The year 2021 marked a period of expansion and transformation in global space launch activity. SpaceX led in launch cadence with its reusable Falcon 9 rocket, deploying Starlink satellites, supporting NASA crew and cargo missions to the International Space Station, and enabling private astronaut flights. China advanced construction of its Tiangong space station with Long March launches of core modules, cargo vehicles, and crewed missions, demonstrating an independent long-duration human spaceflight capability.
Meanwhile, traditional providers maintained key roles in science and institutional missions. United Launch Alliance launched NASA’s Lucy asteroid mission aboard Atlas V, while Europe’s Ariane 5 and Russia’s Soyuz continued supporting commercial and governmental payloads. Smaller launch companies, including Rocket Lab, expanded dedicated small-satellite services. Overall, 2021 reflected a maturing, competitive, and increasingly commercialized launch ecosystem.
This eBook, “One Year in Space 2021”, brings together the mission patches from human spaceflights, satellite deployments, cargo missions, test flights, and deep space launches 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.
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