Get all of the relevant new stories from across the internet right here.
Op-ed | P3 or not P3: What can space ventures learn from terrestrial infrastructure projects?Public-private partnerships have been used fairly extensively and effectively for funding space activities, and they are attracting even more attention as sources of public financing grow scarce. SpaceNews.com
Proton launches Russian defense comms satelliteRussia’s Proton rocket launched for the first time this year April 18 with a military communications satellite for the federation’s ministry of defense. SpaceNews.com
Taco Bell Space Station? It’s possible, panelists sayIf a new commercial space station is “paid for by Taco Bell, it will be the Taco Bell Space Station,” said Benjamin Reed, deputy director for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Satellite Servicing Projects Division. SpaceNews.com
Image of the DayA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station yesterday (April 18). TESS will search for alien planets around bright stars in our cosmic neighborhood.
On This Day In Space! April 19, 1971: World's 1st Space Station Launches into OrbitOn April 19, 1971, the Soviet Union launched the world's first space station, Salyut 1. See how it happened in our On This Day in Space video series here.
Stunning Video Offers a Quick Tour of the Crab NebulaBeautiful images accompany a quick tour of the crab nebula in a new video released by NASA.
What's Next for NASA's TESS Exoplanet Hunter?NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is in space, but its science work won't start until June. Here's what the spacecraft will be doing until then.
'Flames in Space' Might Help Clean Earth's Air (Video)Studying how flames burn in microgravity is helping scientists understand combustion. The insights learned could help reduce pollution here on Earth, according to a video released by NASA.
Dutch firm Cosine releases first images from hyperspectral camera aboard nanosatelliteThe host satellite, built by Danish cubesat specialist GomSpace, is a so-called 6U cubesat measuring 20x30x10 centimeters. SpaceNews.com
As space business grows, Ruag ramps up U.S. manufacturingIn anticipation of more business from rocket and satellite manufacturers, Ruag is ramping up investments in its U.S. operations in Alabama, Florida and in a research center in California’s Silicon Valley. SpaceNews.com
All-sky surveyor launched from Cape Canaveral on the hunt for exoplanetsNASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, built to find planets around other stars that are close enough for detailed follow-ups by future telescopes, launched Wednesday into a unique high-altitude orbit on top of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.
York Space Systems to use Ruag Space small satellite payload adapterYork Space Systems, a Denver-based satellite manufacturer, announced plans April 17 to work with Swiss satellite and rocket component supplier Ruag Space on payload adapters for York's S-Class satellites. SpaceNews.com
NASA Exploration Campaign opens new opportunities for scienceAs NASA shifts its human spaceflight program towards a return to the moon, the programs supporting that new direction are creating opportunities for science both on and around the moon. SpaceNews.com
Falcon 9 launches NASA exoplanet hunterA SpaceX Falcon 9 successfully launched a NASA science mission April 18 that will look for planets orbiting other stars. SpaceNews.com
TESS MissionOn Wednesday, April 18th at 6:51 p.m. EDT, SpaceX successfully launched NASA’s TESS spacecraft from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage successfully landed on “Of Course I Still Love You,” SpaceX’s droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
TESS launch replay from launch pad cameraA launch pad camera captures the launch of the Falcon 9 and NASA's exoplanet hunting space telescope TESS. The rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 40 on April 18.
Falcon 9 launches TESS as seen from KSC Press Site (members only)A Falcon 9 rocket soars skyward from Cape Canaveral carrying NASA's TESS observatory on a mission to discover planets around other stars. This was the view from the Kennedy Space Center Press Site.
Boeing to accelerate production of WGS satellitesBoeing: The production of two new satellites for the Air Force will “move faster” than the typical WGS schedule. SpaceNews.com
Startup with SoftBank, Airbus investment planning video constellation with several hundred satellitesA satellite startup that today announced SoftBank, Airbus, Bill Gates and OneWeb founder Greg Wyler as investors says it has plans to field a constellation of hundreds of satellites to provide global video of the Earth, but provided few details on how it will accomplish that goal. SpaceNews.com
Open Cosmos raises $7M in Series A funding roundOpen Cosmos, a British startup planning to manufacture and operate inexpensive cubesats for customers, announced April 18 it raised $7 million in Series A funding in an investment round led by London-based BGF Ventures. SpaceNews.com
Lightfoot calls for enlightened approach to risk management at NASAIn his last major speech as NASA’s acting administrator before retiring, Robert Lightfoot said he believes the space agency needs to do a better job assessing risks and making decisions in order to carry out its exploration plans. SpaceNews.com
Sierra Nevada weighing options for launching future Dream Chaser missionsAs Sierra Nevada Corporation prepares its Dream Chaser cargo vehicle for a first launch on an Atlas 5 in late 2020, the company expects to make a decision by the end of this year on the rocket that will launch later missions. SpaceNews.com
Boeing bows out of GPS 3 competitionBoeing has decided to not challenge Lockheed Martin for the next production lot of up to 22 GPS 3 satellites. SpaceNews.com
FCC Issues Warning in Wake of Swarm's Unauthorized LaunchThe U.S. Federal Communications Commission on April 12 released an enforcement advisory warning that organizations will be penalized for launching spacecraft without the appropriate regulatory approvals.
