2024 in spaceflight

On New Year's Day at 3:40 UTC marking the first launch of the new year, ISRO launched their XPoSat for studying X-ray polarization. It will serve as a complement to the present IXPE probe of NASA.{{cite web |last=Majkowska |first=Iwona |url=https://ts2.space/en/isro-plans-mars-lander-mission-after-successful-lunar-mission/ |title=ISRO Plans Mars Lander Mission After Successful Lunar Mission |date=26 September 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113085830/https://ts2.space/en/isro-plans-mars-lander-mission-after-successful-lunar-mission/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/isro-set-to-launch-shukrayaan-and-xposat-missions-to-exploring-the-universes-mysteries-71696664062649.html |title=ISRO set to launch Shukrayaan and XPoSat missions to exploring the universe's mysteries |date=7 October 2023 |access-date=4 November 2023 |work=Hindustan Times |archive-date=4 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104193219/https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/isro-set-to-launch-shukrayaan-and-xposat-missions-to-exploring-the-universes-mysteries-71696664062649.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Halo-Orbit Insertion of Aditya-L1 Successfully Accomplished |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/halo-orbit-insertion-adtya-l1.html |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=www.isro.gov.in |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106153126/https://www.isro.gov.in/halo-orbit-insertion-adtya-l1.html |url-status=live }} Later the ISRO's Aditya-L1 spacecraft launched 5 months previously was inserted into a halo orbit around the Earth-Sun L1 point on 6 January. It will study the solar atmosphere, solar magnetic storms, and their impact on the environment around Earth.

Einstein Probe, X-ray space telescope mission by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in partnership with ESA and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) dedicated to time-domain high-energy astrophysics, was launched on 9 January 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/01/Einstein_Probe_lifts_off_on_a_mission_to_monitor_the_X-ray_sky|title=Einstein Probe lifts off on a mission to monitor the X-ray sky|website=www.esa.int|access-date=9 January 2024|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109092739/https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/01/Einstein_Probe_lifts_off_on_a_mission_to_monitor_the_X-ray_sky|url-status=live}}

In April 2024, NASA began, under the direction of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to create a standard for time on the Moon, it is called Coordinated Lunar Time and is expected to be completed by 2026.

The Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) is a small X-ray telescope satellite for studying the explosions of massive stars by analyzing the resulting gamma-ray bursts, developed by China National Space Administration (CNSA), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the French Space Agency (CNES),{{cite web|url=https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/press-releases/2015/october/lobster-inspired-ps3-8m-super-lightweight-mirror-chosen-for-chinese-french-space-mission|title=Lobster-inspired £3.8m super lightweight mirror chosen for Chinese-French space mission|publisher=University of Leicester|date=26 October 2015|access-date=20 May 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128093757/https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/press-releases/2015/october/lobster-inspired-ps3-8m-super-lightweight-mirror-chosen-for-chinese-french-space-mission |archive-date=28 Jan 2021 }} launched on 22 June 2024 (07:00:00 UTC).

European Space Agency launched their PROBA-3 dual satellites for solar coronagraphy on 5 December 2024 on a PSLV-XL rocket.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity flew its 72nd and last flight on 18 January. Because all four of its rotor blades were damaged, NASA subsequently announced the end of mission for Ingenuity on 25 January.{{cite web | url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/after-three-years-on-mars-nasas-ingenuity-helicopter-mission-ends | title=After Three Years on Mars, NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter Mission Ends | website=Jet Propulsion Laboratory | access-date=26 January 2024 | archive-date=25 January 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125203205/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/after-three-years-on-mars-nasas-ingenuity-helicopter-mission-ends | url-status=live }}{{Citation |title=NASA Science Live: Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Tribute & Legacy |date=31 January 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkZ6jkqPMEc |access-date=2024-02-01 |language=en |archive-date=1 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201030949/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkZ6jkqPMEc&feature=youtu.be |url-status=live }}

On 7 October, the ESA Hera spacecraft was launched successfully. It will arrive at the asteroid Didymos in 2026 after Mars flyby, where it will study the effects of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test.

NASA's Europa Clipper mission launched on 14 October and will study the Jovian moon Europa while in orbit around Jupiter.

