2018 was a landmark year for space development, characterized by a significant increase in launch activity, several groundbreaking scientific missions, and the continued rise of commercial space companies, particularly SpaceX.
Here are the key highlights and advancements in space development in 2018:
1. Record-Breaking Launch Activity:
Highest Launch Rate Since 1990s: A total of 114 orbital launches were conducted worldwide in 2018, compared to 91 in 2017, marking a 25% increase and the highest yearly tally since 1991 (end of the Cold War space race).
China's Dominance: China surpassed all other countries, conducting a record 39 orbital launches, more than any other nation in 2018.
2. Major Scientific Missions and Planetary Exploration:
NASA's InSight Lander on Mars: Launched in May and successfully landed on Mars in November 2018.
2 InSight was designed to study the deep interior of Mars, using a seismometer to detect marsquakes and a heat probe to measure the planet's internal temperature.3 It provided the first-ever "sounds" recorded from Mars.4 NASA's Parker Solar Probe: Launched in August 2018, this mission embarked on an unprecedented journey to "touch the Sun."
5 It became the fastest spacecraft ever, reaching its first perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) in November 2018, providing groundbreaking data on the Sun's outer corona.6 ESA/JAXA BepiColombo to Mercury: Launched in October 2018, this joint European (ESA) and Japanese (JAXA) mission began its long journey to Mercury.
7 It's designed to study the planet's magnetic field, interior, surface, and exosphere, with two separate orbiters.JAXA's Hayabusa2 at Asteroid Ryugu: The Japanese Hayabusa2 spacecraft successfully arrived at asteroid Ryugu in June 2018. It later deployed two small rovers (MINERVA-II1 A and B) onto the asteroid's surface in September, making it the first operational rover on an asteroid.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx at Asteroid Bennu: The asteroid sampling mission OSIRIS-REx successfully arrived at asteroid Bennu in December 2018, beginning its detailed mapping and reconnaissance phase.
NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS): Launched in April 2018, TESS began its mission to survey more than 200,000 bright stars, searching for exoplanets, particularly those in habitable zones around nearby stars.
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3. Commercial Space Takes Center Stage (SpaceX's Banner Year):
Falcon Heavy Maiden Flight: SpaceX made history with the spectacular maiden flight of its Falcon Heavy rocket in February 2018.
10 This powerful rocket, capable of lifting massive payloads, launched Elon Musk's personal Tesla Roadster into solar orbit, capturing global attention and demonstrating a new era of heavy-lift capabilities for commercial operators.11 Increased Falcon 9 Launches and Reusability: SpaceX continued to refine its Falcon 9 operations, achieving a personal-best of 21 launches in 2018. The company also significantly increased its reusability efforts, successfully landing and reflown a dozen Falcon 9 cores, with one booster achieving its third flight.
First Commercial Crew Test Flights: Preparations for commercial crew flights to the International Space Station intensified, with SpaceX (Crew Dragon) and Boeing (Starliner) making significant progress in testing and hardware development. While crewed flights didn't happen in 2018, the groundwork was firmly laid.
Smallsat Launches: Dedicated small satellite launch missions gained traction, with companies like Rocket Lab (though their Electron rocket's first orbital launch was in 2018, becoming successful in early 2019) demonstrating new capabilities for smaller payloads.
4. International Space Station (ISS) Activities:
Regular Crew Rotations and Spacewalks: The ISS continued to be continuously crewed by international astronauts, with multiple Soyuz launches for crew rotations and numerous spacewalks (EVAs) conducted for maintenance, upgrades, and scientific experiments.
Technology Demonstrations: The ISS hosted various technology demonstrations, including progress on advanced life support systems, 3D printing (e.g., ISS Refabricator hardware delivered), and preparations for augmented reality for maintenance procedures.
International Cooperation: The ISS remained a prime example of global collaboration in space, with continued contributions from NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA.
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5. China's Lunar Ambitions (Prelude to Far Side Landing):
Queqiao Relay Satellite: China launched the Queqiao relay satellite in May 2018. Positioned at a halo orbit around the Earth-Moon L2 Lagrangian point, this satellite was crucial for enabling communication with the far side of the Moon, a direct precursor to the ambitious Chang'e 4 mission.
Chang'e 4 Launch: In December 2018, China launched the Chang'e 4 lunar lander and rover, setting it on course for an unprecedented landing attempt on the far side of the Moon in early 2019.
14 This demonstrated China's growing technical sophistication and long-term lunar exploration strategy.
6. Government Policy and Future Outlook:
US Space Policy Shift: The Trump administration's 2018 Strategic Plan for NASA emphasized a "U.S.-led, integrated program with private sector partners for a human return to the Moon, followed by missions to Mars and beyond," signaling a renewed focus on lunar exploration.
ESA's Future Plans: ESA outlined plans for more Earth observation and exploration satellites, and its BepiColombo mission signified a strong commitment to planetary science.
In summary, 2018 was a year of accelerated progress in space, showcasing increasing global launch capabilities, particularly from China and commercial providers like SpaceX. It also delivered significant scientific milestones with new missions to the Sun, Mars, asteroids, and Mercury, setting the stage for even more ambitious endeavors in the years to come.
