Astronomers and space enthusiasts celebrated a stellar year with numerous groundbreaking achievements in 2024. The most notable highlights include a solar eclipse that crossed North America, marking one of the first sightings of this phenomenon on the continent in over 20 years.
Robotic landers successfully touched down on the lunar surface, showcasing significant advancements in lunar exploration technology. Furthermore, a massive rocket booster was captured by robotic arms nicknamed “chopsticks,” demonstrating impressive engineering capabilities.
The year also marked the beginning of an exciting journey to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, with scientists eager to explore this distant and enigmatic world. Private astronauts completed a daring spacewalk, pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight.
As we look ahead to 2025, it remains to be seen how these events will stack up against those in previous years. One thing is certain: the next year’s astronomical highlights are sure to captivate audiences worldwide and leave us eagerly anticipating what wonders await on our journey around the sun.
Source: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/big-rockets-a-big-telescope-and-big-changes-in-space-await-in-2025