In November, stacking operation begun for the Artemis 2 SLS solid rocket boosters segments.{{cite web |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2024/11/20/nasa-stacks-first-artemis-ii-segment-on-mobile-launcher/ |title=NASA Stacks First Artemis II Segment on Mobile Launcher |date=20 November 2024}} On 5 December, NASA updated the mission timeline, where Artemis 2 was delayed from 2025 September to 2026 April, and Artemis 3 from 2026 September to mid-2027. The delay is mainly attributed to problems involving the heat shield of the Orion spacecraft.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/general/faq-nasas-artemis-campaign-and-recent-updates/ |title=FAQ: NASA’s Artemis Campaign and Recent Updates |date=5 December 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-shares-orion-heat-shield-findings-updates-artemis-moon-missions/ |title=NASA Shares Orion Heat Shield Findings, Updates Artemis Moon Missions |date=5 December 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/nasa-identifies-cause-of-artemis-i-orion-heat-shield-char-loss/ |title=NASA Identifies Cause of Artemis I Orion Heat Shield Char Loss |date=5 December 2024}}

Peregrine lunar lander was successfully launched on 8 January, but after the launch a propellant leak was detected that precluded any attempt to perform a lunar landing. In the end, the Peregrine spacecraft never left the (highly elliptical) Earth orbit it was injected into by the carrier rocket, and the mission ended ten days later (after one orbit) on 18 January when the spacecraft re-entered the Earth's atmosphere (under control of the mission team) and was destroyed.

SLIM achieved the first-ever lunar soft landing for a Japanese spacecraft.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/science-environment-68019846 |title=Japan makes contact with 'Moon Sniper' on lunar surface |website=BBC |date=19 January 2024 |access-date=19 January 2024 |archive-date=19 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119141934/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/science-environment-68019846 |url-status=live }} It landed on 19 January 2024 at 15:20 UTC, making Japan the 5th country to soft land on the Moon.{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=2024-01-19 |title=Japan Becomes Fifth Country to Land on the Moon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/12/science/japan-moon-landing-slim |work=The New York Times |access-date=20 January 2024 |archive-date=20 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120151635/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/12/science/japan-moon-landing-slim |url-status=live }} Although it landed successfully, it landed on its side with the solar panels oriented westwards facing opposite the Sun at the start of lunar day, thereby failing to generate enough power.{{Cite web |title=According to the telemetry data, SLIM's solar cells are facing west. So if sunlight begins to shine on the lunar surface from the west, there is a possibility of generating power, and we are preparing for recovery. #SLIM can operate with power only from the solar cells. #JAXA |url=https://x.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1749320575103995954?s=20 |website=X (Formerly Twitter) |access-date=22 January 2024 |archive-date=17 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217223131/https://twitter.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1749320575103995954?s=20 |url-status=live }} The lander operated on an internal battery power, which was fully drained that day.{{Cite news |last=Sample |first=Ian |date=2024-01-19 |title=Japan's Slim spacecraft lands on moon but struggles to generate power |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/jan/19/japan-slim-spacecraft-lands-on-moon-but-struggles-to-generate-power |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=19 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119193545/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/jan/19/japan-slim-spacecraft-lands-on-moon-but-struggles-to-generate-power |url-status=live }}

Irrespective of this solar array issue on lander, the two LEV 1 and 2 rovers, deployed during hovering just before final landing worked as expected, with LEV-1 communicating independently to the ground stations. LEV-1 conducted seven hops over 107 minutes on lunar surface. Images taken by LEV-2 show the wrong attitude landing with loss of an engine nozzle during descent and even possible sustained damage to lander's Earth bound antenna, that is not pointed towards Earth.{{Citation |title=小型月着陸実証機（SLIM）および小型プローブ（LEV）の月面着陸の結果・成果等 の記者会見 |date=24 January 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U61i0wN01Uk |access-date=2024-01-25 |language=en |archive-date=25 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125091740/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U61i0wN01Uk |url-status=live }} Irrespective of wrong attitude and loss of communication with the lander, the mission was fully successful after confirmation of its primary goal landing within {{cvt|100|m}} of its landing spot was already achieved.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-01-22 |title=Japan's moon lander forced to power down but may yet be revived |url=https://spacenews.com/japans-moon-lander-forced-to-power-down-but-may-yet-be-revived/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=SLIM Project Press Kit |url=https://global.jaxa.jp/countdown/slim/SLIM-mediakit-EN_2308.pdf |website=JAXA |access-date=25 January 2024 |archive-date=8 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908075454/https://global.jaxa.jp/countdown/slim/SLIM-mediakit-EN_2308.pdf |url-status=live }}

