Space & Spaceflight

Here’s What We Know About Earth’s Second Detected ‘Minimoon’

Spotted earlier this year, asteroid 2020 CD3 is only the second temporary natural satellite, or minimoon, ever detected around Earth. It didn’t stick around for very long, but we learned some interesting things about our temporary companion and why a mission to intercept similar objects is a good idea. Asteroid 2020 CD3 was first spotted…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Watch: China Is Launching Its Chang’e-5 Spacecraft to Get Some Moon Rocks of Its Own

The China National Space Administration’s mission to bring chunks of the Moon back to Earth for the first time in decades will kick off this week, with the Chang’e-5 spacecraft slated to launch on today from Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island. Chang’e-5 will launch on a Long March 5 rocket at approximately 4:35…

Space & Spaceflight Tom McKay

‘A Magically Surreal Symbol of Human Ingenuity’: Scientists Reflect on Arecibo’s Doomed Big Dish

The big dish at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico is on the verge of collapse, leaving officials with no choice but to retire the famous radio telescope. Astronomers around the world are now having to face a grim reality: that this dutiful dish—in service for the past 57 years—is no more. I have to…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Arecibo Observatory’s Greatest Triumphs

Strategically built inside a sinkhole, the Arecibo Observatory has been at the center of all sorts of scientific breakthroughs for the past 57 years.

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Arecibo Heartbreak: Iconic SETI Dish Will Be Demolished Due to Risk of ‘Catastrophic’ Collapse

The recent failure of two support cables at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has destabilized the structure such that it cannot be repaired without placing construction workers at significant risk, according to officials with the National Science Foundation. As feared, the beloved 1,000-foot telescope will have to be decommissioned. As if 2020 couldn’t get…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Seibert (Carnegie Institution for Science)/K. Hoadley (Caltech)/GALEX Team

Mystery of Glowing Cosmic ‘Eye’ Finally Solved

In 2004, astronomers spotted a unique celestial feature that, when observed in ultraviolet, bore the appearance of a glowing eye staring directly back at Earth. Unbeknownst to them, it would take 16 years to figure out what caused the Blue Ring Nebula to form. The Blue Ring Nebula is the remnant of two merging stars,…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Vega Rocket Failure Apparently Caused by Human Error

An Arianespace Vega rocket carrying two satellites failed to reach orbit yesterday after experiencing a catastrophic failure eight minutes into the launch. Officials are attributing the loss of the rocket to a “series of human errors.” Vega Flight VV17 started off well, with the 98-foot-tall (30-meter) rocket departing the Guiana Space Center at 8:52 p.m.…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Could a Gigantic Lunar Telescope Reveal the Very First Stars?

A team of astronomers is reviving an idea that NASA sidelined a decade ago, in which a huge observatory would be installed on the Moon. Dubbed the “Ultimately Large Telescope,” the facility would easily outperform every other telescope in its class and spot objects that are predicted by theory but have never been seen. A…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

A Very Dusty Curiosity Rover Snaps a Selfie During a Work Break

NASA’s Curiosity rover has been hard at work over the past several months at a site thought to contain ancient surface materials. And as this stunning new selfie shows, the dust-covered probe is really starting to blend into its environment. Curiosity has been exploring Mars since 2012, and it’s certainly starting to show. With the…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

900-Ton Platform Threatens to Crush Famed Arecibo Observatory Dish

The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico is in an exceptionally precarious state following the recent failure of two support cables, placing the future of this renowned facility in doubt. As we feared, the situation at Arecibo appears to be dire. With two support cables gone, the 900-ton platform located directly above the dish is now…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Asteroid Apophis Could One Day Hit Earth. Here’s How We Could Get to It First

The clock is officially ticking. Apophis—an asteroid as wide as three football fields—has a slim chance of slamming into Earth in 2068. Before then, however, the object is scheduled to zip past us in an encounter that scientists are already planning to exploit. Here are some intriguing ways in which we could explore Apophis during…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

This Weekend’s Launch of SpaceX CrewDragon Will Usher in a New Era [Updated]

NASA and SpaceX are targeting this Saturday for the launch of four astronauts to the International Space Station, in what is expected to be the first of many regularly scheduled crew flights to space from U.S. soil. Here’s what you need to know about this historic mission and how you’ll be able to watch. Update…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Microbes Can Mine Valuable Elements From Rocks in Space

Recent experiments aboard the International Space Station have shown that some microbes can harvest valuable rare-earth elements from rocks, even when exposed to microgravity conditions. The unexpected finding shows how microbes could boost our ability to live and work in space. On Earth, some microscopic organisms have shown their worth as effective miners, extracting rare-earth…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

