Spacecraft

The rover’s latest sample collection—an effort to gather material for eventual return to Earth—is off to a rocky start

The observatory has flawlessly unfurled its mirrors and sunshield—although more steps are needed before the science can begin

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

The successful unfurling of the five-layered, tennis court-sized assemblage is a major milestone for the new observatory

The Parker Solar Probe has passed through a boundary and into the Sun’s atmosphere, gathering data that will help scientists better understand stars

A communications glitch between the observatory and its launch vehicle forced the delay, NASA officials say

The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer will probe the physics behind black holes, neutron stars and other dynamic cosmic objects

After some two decades of development, the orbital observatory is set to at last reach space on December 22

A new theory suggests that searches for molecular complexity could uncover convincing evidence of extraterrestrial life—and do so soon

Our planet is vulnerable to thousands of “city-killer” space rocks. If—when—one is found on a collision course with Earth, will we be ready to deflect it?

A privately funded telescope called Toliman will seek habitable worlds in our nearest neighboring star system, potentially sparking a new wave of exoplanetary exploration

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