On 29 January, the lander resumed operations after being shut down for a week. JAXA said it re-established contact with the lander and its solar cells were working again after a shift in lighting conditions allowed it to catch sunlight.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68125589 |title=Japan: Moon lander Slim comes back to life and resumes mission |date=29 January 2024 |access-date=2024-01-31 |via=www.bbc.com}} After that, SLIM was put in sleep mode for impending harsh lunar night. While SLIM was expected to operate only for one lunar daylight period, or 14 Earth days, with its on-board electronics not designed to withstand the {{Convert|-120|C|F}} nighttime temperatures on the Moon, it managed to survive 3 lunar nights, waking up on 25 February, 27 March and 24 April respectively, sending back more data and images. This feat of surviving lunar night without a radioisotope heater unit was only previously achieved by some landers in the Surveyor program.{{Cite web |title=Last night I sent a command and got a response from SLIM. SLIM successfully survived the night on the lunar surface while maintaining communication capabilities! Last night, as it was still midday on the moon, the temperature of the communication equipment was extremely high, so communication was terminated after only a short period of time. From now on, preparations will be made so that observations can be resumed once the temperature has fallen sufficiently. |url=https://twitter.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1761973417820238275 |website=X ( Formerly Twitter) |access-date=26 February 2024 |archive-date=26 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226052416/https://twitter.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1761973417820238275 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-28 |title=Japan Moon probe survives second lunar night: Space agency |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world/japan-moon-probe-survives-second-lunar-night-space-agency-12534391.html |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=Moneycontrol |language=en |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328024627/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world/japan-moon-probe-survives-second-lunar-night-space-agency-12534391.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Still alive! Japan's SLIM moon lander survives its 2nd lunar night (photo) |publisher=Space.com |date=March 27, 2024 |url=https://www.space.com/japan-slim-moon-lander-survives-second-lunar-night |access-date=30 April 2024 |archive-date=25 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425152709/https://www.space.com/japan-slim-moon-lander-survives-second-lunar-night |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Crane |first1=Leah |title=Japan's SLIM moon lander has shockingly survived a third lunar night |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428439-japans-slim-moon-lander-has-shockingly-survived-a-third-lunar-night/ |website=New Scientist |access-date=25 April 2024}}

IM-1 Nova-C Odysseus launched on 15 February 2024 towards the Moon via Falcon 9 on a direct intercept trajectory and later landed in the south polar region of the Moon on 22 February 2024 and became the first successful private lander and the first to do so using cryogenic propellants. Though it landed successfully, one of the lander's legs broke upon landing and it tilted up on other side, 18° due to landing on a slope, but the lander survived and payloads were functioning as expected.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-28 |title=NASA, Intuitive Machines Share Images from the Moon, Provide Science Updates – Artemis |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2024/02/28/nasa-intuitive-machines-share-images-from-the-moon-provide-science-updates/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=blogs.nasa.gov |language=en-US |archive-date=29 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229055641/https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2024/02/28/nasa-intuitive-machines-share-images-from-the-moon-provide-science-updates/ |url-status=live }}

Just before landing, at approximately {{cvt|30|m}} above the lunar surface, the Odysseus lander was planned to eject the EagleCam camera-equipped CubeSat, which would have been dropped onto the lunar surface near the lander, with an impact velocity of about {{cvt|10|m/s|mi/h}}. However, due to complications arising from the software patch, it was decided that EagleCam would not be ejected upon landing. It was later ejected on 28 February returning all types of data, except post IM-1 landing images that were the main aim of its mission.{{Cite web |title=2/3 mission plans and procedures in order to deploy its CubeSat camera system. Despite the team's strong effort, the technical complications ultimately resulted in an inability to capture images of the Odysseus lander. |url=https://x.com/SpaceTechLab/status/1762979276360479156?s=20 |access-date=29 February 2024 |archive-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613150509/https://x.com/SpaceTechLab/status/1762979276360479156?s=20 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |title=Intuitive Machines ready for launch of its first lunar lander |url=https://spacenews.com/intuitive-machines-ready-for-launch-of-its-first-lunar-lander/ |website=SpaceNews |date=13 February 2024 |access-date=14 February 2024 |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223172200/https://spacenews.com/intuitive-machines-ready-for-launch-of-its-first-lunar-lander/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Greshko |first=Michael |date=9 February 2024 |title=Second Private U.S. Moon Lander Readies for Launch |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/second-private-u-s-moon-lander-readies-for-launch/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221182546/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/second-private-u-s-moon-lander-readies-for-launch/ |archive-date=21 February 2024 |access-date=9 February 2024 |website=Scientific American |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2024 |title=EagleCam update statement |url=https://twitter.com/w_robinsonsmith/status/1761097110017945707?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet |website=Twitter}}

