Image: First launch of New Glenn courtesy of Blue Origin

From NSS Headquarters

The first month of 2025 has already been filled with remarkable achievements in space technology and development. From historic rocket launches to groundbreaking scientific missions, space agencies and private companies worldwide are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. As humanity takes bold steps toward a spacefaring future, NSS is tracking the latest developments and advocating for policies that support these exciting advancements.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable space events from January:

• Blue Origin’s New Glenn Maiden Flight: On January 16, Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This long-awaited milestone marked the rocket’s first trip to orbit, deploying a prototype satellite and proving its capabilities for future commercial and scientific missions.
• ISRO’s Successful Space Docking Experiment: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) made history on January 16 by completing its first space docking, making India the fourth nation to achieve this complex feat. This breakthrough is a crucial step toward future space station operations and autonomous satellite servicing.
• SpaceX’s Starship Test Flight: SpaceX conducted its seventh test flight of Starship, continuing its push toward a fully reusable deep-space vehicle. While the test ended with an explosion, SpaceX noted that this was a substantially revised version of Starship and that design revisions are to be expected.
• Astronauts Conduct ISS Repairs: NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Nick Hague performed a spacewalk on January 16 to replace a crucial rate gyro assembly on the International Space Station. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore did another spacewalk on January 30 to remove a radio frequency group antenna assembly from the station’s truss and collect samples of surface material for analysis from the Destiny laboratory and the Quest airlock. Williams set a new record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut.
• Mercury Flyby by BepiColombo: The BepiColombo mission, a joint effort between ESA and JAXA, completed its sixth flyby of Mercury in January. This maneuver gathered critical data on the planet’s composition and magnetic environment, bringing scientists closer to understanding Mercury’s mysterious geology.
• Blue Ghost Mission 1 to the Moon: On January 15 Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 was launched to deliver NASA science instruments to study lunar regolith, geophysical activity, and solar wind interactions. It is scheduled to land on the Moon on March 2. This mission is a critical step toward developing a sustainable lunar economy.

The Year Ahead

With so many incredible advancements happening in just the first few weeks of 2025, it’s clear this year will be a game-changer for space. NSS remains at the forefront of advocating for space exploration, development, and settlement, and for policies that support innovation and that help to shape our future in space. Stay engaged, stay inspired, and join us as we continue to develop the final frontier!