Digital Graphics Courtesy of NASA
2021 | The Space Age
There is no doubt that this past year has been a tough one no matter where you live in the world, however, discoveries beyond our planet and dazzling images of the cosmos provided a bright spot in 2020. Among many other achievements, we saw American astronauts launch from America to fly to the International Space Station for the first time since the end of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011. As amazing as 2020 might’ve been for space exploration, 2021 will be an even greater year as we enter the ‘Space Age’!
Space Programs Around The World
Space Programs Around The World
Around the world, there are over 100 registered Space Agencies. In this thread, I will briefly highlight a few of the more notable agencies (both private and government owned) that are presumed to make a major impact on space exploration and flight during the year of 2021.
SpaceX - Elon Musk [United States of America]
SpaceX is a private spaceflight company that puts satellites into orbit, delivers astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and is prepared and ready for the future! It was the first private company to send a cargo ship to the ISS, doing so in 2012. The company is working on developing powerful rockets and spacecraft capable of carrying people into space (including landing on the Moon, Mars, and beyond)!
Read More About SpaceX: https://www.spacex.com/
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - United States Government [United States of America]
NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA is a U.S. government agency that is responsible for science and technology related to air and space. The Space Age started in 1957 with the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik. Since then, the race was on!
NASA opened for business on Oct. 1, 1958. The agency was created to oversee U.S. space exploration and aeronautics research.
The administrator is in charge of NASA. The NASA administrator is nominated by the president and confirmed by a vote in the Senate.
NASA is best known for leading the space industry and most notably, their Apollo 11 moon landing mission in 1969
Read More About NASA:
http://www.nasa.gov/
Blue Origin - Jeff Bezos [United States of America]
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is a private space company hoping to send paying customers to space in the very near future. Bezos has often stated the company’s goal is to help bring about a future in which millions are living and working in space.
‘Blue’, referencing the Blue Planet (Earth); and ‘Origin’, referencing the Point of Origin. Show how Blue Origin is prepared to make Earth the Point of Origin for the future of space!
Read More About Blue Origin: https://www.blueorigin.com/
China National Space Administration (CNSA) - Chinese Government [China]
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) is the national agency for China to coordinate its space activities. In contrast to most other space agencies worldwide, the organization is not involved with the International Space Station and, in fact, has a small space station of its own.
Since 2003, when Yang Liwei became the first Chinese national in space, CNSA has done several manned space launches. In 2013, a three-person crew aboard Shenzhou 9 made the first Chinese manned docking in space, attaching to the single-room station, Tiangong 1.
The agency succeeded in making the first soft landing on the moon in decades in December 2014 with its Chang’e 3 lander and its rover, Yutu. CNSA also carries out periodic launches by itself using its Chang Zheng (Long March) rocket series.
Read More About the CNSA: http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/
European Space Agency (ESA) - European State Governments [The European Union]
is an intergovernmental organization of 22 member states dedicated to the exploration of space. Established in 1975 and headquartered in Paris, ESA has a worldwide staff of about 2,200 in 2018 and an annual budget of about €6.68 billion/~$7.43 billion in 2020.