The lander also includes the Lunar Library that contains a version of the English Wikipedia, artworks, selections from the Internet Archive, portions of the Project Gutenberg, and more. It is projected to reside on the Moon in a readable state for billions of years.{{cite web |last1=Spivack |first1=Nova |title=Third Time's a Charm — Lunar Library Successfully Lands on the Moon — Backup of Human Civilization… |url=https://medium.com/@novaspivack/third-times-a-charm-lunar-library-successfully-lands-on-the-moon-backup-of-human-civilization-0d469024aa72 |website=Medium |access-date=12 May 2024 |language=en |date=6 March 2024 |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512221929/https://medium.com/@novaspivack/third-times-a-charm-lunar-library-successfully-lands-on-the-moon-backup-of-human-civilization-0d469024aa72 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Galactic Legacy Archive |url=https://www.archmission.org/galactic-legacy-archive |website=Arch Mission Foundation - Preserving humanity forever, in space and on Earth. |access-date=12 May 2024 |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223135720/https://www.archmission.org/galactic-legacy-archive |url-status=live }}

{{main|Chinese Lunar Exploration Program}}

On 13 March, China attempted to launch two spacecrafts, DRO-A and DRO-B, into distant retrograde orbit around the Moon, but the mission failed to reach the strived for orbit, remaining stranded in a highly eliptical low Earth orbit.{{cite web |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7529 |title=Status of "DRO-A/B" |access-date=14 March 2024 |work=Next Spaceflight |archive-date=15 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315004509/https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7529 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-03-14 |title=Surprise Chinese lunar mission hit by launch anomaly |url=https://spacenews.com/surprise-chinese-lunar-mission-hit-by-launch-anomaly/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} Tracking data appears to show China attempted to salvage the spacecraft and they appear to have succeeded in reaching their desired orbit.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-08-20 |title=Chinese spacecraft appear to reach lunar orbit despite launch setback |url=https://spacenews.com/chinese-spacecraft-appear-to-reach-lunar-orbit-despite-launch-setback/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-03-28 |title=China appears to be trying to save stricken spacecraft from lunar limbo |url=https://spacenews.com/china-appears-to-be-trying-to-save-stricken-spacecraft-from-lunar-limbo/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

On 20 March, China launched its relay satellite, Queqiao-2, to lunar orbit, along with two mini satellites Tiandu 1 and 2. Queqiao-2 will relay communications for the Chang'e 6 (far side of the Moon), Chang'e 7 and Chang'e 8 (Lunar south pole region) spacecrafts. Tiandu 1 and 2 will test technologies for a future lunar navigation and positioning constellation.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-03-14 |title=China launches Queqiao-2 relay satellite to support moon missions |url=https://spacenews.com/china-launches-queqiao-2-relay-satellite-to-support-moon-missions/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} All the three probes entered lunar orbit successfully on 24 March 2024 (Both were attached to each other and separated in lunar orbit on 3 April 2024).{{Cite web |title=探月工程里程碑：天都二号卫星成功应用冷气微推进系统 |url=http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzA4ODM1ODU0OA==&mid=2653749333&idx=2&sn=6a400906c49236d7a7a1f06fb14e4681&chksm=8bf2cbaebc8542b839ea8a8e55b2003b8049540daccf37c1b96cfe9a6ed8aae7d25cba89f35f#rd |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Weixin Official Accounts Platform |archive-date=4 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404154303/https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzA4ODM1ODU0OA==&mid=2653749333&idx=2&sn=6a400906c49236d7a7a1f06fb14e4681&chksm=8bf2cbaebc8542b839ea8a8e55b2003b8049540daccf37c1b96cfe9a6ed8aae7d25cba89f35f#rd |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-03-25 |title=China's Queqiao-2 relay satellite enters lunar orbit |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-queqiao-2-relay-satellite-enters-lunar-orbit/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

