Ebook "A Year in Space 2024"

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The year 2024 was a defining chapter in the evolving history of space exploration. It was a year of high expectations, bold technical leaps, and continued global momentum across both government and private space programs. From the edge of Earth’s orbit to the ambitions for lunar return, spaceflight in 2024 pushed boundaries.

This eBook, “A Year in Space 2024”, brings together the mission patches from every human spaceflight, satellite deployment, cargo mission, test flight, and deep space launch that took place over the course of the year. These patches, created by space agencies, companies, and mission crews, form a vivid timeline of events, capturing both the symbolism and the spirit of each mission.

China’s CNSA maintained its strong cadence, sending new crews to the Tiangong Space Station and testing systems for future lunar activity. Their mission patches, elegant and deeply symbolic, reflect a nation steadily expanding its presence in orbit.

SpaceX, as in previous years, led the industry in launch volume. Dozens of Falcon 9 flights deployed satellites, cargo, and astronauts with impressive reliability. The company’s Starship program also saw further testing—some flights successful, others less so—but all key steps toward interplanetary goals. Each flight added another patch to the Starship collection, many designed by engineers and enthusiasts alike.

Europe, India, Japan, and private launchers like Rocket Lab and Firefly Aerospace also contributed to an increasingly crowded and competitive space landscape. Earth observation, navigation, climate science, and smallsat missions continued to grow, each with their own mission identities.