From billionaires racing to be the first into space, to a telescope that will allow astronomers to peer back to the dawn of the universe, 2021 was packed with breakthroughs, firsts and adventures in space.
Other highlights included NASA flying a helicopter on another world solar power generators for home use the first time, and Star Trek's William Shatner travelling to the edge of space.
There were dozens of exoplanets discovered, the oldest supermassive black hole ever found by astronomers, and the launch of new telescopes to study the universe.
Beyond the science milestones, we entered the era of commercial space tourism, with Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin reaching space, and SpaceX sending an all civilian crew on an orbital jaunt around the planet.
The coming year is expected to be just as busy, with the first pictures from the Webb telescope expected in June, and launches of the giant NASA SLS rocket, and an orbital test of the SpaceX Starship likely before the year is finished.
From billionaires racing to be the first into space, to a telescope that will allow astronomers to peer back to the dawn of the universe, 2021 was packed with breakthroughs, firsts and adventures in space
To get an idea of just how packed a year it has been in space travel, science and adventure, MailOnline has pulled together a selection of highlights.
Missions to Mars
In 2021 three nations reached Mars with either landers or orbiter spacecraft, designed to study the atmosphere or search the surface of the Red Planet.
These included the Perseverance Rover and Ingenuity Helicopter, sent by NASA, the Hope orbiter sent by the United Arab Emirates, and Tianwen-1 from China.
NASA's Perseverance Rover survived its 'seven minutes of terror,' a time when the craft relies on its automated systems for descent and landing, to touch down flawlessly on Mars' Jezero Crater in February.
These included the Perseverance Rover and Ingenuity Helicopter, sent by NASA, the Hope orbiter sent by the United Arab Emirates, and Tianwen-1 from China