China sent Chang'e 6 on 3 May 2024, which conducted the first lunar sample return from Apollo Basin on the far side of the Moon.{{cite tweet |author=Andrew Jones |user= AJ_FI |number=1650832520978526208 |title=China's Chang'e-6 sample return mission (a first ever lunar far side sample-return) is scheduled to launch in May 2024, and expected to take 53 days from launch to return module touchdown. Targeting southern area of Apollo basin (~43º S, 154º W) |date=25 April 2023}} This is China's second lunar sample return mission, the first was achieved by Chang'e 5 from the lunar near side four years earlier.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-change-6-probe-arrives-at-spaceport-for-first-ever-lunar-far-side-sample-mission/ |title=China's Chang'e-6 probe arrives at spaceport for first-ever lunar far side sample mission |work=SpaceNews |date=10 January 2024 |access-date=10 January 2024 |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503100724/https://spacenews.com/chinas-change-6-probe-arrives-at-spaceport-for-first-ever-lunar-far-side-sample-mission/ |url-status=live }} It carries several international payloads as well as an un-(pre)announced Chinese mini-rover called Jinchan to conduct infrared spectroscopy of lunar surface and imaged Chang'e 6 lander on lunar surface.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China's Chang'e-6 is carrying a surprise rover to the moon |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-change-6-is-carrying-a-surprise-rover-to-the-moon/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=8 May 2024 |date=6 May 2024 |archive-date=8 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508193233/https://spacenews.com/chinas-change-6-is-carrying-a-surprise-rover-to-the-moon/ |url-status=live }} The lander-ascender-rover combination was separated from the orbiter and returner before landing on 1 June 2024 at 22:23 UTC. It landed on the Moon's surface on 1 June 2024.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/change-6-lands-on-far-side-of-the-moon-to-collect-unique-lunar-samples/ |title=Chang'e-6 lands on far side of the moon to collect unique lunar samples |work=SpaceNews |date=1 June 2024 |access-date=1 June 2024 |archive-date=2 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602181912/https://spacenews.com/change-6-lands-on-far-side-of-the-moon-to-collect-unique-lunar-samples/ |url-status=live }}{{cite tweet | author= Seger Yu | user= SegerYu | number= 1797042217804337307 | title= 落月时刻 2024-06-02 06:23:15.861 | language= zh }} The ascender was launched back to lunar orbit on 3 June 2024 at 23:38 UTC, carrying samples collected by the lander, and completed rendezvous and docking with the waiting orbiter in lunar orbit. The sample container was transferred to the returner, which landed in Inner Mongolia on 25 June 2024, completing China's lunar far side sample return mission.

Pakistan sent a lunar orbiter called ICUBE-Q along with Chang'e 6. The lander also placed a small national flag of China, made of basalt, a substance that occurs in vast quantities on the Moon's surface, to demonstrate the spirit of in situ resource utilization.{{Cite web |title=Chinese Flag on far Side of Moon May Remain Intact for 10,000 Years----Chinese Academy of Sciences |url=https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/mutimedia_news/202406/t20240605_664782.shtml |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=english.cas.cn}} After dropping off the return samples for Earth, the Chang'e 6 (CE-6) orbiter was successfully captured by the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point on 9 September 2024.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-09-10 |title=Chang'e-6 orbiter turns up at Sun-Earth Lagrange point after moon sampling mission |url=https://spacenews.com/change-6-orbiter-turns-up-at-sun-earth-lagrange-point-after-moon-sampling-mission/ |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

DARPA provided funding towards a forward looking 10 year lunar architecture proposals. Aimed at creating the beginning stages of a lunar economy the DARPA lunar programs is participated in by many current industry leaders.

On 4 February, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko broke the world record for the most time spent in space, when he surpassed the previous record of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes and 48 seconds held by retired cosmonaut Gennady Padalka.{{cite web |last1=Kassam |first1=Ashifa |title=Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko sets world record for most time spent in space |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/feb/04/cosmonaut-oleg-kononenko-sets-world-record-for-most-time-spent-in-space |website=The Guardian |date=4 February 2024 |access-date=6 March 2024}} After Kononenko returned on 23 September, the new records stands at 1110 days, 14 hours and 57 minutes.{{Cite web |title=Cosmonaut Biography: Oleg D. Kononenko |url=http://spacefacts.de/bios/cosmonauts/english/kononenko_oleg_d.htm |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=spacefacts.de}}

On 5 June, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft conducted its crewed test flight.{{cite web |last=Howell |first=Elizabeth |url=https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-crew-flight-test-launch |title=Boeing's Starliner launches astronauts for 1st time in historic liftoff (photos, video) |website=Space.com |date=June 5, 2024 |access-date=June 9, 2024 |archive-date=7 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607234443/https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-crew-flight-test-launch |url-status=live }} Sunita Williams became the first woman to fly on the maiden crewed flight of an orbital spacecraft (for a suborbital spacecraft, similar feat was accomplished by Wally Funk on Blue Origin NS-16 mission of New Shepard).

On 11 September, following the launch of Soyuz MS-26, a record breaking 19 people were simultaneously in orbit around Earth. In addition to the crew of MS-26, this included the crews of Polaris Dawn, Boe-CFT, SpaceX Crew-8, Soyuz MS-25 and Shenzhou 18.

On 17 December, two Chinese astronauts, Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong, completed the longest spacewalk in human history, of 9 hours and 6 minutes, with the assistance of the space station's robotic arms and ground-based scientific personnel, completed tasks such as the installation of space debris protection devices, inspection, and maintenance of external equipment and facilities.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-12-17 |title=Shenzhou-19 astronauts complete record-breaking 9-hour spacewalk |url=https://spacenews.com/shenzhou-19-astronauts-complete-record-breaking-9-hour-spacewalk/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

SpaceX launched Axiom Mission 3 aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station (ISS) on 18 January 2024. The successful mission ended with a splashdown on 9 February 2024.

