Planetary Science
NASA Unveils Ice-Hunting VIPER Rover’s Lunar Landing Site
The space agency’s first-ever robotic moon rover will touch down in late 2023 just west of Nobile, a crater near the lunar south pole
Stories by Mike Wall
Space & Physics
Jeff Bezos Launches into Space on Blue Origin’s First Astronaut Flight
The billionaire and three others take a suborbital trip onboard the craft New Shepard
Space & Physics
Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin Are Finally Flying to Space
After nearly twenty years pursuing a lifelong dream of spaceflight, the world’s wealthiest person is at last ready for lift off
Space & Physics
China Launches Astronauts to New Space Station
The nation’s first crewed liftoff in nearly five years is the third of 11 planned launches to complete the station’s construction
Space & Physics
Ganymede Looks Glorious in New Images from NASA’s Juno Mission
The spacecraft captured the first close-up views of the solar system’s largest moon in more than 20 years
Space & Physics
Huge Chinese Rocket Falls to Earth over Arabian Peninsula
Debris from the 20-metric-ton booster reportedly splashed down in the Indian Ocean north of the Maldives
Space & Physics
SpaceX Sticks the Landing in Latest Starship Test Flight
After multiple explosive endings to previous high-altitude tests, a prototype rocket for voyages to the Moon and Mars finally touched down safely
Space & Physics
Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Goes Long Distance in Third Flight
The rotorcraft set performance records in its latest test, flying a total distance of 100 meters
Space & Physics
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Makes Oxygen on Mars for First Time
The technique could someday help astronauts sustainably live and work on the Red Planet
Space & Physics
First Flight of NASA’s Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Is Delayed
The interplanetary aircraft will launch no earlier than next week because of glitches in its flight-control software
Space & Physics
Perseverance Rover Settles In during First Month on Mars
With initial operations going smoothly, the rover could soon attempt to launch its pioneering helicopter, Ingenuity
Space & Physics
Perseverance Mars Rover Records Sound of Rock-Zapping Laser
NASA’s latest robotic explorer is capturing the snaps, crackles and pops of sizzling stones on the Red Planet
Space & Physics
China’s First Mars Mission, Tianwen-1, Reaches the Red Planet
Now in orbit, the spacecraft will attempt a landing later this year
Space & Physics
Virgin Orbit’s First Launch of 2021 Is Imminent
The company is targeting Sunday, January 17 for sending its LauncherOne rocket to space from the belly of a 747 jet
Space & Physics
Trump Signs Directive to Bolster Nuclear Power in Space Exploration
One goal laid out in the new policy is the testing of a fission power system on the moon by the mid- to late 2020s
Space & Physics
SpaceX’s Starship SN8 Prototype Soars on Epic Test Launch, with Explosive Landing
Despite its “rapid unplanned disassembly,” the company’s highest-yet flight of its next-generation rocket was a success
Space & Physics
Japanese Space Capsule Carrying Pristine Asteroid Samples Lands in Australia
Gathered by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, the material from asteroid Ryugu will deepen scientists’ knowledge of early solar system history
Space & Physics
China’s Chang’e 5 Lands on Moon to Collect Fresh Samples
The ambitious mission is the first effort since 1976 to bring lunar material back to Earth
Space & Physics
China’s Chang’e-5 Mission Launches to Collect Lunar Samples
After a 44-year hiatus, humans are on the verge of returning fresh material from the moon
Space & Physics
NASA Celebrates Crew-1 Arrival at Space Station
SpaceX’s first 4-astronaut mission for the agency is a milestone in human spaceflight
