Celebrating the New Space Age: Key Milestones and Challenges
We’re standing at the threshold of a transformative era in space exploration. If you’re skeptical, just reflect on the past year: from SpaceX’s groundbreaking catch of the Super Heavy booster to a surge in lunar landing attempts, the space industry has been buzzing with historic achievements and ambitious ventures. Let’s revisit five pivotal moments or trends that defined this year’s journey beyond Earth.
- SpaceX’s Dominance: It’s no surprise that SpaceX features prominently on this list, showcasing its lead over competitors. This year saw incredible strides in their Starship test program, including launching the massive rocket four times in 2024. The October mission witnessed the Super Heavy booster’s unprecedented “catch” by large arms on the launch tower, marking a historic engineering feat.
- Boeing’s Setbacks: NASA and Boeing had high hopes for Starliner’s first crewed mission. Yet, technical glitches during its approach to the ISS led to prolonged investigations and a cautious decision to bring astronauts back via a SpaceX Dragon capsule instead. Despite costing Boeing $1.6 billion in overruns, the incident highlighted essential safety protocols.
- Pioneering Spacewalks: Jared Isaacman made waves leading the Polaris Dawn mission, executing the first commercial spacewalk. Despite inherent dangers like micrometeoroids and radiation, Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis conducted critical tests on SpaceX-made spacesuits, advancing commercial space exploration capabilities.
- Lunar Landing Attempts: This year saw diverse players aiming for lunar success. Japan, China, and two American companies attempted moon landings with mixed results. China’s Chang’e 6 mission stood out as a clear success, returning samples from the moon’s far side.
- Department of Defense Contracts: As one of the space industry’s largest patrons, the Department of Defense significantly influences the ecosystem through its spending priorities. Noteworthy contracts included a $733 million deal with SpaceX for eight launches, showcasing their commitment to commercial partnerships.
“The catch marked a historic day in spaceflight — not to mention, arguably one of the most incredible engineering feats of the century so far.”
{SpaceX Engineer}
This year has indeed been monumental for space exploration, with both triumphs and setbacks shaping its future trajectory. As we continue to reach for the stars, these moments remind us of human ingenuity’s boundless potential.