On 26 January,{{cite tweet |author=Jonathan McDowell |user=planet4589 |number=1750973689204764824 |title=The @VirginGalactic Galactic 06 mission was launched from the WK02 carrier plane at 1742:05 UTC Jan 26 following takeoff around 1700 UTC. After a one minute rocket burn, SS2 reached an apogee of 88.8 km and landed after an approximately 14 minute free flight. (1/2) |date=26 January 2024}} Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity was successfully launched from Spaceport America on Galactic 06 suborbital space tourism mission. Galactic 07 launched on 8 June, the final flight of Unity suborbital spaceplane.

Blue Origin's New Shepard also returned to suborbital space tourism launches with the successful NS-25 mission on 19 May. The next mission, NS-26, took place on 29 August and NS-28, that took place on 22 November.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Blue Origin flies NASA-funded scientist and space tourists on New Shepard suborbital flight |url=https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-flies-nasa-funded-scientist-and-space-tourists-on-new-shepard-suborbital-flight/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

Polaris Dawn, featuring the first commercial spacewalk, launched on September 10 09:23 UTC. On September 11, the spacecraft reached an altitude of 1400 km, which is farther from Earth than any person has been since Apollo 17.{{cite tweet |user=SpaceX |number=1833734681545879844 |title=Polaris Dawn and Dragon at 1,400 km above Earth – the farthest humans have traveled since the Apollo program over 50 years ago |date=11 September 2024}}

The maiden flight of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur took place on 8 January 2024. Vulcan is the first methane fueled rocket to reach orbit on its first attempt, and the first methane fueled rocket to reach orbit from the US.{{Cite news |last=Belam |first=Martin |date=2024-01-08 |title=Nasa Peregrine 1 launch: Vulcan Centaur rocket carrying Nasa moon lander lifts off in Florida – live updates |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/live/2024/jan/08/nasa-peregrine-1-launch-rocket-moon-latest-news-updates-live |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=8 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108061731/https://www.theguardian.com/science/live/2024/jan/08/nasa-peregrine-1-launch-rocket-moon-latest-news-updates-live |url-status=live }}

China's Orienspace's Gravity-1 rocket completed its successful maiden flight on 11 January 2024, debuting on a new mobile sea platform in the Yellow Sea while breaking records as both the world's largest solid-fuel carrier rocket and China's most powerful commercial launch vehicle to date (as of early 2024).

On 5 March, for the first time due to their fast turnaround of 1 hour 51 minutes between launches, SpaceX launch operations for a mission (in this case, Starlink Group 6-41) coincided with that of a preceding launch (in this case, payload deployment of Transporter-10:(53 payloads SmallSat Rideshare).{{Cite web |title=Liftoff of 23 @Starlink satellites from Florida while Transporter-10's second stage coasts through space ahead of its final payload deploys |url=https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1764802429999014312?s=20 |website=X (Formerly Twitter)}}

On 13 March, the KAIROS rocket from Space One company attempted its maiden flight. The rocket was destroyed in an explosion five seconds after lift-off. No injuries were caused by the explosion.

On 11 April, another test flight of the Russian Angara A5 launched, with the Orion upper stage being used for the first time.{{Cite web |last=Davenport |first=Justin |date=2024-04-08 |title=Launch Roundup: Delta IV swan song, Angara test flight from Russia, and three Falcon 9 flights |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/04/launch-roundup-040824/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US |archive-date=18 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418012821/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/04/launch-roundup-040824/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=LAUNCH! Angara A5 finally launches on its first flight from Vostochny. |url=https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1778348166615605454 |access-date=11 April 2024 |archive-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614021909/https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1778348166615605454 |url-status=live }}

On 7 May, Long March 6C flew its successful maiden mission.

SpaceX's Starship launched its fourth integrated flight test (IFT-4) on June 6, 2024. The launch resulted in the successful controlled splashdown of both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship vehicle.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=2024-06-06 |title=Starship survives reentry during fourth test flight |url=https://spacenews.com/starship-survives-reentry-during-fourth-test-flight |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606222417/https://spacenews.com/starship-survives-reentry-during-fourth-test-flight/ |url-status=live }}

In June, Stoke Space tested its full flow staged combustion cycle (FFSC) engine with a successful hotfire, the test marks only the fourth FFSC engine to have made it far enough in development to reach hotfire.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=2024-06-11 |title=Stoke Space test-fires new booster engine |url=https://spacenews.com/stoke-space-test-fires-new-booster-engine/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

