Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. 2025 was full of efficiency innovations and bold initiatives in the world of aerospace. Be sure to read the full list of the 50 greatest innovations of 2025.) BepiColombo by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) & European Space Agency (ESA): Exploring Mercury closer than everBepiColombo is the most ambitious mission ever sent to study Mercury, a planet that’s hard to reach because of the sun’s intense gravity. These measurements will help scientists understand how rocky planets form and evolve, including Earth-like worlds in other star systems.