spacex SpaceX Dominates a Historic Year of Breakthroughs in the Space Industry The space industry experiences a transformative year in 2024, driven by SpaceX's monumental achievements and Boeing's high-profile Starliner struggles. From catching massive rocket boosters to shifting astronaut return plans, these events shape a rapidly evolving new space age.
openai OpenAI Launches $200 Monthly ChatGPT Tier During 12-Day Event OpenAI introduces a surprise $200 per month subscription plan for power users alongside the full release of its o1 reasoning model as part of a 12-day holiday livestream event.
spacex FCC Approves SpaceX and T-Mobile Direct-to-Phone Starlink Service SpaceX receives regulatory approval to provide satellite-based cellular coverage through T-Mobile, beating out rivals in the emerging direct-to-phone market. The service focuses on connecting users in remote areas and emergency situations.
spacex SpaceX Starship Achieves Crucial In-Flight Engine Relight Milestone SpaceX successfully reignites a Raptor engine on the Starship upper stage during its sixth test flight, paving the way for full orbital reuse. Meanwhile, Inversion Space secures $44 million for orbital cargo delivery and Raven Space Systems debuts scalable 3D printing for aerospace composites.
spacex SpaceX Starship Aims to Redefine Space Travel and Reach Mars SpaceX's massive Starship rocket stands as the tallest and most powerful launch vehicle ever built, designed for full reusability to drastically cut mission costs. The ambitious program accelerates toward orbit as it pursues the ultimate goal of putting humans on Mars.
spacex SpaceX Veterans Pivot Mars Tech to Earth-Based Carbon Fuel Production General Galactic, founded by SpaceX alumni, applies Mars-ready CO2-to-methane technology to replace underground natural gas. The startup raises $8 million to deploy its first commercial modules by 2025.
spacex SpaceX Plans First Starship Space Refueling Test Next Spring SpaceX aims to transfer propellant between two orbiting Starships as early as March, a crucial step toward an uncrewed lunar landing. NASA relies on this milestone to keep its Artemis program on track for a 2026 crewed moon mission.
spacex SpaceX Secures $733 Million Contract for Eight Space Force Missions The U.S. Space Force awards SpaceX an eight-launch contract worth $733 million under the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program. These missions, slated for 2026 and beyond, support the Space Development Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office.
spacex SpaceX Achieves Historic First by Catching Starship Booster Mid-Air SpaceX successfully catches a returning Super Heavy booster using mechanical "chopstick" arms during its fifth Starship test flight. This unprecedented maneuver brings the company closer to its goal of rapid rocket reusability.
spacex SpaceX Grounds Falcon 9 Rocket After Third Anomaly in Three Months SpaceX pauses Falcon 9 launches after a deorbit burn issue follows a successful crew delivery to the International Space Station. This marks the third technical anomaly for the rocket in just three months.
starlink Starlink Satellite Internet Reaches Four Million Subscribers Worldwide SpaceX's Starlink internet service officially surpasses four million subscribers, adding one million new customers in just four months. The rapid growth highlights the network's dominance as it generates billions in annual revenue.
elon musk SEC Threatens Elon Musk With Sanctions Over Missed Testimony The SEC announces plans to sanction Elon Musk after he skips a court-ordered appearance for the Twitter takeover probe, choosing instead to oversee a SpaceX launch.
spacex Private Astronauts Complete First Commercial Spacewalk in SpaceX Suits A four-person crew achieves the first-ever commercial spacewalk during the Polaris Dawn mission, testing new lightweight spacesuits designed by SpaceX.
palantir Palantir CTO Sankar Champions New Defense Startups Through First Breakfast Initiative Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar actively mentors a new wave of defense tech startups through a program called First Breakfast. The initiative aims to build philosophical alliances and secure early partnerships with emerging companies founded by Tesla and SpaceX alumni.
boeing Boeing Starliner Crewed Launch Pushed Back to Mid-April 2024 NASA and Boeing delay the first crewed test flight of the Starliner spacecraft to mid-April 2024, while also pushing the first operational mission to early 2025. The mission continues to face ongoing technical challenges that prevent an earlier launch.