Space launches to watch for in January 2025.

First and foremost, attention should be drawn to the inaugural launch of the New Glenn rocket, which is set to carry the Blue Ring equipment prototype into space for testing. Currently, the New Glenn launch is scheduled for January 12.

During its debut flight, an attempt will be made to land the first stage of the New Glenn rocket. If successful, New Glenn will become the second rocket in history with a reusable first stage.

No earlier than January 14, SpaceX's Starship transport system will embark on its seventh test flight. More details about its objectives can be found in Naked Science's article here.

In January, the Long March 8A rocket, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), is expected to make its first flight. This rocket is designed to deliver up to 4,500 kilograms of payload to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometers.

Firefly Aerospace is preparing for a lunar mission, during which its Blue Ghost lander will be launched by a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center sometime in mid-January. The lander will remain in lunar orbit for nearly 45 days before arriving at a volcanic area known as Mons Latreille in the Mare Crisium basin, where it will conduct research for a full lunar day (about 14 Earth days).

By the end of the month, NASA plans to launch the Lunar Trailblazer orbiter, aimed at searching for ice on Earth's natural satellite. The satellite, which will be launched by a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center, will study how the concentration of water in lunar soil changes over time.