In 2024, several significant satellite launches are scheduled, and the year is shaping up to be an exciting one for space exploration
1. ISRO Launches: On New Year’s Day, ISRO launched the XPoSat for studying Xray polarization. The Aditya-L1 spacecraft launched earlier, is set to study the solar
atmosphere and magnetic storms.
2. Chinese Launches: China has multiple satellite launches planned, including the
launch of ocean salinity detection satellites, electromagnetic monitoring satellites,
and the Sino-French astronomy satellite.
3. Major Satellite Launches: The year includes many significant launches, such as
Viasat payloads for the Inmarsat Global Xpress service, marking Viasat’s first in
Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO).
4. Commercial and International Collaborations: Chinese companies are planning
over 20 launch missions, including international and domestic satellite rideshare
launches.
These launches reflect a mix of scientific, commercial, and international
collaboration in space exploration.
Some notable satellites launched include
1. XPoSat (India, January 1, 2024) – An X-ray polarization observatory from
ISRO.
2. Starlink Missions – SpaceX has conducted multiple launches to add to its
Starlink satellite constellation throughout the year, with launches almost every
month.
3. Shenzhou 18 (April 2024) – Launched by China to its Tiangong space station.
4. Aditya-L1 (India, January 6, 2024) – This mission studies the solar
atmosphere and magnetic storms at the Earth-Sun L1 point.
5. PROBA-3 (ESA) – Solar coronagraph satellites for studying the Sun.
6. Peregrine (US, January 8, 2024) – Attempted a lunar mission, but the
spacecraft failed to land on the Moon.
These are just some examples of the satellite launches in 2024, with many more
missions focusing on communications, scientific exploration, and Earth
observation