The maiden launch of Ariane 6 occurred on 9 July, but it was a partial failure as though CubeSats were deployed correctly, but the second stage failed to relight due to an anomaly with an auxiliary power unit.{{Cite tweet |number=1810791073272492464 |user=planet4589 |title=Anomaly on the Ariane 6 mission: the APU did not properly restart in the second coast phase. The APU operation affects the orbital parameters, and these did not change as expected. Unclear if the deorbit burn can be performed. |first=Jonathan |last=McDowell |author-link=Jonathan McDowell |date=9 July 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |date=2024-07-10 |title=Europe's Ariane-6 rocket blasts off on maiden flight |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c19km33k1mpo |access-date=2024-07-10 |work=BBC |language=en-GB}} The second stage could not be deorbited and payloads studying and testing re-entry could not be deployed.{{Cite tweet |number=1810812852292165927 |user=AndrewParsonson |title=Ending off the press conference, Martin Sion confirmed that the upper stage can not be deorbited. Considering ESA's recent focus on its Zero Debris charter, this isn't a great look. Sion was also surprisingly flippant in his response to how long the stage would remain in orbit. |first=Andrew |last=Parsonson |date=10 July 2024}}

On 13 October, Starship flew its fifth orbital flight test during which, for the first time, the first stage booster was recovered. This makes Super Heavy the second ever orbital class rocket booster to be recovered by the use of retropropulsive landing (first being the Falcon 9 booster).

On 30 November, Long March 12 successfully launched on its debut flight. Importantly, the launch also marked the debut of the YF-100K engine that will power the first stage of Long March 10 which is expected to send Chinese astronauts to the Moon before 2030.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China launches first Long March 12 from new commercial spaceport in boost for country’s lunar plans |url=https://spacenews.com/china-launches-first-long-march-12-from-new-commercial-spaceport-in-boost-for-countrys-lunar-plans/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=8 December 2024}}

The maiden flight of Blue Origin's New Glenn was planned for November.{{Cite web |title=New Glenn {{!}} Maiden Flight |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7628 |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=nextspaceflight.com |language=en}} Initial rollout of the vehicle and testing was completed in February{{Cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Ian |date=2024-03-07 |title=New Glenn completes initial cryogenic testing at Launch Complex 36 |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/03/new-glenn-cryo-tests/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US |archive-date=29 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529052109/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/03/new-glenn-cryo-tests/ |url-status=live }} and in May Blue Origin planned to conduct additional testing in preparation for launch.{{Cite tweet |number=1793766888725475523 |user=blueorigin |title=We're rolling out our New Glenn simulator again today for a series of transport erector integrated ground tests in preparation for launch later this year. Tests will include powering up the pumps that provide pressure to the vehicle hydraulic system, validating the ground system supplying commodities to the rocket, and a rapid retract test of the umbilical connections. More to come. 🚀 |author=Blue Origin |author-link=Blue Origin |date=24 May 2024 |access-date=29 May 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240823173133/https://x.com/blueorigin/status/1793766888725475523 |archive-date=23 August 2024 |url-status=live }} On June 12 Blue Origin received the communications license necessary for the flight.{{Cite tweet |number=1800910962486079574 |user=FccSpace |title=License granted: Blue Origin Florida, LLC Dates: 06/12/2024-10/31/2024 Purpose: Testing will be for the first launch and certification flight of New Glenn, to includ(...) |author=FCC Space Licenses |date=12 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613031733/https://x.com/FccSpace/status/1800910962486079574 |archive-date=13 June 2024 |url-status=live }} The launch was rescheduled for December 2024 or early 2025.

Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem or PACE, a NASA Earth-observing satellite, launched on 8 February 2024.

In March, China successfully launched the Queqiao-2 relay satellite mission. The satellite is designed to act as a communication relay between Chang’e missions (including the Chang'e 6) and Earth. The satellite was announced as operational in April.

In April, NASA launched a next-generation solar sail demonstration aboard a Rocket Lab Electron.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-10 |title=NASA Next-Generation Solar Sail Boom Technology Ready for Launch - NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/general/nasa-next-generation-solar-sail-boom-technology-ready-for-launch/ |access-date=2024-04-12 |language=en-US |archive-date=12 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412055448/https://www.nasa.gov/general/nasa-next-generation-solar-sail-boom-technology-ready-for-launch/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |author1=Mike Wall |date=2024-04-23 |title=Watch Rocket Lab launch new NASA solar sail tech to orbit today |url=https://www.space.com/rocket-lab-nasa-solar-sail-tech-launch-april-2024 |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=Space.com |language=en |archive-date=23 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423214253/https://www.space.com/rocket-lab-nasa-solar-sail-tech-launch-april-2024 |url-status=live }}

ESA EarthCARE launched on May 28. Joint mission with JAXA.

