The ice giants are among the most fascinating targets in our solar system, and Uranus has recently moved to the top of the list. The 2022 Decadal Survey from the National Academies identified it as the highest priority destination for future exploration. Yet despite that strong endorsement, there is still no fully developed mission ready for the launch opportunities expected in the 2030s.

That delay may not be entirely negative. A powerful new launch system is emerging that could significantly reshape how such a mission is designed. SpaceX's Starship has continued to show progress through recent successful tests. Researchers at MIT explored its potential impact in a paper presented at the IEEE Aerospace Conference, focusing on how it could support the proposed Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP).

Why Uranus Still Matters

Uranus remains one of the least studied planets. The only spacecraft to visit was Voyager 2, which flew past the planet about 40 years ago.…