JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – 2024 has been a significant year for space exploration, featuring Boeing’s Starliner, tech billionaire Jared Isaacman’s, SpaceX Starship, NASA announcing going to the Moon, and possibly ending with two final flights of the year.
Two astronauts stranded in space until 2025
This year marked Boeing’s first crewed launch of the Starliner capsule, which unfortunately resulted in an extended stay in orbit, leaving two astronauts stranded.
The Boeing Starliner, which launched in June of this year, carried two astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, into space.
The mission was planned to last eight days; however, issues with the Starliner’s thrusters led NASA to postpone their return.
In August, Starliner ultimately decided to leave astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore at the International Space Station (ISS) and return the capsule empty due to safety concerns.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule was eventually deemed unfit to bring them home, turning their planned eight-day trip into an unexpected month-long stay.
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are scheduled to return in late March 2025 on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. This mission will mark the second-longest duration for astronauts in space.
According to NASA, “NASA astronaut Frank Rubio holds the single spaceflight record at 371 days, followed closely by Mark Vande Hei and Scott Kelly. NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson holds the cumulative days in space record at 655 days.”
Tech billionaire performs first private spacewalk, Trump nominates him to lead NASA
One small step for man, tech billionaire Jared Isaacman performed the first private spacewalk teaming up with SpaceX to test the company’s newly designed space suits.
President-elect Donald Trump also nominated the tech billionaire to lead NASA.
If confirmed, Isaacman will replace Bill Nelson, 82, a former Democratic senator from Florida who President Joe Biden nominated.
Nelson flew aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 1986—on the flight right before the Challenger disaster—while a congressman.
Isaacman said he was honored to be nominated and would be “grateful to serve.”
“Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history,” he said on X.
SpaceX launches Starship, Trump and Musk form bond on campaign trail
The highly anticipated Starship was finally launched successfully. The Starship mega rocket is set for future missions to the moon and potentially Mars, but SpaceX is still addressing issues with the Starship’s booster.
SpaceX’s CEO, Elon Musk, formed a close bond with President-elect Donald Trump on the campaign trail.
Together, they watched the latest test of the SpaceX Starship.
NASA announces plans to return to the moon
NASA announced plans to return to the Moon, marking the first-ever private spacewalk.
NASA encountered challenges in its efforts to return to the lunar surface. The agency is delaying its Artemis II test mission until 2026, meaning astronauts will not go to the Moon until at least 2027.
However, NASA’s ambitions extend beyond the moon. With the launch of the first spacecraft designed to enter the sun’s atmosphere, NASA aims to go over 90 million miles farther. The Parker Solar Probe is expected to orbit the sun two dozen times, gathering crucial data for future space missions.
SpaceX reaches significant milestones
According to Space Explored, SpaceX has achieved significant milestones this year, launching 128 rockets, including 123 Falcon Nine rockets, two Falcon Heavy rockets, and three Starship missions.
SpaceX has two more flights planned for this year: the Astranis: From One to Many mission and another Falcon 9 Starlink flight.
According to Spaceflight Now schedule, both launches are scheduled for Dec. 29 and Dec. 31, with a time set for 12 a.m.
Astranis' last two attempts were scrubbed and SpaceX said a new date will be selected.