Space Exploration
NASA’s Tiny CAPSTONE CubeSat Launches on Pioneering Moon Mission
The spacecraft will arrive in lunar orbit in mid-November to help prepare for a future moon-orbiting outpost
Stories by Mike Wall
Space Exploration
Old Russian Rocket Motor Explodes in Orbit, Creating More Space Debris
Ground stations are currently tracking 16 fragments associated with the event, which occurred on April 15
Space Exploration
Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Soars on 22nd Red Planet Flight
The aircraft’s sorties are helping NASA’s Perseverance rover scout a path into an ancient Martian river delta
Astronomy
Possible Third Planet Spotted around Proxima Centauri, Our Sun’s Nearest Neighbor Star
Proxima d might be only a quarter the mass of Earth, potentially making it one of the smallest worlds yet discovered beyond our solar system
Space Exploration
NASA Plans a Fiery End for the International Space Station by 2031
The space agency has announced the timing of the ISS’s demise as part of a long-planned transition to private orbital outposts
Planetary Science
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Chokes on Mars Pebbles while Collecting a Rock Sample
The rover’s latest sample collection—an effort to gather material for eventual return to Earth—is off to a rocky start
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
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
