January
The first lunar lander flew.
The first flight of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative with Astrobotic’s Peregrine Mission One lunar lander aboard the inaugural launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral on January 8. . Station in Florida to study the lunar exosphere, thermal properties, and magnetic field on the lunar surface. The mission became the first American commercial lander to land on the surface of the Moon. However, the spacecraft encountered a propulsion problem that prevented the landing on the moon.
January
Third private mission into space
At the world’s largest multi-user spaceport, the four-person crew of Axiom Mission 3 became the third private astronaut mission to launch to the International Space Station on January 18 from Launch Complex 39A. The crew has completed more than 30 research experiments designed for microgravity in collaboration with organizations around the world.
January
Food and supplies were delivered to the International Space Station.
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft launched for the first time on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 30 from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The company’s 20th resupply mission brought 8,200 pounds of science probes, equipment and supplies to the International Space Station.
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February
Understanding Earth’s Climate
of NASA speed (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem) is a mission to observe and discover what makes Earth different from every other planet we study – from life itself. Three-quarters of our home planet is covered by water, and PACE’s advanced instruments provide new ways to study life on the ocean’s surface by measuring the abundance and distribution of microscopic algae called phytoplankton. The observations are helping researchers better monitor ocean health, air quality and climate change. PACE launched on February 8 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
February
Intuitive Machines The first mission landed on the moon.
NASA’s CLPS initiative with Intuitive Machines made history when the Nova C-class lunar lander was launched from Kennedy and later arrived at the Moon’s south pole region, named Malapert A, on February 22.
February
Artemis II Practice Procedures
Artemis II NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, NASA’s Exploration Ground System Landing and Recovery Team, and Department of Defense partners participated. Ongoing recovery test 11 Off the coast of San Diego. The operation mimicked the procedures that would be used to recover the Artemis II crew and the Orion spacecraft after their return from the Moon, with the crew landing Orion on a boat and then to a U.S. Navy ship. Delivered.
March
NASA’s SpaceX Crew 8 quartet departs for the space station.
NASA astronauts Matt Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Janet Epps launched with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin on March 3 from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A on an eight-month science mission to the International Space Station.
March
NASA’s SpaceX 30th Commercial Resupply Mission
Demonstrations of research and technology, along with food and other supplies, left for the International Space Station. NASA’s SpaceX Commercial Resupply Mission. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 on March 21.
April
The solar eclipse mesmerized the nation.
A total solar eclipse passed across North America on April 8 over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Kennedy provided on-air and online coverage from a holistic perspective of each city for viewers at home.
May
NASA Welcomes New Commercial Supply Spacecraft
Dream Chaser by Sierra Space Kennedy arrived on May 18 after testing at the agency’s Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. The uncrewed spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Space Launch Complex 41 on a ULA Vulcan rocket to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in 2025, delivering thousands of pounds of cargo to the orbital laboratory.
May
The historical marker honors the original headquarters location.
Officials unveiled a large bronze plaque on May 28 to mark the location of NASA’s original Kennedy Space Center headquarters building, just west of the current Central Campus headquarters building on NASA Parkway. Located in
Jun
NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test launched the first crew.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams became the first crew aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Starliner launched on June 6 from Space Launch Complex 41 atop ULA’s Atlas V rocket. NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test To the International Space Station.
Jun
The final NASA, NOAA GOES-R launch
NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) launched on June 25 from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. The GOES-U satellite is the last of NOAA’s GOES-R series, and consists of seven instruments that collect the latest imagery and atmospheric measurements, provide real-time mapping of lightning activity, and near-missing space weather. Identify the risks.
July
The barge Artemis II carries the cover stage to Kennedy.
NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) moon rocket that would carry humans to the moon arrived at Kennedy on July 24. NASA’s Pegasus barge delivered the 212-foot-tall core stage from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Base phase remains in vehicle assembly building awaiting integration prior to Artemis II launch.
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August
NASA, Northrop Grumman begin supply for space station.
NASA science probes, supplies, and equipment were launched on August 24 from Space Launch Complex 40 aboard the Cygnus spacecraft as part of Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial recovery mission to the International Space Station.
September
NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test spacecraft lands safely.
An uncrewed Boeing Starliner spacecraft lifted off from the space station and landed at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico on September 7, completing a three-month flight test for the orbital laboratory.
September
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Duo is headed for space.
NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos astronaut Alexander Gorbunov launched into international space aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Sept. 28 as part of NASA’s SpaceX. Crew 9 Mission. This was the first space crew mission of Space Launch Complex 40. Haig, Gorbunov, along with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams, are scheduled to return to Earth in early 2025.
October
Mobile launcher on the move
NASA’s Mobile Launcher 1 traveled 4.2 miles from Launch Complex 39B to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Oct. 4 in preparation for stacking the Artemis II moon rocket. Mobile Launcher had been on Launchpad since August 2023 undergoing integrated testing and upgrades. NASA’s Crawler-Transporter 2 also achieved the milestone of traveling 2,500 miles since its construction in 1965.
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October
The Jupiter Moon Mission took off.
NASA’s Europa Clipper The agency’s first mission is to study Jupiter’s icy moon Europa to see if the ocean beneath the moon’s crust has the ingredients to support life. The spacecraft launched from Launch Complex 39A on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on October 16. The Europa Clipper spacecraft will arrive at Europa in 2030.
October
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 returns to Earth
NASA’s SpaceX Crew 8 Astronauts Matthew Dominik, Michael Barratt, and Janet Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, landed in their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Pensacola, Florida on October 25, completing a seven-month science mission in international space. The station
November
New science and supplies were sent to the space station.
SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying more than 6,000 pounds of cargo on Falcon 9 rocket Launched on November 4.Departed from Launch Complex 39A for the space station. Commercial resupply missions provided essential supplies and supported dozens of research experiments during Expedition 72.
November
NASA’s Artemis II booster segments take shape
Engineers and Technicians with the Exploration Ground Systems Program Started stacking On November 20, the first batch of Artemis II SLS solid rocket boosters on Mobile Launcher 1 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building.
December
A record-setting year for launches
More than 80 launches from Kennedy and Cape Canaveral thundered into space in 2024, and 2025 promises to bring more government and commercial missions to the Eastern Range.