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Significant advances in space exploration were accomplished throughout 2024, with missions aimed toward the moon, Mars, Mercury, and beyond. Government organizations, commercial corporations, and scientists have produced extraordinary accomplishments, pushing the frontiers of discovery in our solar system.
New missions to the moon
Multiple moon expeditions advanced humanity's understanding of Earth's natural satellite. According to sources, Japan's SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon) landed on a lunar crater rim in January. It was only supposed to be operational for two weeks, yet it lasted three months. In February, the Houston-based Intuitive Machines' Odysseus spacecraft completed a six-day mission near the lunar south pole, despite landing off balance.
China's Chang'e 6 mission, launched by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), returned soil samples from the moon's far side in June, marking the first collection of this type. Early investigations showed that the area was volcanically active around 2.8 billion years ago.
Discoveries on Mars
In July, NASA's Perseverance rover discovered a rock with fascinating chemical fingerprints, perhaps indicating ancient microbial life. The finding increased the relevance of Mars Sample Return, a NASA initiative with funding concerns. Meanwhile, the Ingenuity helicopter, which had been operating on Mars since 2021, decommissioned in January after 72 missions.
Private Space Flight Milestones
Commercial space projects had highs and lows. SpaceX launched the Polaris Dawn mission in September, which included the first civilian spacewalk. Sarah Gillis, an astronaut, performed an unusual feat by playing the violin aboard the spaceship. In contrast, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft experienced mechanical difficulties, delaying the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.
Explore Mercury and Europa
BepiColombo, a European Space Agency and JAXA mission, took unique photographs of Mercury's south pole during a September flyby. Meanwhile, NASA's Europa Clipper launched in October to explore Jupiter's moon Europa, which is famed for its deep ocean. The spacecraft will arrive in 2030 and make approximately 50 flybys to assess the moon's ability to host life.
As these missions show, 2024 was a watershed moment in solar system exploration, with continual innovation and collaboration leading to new discoveries.
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