The space industry has seen significant advancements this year, with several notable milestones achieved by companies such as SpaceX, Boeing, and others.
SpaceX’s historic catch of the Super Heavy booster marked a major achievement in reusable rocket technology. The company successfully landed the massive rocket for the first time, demonstrating its capabilities to recover boosters of unprecedented size.
Boeing’s Starliner mission was marred by technical malfunctions, leading to a months-long investigation and a major blow to the company’s plans. NASA ultimately decided to use SpaceX’s Dragon capsule instead, underscoring the challenges faced by Boeing in developing its own crewed spacecraft.
Private space companies have also been making strides this year. Polaris Dawn’s crew performed the first commercial spacewalk, marking an important milestone in human spaceflight. The mission, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, showcased the capabilities of SpaceX-made spacesuits and demonstrated the safety of spacewalking procedures.
The lunar landing front has seen significant activity, with private companies and nations attempting to reach the moon’s surface. While some missions were unsuccessful, China’s Chiang’e 6 mission marked a notable success, returning samples from the far side of the moon.
Finally, the US Space Force awarded major contracts to commercial providers, signaling its willingness to invest in private sector capabilities. SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and other companies have secured significant funding for their projects, further solidifying the role of the private space industry in shaping the future of space exploration.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/28/revisiting-the-biggest-moments-in-the-space-industry-in-2024