ESA’s space flight program includes human spaceflight (mainly through participation in the International Space Station program); the launch and operation of uncrewed exploration missions to other planets and the Moon; Earth observation, science, and telecommunication; designing launch vehicles; and maintaining a major spaceport, the Guiana Space Centre at Kourou, French Guiana. The main European launch vehicle Ariane 5 is operated through Arianespace with ESA sharing in the costs of launching and further developing this launch vehicle. The agency is also working with NASA to manufacture the Orion Spacecraft service module, that will fly on the Space Launch System
Read More About The ESA: https://www.esa.int/
2021 Upcoming Space Launch/Event Schedule
| Date | Timeframe | Launch Mission | Location | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 11th | 10:30 am EST | VSS Unity Crewed | Spaceport America, New Mexico | Virgin Galactic |
| July 20th | TBD | New Shepard Crewed | Texas | Blue Origin |
Note that launches are highly weather-dependent and susceptible to scrub. In that case, a new launch window will be scheduled and posted
Previous Launches of 2021
| Date | Time | Launch Mission | Location | Agency | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 7th | 0053-0528 UTC | Türksat 5A Satellite | Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA | SpaceX | In Orbit - Success |
| January 14th | 1700 UTC | New Shepard NS-14 Mission | Van Horn, Texas, USA | Blue Origin | Success! |
| January 17th | 1800-2200 UTC | 747 Launch Demo 2 | Mojave Desert, California, USA | Virgin Orbit | Success! |
| January 17th | 1800 UTC | Tiantong-1-03 | Xichang Space Center, Sichuan, China | CASC | In Orbit - Success! |
| January 20th | 0726 UTC | Another One Leaves The Crust | Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand | RocketLab | In Orbit - Success! |
| January 20th | 1302 UTC | Starlink 16 | Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA | SpaceX | In Orbit - Success! |
| January 24th | 1500 UTC | Transporter 1 Satellites | Cape Canaveral, Flordia, USA | SpaceX | In Orbit - Huge Success! |
| January 29th | 0447 UTC | Yaogan-31-02 | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China | CASC | In Orbit - Success! |
| January 31st | 1800-2300 UTC | Stardust 1.0 | Limestone, Maine | bluShift Aerospace | Success! |
| February 2nd | 1400-2359 UTC | Starship SN9 Prototype Launch | Boca Chica, Texas, USA | SpaceX | Success - ish! |
| February 2nd | 2045 UTC | Lotos-S1 n05 | Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia | Russian Federal Space Agency | Success |
| February 3rd | 1057 UTC | Starlink 17 | Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA | SpaceX | Success |
| February 4th | 0619 UTC | Starlink 18 | Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA | SpaceX | Success |
| February 18th | 1800 UTC | Perseverance Rover | Jezero Crater, Mars | NASA | Success |
2021 - What To Expect
With 2021 scheduled to be a breakthrough in the space industry, read below about some of the goals of each leading company for this year
2021 - What To Expect
SpaceX - Elon Musk [United States of America]
SpaceX is a privately owned company by Elon Musk. During the year 2021, we can expect to see SpaceX…
- Launch 48 Falcon Missions into space - most launching SpaceX’s ‘Starlink Satellites’
- Operate 3 Manned Missions to the International Space Station
- Make critical progress on the Starship and Starship Superheavy spacecraft program which will eventually bring us to the Moon, Mars, and beyond
- Race remote-controlled cars on the surface of the Moon
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - United States Government [United States of America]
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a US government owned company. During the year 2021, we can expect to see NASA…
- launch of Artemis I. An unmanned spacecraft that will lead the way to bring human life back to the moon
- Landing of the Perseverance Rover on Mars on Febuary 18th
- Multiple contracted launches
- Supporting Space Operations around the globe
Blue Origin - Jeff Bezos [United States of America]
Blue Origin is a privately owned company by Amazons, Jeff Bezos. During the year 2021, we can expect to see Blue Origin…
- Make their first orbital launch - Prior to this, they have only gone sub-orbital during their rocket launches
- Begin testing on their ‘Blue Moon’ spacecraft - A candidate to bring men and the first woman back to the moon
- Multiple contract missions using their ‘New Glenn’ rockets
China National Space Administration (CNSA) - Chinese Government [China]
http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/
The China National Space Administration is a Chinese government owned company. During the year 2021, we can expect to see the CNSA…
- Orbit and Landing of Tianwen-1; a Mars spacecraft, which is due to enter Mars orbit around Feb. 10 with a rover landing attempt to follow in May
- 40 Orbital Rocket Launches
- Launch of 2 new core stages to space to prepare for their new ‘Chinese Space Station‘
European Space Agency (ESA) - European State Governments [The European Union]
The European Space Agency is a European Union government owned company. During the year 2021, we can expect to see the ESA…
- Launch of the James Webb Telescope - this will allow astronomers to see much further into deep space
- Launch of 2-3 ESA Astronauts to the International Space Station
Interested In Space Exploration?
- Explore NASA STEM | NASA
- How We Are Going To The Moon | NASA Youtube
- What is SpaceX | TopTrending YouTube
- SpaceX Lands All 3 Falcon Heavy Boosters for the First Time | Jett Quasar YouTube
- Starship | SN8 | High-Altitude Flight Recap | SpaceX YouTube
- Ask away on this thread. There are many members of this community (including myself) who are well informed about Space and the future of Space Flight and there’s a good chance someone will be able to answer your questions
