Space Exploration
199 reportsEvidence from space policy, human spaceflight, and launch systems supports a focused comparison. It examines where mission data are released and how exploration missions are selected, separating design goals from performance demonstrated in operation.
US Confirms Deployment of Space-Based Weapons Amid Treaty Concerns
The US Air Force has acknowledged the presence of operational space control weapons in Earth orbit, prompting renewed scrutiny of international agreements and the risk of an orbital arms race
Researchers suggest searching the Moon for alien technology fragments
A new study proposes that tiny fragments of ancient alien technology might be preserved in the Moon's surface. The authors outline how future lunar samples and advanced analysis could help search for these microscopic technosignatures.
Mercury's Surface Hides Evidence of Greater Planetary Shrinkage
A new study using NASA MESSENGER data finds Mercury may have shrunk by up to 30 percent more than earlier models indicated, with impact debris masking the true scale of planetary contraction
New sensor concept aims to reveal hidden nuclear weapons in orbit
A proposed satellite-based detector could identify nuclear warheads concealed on spacecraft by measuring neutron emissions, offering the first practical method to verify the decades-old ban on nuclear arms in space
ESA astronaut honors Star Trek legacy aboard International Space Station
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot marked Star Trek's 60th anniversary by wearing a Starfleet badge on the International Space Station, highlighting the show's influence on real-world space exploration and international scientific cooperation
US Space Command simulates orbital maneuvers in live satellite exercise
US Space Command has conducted its first live orbital maneuver exercise, using satellites to simulate close-approach operations and test military tactics for potential conflict in Earth orbit
China Targets 2028 Launch for Mars Sample Return Mission
China's Tianwen 3 mission is advancing toward a 2028 launch window, with plans to return Martian surface samples to Earth by 2031 using a multi-stage spacecraft and strict planetary protection protocols
Stoke Space Secures Major Funding for Fully Reusable Nova Rocket Program
Stoke Space has raised $1 billion to advance its Nova Pathfinder and Nova Block 2 rockets, both designed for full reusability and high payload capacity to low Earth orbit, with the first orbital launch targeted for early 2027
Genesis Sample Capsule Carash Exposed a Critical Spacecraft Design Flaw
NASA's Genesis mission was meant to return solar wind samples from deep space but ended with its capsule shattered in the Utah desert after a parachute system failure. The mission's outcome forced a reexamination of spacecraft safety and sample recovery methods
NASA's 100th Astronaut Flight Tested Space Station Assembly in Orbit
NASA's space shuttle Endeavour launched the STS-69 mission on September 7, 1995, deploying and retrieving two satellites and conducting a spacewalk to test International Space Station assembly techniques
Crescent Moon to Occult Jupiter in Rare Daytime Event
A rare daytime occultation will see the Moon pass in front of Jupiter on September 8, with the best viewing opportunities for North America. Observers will need careful planning and optical aid to catch the event in daylight
NASA adds new Goldstone antenna to expand deep space communications
NASA has activated a new 34 meter antenna at Goldstone to increase the Deep Space Network's capacity as Artemis and other missions strain existing communication infrastructure
German Spectrum Rocket Achieves First Orbital Launch from Europe
Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket has become the first vehicle to reach orbit from a Western European launch site, following a successful mission from Andøya Space Center in Norway that deployed multiple payloads
NASA tests Slingshot spacecraft concept for mineral mapping beyond Earth
A NASA-funded study is evaluating whether a small spacecraft using Raman spectroscopy could remotely identify minerals on the Moon, asteroids, and Martian moons, potentially transforming how resources are surveyed before future missions
Blue Origin rocket blast detected over 1600 kilometers from Cape Canaveral
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explosion at Cape Canaveral produced infrasound waves detected more than 1600 kilometers away. Researchers used specialized sensors to estimate the blast's energy and assess its impact on launch operations and future missions.
SMART-1's Controlled Lunar Crash Changed How Spacecraft Reach the Moon
Europe's SMART-1 probe ended its mission with a deliberate impact on the Moon, testing solar electric propulsion and gathering data on lunar geology. The mission's engineered crash provided new insight into impact processes and spacecraft design limits
BepiColombo Prepares for Dual Mercury Orbit as Separation Nears
After nearly eight years in transit, ESA and JAXA's BepiColombo mission is set to split into two orbiters at Mercury, aiming to resolve key questions about the planet's surface, magnetic field, and formation using coordinated observations.
