Space calendar 2024: Rocket launches and skywatching dates – Space.com

2024 is a busy year for spaceflight and exploration enthusiasts with countless launches, mission milestones and skywatching events to look forward to.

With so much going on, it's hard to keep track of everything. Never fear keep up with the latest events in our 2024 space calendar. You can also Find out what's up in the night sky this month with our visible planets guide and skywatching forecast.

Please note: Launch dates are subject to change and will be updated throughout the year as firmer dates arise. Please DO NOT schedule travel based on a date you see here. Launch dates are collected from NASA events, ESA news, Roscosmos space launch schedule, Spaceflight Now launch schedule, Everyday Astronaut, Supercluster and others.

Related: Wondering what happened today in space history? Check out our "On This Day in Space" video!

Full Flower Moon

May 23: May's full moon rises. The moon will officially reach its full phase at 9:53 a.m. EDT (13:53 GMT) on Tuesday, May 23.

The monthly full moons all receive specific monikers many of which come from Native American sources, according toFarmer's Almanac.The May full moon's title the Flower Moon relates to flowers spring forth across North America during the month of May.

Ready, Aim, PREFIRE

May 24: Rocket Lab will launch the first of two satellites for NASA's latest climate science mission, the Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-Infrared Experiment (PREFIRE), which aims to capture brand new data on how heat is lost to space from Earth's polar regions.

PREFIRE consists of a pair of cubesats that will launch separately into near-polar orbits. "Ready, Aim, PREFIRE," is set to launch no earlier than May 24, on aRocket LabElectron rocketfrom Pad B at the company's Launch Complex 1, in Mhia, New Zealand.

Progress MS-27

May 30: A Roscosmos Progress cargo ship will launch to the International Space Station (ISS) from theBaikonur Cosmodromein Kazakhstan, for the Progress MS-27 cargo mission. Progress is expected to dock with the Russian side of space station, carrying a few thousand pounds of cargo and supplies for the station crew.

Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test

Starship IFT-4

June 5: SpaceX istargeting June 5for the fourth integrated flight test (IFT-4) ofStarship, the giant vehicle it's developing to get people and cargo to the moon, Mars and beyond. That date is written in pencil rather than pen, however, for SpaceX still needs to secure regulatory approval specifically, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's acceptance of a Starship launch license modification.

244th AAS Astronomy meeting

June 9-13: The 244th meeting of the American Astronomical Society is scheduled for June 9-13, in Madison, Wisconsin. AAS is an international organization with a membership of around 8,200 astronomers, astronomy educators, amateur astronomers, physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers, and others whose research falls within the astronomical sciences.

Ariane 6

June 15: TheEuropean Space Agency(ESA) Ariane 6 rocket fromFrance-based company Arianespacewill launch on its debut mission to space. Ariane 6 was initially planned to begin flying in 2020 and ramp up its cadence to replace the olderAriane 5rocket seamlessly.However, the Ariane 5 flew its 117th andfinal missionin early July, 2023, while Ariane 6 has suffered a series of delays, caused by technical issues, COVID-19 and design changes.

Summer Solstice

June 20: Thenext summer solsticefor theNorthern Hemispherewill occur onJune 20, 2024, and the next summer solstice for theSouthern Hemispherewill occur onDec. 21, 2024. The summer solstice marks the official start of astronomical summer and the longest day of the year.It occurs when one of Earth's poles is tilted toward the sun at its most extreme angle, and due to Earth's tilt, this happens twice a year. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice falls in June (while the Southern Hemisphere experiences the winter solstice), and in the Southern Hemisphere, it falls in December (while the Northern Hemisphere experiences the winter solstice).

Strawberry Full Moon

June 21: The Strawberry Moon was a sweet treat for skywatchers around the world this month. June's full moon, also known as the Strawberry Moon, will rise at 9:37 p.m. EDT June 21 (0137 GMT June 22), and moonwatchers across the globe will have the chance to see the fully-illuminated lunar face. Following the Strawberry Moon, the moon will begin rising in the night sky later and later while also waning, meaning the lit portion of its visible disk will begin growing smaller. Our planet's natural satellite will thenreach new moonon July 5, at which point it will be totally lost in the sun's glare.

Falcon Heavy GOES-U

June 25: NOAA's GOES-U will launch completethe GOES-R constellation, and will examine thecorona, or outer atmosphere, of the sun. NOAA's Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite system focuses on providing critical information on environmental issues from the land to the sea and sky. Thanks to the GOES-R series, scientists are able to get high-definition images ofEarthfaster than ever before.

Earth at Aphelion

July 5: Happy Aphelion Day! Earth is at its farthest from the sun today than it will be any other day for the next year.

Full Buck Moon

July 21: July's full moon signals its rotation back to opposite side ofthe sunfrom Earth, and as such is fully illuminated. If you were standing on the moon at the right longitude it would be noontime the sun would be directly overhead at the moon's equator, and as high as it ever gets in the sky as one moves north or south. Lunar days are about 14 days long, as the moon always keeps the same face towards Earth. A full moon means that the moon is on the opposite side ofthe sunfrom Earth, and as such is fully illuminated. If you were standing on the moon at the right longitude it would be noontime the sun would be directly overhead at the moon's equator, and as high as it ever gets in the sky as one moves north or south. Lunar days are about 14 days long, as the moon always keeps the same face towards Earth.

Alpha Capricornids meteor shower peak

July 30-31: Though few in number, the Alpha Capricornids frequently produce slow, bright yellow, fireball-class meteors that can be quite spectacular. They can be especially stunning for northern observers because of their long trails, owing to their low radiant elevation.This year, they will last from July 3 - Aug. 15, with a peak during the nights of July 30 and 31.

Polaris Dawn

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Space calendar 2024: Rocket launches and skywatching dates - Space.com