011 Wow!, Big event year Options

[sawyer]

I'll admit the delay of the Mars Science Laboratory to launch in 2011 depressed me. But Kepler has started to show results and that will only accelerate in 2011.

As far as planetary exploration, 2011 will usher in some incredibly exciting robotic exploration. First MESSENGER will start very serious exploration of Mercury after orbit insertion. The flybys were nice, but settling in to really start to get a handle on Mercury will be really cool. Does anyone have doubts that many new discoveries will come from this exploration?

But I have to admit, I think just about the most exciting mission out there to me is DAWN. I've been anticipating this craft's vesta arrival since launch and now there is less than a year to go. The DAWN encounter(and leisurely orbit) with Vesta planetlet really sparks my imagination. And when done with Vesta on to the dwarf planet Ceres! Whole new mini worlds to explore!

And while we are getting used to seeing these new worlds up close, the most advanced lander ever devised by man will launch in 2011 and start Mars exploration in 2012. It will be continuous Christmas for space hobbyists and planetary scientists as these new vistas and worlds are unveiled.

March 18, 2011 MESSENGER: Mercury Orbit Insertion
August, 2011 DAWN: Vesta arrival
Late 2011 Launch MSL: Landing

I'm sure I'm leaving off some other activities in 2011, but these certainly have my attention. Feel free to add more.

[peter59]

Everyone forgot about Phobos-Grunt launch (November 2011). I have great expectations for this mission.

[punkboi]

Don't forget GRAIL and Lightsail-1