The year 2024 is coming to an end. Below we list some of the most important cosmic events that occurred that year.
Japan and an intuitive machine land on the moon – something like that
There have been multiple attempts to land on the moon in 2024.
Astrobotic attempted to landfalcon probebut failed due to a propellant leak. The company sent the Hayabusa into Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean on January 18 after an elliptical orbit.
Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA has landed.slim probeDue to engine failure, SLIM had trouble aligning the spacecraft's solar panels with the sun, but SLIM returned a wealth of scientific data. It lasted until April 28th. Ground controllers terminated their mission on August 23 after numerous attempts to restore contact.
Intuitive Machines became the first private company to land on the moon with its product.Nova-C landerThe lander overturned shortly after landing. Nevertheless, most of the scientific objectives were able to be achieved.
Two American astronauts stranded in space on Boeing Starliner
June 5, 2024, troubled peopleboeing starliner,It was developed under NASA's Commercial Crew Program and launched from the top of the Atlas V rocket carrying astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams for an eight-day stay on the International Space Station (ISS). Starliner's thrusters malfunctioned as it approached the ISS. After investigating the problem for two months, NASA concluded that the spacecraft was too dangerous to return Willmore and Williams to Earth.
NASA successfully returned Starliner to Earth without a crew on September 7, 2024. The two stranded astronauts, whose eight-day voyage turned into a nine-month marathon, are scheduled to return to Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon in 2024. March 2025.
Due to the Boeing Starliner debacle, it is doubtful that the Starliner will ever become an operational replacement for the Crew Dragon.
Polaris Dawn mission and first commercial spacewalk
Polaris DawnThe nearly five-day SpaceX Crew Dragon flight, which included billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, launched on September 10, 2024. The flight not only included the first commercial spacewalk by Isaacman and crew member Sarah Gillis, but also entered orbit. For a time, the spacecraft reached a distance of 1,400 kilometers from Earth, the furthest since Apollo 17 more than 50 years ago. The spacewalk tested a commercially available EVA suit developed for this mission.
The flight also featured the first musical performance in space and on Earth, with Gillis performing “Rey's Theme” from “Star Wars” accompanied by various Earth-based orchestras. This performance will be used to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and El Sistema USA.
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Isaacman to be NASA Administrator on December 4th.
SpaceX catches falling rocket
SpaceX has tested its Starship rocket six times, and it was recently toured by President-elect Trump, Elon Musk and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). However, the fifth Test, held on October 13th, was the most memorable.
The two-stage rocket rose into the Texas sky. The Super Heavy's first stage separated from the Starship's second stage and descended back to the launch site. Mechazilla's arm on the launch tower captured the giant rocket and slowly lowered it to the launch pad. This feat was a huge leap forward in the operational and reuse of giant rockets that could send humans back to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
recently,FAA provides launch licensepaving the way for the seventh Test in early January 2025.
Europa Clipper launches towards Jupiter's icy moons
Falcon Heavy launched on October 14th.european clipperA five and a half year journey to Jupiter. Once in orbit around the solar system's largest planet, the spacecraft will repeatedly pass close to the icy moon Europa.
Scientists believe that beneath Europa's ice layer there is an ocean of warm water. Perhaps there is some kind of life living in that ocean that is never exposed to the sun. If Europa Clipper discovers life, its discovery will be one of the most scientifically important in history.
Now former Congressman John Culberson is in charge of championing Europa Clipper and ensuring that it receives funding from NASA and the Obama administration until it is formally supported. The spacecraft was originally scheduled to be launched on a Space Launch System rocket, but was replaced by the Falcon Heavy, which was cheaper and easier to launch.
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Mark Whittington, who writes frequently about space policy, has published “A Political Study of Space Exploration.''Why is it so difficult to return to the moon? ” Similarly “To the moon, Mars and beyond”, and more recently”Why will America return to the moon? ” he writes a blog Karma John's Corner. His articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Hill, USA Today, the LA Times, the Washington Post, and more.
