Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
In 2023, the space sector witnessed a number of exciting moments, ranging from private space endeavours to countries achieving significant milestones. These events, ranging from rocket launches, space tourism, the discovery of new galaxies, and the successful landing on the moon's south pole, have collectively shaped the landscape of space exploration for the year. Let's take a look at some of the top moments of space exploration in 2023.
On August 23, India's Chandrayaan-3 achieved a historic soft landing on the moon's south pole, becoming the fourth nation to do so. This achievement also made India, the first nation to land on the lunar south pole. The successful landing conducted by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) opened new possibilities for exploration and the potential discovery of vital resources in uncharted lunar territory.
On April 20, SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever developed, faced multiple engine failures, leading to an out-of-control situation and eventual explosion. The mission aimed to test the integrated Starship and Super Heavy launch system, a key component for future missions to the moon and Mars.
After a 3.86-billion-mile journey, NASA's Osiris-Rex spacecraft landed in Utah on October 4, bringing back the first asteroid sample. The mission, launched in 2016, collected dust from the asteroid Bennu, providing valuable insights into asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth.
On April 3, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency unveiled the four-member crew for the Artemis II mission, set to launch next year. This marks the first crewed voyage around the moon in over 50 years, with notable astronauts, including Christina Koch and Victor Glover, making history.
Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic completed its inaugural manned mission to the edge of space on June 29. The mission included Italian Air Force personnel and contributed valuable feedback for the improvement of Virgin Galactic's rocket-powered spaceplane.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope marked its first anniversary on July 12, capturing stunning images of celestial phenomena. The telescope's achievements include unveiling the most distant known star, observing star formation, and providing colorful images of the Milky Way's center.
On August 11, Virgin Galactic's rocket transported passengers to the edge of space, reaching an elevation of 56 miles. Among the passengers were an 80-year-old former Olympian and a mother-daughter duo who won their seats in a charity draw.
Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft, aiming for a soft landing on the moon's south pole, crashed due to propulsion manoeuvre issues on August 20. The incident followed reports of an abnormal situation during the spacecraft's attempt to enter a designated pre-landing orbit.
Japan's H-IIA rocket successfully launched on September 7, carrying JAXA's Moon lander scheduled to touch down early next year. The mission, conducted in collaboration with NASA, aims to study the origins of the universe and celestial object formation.
On September 15, a Russian spacecraft lifted off from Kazakhstan, carrying one American and two Russian crew members to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission includes NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, who will spend six months on the ISS.
On November 18, SpaceX's uncrewed Starship spacecraft faced its second failure during a test flight. The rocket successfully lifted off but experienced issues with the Super Heavy first stage booster, leading to an explosion over the Gulf of Mexico and a loss of contact with the vehicle.