From natural disasters and humanitarian crises to advances in space exploration, 2024 brought a series of impactful events around the world.
As the year draws to a close, satellite images from Maxar Technologies have captured many of those defining moments—from the collapse of a Maryland bridge to the launch of groundbreaking rockets—offering a bird's-eye perspective of a world in motion.
Here's a closer look at some of 2024's most pivotal events as seen from space.
A Tragedy in Baltimore
In March, the Dali container ship collided with a key support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, leading to a devastating collapse of the bridge's span. The disaster claimed six lives and blocked vital shipping lanes at the Port of Baltimore for nearly two months, with economic losses initially estimated at $15 million per day.
The Dali has since been removed, and plans are underway to rebuild the Key Bridge after federal funds were approved as part of the end-of-year spending deal in Congress.
Breaking New Ground in Space Observation
In May, Maxar pointed its first two WorldView Legion satellites at a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch. High-resolution images captured just before liftoff showed the rocket at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The new Legion "birds" are able to capture detailed imagery more often and at different times of the day.
Boeing Starliner's Failed Mission
In June, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft achieved a major milestone by docking with the International Space Station (ISS) during its first crewed mission. That was the good news.
The Starliner mission faced immediate challenges when technical issues, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, were detected as the capsule was docked at the ISS. As a result, NASA decided to return the Starliner to Earth without its crew in September. The astronauts who hitched a ride on Starliner remain on the ISS with a return still TBD.
Gaza Humanitarian Pier Fails Immediately
In June, a newly built pier off the coast of Gaza, intended for humanitarian aid, was broken apart by rough seas. The $50 million Army project was criticized for poor design and its location in a particularly volatile location in Gaza, where aid would be difficult to disburse even if it made it off the pier. Limited coordination between international and local authorities delayed repairs, rendering the pier unusable. The Pentagon announced its closure on July 17, after it had been operational for only 20 days. One U.S. soldier who was injured while working on the pier died months later as a result of his injuries.
Paris Takes Center Stage
Paris was the site of the 2024 Summer Olympics, which transformed the City of Light into a vast sports complex. As part of the preparations, organizers built a temporary beach volleyball arena in the shadow the Eiffel Tower that provided some of the most picture-perfect backdrops of the Games.
Destruction in North Carolina
The southeastern U.S. faced severe challenges as Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck back-to-back in September and October. Helene caused widespread flooding in inland North Carolina, while Milton set a National Weather Service record for rapid intensification, reaching Category 5 status in 24 hours.
The 2024 hurricane season was the second costliest in history, with $190 billion in damages, and set records for late-season storm activity.
The Vegas Strip Comes Alive
In November, Las Vegas hosted the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Grand Prix. Maxar's satellite imagery showcased the track winding through the Vegas Strip, passing landmarks like the popular new concert and event venue known as The Sphere.
Dutch driver Max Verstappen claimed victory at the F1, finishing ahead of Charles Leclerc and Sergio Pérez. The race drew approximately 315,000 attendees.
Restoration of a Global Icon
When Notre-Dame suffered a catastrophic fire in April 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron was ridiculed by promising the famed Gothic cathedral would be restored in five years — a job that many expected to take decades.
In December, just more than five years later, Paris celebrated the reopening of Notre Dame. The sweeping restoration, funded by nearly $1 billion in private donations, was marked by a ceremony hosted by Macron, who expressed gratitude to the donors and thousands of builders and craftspeople who worked tirelessly to reopen the city's most treasured building.
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