Space

mars' surface with the left side of the image toned yellow and the right side blue

Astronomy

NASA shares colorful “postcard” of Mars’ surface

NASA has used photos taken by the Curiosity rover to create a gorgeous “postcard” of the Martian landscape.

Kristin Houser

a crowd of young people with their backs to the camera watching a rocket fly through the air in the distance

Aerospace

Students build reusable rocket, win $5,000 from NASA

The University of Alabama in Huntsville has won Student Launch 2023, NASA’s annual rocket-building competition.

Kristin Houser

an illustration of a capsule reentering Earth's atmosphere

Aerospace

SpaceX successfully launches world’s first “space factory”

SpaceX has successfully deployed a “space factory” developed by startup Varda Space Industries to manufacture drugs in microgravity.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

SpaceX’s Starship exploded, but the flight was a success

During a test flight, a SpaceX Starship rocket prototype soared to a record height of eight miles, completed a successful “belly flop” — and then crashed.

Kristin Houser

Asteroids

Can Japan’s asteroid samples show us how life began?

JAXA’s Hayabusa2 has successfully returned asteroid samples to Earth. Its next mission? Gather information that could help prevent an asteroid impact.

Kristin Houser

Drones

Giant rocket launching drone will take satellites to space

The world's biggest drone is designed to launch satellites into orbit while airborne.

Teresa Carey

Outer Space

Why do we care about moon rocks, anyway?

China’s Chang’e 5 is bringing the first new set of moon rocks and debris to Earth since the 70s. Why do scientists want these precious stones?

B. David Zarley

Aerospace

Reusable rockets: Making space more affordable

Reusable rockets, like those developed by SpaceX, are ushering in a new, cheaper era in space exploration

Kristin Houser

Human battles AI fighter jet in first man vs. machine test flight

Daniel Robinson, a veteran F-22 pilot, flew a real aircraft and battled an AI virtual fighter in a world's first.

Teresa Carey

Outer Space

Bacteria could make space mining 400% more efficient

Using a bioreactor packed with bacteria could make space mining more efficient by speeding up the extraction of elements from rock.

Kristin Houser

Outer Space

The plan to convert space debris into labs for astronauts

Space services company Nanoracks plans to convert space debris into orbiting “Outposts” that could serve as hotels, research parks, and more.

Kristin Houser

Climate Crisis

This Canadian startup wants to make our buildings out of CO2

Carbon capture technology is here, but how do we make it feasible?

Amanda Winkler

Aerospace

NASA confirms existence of water on the moon

A study confirmed the existence of water on the moon the same day another provided evidence that the lunar surface could be rife with water reserves.

Kristin Houser

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