What was the biggest year in the history of space exploration after the initial space race, and how does 2021 compare?

2021's theme seems to be bigger and better reworkings of previous projects, and it's definitely looking like a big year for space.

Perseverance is a bigger and better version of Curiosity.
Starship is like a bigger and better Space Shuttle.
And the JWST is like a bigger and better Hubble Telescope.

All three are a pretty big deal; not so much since the technological jump from its predecessor isn't that big, but certainly for Starship and JWST which are replacing decades-old technology.