From rockets taking flight to alliances forming in orbit to Space Race 2.0 with all eyes on the Moon, it’s clear that the busy year in space extended well beyond America’s borders.

Here are some of the space agency’s biggest milestones and most impactful decisions this year

The best and worst of space technology in 2024.

Space markets surged this year, fueled by robust VC investments in private markets and back-in-vogue space SPACs in the public markets. The good year for space investments is part of a broader bull market, where the prospects of a soft landing have sent speculative stocks soaring. 

ValveTech CEO Erin Faville publicly urged NASA to cancel the launch of Boeing’s crewed Starliner “due to the risk of a disaster.”

Another Starship test flight is around the corner. 

The company’s culture has become chaotic since CEO Bill Weber took the top job in 2022.

The rocketmaker has has raised more than $2B since 2015.