Space Exploration1389 articles archived since 1845

NASA Eyes Electric Car Tech for Future Moon Rovers

Space agencies are partnering with car manufacturers to custom build new rovers—or retrofit commercial vehicles—for future missions to the moon and Mars

Moon’s Hidden Depths Uncovered with New Algorithm

The permanently shadowed regions at the lunar poles might contain thick ice reservoirs

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

NASA’s ‘Nuclear Option’ May Be Crucial for Getting Humans to Mars

After decades of false starts, a new push for nuclear-powered rocketry could make or break the space agency’s plans to send astronauts to the Red Planet

Whistleblowers Make Spaceflight Safer, Says Witness to Apollo Tragedy

As we continue to push into space, the 55th anniversary of the deadly fire reminds us to prioritize both safety and people

Cosmic-Level Anxiety

What Is a Lagrange Point?

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will travel to a special spot where the gravity from Earth and the sun is balanced

U.S. and Chinese Scientists Propose Bold New Missions beyond the Solar System

Independent concepts from each nation envision launching high-speed spacecraft on aspirational multigenerational voyages into the great unknown of interstellar space

At Long Last, the James Webb Space Telescope Is Ready for Launch

The long-delayed successor to the Hubble Space Telescope is set to take flight in December

New Views across the Galaxy

U.S. Officials Condemn Russian Anti-Satellite Test That Threatened Astronauts

“The test has so far generated over 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris,” a State Department spokesperson said

Senate Debates Uncertain Future of U.S. Spaceflight

A congressional hearing about NASA’s budget and activities offered more questions than answers about the International Space Station, orbital debris hazards and returning astronauts to the moon...

Disabled Astronauts Blaze New Space Trails

Efforts are underway to make space missions more accessible

Blue Origin Launches William Shatner and Crew to the Final Frontier

The 90-year-old Star Trek actor is now the oldest person to fly in space

Russian Crew Arrives at Space Station for a Historic Film Shoot

After a tense manual docking by a professional cosmonaut, the Soyuz spacecraft’s other occupants—an actress and a director—are set to make a first-of-its-kind movie in orbit...

Mercury Dazzles in New Close-up from BepiColombo Mission

The European and Japanese spacecraft performed the first of six slingshot maneuvers around the planet. It will ultimately insert two probes into orbit in 2025

Even Rocket Launches Can’t Escape COVID

Pandemic-spawned supply-chain disruptions are delaying launches and development of satellites, lunar rovers and interplanetary missions

Mars on the Cheap: Scientists Are Working to Revolutionize Access to the Red Planet

The concepts include souped-up Mars helicopters and inexpensive orbiters and landers

The Power of the Headline

Don’t Count on Billionaires to Get Humanity into Space

Far from pioneering wide access to orbit, privately funded spaceflight is geared to perpetuate inequities in space and on Earth