Now that 2024 has come to a close, now is the perfect time to reflect on all that has happened within the spaceflight industry in the past year.
SpaceX had a huge year, launching more than 120 times with a very high degree of success. Their Starship rocket now in development has shown great potential through its multiple test flights this year. These tests proved that the most powerful rocket ever built is close to regular use. The company’s promise of reusability still stands proud.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope hasn’t slowed since its launch in 2021, providing scientists and the public with breathtaking images and fascinating investigations of exoplanets, some even containing oxygen and other elements of potential life in their atmospheres.
Rocket Lab, based in New Zealand, continued launching its reliable Electron rocket designed for small payloads. Meanwhile, Rocket Lab also continues to develop its larger, Neutron launch vehicle, which is very close to the testing phase.
Additionally, the United Launch Alliance, or ULA, launched its newest rocket Vulcan for the first time this year. It repeated the launch performance again with the same model nine months later. Both launches went as planned with little to no complications.
The scientists on Earth’s two active space stations — the International Space Station and China’s Tiangong station — continued with regular research. The ISS experimented with growing lettuce in space gardens to explore techniques astronauts may use when farming on Mars. The Tiangong was busy investigating the effects of space flight on the human body, specifically the skeletal and cardiovascular systems.
This year was a big one for the entire industry. Whether that be rockets, telescopes, or space stations, everyone had a slice of success. We can only hope 2025 will be bustling with the same successful spirit.
This information was gathered from nasa.gov.
