In 2023, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida experienced significant achievements in space exploration, and the momentum will continue into 2024. The center will host a variety of missions, including a launch to the Moon and numerous crew and cargo missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
NASA’s first mission under the Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) program is scheduled for 2024, featuring the inaugural launch of the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket. These CLPS missions play a crucial role in NASA’s efforts to enhance capabilities for Moon exploration, aligning with upcoming Artemis missions that will carry astronauts into space.
Meanwhile, the Kennedy Space Center will be bustling with activity for the development of the Artemis 2 mission, where astronauts will orbit the Moon and return. Integration work for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, including solid rocket boosters and the core stage, is commencing inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. Processing is also underway for the core stage of the Artemis 3 mission.
Boeing and SpaceX are gearing up for three commercial crew program missions departing from the Kennedy Space Center, contributing to the busy traffic to the ISS. Efforts are underway for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner’s first crew flight test. Additionally, private astronaut missions to the space station, such as SpaceX and Axiom’s Axiom Mission 3 and Axiom Mission 4, are on the horizon.
Beyond major launches, the Kennedy Space Center will host several small CubeSat missions through NASA’s Launch Services Program. These missions encompass a mix of complex robotic and scientific endeavors alongside smaller, cost-effective projects.