Year in Review Space

Space missions spanned the solar system in 2024

Chang’e 6 nabbed moon dirt, Percy found hints of ancient life on Mars and Europa Clipper launched

An artist's illustration of the Europa Clipper spacecraft flying over Jupiter's icy moon Europa.

NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft (illustrated) took off for an icy moon of Jupiter in October, where it will search for signs that the moon’s subsurface ocean might be friendly to life.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

By Lisa Grossman

From monitoring Mercury to launching a new adventure to an icy moon of Jupiter, spacecraft and astronauts made great strides in 2024.