Falcon Heavy Launches NASA's Roman Telescope Toward Deep Space Science
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket has launched NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, sending the observatory on a million-mile journey to its operational orbit beyond Earth
NASA Selects Blue Origin to Build Dedicated Mars Communications Orbiter
NASA has awarded Blue Origin a $700 million contract to develop the Mars Telecommunications Network, a dedicated relay orbiter intended to support future Mars missions as current infrastructure ages
BepiColombo Prepares for Critical Mercury Arrival Maneuver
ESA and JAXA's BepiColombo spacecraft will soon separate its orbiters for Mercury capture, marking a pivotal phase in the mission's multi-year journey to study the planet's surface and magnetic environment
China's Pallas-1 Rocket Achieves Orbit in Reusable Launcher Test
Galactic Energy's Pallas-1 rocket reached orbit on its debut flight from Jiuquan, marking a technical milestone for China's private launch sector. The mission did not attempt a first-stage landing, but aims for reusability in future flights.
Pioneer 11's Saturn Flyby Tested the Limits of Deep Space Navigation
NASA's Pioneer 11 spacecraft became the first probe to traverse Saturn's rings in 1979, gathering data on the planet's moons, rings, and magnetic field while clearing the way for later missions to the outer solar system
Fermi Explorer Mission Targets 2029 Launch Toward Alpha Centauri
A nonprofit group aims to send a low-cost probe to Alpha Centauri by 2029, marking the first directed interstellar mission. The journey would last 80,000 years, raising new questions about the feasibility and purpose of such long-term exploration.
Quantum Camera Startup Secures $10M+ for Sub-Diffraction Imaging
Diffraqtion has raised over $10 million in pre-seed funding to advance quantum-enabled optical sensing platforms that claim to resolve features far below the classical diffraction limit, targeting applications in space domain awareness and defense
NASA's Super Guppy Transformed Space Hardware Transport in 1965
NASA's Super Guppy cargo aircraft completed its first test flight in 1965, enabling the agency to move oversized rocket stages and spacecraft components across the United States for missions including Apollo and Artemis
SpaceX Crew-13 Launch to ISS Delayed by Dragon Propulsion Leak
NASA and SpaceX have postponed the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station after detecting an oxidizer leak in the Dragon spacecraft's propulsion system. The new launch date remains unconfirmed as teams investigate the issue
Mars Interior Reveals Unexpected Southern Hemisphere Thermal Anomaly
Analysis of NASA spacecraft data suggests Mars's southern mantle is hundreds of degrees warmer than the north, challenging assumptions about the planet's internal symmetry and geological history
Roman Space Telescope Launch Draws Attention Amid Policy Reversal
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched successfully, marking a milestone for infrared astronomy after years of budget uncertainty and political debate over its funding and future
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Prepares for Launch and Legacy
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, named for the agency's first chief astronomer, is nearing launch. The mission aims to investigate dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets with advanced infrared instruments
Nancy Grace Roman's Legacy: The Astronomer Who Shaped NASA's Vision
As NASA prepares to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, the story of its namesake-pioneering astronomer and the agency's first chief of astronomy-offers insight into the evolution of space science and the people who shaped it
Gemini 5 Mission Sets New Space Endurance Record for NASA in 1965
NASA's Gemini 5 mission demonstrated that astronauts could survive eight days in orbit, providing crucial evidence for the feasibility of future lunar missions and marking a turning point in human spaceflight duration
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Set for Launch to Map Distant Cosmos
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is scheduled to launch from Florida, aiming to investigate exoplanets, dark matter, and distant galaxies with a wide-field infrared observatory. Its first science images are not expected until 2027
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Nears Launch After Budget Uncertainty
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set for launch after nearly two decades of development, overcoming a threatened cancellation and major funding cuts to become the agency's next flagship observatory for dark energy, exoplanets, and cosmic structure
SpaceX Recovers Starship Upper Stage After Indian Ocean Splashdown
SpaceX has retrieved the Starship upper stage from the Indian Ocean following its Flight 13 test, enabling engineers to examine the vehicle's heat shield and structural integrity after a rare intact splashdown
NASA Astronaut Jonny Kim Departs Agency to Resume Naval Aviation Career
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, a Harvard-trained physician and Navy SEAL, is leaving the agency after nine years and one mission to the International Space Station to return to active duty in naval aviation training
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