Comsat Launch Bolsters China's Dreams for Landing on the Moon's Far Side
The Queqiao orbiter will serve as a vital communications relay between the Earth and future lunar landers—and perform some science, too
Stories by Leonard David
Should We Open Some Sealed Moon Samples?
Now might be the best time to study unexamined caches of lunar material from the Apollo missions
If We Found Life on Mars, How Would We Know?
Despite decades of Red Planet exploration, the protocols for confirming evidence of life there are still quite hazy
Shooting for the Moon--This Time to Stay
After almost a half-century hiatus, lunar missions are once again becoming the next big thing in space science and exploration
Is the James Webb Space Telescope "Too Big to Fail?"
Backers of NASA’s next great observatory contemplate its worst-case scenarios
How Much Air Pollution Is Produced by Rockets?
With economic activity poised to surge in space, scientists are reexamining how rockets might harm Earth’s atmosphere
NASA's Next Mars Lander Zooms toward Launch
The InSight mission will take the planet’s temperature—and help prepare for eventual human exploration
China's Delayed Moon Mission Sparks Debate over Lunar Samples
The Chang’e 5 spacecraft could return invaluable new moon rocks to Earth, but who will get to study them?
NASA Debates How to Retrieve Rocks from Mars
The agency's next Mars rover will cache samples for return to Earth, but how and when they will be delivered remains undecided
Scientists Spot Water-Rich Rocks on Moon
Data from an Indian lunar orbiter hints at substantial water in the lunar interior
Sweating the Small Stuff: CubeSats Swarm Earth Orbit
A boom in nanosatellites could revolutionize space science and industry, but also dramatically increase the hazards of space junk
Will Mars Go Mute? NASA's Aging Orbiters May Not Last Long Enough to Support Future Exploration
The space agency does not have a replacement in the works to take over their vital role of relaying communications
The Search for Life on Mars Is about to Get Weird
Astrobiologists ponder sending gene sequencers, weather stations, drilling rigs and more to the Red Planet
Red Planet versus Dead Planet: Scientists Debate Next Destination for Astronauts in Space
Nearly a half-century after humans voyaged to the moon, NASA and private U.S. companies are once again setting their sights beyond low Earth orbit
Ringo Is a Beatle, Hawaii Is a State--Why Isn't Pluto a Planet?
After more than a decade of controversy, the debate over the icy world’s demotion to “dwarf planet” status shows no sign of stopping
NASA's Mars 2020 Rover: Stepping Stone to What?
After intense debate, planetary scientists have selected three finalist landing sites for an ambitious U.S. mission that will set the course for future Mars exploration
NASA's Next Rover Faces Steep Challenges on Path to Mars
A new report details problems that could push the Mars 2020 rover over-budget and behind schedule
Private Space Station Coming Soon? Company Aiming for 2020 Launch
Work is underway to establish the world's first private, international commercial space station
New White House Strategy Preps Earth for Asteroid Hit Scenarios
The Office of Science and Technology Policy has released a new plan for protecting Earth from hazardous space rocks
China's Big Year in Space Sparks Excitement and Speculation
The Chinese space agency launched a new space lab, sent up its longest crewed mission ever and tested out powerful new rockets
