Launchers are covered but what we all need is a true space ship that only operates in space. The people making probes should be able to help with some new forms of propulsion.

Interplanetary missions are getting more and more capable and interesting. First there were flyby’s, then there were orbiters, then there were stationary landers, then there were rovers. Next up is, well, other stuff. Asteroid redirection is one such new concept, regardless of what one think about the current specific ARM mission. Maybe in the future we will smash two asteroids together at high speed?

New Horizons will fly by Pluto with a camera, because it is the first time. But mature planetary targets like Mars and Jupiter (which has had 6 flyby’s and 1 orbiter) have advanced beyond the era of first generation probes like MRO and Galileo. Maven has no camera but has the very specific scientific target to study its atmosphere. Juno has no science camera (just a toy cam for outreach purposes) but is specialized on examining the deep interior of the giant planet. There’s no lack of inventiveness in planetary probe designs.