The 10 Most Important Aerospace Innovations Of The Year

These are the Best Of What's New

By Kelsey D. Atherton, Sophie Bushwick

Updated on May 19, 2021 10:44 AM EDT

juno spacecraft

Bigelow Aerospace Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM): Inflatable Space House

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works SPIDER: An Airship-Fixing Robot

SpaceX Falcon 9: Rocket Sticks the Sea Landing

Perlan Project Inc Airbus Perlan Mission II: Gliding to the Edge of Space

Zapata Industries Flyboard Air: High-Flying Hoverboard

Aerion Corporation AS2: Supersonic Returns

Facebook Aquila: Internet Via Drone

German Aerospace Center HY4: Hydrogen-Cell Four-Seater

A MAJIC prototype is tested on a NASA microgravity flight

Read about the other Best of What’s New winners from the November/December 2016 issue of Popular Science.

Kelsey D. Atherton is a military technology journalist who has contributed to Popular Science since 2013. He covers uncrewed robotics and other drones, communications systems, the nuclear enterprise, and the technologies that go into planning, waging, and mitigating war. Kelsey lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his spouse, beloved pets, and ample sunshine.