Space launches to watch in December 2024.

Blue Origin is preparing for the inaugural launch of its New Glenn rocket, which aims to send a prototype of the Blue Ring equipment into space for testing. As a promising indication that the first flight will take place soon, the company positioned the rocket vertically on the launch pad in November. However, a specific launch date has yet to be announced.

SpaceX's launches this year are approaching their final stretch. Elon Musk's company is set to conduct three launches of Starlink satellites, as well as:

• launching two communication satellites for SES (December 12);

• launching four small communication satellites from Astranis into geostationary orbit to provide internet connectivity to the Philippines (December 16);

• launching a geostationary communication satellite from Yahsat in the UAE (December 19).

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will conduct a space docking experiment on the 20th. The PSLV rocket will launch two spacecraft into orbit, which will perform docking and separation in space autonomously.

The Japanese company ispace plans to carry out its second lunar exploration mission, with a launch scheduled for December. Using a Falcon 9 rocket, the lunar module Resilience will be deployed, carrying a small lunar rover, a radiation measurement device, and an art piece in the form of a miniature red house.