NASA's GOES-U launched on June 25, with the capability to detect coronal mass ejections.

JAXA's ALOS-4 launched on July 1. It carries PALSAR-3 (Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar-3).

Ending the year with the launch of PSLVC-60 on December 30 2024, ISRO launched the SpaDeX mission, which aims to prove the organization's docking technology.{{Cite web |title=SpaDeX Mission |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/mission_SpaDeX.html |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=www.isro.gov.in}} This technology is crucial for ISRO's upcoming Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Program and the Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return project.

{{Main|List of spaceflight launches in January–June 2024|List of spaceflight launches in July–December 2024}}

{{TLS-H2}}

{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1

|date = 3 June |time = 23:38:10{{cite tweet|author=China 'N Asia Spaceflight |user= CNSpaceflight |number=1797781518737089002 |title=After collecting lunar samples from the far side, Chang'e-6's ascender fired {{as written|i|t's [sic]}} 3000N engine at 23:38UTC on June 3rd. 6 minutes later, it entered 15*180km lunar orbit. With 4 more orbital maneuvers, it will climb to 210km lunar orbit to rendezvous with the returner.|date=3 June 2024}}

|rocket = {{#invoke:flag|icon|CHN}} Chang'e 6 ascent vehicle

|site = Chang'e 6 descent stage, Apollo Basin

|LSP = {{#invoke:flag|icon|CHN}} CNSA

|remarks = Sample return mission. Launch happened roughly 48 hours after landing, during which lunar samples were collected. The ascent vehicle rendezvoused and docked with Chang'e 6 orbiter waiting in the lunar orbit and transferred the collected lunar samples to return vehicle for return to Earth.

|payload = {{TLS-PL

|name = {{#invoke:flag|icon|CHN}} Lunar soil sample container

|user = CNSA

|orbit = Selenocentric orbit

|function = Sample return

|d-date = 6 June 2024

|outcome = Successful

}}

}}

|}

{{See also|List of spacewalks 2015–2024}}

{{See also|List of space debris producing events}}

For the purposes of this section, the yearly tally of orbital launches by country assigns each flight to the country of origin of the rocket, not to the launch services provider or the spaceport. For example, Electron rockets launched from the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand are counted under the United States because Electron is an American rocket. For a launch attempt to be considered orbital it must be trying to achieve a positive perigee. For this reason the fourth and fifth flight tests of Starship are not included in the orbital statistics for 2024. Launches from the Moon are not included in the statistics.

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| value9 = 1 | color9 = #318ce7 | label9 = France:

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| group names = Ceres-1 : Electron : Falcon 9 new : Falcon 9 reused : Falcon Heavy : H-IIA : H3 : GSLV : PSLV : SSLV : Kinetica 1 : Kuaizhou 1A : Kuaizhou 11 : Long March 2 : Long March 3 : Long March 4 : Long March 5 : Long March 6 : Long March 7 : Long March 8 : Long March 12 : Soyuz-2 : Soyuz-2-1v : Atlas V : Jielong 3 : KAIROS : Qaem 100 : Simorgh : Starship : Vulcan Centaur : Others

| x legends = Ceres : Electron : Falcon : H-series : ILV : Kinetica : Kuaizhou : Long March : R-7 : Others

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| group names = Jiuquan : South China Sea : Taiyuan : Wenchang : Xichang : Yellow Sea : Kourou : Satish Dhawan : Semnan : Shahroud : Kii : Tanegashima : Baikonur : Māhia : Sohae : Plesetsk : Vostochny : Cape Canaveral : Kennedy : MARS : Starbase : Vandenberg

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| colors = DeepSkyBlue : Navy : MediumBlue : Red : RoyalBlue : LightBlue : LightSeaGreen : SkyBlue : SaddleBrown : Black : LightGrey : Gold

| group names = Transatmospheric : Low Earth : Low Earth (ISS) : Low Earth (CSS) : Low Earth (SSO) : Low Earth (polar) : Medium Earth : Molniya : Geosynchronous : High Earth : Lunar transfer : Heliocentric

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| units suffix = _launches

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For the purposes of this section, the yearly tally of suborbital launches by country assigns each flight to the country of origin of the rocket, not to the launch services provider or the spaceport. Flights intended to fly below {{cvt|80|km}} are omitted.

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| value4 = 5 | color4 = #ffc0cb | label4 = North Korea:

| value5 = 19 | color5 = #ffffff| label5 = Others:

}}

{{clear}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist |30em |refs=}}

{{TLS-R}}

{{TLS-L|year=2024|nav=on}}

{{Orbital launches in 2024}}

{{Portal bar|Spaceflight}}

Category:Spaceflight by year

Category:2024-related lists