2024 Sees Challenges in Space Exploration

2024 was marked by significant challenges and achievements in space exploration. Notable blunders included Japan's SLIM moon lander landing upside down, and a cargo pallet from the ISS crashing through a Florida home. Meanwhile, private space ventures made headlines, with Boeing's crewed mission failing to return astronauts as planned, highlighting the increasing role of commercial entities in spaceflight. SpaceX had a triumphant year, achieving record launches and significant advancements with its Starship program, while also becoming the world's most valuable private company. Major events captured public interest, such as the total solar eclipse in April and spectacular auroras, which dominated Google's search trends. Looking ahead, 2025 promises ambitious missions, including China's Tianwen-2 asteroid and comet expedition and continued development of SpaceX's Starship launches.