NASA Chief Says He Will Step Down When Biden Takes Office

Jim Bridenstine will reportedly step down soon from his top role at NASA, saying he would be a poor fit for the job under a Biden administration. Appointed by the outgoing, impeached President Donald Trump, the Republican former congressman ended up being actually competent as leader of NASA, despite his history of climate change denial…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Second Cable Fails at Arecibo, Causing Even More Damage to Famed SETI Dish

Another cable has fallen onto the reflector dish at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, in yet another frustrating setback for this beloved facility. The main support cable of the Arecibo Observatory failed and fell onto the dish below at 7:30 p.m. Puerto Rico time on Friday November 6, reports UCF Today. The extent of…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Image: McGill University Graphic Design Team

Mysterious Radio Burst in Our Galaxy Came From a Magnetar

For the first time ever, astronomers have linked an actual object to those mysterious radio bursts they’ve been detecting since 2007. The culprit in this case, as suspected, is a super-dense object known as a magnetar, but the finding has prompted an entirely new set of questions. In recent years, scientists have detected hundreds of…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

After 7 Months, NASA Reminds Voyager 2 Probe That Earth Is Still Here

Mission operators have been unable to send radio transmissions to the Voyager 2 space probe since mid-March, but a recent test of newly installed hardware is a good sign that upgrades to NASA’s Deep Space Network are proceeding as planned. NASA sent a command to Voyager 2 on October 29, something it hadn’t been able…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Image: Jan Skowron/Astronomical Observatory, University of Warsaw

Warped Starlight Reveals Smallest Rogue Planet Known to Science

Free-floating planets are not bound to any star, having been dumped from their original home systems. New research describes the smallest rogue planet discovered to date, in an astronomical achievement that took an Einstein-inspired technique to new extremes. Rogue planets, also known as free-floating planets, aren’t gravitationally tethered to any star, which means they’re literally…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Asteroid Apophis Could Still Hit Earth in 2068, New Measurements Suggest

Only a small handful of objects are known to pose a serious threat to Earth, and the gigantic asteroid Apophis is one of them. Scientists are now re-evaluating its potential to strike our planet in 48 years, owing to improved observations of the problematic asteroid. Observations made earlier this year from the Subaru Telescope in…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Meteorite That Crashed Into Michigan Contains ‘Pristine’ Organic Compounds

The rapid recovery and analysis of a meteorite that fell onto a frozen lake in Michigan two years ago is illuminating the pivotal role these rocks played in delivering the basic building blocks for life to Earth. As the meteorite was falling toward our planet on January 16, 2018, at speeds reaching 36,000 miles per…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Here’s What We Know About Earth’s Second Detected ‘Minimoon’

Watch: China Is Launching Its Chang’e-5 Spacecraft to Get Some Moon Rocks of Its Own

‘A Magically Surreal Symbol of Human Ingenuity’: Scientists Reflect on Arecibo’s Doomed Big Dish

Arecibo Observatory’s Greatest Triumphs

Arecibo Heartbreak: Iconic SETI Dish Will Be Demolished Due to Risk of ‘Catastrophic’ Collapse

Mystery of Glowing Cosmic ‘Eye’ Finally Solved

Vega Rocket Failure Apparently Caused by Human Error

Could a Gigantic Lunar Telescope Reveal the Very First Stars?

A Very Dusty Curiosity Rover Snaps a Selfie During a Work Break

900-Ton Platform Threatens to Crush Famed Arecibo Observatory Dish

Asteroid Apophis Could One Day Hit Earth. Here’s How We Could Get to It First

This Weekend’s Launch of SpaceX CrewDragon Will Usher in a New Era [Updated]

Microbes Can Mine Valuable Elements From Rocks in Space

NASA Chief Says He Will Step Down When Biden Takes Office

Second Cable Fails at Arecibo, Causing Even More Damage to Famed SETI Dish

Mysterious Radio Burst in Our Galaxy Came From a Magnetar

After 7 Months, NASA Reminds Voyager 2 Probe That Earth Is Still Here

Warped Starlight Reveals Smallest Rogue Planet Known to Science

Asteroid Apophis Could Still Hit Earth in 2068, New Measurements Suggest

Meteorite That Crashed Into Michigan Contains ‘Pristine’ Organic Compounds

Artemis 2 Live Updates: Countdown to the Moon 🔴

The Films and Shows You Should Be Streaming in April 2026

Chinese Startup Debuts Super-Bendy Robotic Arm for Orbital Repairs

Your Devices Are Targets. Bitdefender Shields Them All — For Less Than You Think

Of Course, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Post Credit Scene Is Another Big Cameo

Proton Just Launched Meet, and It Makes Zoom Look Like a Privacy Nightmare

America’s Latest Unfounded Health Panic: ‘Vaccinated’ Blood Donations

SpaceX Files Confidentially for IPO, Reports Say

The Best Gadgets of March 2026

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

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