Aerospace
Solar probe snaps surprising photo of the surface of Venus
The Parker Solar Probe has taken an image of the surface of Venus that may change what we thought we knew about the planet — or possibly the probe itself.
Cancer survivor joins first all-citizen private spaceflight
The crew aboard the first all-citizen private spaceflight, Inspiration4, includes a billionaire, a childhood cancer survivor, and maybe you.
NASA’s Mars helicopter phoned home. Here’s what’s next.
NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity has survived the journey to the Red Planet. Here’s what’s next for the first-of-its-kind aircraft.
Light-driven levitation could lift probes to the edge of space
A new light-driven levitation technique can lift objects large enough to carry sensors to the understudied mesosphere near the edge of space.
Perseverance’s Mars landing was a success
NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully executed its Mars landing, ending a seven-month journey — and kicking off an epic exploration mission.
NASA’s Perseverance Rover is mic’d up
Two microphones on the Mars rover, Perseverance, are designed to record audio during its EDL sequence and subsequent mission.
Two new Mars missions just reached the Red Planet
Two of the three Mars missions expected to reach the Red Planet in February 2021 have successfully completed the journey.
Nuclear fusion inspires new rocket thruster design
A new rocket thruster design that uses magnetic fields could lead to far faster space travel — the kind that could let us explore places beyond Mars.
Biofuel rocket launch is a first in aerospace
Startup bluShift has successfully launched a biofuel rocket, proving that biofuels could be the future of more sustainable spaceflight.
Tiny satellite uses Earth’s magnetic field to generate thrust
Students are sending a CubeSat to space. The nanosatellite will test a propulsion method that uses Earth's magnetic field to maintain low earth orbit.