2021 saw significant milestones achieved in the assembly of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft (QueSST), and all eyes now look forward to a pivotal 2022. via NASA https://ift.tt/3qStP81

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with the Lucy spacecraft aboard is seen at Space Launch Complex 41, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. via NASA https://ift.tt/31o9Khg

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, launched aboard Arianespace’s Ariane 5 rocket on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. via NASA https://ift.tt/3pLdlzo

This composite image made from seven frames shows the International Space Station, with a crew of seven onboard, in silhouette as it transits the Sun. via NASA https://ift.tt/3sMiWHA

Arianespace’s Ariane 5 rocket with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope onboard, is rolled out to the launch pad, Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. via NASA https://ift.tt/3EiVJyZ

In this image, the COWVR and TEMPEST instruments are shown in the trunk of the cargo craft. via NASA https://ift.tt/3qgE1ac

The Earth’s solstices come twice a year. For the Northern Hemisphere, this year’s winter solstice happens on Dec. 21. via NASA https://ift.tt/33O7Lnn

These blueprints of the James Webb Space Telescope were created as a prop for a video series. via NASA https://ift.tt/32mzH0F

In this image, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope captures a side-on view of NGC 3568, a barred spiral galaxy roughly 57 million light-years from the Milky Way in the constellation Centaurus. via NASA https://ift.tt/3GT3pcU

This Hubble Space Telescope image captures a portion of the reflection nebula IC 2631, which contains a protostar, the hot, dense core of a forming star that is accumulating gas and dust. via NASA https://ift.tt/3s7vAkd