Virgin Orbit Plane Completes Test Flight With Attached Rocket
A Virgin Orbit plane took off with a rocket under its wing on Sunday, marking a successful test flight for the company that hopes to provide satellite-launching services.
NASA's Mars 2020 Rover Will Land in Jezero Crater
NASA has announced the landing location of its upcoming Mars 2020 rover: Jezero Crater.
Ostiary Is a Lonely, Arresting Glimpse Into Life on an Alien Planet
What would it really be like to live alone on an alien world? Stranded, struggling to survive? And what would it be like when you find something on that world that’s transcendent, and bizarre, and impossible to explain?
After Soyuz Failure, Space Is Now Weirdly Inaccessible to Astronauts
All crewed launches have been suspended by Russia’s space agency following yesterday’s Soyuz rocket failure. That’s a problem, because much of the world relies on Russian rockets to get both cargo and people into space. Consequently, we’re now facing the very real possibility of having an uncrewed International Space…
Discovery of 'Goblin' Solar System Object Bolsters the Case for Planet Nine
Astronomers have discovered an object, dubbed “the Goblin,” in the outer reaches of the Solar System. The dwarf planet never gets any closer to the Sun than 6 billion miles, but experts say its orbital configuration points to the existence of a much larger, more distant planet —the elusive Planet Nine.
The Hayabusa2 Rovers Just Made a Movie on the Surface of an Asteroid
Japan’s MINERVA-II rovers have sent back a batch of new photos from Ryugu, including a stunning new video taken from the asteroid’s rocky surface.
SpaceX Reboots Plan to Send Tourists Around the Moon—and It's About to Name the First Passenger
In a tweet posted late yesterday, SpaceX said it has signed a passenger to fly around the Moon aboard its next-generation launch system. Details are scarce, but the announcement suggests the Elon Musk-led rocket company is still intent on delivering private individuals, rather than just cargo and professional…
Hayabusa2's First Practice Attempt to Land on Ryugu Asteroid Didn’t Go So Well
Japan’s Hayabusa2 project experienced a (hopefully) minor setback yesterday when the spacecraft failed to complete a practice session during preparations for its much-anticipated touchdown on the Ryugu asteroid.
What the Hell Is Going on With the ISS Drill Hole Story?
A tiny hole in a Soyuz spacecraft attached to the International Space Station has turned into a strange game of international telephone.
Waning Martian Dust Storm Could Herald the Return of NASA’s Opportunity Rover
Good news, everyone! The planet-encircling dust storm on Mars is beginning to wane, which means NASA’s solar-powered Opportunity rover, currently in hibernation mode, will soon be able to wake up—assuming the storm hasn’t irreparably damaged it.
Small Oxygen Leak Detected on the International Space Station
A tiny pressure leak has been detected on the Russian side of the International Space Station. It sounds alarming, but flight controllers say the astronauts aren’t in any immediate danger.
NASA’s New Horizons Spacecraft Captures Its First Photo of Ultima Thule, Its Next Target
Though it’s still 107 million miles from its target, the New Horizons spacecraft has caught a first glimpse of Ultima Thule, a mysterious Kuiper Belt object.
Earth’s Undetected ‘Mini-Moons’ Could Make for Exciting New Astronomy
Every once in a while, our planet captures a “mini-moon,” a tiny asteroid that hangs out in our orbit for a bit before venturing back into the depths of space. New research suggests these small, temporary natural satellites carry tremendous scientific and commercial opportunities—but the trick will be in finding them.
NASA Announces First Crew for Commercial Space Travel
NASA has announced the first astronauts who will head to the International Space Station on a commercially built spacecraft.
Moon Could Have Been Habitable Once, Scientists Speculate
The Moon today is not habitable. It’s covered in potentially killer dust and seemingly dry as a bone. But though it seems wild to think, a new perspective wonders: What if the Moon used to be friendly to life?
America Could Lose Its Access to the International Space Station for Nearly a Year
Boeing and SpaceX, owing to manufacturing delays and certification hurdles, are unlikely to provide NASA with the vehicles required to transport astronauts to the International Space Station next year, according to an alarming government report. As a result, and starting in late 2019, the U.S. might not have a crew…
Report: NASA’s Policies to Protect the Solar System From Contamination Are Out of Date
Whether it’s rovers rolling about on Mars, probes drilling into asteroids, or Tesla Roadsters drifting through space, it’s clear that our activities in the Solar System are changing. Accordingly, methods and rules to prevent our germs from spreading beyond Earth need to be updated, according to a new report aimed…
Chinese Satellite Captures a Cool View of Earth from Lunar Orbit
After a 20-day journey, China’s Queqiao lunar communications relay satellite has made it to lunar orbit. Its companion, the Longjiang-2 microsatellite, wasted no time, taking some neat pics of Earth and the lunar surface.
Congressional Subcommittee Grills NASA on Skyrocketing Project Cost Overruns
The US Government Accountability Office released a scathing report in May claiming that NASA’s most expensive projects have “deteriorated” significantly in the past year both in terms of added costs and scheduling delays. Earlier today, NASA had to explain itself in front of a Congressional subcommittee, where it…
NASA to Extend Juno Jupiter Mission by Three Years
The Juno spacecraft currently orbiting Jupiter was supposed end its mission by crashing into the gas giant next month. Not anymore!
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