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Revisiting the biggest moments in the space industry in 2024
As we look back at the past year, it’s clear that the space industry has continued to evolve and advance. From major milestones achieved by private companies like SpaceX to the latest developments in government-led initiatives, there have been numerous significant happenings that deserve our attention.
One of the most notable events of the year was certainly the successful Polaris Dawn mission. In this groundbreaking endeavor, a SpaceX-built Dragon capsule reached an altitude of over 130 kilometers above the Earth’s surface and tested various aspects of space exploration, including the performance of its spacesuits.
Another significant development came in the form of moon landings. While Astrobotic had to abort its landing attempt, Intuitive Machines managed to reach the lunar surface, albeit without achieving a successful upright landing. China’s Chiang’e 6 mission, on the other hand, achieved a notable success by landing and returning with samples from the far side of the moon.
The US Department of Defense also made headlines this year by awarding various major contracts to commercial providers. In addition to the $733 million eight-launch contract to SpaceX, notable deals were secured by Rocket Lab for 18 satellites worth $515 million, and several smaller contracts for “rapid response” capabilities were awarded to True Anomaly, Impulse Space, and Rocket Lab.
These developments demonstrate the significant progress being made in space exploration, with private companies playing a crucial role.
Source: techcrunch.com
