In 2024, we continue to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Mars Launch, when the Perseverance rover was launched by NASA from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. On July 30, 2020 at 11:50 AM UTC aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, reaching Mars on February 18, 2021–returning videos, information and photos on a continual daily basis. How nice that we are blessed to be in the USA!
Perseverance rover – Sol 198 courtesy of Openverse
I am sharing the past year’s history of important NASA flight:
In the year 2024, a total of a total of 2,963 space objects were launched into orbit, as reported by the Tribune India. This figure encompasses both operational satellites and various other objects; additionally, 3,665 objects were incorporated into the space debris population, as stated in the Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR). The rise in debris can be attributed in part to fragmentation events, including the disintegration of a Chinese rocket stage.
- Perseverance rover: In 2024, the Perseverance rover continued exploring Jezero Crater on Mars, mainly focusing on the western rim and an ancient river delta. It studied a rock formation called “Cheyava Falls,” which has unique “leopard spots” and olivine crystals, possibly linked to past life. The rover began climbing the crater’s western wall, aiming to reach the rim by December and continued collecting rock and regolith samples for future return to Earth. It also explored “Witch Hazel Hill,” a 330-foot layered rock outcrop, and the Neretva Vallis river channel, capturing images of its features. Additionally, a model of the rover was displayed at the Perot Museum from March 8 to September 2, 2024.
- Kennedy Space Center/Cape Canaveral: 80 launches in 2024, establishing a new annual record, despite them not all being NASA missions.
- Starship/Super Heavy launch vehicle: Four test launch flights.
- China: In 2024, China achieved an unprecedented total of 68 orbital launches, successfully placing 270 satellites into orbit. This surpassed their former record of 67 launches set in 2023. Although their goal was to reach 100 launches, this objective was not accomplished. The Long March rocket family remained the leading force in China’s launch endeavors.
Image courtesy of NASA | apod.nasa.gov
2024:
| NASA: Highlights of the Year – 2024 |
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| 1. Astrobotic’s Peregrine Mission One: ULA’s Vulcan rocket |
First U.S. Commercial Lunar Lander Launch (January): Astrobotic’s Peregrine Mission One, which was launched on ULA’s Vulcan rocket, became the inaugural U.S. commercial lunar lander to take flight as part of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. |
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2. Axiom Mission 3
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Third Private Astronaut Mission to ISS (January): Axiom Mission 3 was launched, transporting a four-member crew to the International Space Station, as reported by Florida Today. |
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3. Intuitive Machines First Mission
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Intuitive Machines First Mission Lands on Moon (February): This mission represented the first instance of a private company, Intuitive Machines, successfully landing a spacecraft on the moon via the CLPS program, although the spacecraft tipped over post-landing. |
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4. PACE Satellite Launch
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PACE Satellite Launch (February): NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) satellite was launched, aimed at collecting data regarding ocean health, air quality, and climate change. |
| 5. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 |
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Launches to ISS (March): NASA astronauts, along with a Roscosmos cosmonaut, were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for a scientific mission at the International Space Station. |
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6. NASA’s SpaceX CRS-30 Mission
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NASA’s SpaceX CRS-30 Mission (March): A SpaceX Dragon capsule was launched, delivering essential supplies and research materials to the International Space Station. |
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7. PACE satellite transmits first-of-their-kind measurements
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PACE satellite transmits first-of-their-kind measurements (March): After its launch in February, the PACE satellite commenced successful transmission of data concerning ocean health, air quality, and the effects of climate change. |
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8. Total Solar Eclipse: NASA facilitated events
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Total Solar Eclipse (April): NASA facilitated events and citizen science initiatives nationwide during the occurrence of the total solar eclipse. |
| 9. NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test |
NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test Launches First Crew (June): This flight represented the first occasion on which astronauts were launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The mission was intended to certify the spacecraft for regular crew transportation by NASA; however, it encountered issues during the flight, leading to the crew being reassigned to a SpaceX mission for their return. This mission was not considered a successful mission. |
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10. Europa Clipper Mission Launch
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Europa Clipper Mission Launch (October): NASA’s Europa Clipper mission was launched with the objective of studying Jupiter’s icy moon Europa and evaluating its potential to support life. |
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11. Artemis II Mission Postponed
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Artemis II Mission Postponed (December): NASA has revealed additional delays for the Artemis II and III missions, rescheduling their target launch dates to April 2026 and mid-2027 respectively, as a result of complications with the heat shield of the Orion spacecraft. |
| Information courtesy of FloridaToday.com | |
Photo by NASA on Unsplash
See the Years of 2021 – 2023 HERE:
4th Year Anniversary of the Return to NASA Flight + Mars Rover Mission Continues in 2024
Looking for a great future. We are all waiting for the next launch! Meantime, I will show a list of the major space programs flights from past days:
Mission Programs 1958 to Present:
| Mission Programs – 1958 to Present |
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|
Program |
Start Date |
First Crewed Flight |
End Date |
No. of crewed missions launched |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | 1958 |
1961 |
1963 |
6 | First U.S. Crew on a Mission |
| Gemini | 1961 |
1965 |
1966 |
10 | Practice Space Rendezvous/EVA’s |
| Apollo | 1960 |
1968 |
1972 |
11 | First Humans to Land on the Moon |
| Skylab | 1964 |
1973 |
1974 |
3 | First American Space Station |
| Apollo–Soyuz | 1971 |
1975 |
1975 |
1 |
Joint Test Project with Soviet Union |
| Space Shuttle program | 1972 |
1981 | 2011 | 135 | First Missions Where spacecraft was Reused |
| Shuttle-Mir program | 1993 |
1995 |
1998 |
11 | Russian partnership |
| International Space Station |
1993 |
1998 |
Ongoing |
65 | Joint with Roscosmos, CSA, ESA, and JAXA; Americans flew on Russian Soyuz after 2011 retirement of Space Shuttle |
| Commercial Crew Program |
2011 |
2020 | Ongoing |
8 |
Current program to shuttle Americans to the ISS |
| Artemis program | 2017 |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
0 |
Current program to bring humans to the Moon again |
| Information courtesy of NASA.gov | |||||
Last Test Article for NASA’s SLS Rocket Departs Michoud Assembly Facility
NASA Mission Anniversary
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