Space Exploration - Part 2
161 reports
China Resumes Rocket Launches After Long March 7A Failure
China's space program has returned to flight just days after a Long March 7A rocket failure, successfully launching two separate missions with the Long March 12 and Long March 2C vehicles to low Earth orbit
NASA SCoPE Trains Planetary Science Interns in Public Engagement
NASA SCoPE collaborated with Arizona State University's FORCE Summer School to provide undergraduate interns with hands-on training in science communication and public outreach, focusing on planetary research under extreme conditions
Curiosity Marks 14 Years on Mars with New Rock Layer Analysis
NASA's Curiosity rover has reached its 14th anniversary on Mars, continuing its ascent of Mount Sharp with detailed rock and environmental measurements using its suite of scientific instruments
Pentagon's UAP Data Releases Mark Shift in Official Transparency
Recent Pentagon releases of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) files, supported by NASA and advisory experts, signal a new phase in government transparency and data sharing on unexplained aerial observations
Wildfire Smoke from Space: ISS Images Pacific Northwest Volcanoes
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have recorded extensive wildfire smoke blanketing Mount Rainier and other Cascade volcanoes, revealing the scale of ongoing fires in the Pacific Northwest as seen from orbit
Blue Origin Expands Cape Canaveral Site for New Glenn 9x4 Rocket
Blue Origin is rebuilding its Cape Canaveral launch complex after a New Glenn rocket explosion, while also constructing a second pad and new facilities to support the larger New Glenn 9x4 variant still in development
Artemis II Astronauts Reflect on Orion's Moon Mission and Next Steps
NASA's Artemis II crew discussed their 10-day lunar flyby, Orion spacecraft performance, and upcoming mission challenges at a public event in Colorado, highlighting both technical lessons and international collaboration
NASA's M2-F1 Lifting Body Demonstrates Controlled Glide Landing in 1963
NASA's M2-F1 prototype, a wingless lifting body aircraft, completed its first unpowered glide flight on August 16, 1963, providing early evidence that spacecraft could return to Earth with controlled landings rather than ballistic descent
NASA Backs Spherical Aerobots to Probe Titan's Subsurface Caves
A NASA-funded study is developing small, spherical flying robots designed to explore the hydrocarbon caves and sinkholes of Saturn's moon Titan, using solid-state ion propulsion to overcome terrain that would defeat conventional rovers
Asteroid Samples Reveal DNA and Protein Building Blocks in Space
Laboratory analysis of asteroid material returned to Earth has identified all five nucleobases of DNA and RNA, as well as multiple amino acids, suggesting the chemical ingredients for life are common in the solar system and beyond
China Unveils Detailed Lunar Map and New Geologic Timeline
Chinese researchers have released a new 1:5 million scale map of the Moon, updating lunar geologic eras and far side data using recent sample-return missions and reprocessed spectral analysis
Cards Against Humanity Plans Monument Near SpaceX Starbase After Dispute
A legal dispute over land use near SpaceX's Starbase in Texas has led Cards Against Humanity to propose a public monument targeting Elon Musk, highlighting ongoing tensions between commercial space operations and local landowners
NASA AI Model Predicts Sunspot Emergence Hours Before Surface Appearance
A NASA-led team has developed an AI model that analyzes acoustic and magnetic data from the Sun to forecast the emergence of active regions up to 12 hours in advance, offering new potential for space weather prediction
NASA Invites India to Join Moon South Pole Base Collaboration
NASA has formally invited India to participate in developing a permanent lunar base near the Moon's south pole, marking a significant step in US-India deep-space cooperation and expanding the Artemis program's international partnerships
SpaceX Rocket Impact on Moon Raises Safety Questions for Lunar Missions
A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage collided with the lunar surface near Einstein Crater, prompting new scrutiny of debris risks as lunar exploration and infrastructure expand
Celestron Moon Mission Travel Scope 70 Offers Accessible Stargazing
A review of the Celestron Moon Mission Travel Scope 70 examines its optical performance, ease of use, and limitations for beginners and young astronomers, highlighting what this portable refractor can and cannot reveal in the night sky
NASA Facility in West Virginia Expands Role in Lunar Mission Safety
NASA's Katherine Johnson IV&V Facility in West Virginia is strengthening its technical workforce to support mission assurance and AI safety for upcoming lunar exploration, with new civil servants joining the agency's core engineering teams
WorldView-3 Satellite Sets New Standard for Commercial Earth Imaging
The WorldView-3 satellite, launched in 2014, delivered unprecedented high-resolution Earth imagery from orbit, enabling new research on methane emissions, land use, and archaeological sites using advanced remote sensing instruments
Astranis Unveils Perceptor Satellites to Track Activity in Geostationary Orbit
Astranis has announced the development of Perceptor satellites designed to monitor and analyze spacecraft movements in geostationary orbit, a region increasingly important for communications and national security
Two Major Solar Eclipses Will Cross Three Continents in 2027
Astronomers are preparing for two rare solar eclipses in 2027, including a 'ring of fire' annular eclipse in February and an unusually long total solar eclipse in August, both visible across parts of South America, Africa, and Europe
Partial Solar Eclipse and Perseid Meteors Offer Rare Double Event
On August 12, observers across North America and Europe will witness a partial solar eclipse by day and the Perseid meteor shower by night, with optimal viewing conditions expected due to the new moon and clear skies in many regions
Radiation Vest Tested on Artemis I May Aid Deep Space Astronaut Safety
A hydrogen-rich plastic vest tested aboard NASA's Artemis I mission has demonstrated significant shielding against solar radiation, offering a potential solution for astronaut protection on future lunar and Mars expeditions
NASA Artemis Launch Team Welcomes New Test Project Engineer
NASA's Artemis program has added Lindsey Waitt as a test project engineer, supporting launch operations for upcoming Moon missions. Her appointment highlights the technical demands and collaborative environment of Artemis launch preparations.
China Plans Lunar Base with Quadruped Robots for 2035 Deployment
China aims to deploy quadruped robots to support astronauts and conduct research at its planned International Lunar Research Station by 2035, raising questions about autonomy, safety, and human-robot collaboration in extreme environments
NASA Prepares LEMS Seismic Station for Artemis Lunar Surface Deployment
NASA engineers have completed the Lunar Environment Monitoring Station (LEMS), a compact seismic instrument suite designed for long-term deployment by Artemis astronauts near the Moon's south pole, aiming to monitor moonquakes and meteorite impacts.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Targets Dark Energy and Exoplanets
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set for launch in 2026, will use infrared instruments to investigate dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets from a stable orbit 1.5 million kilometers from Earth
Space Station Research Advances Artemis Moon and Mars Missions
NASA's International Space Station experiments in 2026 are testing technologies and studying astronaut health to support future Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars, with new results informing spacecraft design and deep space exploration
Rocket Lab Reveals GHOST Portable Launch System for Flexible Missions
Rocket Lab has introduced GHOST, a portable launch infrastructure designed to enable rapid deployment of Electron and HASTE rockets from almost any location, aiming to support both orbital and hypersonic test missions with increased flexibility
Japan's H3 Rocket Delivers Michibiki 7 Navigation Satellite to Orbit
Japan's H3 launch vehicle has successfully placed the 10,800-pound Michibiki 7 navigation satellite into geosynchronous orbit, marking a key step in expanding the nation's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System
1972 Daylight Fireball Skimmed Earth's Atmosphere Over North America
On August 10, 1972, a large meteoroid entered Earth's atmosphere over Utah and exited over Alberta, Canada, producing a rare daylight fireball visible across North America and offering a unique opportunity to study atmospheric entry dynamics
Part 2 of 6