Despite the pandemic, 2020 was a landmark year for the commercial space industry. SpaceX became the first company ever to send humans to space aboard a privately owned spacecraft. The US government continued to work closely with startups and space businesses to put humans back on the Moon. And, helped by governments declaring them "essential businesses" amid the pandemic, a pack of young space companies kept working to create new rockets or satellite services.
But 2021 is expected to be even bigger for the burgeoning industry as reigning giants such as SpaceX continue to pursue futuristic technologies — from Mars rockets to space-based internet service and extraterrestrial tourism.
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