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Top 7 Space Moments of the Decade

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From the first all-female spacewalk to the "Great American Solar Eclipse," here are the top space moments of the decade. (Photo Credit: NASA)

It’s been quite a decade for space with the first all-female spacewalk, the “Great American Eclipse,” the first image of a black hole, and more beyond-Earth happenings.

Over the past 10 years, we’ve witnessed cool skywatching events, important gatherings at the International Space Station (ISS), and jaw-dropping views of planets.

Time flies and we’re still exploring the universe: Read on for the best space moments of the 2010s.

First Image of a Black Hole (2019)

At the heart of galaxy M87 is a vast, dark, and mysterious black hole that was snapped by astronomers for the first time. Thanks to observations from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), we can now explore this eerie abyss more over the next couple of years.

SpaceX Flight (2012)

SpaceX made a major move a couple of years ago: Its Dragon became the first commercial vehicle to attach to the Space Station. Previously, only four governments, Japan, Russia, the U.S., and the European Space Agency were only able to ace this accomplishment. Fast-forward to 2019, SpaceX is still ferrying goods and equipment to the orbiting laboratory.

“Great American Solar Eclipse” (2017)

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the “Great American Solar Eclipse!” This bizarre event captivated skywatchers across America, and even prompted people to host “Solar Watch parties.” Nothing beats seeing this eerie, yet spectacular phenomenon in person.

Chelyabinsk Meteor (2013)

You may not believe this happened, but a giant meteor shook the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. Like something out of a sci-fi movie, the massive space rock moved in the sky above the area, shattered windows, and caused some burn injuries. The incident prompted a global team of researchers to come together to assess the damage and issue preventative measures.

First All-Female Spacewalk (2019)

NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir made history when they completed the first all-female spacewalk this year. The pair successfully replaced a battery charge/discharge unit on the orbiting laboratory’s exterior without suit fitting issues or other setbacks. Their critical spacewalk will go down in the books forever.

New Horizons Snaps Close-Ups of Pluto (2015)

Pluto…is that you? New Horizons captured gorgeous close-ups when it made its closest approach to the planet and its five moons four years ago. The mission helped us learn more about Pluto’s surface and use radio waves to figure out its radius. Now, we’re studying the tiny planet and how it plays a role in our solar system.

Japan’s Hayabusa Spacecraft Returns Asteroid Dust (2010)

Japan’s Hayabusa spacecraft is the ultimate sample collector: Back in 2010, it returned dust from the asteroid Itokawa, and this milestone enabled scientists to learn about the giant space rock’s surface and the particles of material present there. Flash-forward to today, and Japan is still studying cool asteroids, including Ryugu.

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