As Perseverance Approaches Mars, Scientists Debate Its Sampling Strategy
The car-sized rover is the first step in an ambitious effort to bring pieces of the Red Planet back to Earth, but some crucial details remain undecided
Stories by Leonard David
Arecibo Observatory to Close Its Giant Eye on the Sky
After suffering severe damage from broken cables that cannot be readily repaired, the observatory’s enormous radio telescope is now slated for “controlled decommissioning”...
An Underappreciated Danger of the New Space Age: Global Air Pollution
As private launches increase dramatically, so will emissions of CO2, particulates and other noxious substances
Water Found in Sunlight and Shadow on the Moon
Observations by NASA’s SOFIA telescope and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal signs of water in sun-baked lunar soil, as well as in small, dark craters
Is There Life on Venus? These Missions Could Find It
Following a tantalizing discovery, these spacecraft could be headed to Earth’s twisted twin in search of the truth
Luna-25 Lander Renews Russian Moon Rush
The former front-runner in the lunar space race aims to rekindle its exploration after nearly half a century
NASA’s Hunt for Lunar Water Intensifies
The space agency’s plans for sustainable lunar outposts could hinge on finding—and using—what may be the moon’s most precious resource
NASA Proposes New Rules for Moon-Focused Space Race
The Artemis Accords could ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for lunar exploration—if everyone agrees to them
Mars Needs Money: White House Budget Could Prompt Retreat from Red Planet
Proposed cuts could end decades of U.S. leadership in exploring that world
Astronomers Battle Space Explorers for Access to Moon’s Far Side
Without protection from radio interference, a giant observatory on the moon’s hidden hemisphere could prove unworkable
Reduce Red Tape for the Red Planet, Report Says
Regulations governing the responsible exploration of Mars and other worlds require regular, frequent updates, according to a new NASA review
Will Future Lunar Bases Be Underground?
Lava tubes on the moon could be crucial sites for human outposts
Science and Sustainability May Clash on the Moon
Lunar ice could be a crucial resource for future explorers. It could also be an astrobiological treasure trove. Can it be used as both?
Huge Meteor Explosion a Wake-Up Call for Planetary Defense
Detonating over the Bering Sea, the blast was as powerful as a nuclear bomb
Farside Politics: The West Eyes Moon Cooperation with China
Scientists and policy makers in the U.S. and Europe are seeking new ways to work with China on its ambitious lunar exploration program
With First-Ever Landing on Moon’s Farside, China Enters “Luna Incognita”
The Chang’e 4 mission could have major effects on earthbound science and politics
Scientists Double Down on Landing Sites for Sample-Collecting Mars Rover
NASA’s Mars 2020 mission could visit two locations where microbial life may once have thrived
Will NASA’s Next Mission to Venus Be a Balloon?
Airships or solar-powered airplanes may be next in line for a return to Earth’s “evil twin”
Would Trump’s “Space Force” Patrol the Moon?
The proposed new military branch could protect the “space commons” in the vicinity of Earth
Paul Spudis, Moon-Exploration Expert, Dies at 66
The planetary scientist was an outspoken advocate of lunar missions as the preferred next steps for human spaceflight
