Stories by SPACE.com

Comet-Chasing Rosetta Spacecraft Releases Probe for Ambitious Landing Attempt

Spectacular View of Newborn Planetary System Captured by Radio Telescope

A planet-forming disk around a million-year-old star has been imaged in unprecedented detail

Timeline of Antares Rocket Explosion Is Pieced Together

Orbital Science's investigation of its rocket's catastrophic failure 15 seconds after launch last week is still underway

Virgin Galactic's Passenger Spacecraft Crash Kills Pilot

One pilot is dead, and one injured after SpaceShipTwo failed during a rocket-powered test flight over Mohave, Calif.

Unmanned Supply Rocket Explodes Seconds after Liftoff

Orbital Sciences’s Antares rocket burst into flames mere moments into  its mission to send a cargo-carrying spacecraft to resupply the  International Space Station. NASA reported no injuries to personnel...

Private Rocket to Make 2nd Launch Try Tonight

Orbital Sciences' unmanned Cygnus spacecraft is set to blast off atop an Antares rocket at 6:22 pm EDT from a NASA facility in Virginia

Partial Solar Eclipse to Darken U.S. Skies This Week

Weather permitting, nearly all of North America will be able to experience a partial solar eclipse of the sun on Thursday

Red Planet Spacecraft Prepare for Rare Comet Encounter

NASA's rovers and orbiters at Mars will witness a close encounter with a comet on October 19, an event that happens once every million years

Lunar Lava Left "Strikingly Geometric" Shapes on the Moon’s Surface

The early moon was more dynamic than scientists previously thought

Astronauts May Moonwalk Faster Than Expected

Apollo astronauts hopped across the moon because of their stiff suits, not because of low lunar gravity

India’s Mars Probe Sends Its First Images

The India Space Research Organization unveils its first pictures of the red planet

NASA Picks SpaceX and Boeing to Fly U.S. Astronauts on Private Spaceships

If all goes according to plan, the two companies will reduce or end NASA's dependence on Russia for its orbital taxi service

Solar Storms Are Bombarding Earth Now, Amped-up Auroras Possible

The solar weather is expected to cause significant auroral displays across much of the northern U.S. on Friday night

NASA's Next Mars Lander Will Peer Deep into Planet's History

The InSight Mission will measure the planet's rotation, weather at the landing site and magnetic disturbances to reveal more about Mars' inner workings and early development

Perseid Meteor Shower Thrills Stargazers Despite Bright Moon

Photographers managed to capture images of shooting stars despite nearly full moon

Six Minor Meteor Showers Could Beat the Perseids This Summer

While a bright nearly-full moon will interfere with Perseid meteor observing, six other six lesser celestial displays will reach their peak in dark skies

36-Year-Old NASA Probe's Engines Successfully Fired Up by Private Team

The team intends to rescue the International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 and then focus on what to use the spacecraft for

See the Moon and Mars Meet Up in Night Sky Saturday

From the eastern U.S. and Canada, the closest approach will take place after sunset. From the central Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, western portions of Central America and the northern half of South America, the moon will occult Mars...

Launch Aborted for Carbon Dioxide-Measuring Satellite

Mission controllers are uncertain as to what happened with the pad's water system, but might attempt the launch again on Wednesday

Carbon Dioxide-Monitoring Satellite "Go" for Tuesday Launch

The satellite is destined for an orbit 438 miles above Earth and will use a spectrometer to measure CO2 concentrations in the air 24 times per second...