Debris-Dodging Spacecraft Could Use Bitcoin-Like TechnologyFuture spacecraft could think for themselves using the same technology that powers Bitcoin.
This Gorgeous Video Helps Explain Why NASA Is Studying Cosmic Shock WavesLike a ship cruising the seas or a fighter jet going supersonic, astronomic objects also make shock waves through the medium in which they travel.
Spaceflight reserves two rideshare missions on Vega rocketSpaceflight Industries has booked reservations for two commercial rideshare missions on Arianespace's Vega rocket, officials announced Tuesday, beginning with a proof-of-concept flight in early 2019 of a new Italian-built multi-payload dispenser tailored to accommodate small satellites and CubeSats seeking a ride into orbit.
House committee approved revised NASA authorization billThe House Science Committee, after some unusual last-minute drama, approved a NASA authorization bill April 17 that offers more support to the agency’s Earth science program. SpaceNews.com
International SSA agreements could pave the way for further space cooperation, panelists saidU.S. Strategic Command's bilateral agreements to share Space Situational Awareness data with other nations could lead to further space cooperation, according to panelists at the 34th Space Symposium. SpaceNews.com
Op-ed | In space, no one is powerful enough to boldly go aloneSpace matters in Europe and it is a top political priority. But the European Union’s efforts to achieve autonomy in space don’t mean we act in isolation. SpaceNews.com
Missile defense engineer takes over Lockheed Martin’s space technology labLockheed Martin picked a veteran missile defense engineer to lead the company’s space research organization known as the Advanced Technology Center, in Palo Alto, California. SpaceNews.com
Op-ed | For active debris removal, today’s concern is tomorrow’s opportunityDespite the pressing need for intervention and technology approaching maturity, it has been difficult to gather wide public consensus and deploy a maiden active debris removal mission. SpaceNews.com
Commerce Department Ready to Add Space Traffic Management to Growing Space RoleSecretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross says his department is gearing up to add space traffic management to its growing portfolio of commercial space responsibilities.
NASA's TESS Satellite Launches to Seek Out New Alien WorldsNASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) launched today (April 18) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, rising off the pad atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 6:51 p.m. EDT (2251 GMT).
Diamonds in Meteorite May Hail from Our Ancient Solar SystemPieces of diamond encased in rock descended from space and landed in the Nubian Desert of Sudan and, according to a new study, prove the existence of an ancient world in our solar system.
Senate Moving Towards Vote on Bridenstine NominationAfter a months-long impasse, the Senate may vote to confirm Jim Bridenstine as the next administrator of NASA later this week.
SpaceX to Launch NASA's Exoplanet-Hunting Spacecraft Today: How to Watch LiveAfter a delay, SpaceX is winding up again to launch NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) today (April 18) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Rise of the megaconstellations breathes life into active debris removal schemesThe megaconstellations promising global broadband service are heightening concern about orbital debris and creating demand for space-based trash collection. SpaceNews.com
This Earth-i Small Satellite's 1st Color Video of Earth from Space Is AmazingThe British Earth-imaging company Earth-i has released its first full-color video of Earth from space by its commercial satellite VividX2, which launched in January.
Giant Impact May Have Created Mars' MoonsA collision between Mars and a large asteroid may have created the planet's two moons, Phobos and Deimos.
Dazzling Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend!The spring Lyrid meteor shower peaks with up to 20 meteors per hour shortly after midnight on Saturday into early Sunday (April 22).
SMC 2.0: Air Force begins major reorganization of acquisition officesThe first test for SMC 2.0 will be the next-generation missile-warning constellation that will replace the current Space Based Infrared System. SpaceNews.com
Air Force moves to expand international military space coalitionThe Air Force will invite allied militaries, starting in 2019, to attend U.S. military schools where Air Force space officers learn about space warfare. SpaceNews.com
Potential contamination not a concern for space station’s new lightning instrumentScientists working on a new lightning detection instrument mounted outside the International Space Station said Tuesday they expect little effect on the sensor's performance from possible contamination from the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched it into orbit April 2.
Kitay: U.S. leadership in space requires ‘whole of government’ strategyDeputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Stephen Kitay says ensuring U.S. leadership in space is a team effort. SpaceNews.com
Military leaders: National security space shown the loveRaymond: “We are making bold shifts toward war fighting and space superiority.” SpaceNews.com
Commerce Department ready to add space traffic management to growing space roleSecretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross says his department is gearing up to add space traffic management to its growing portfolio of commercial space responsibilities. SpaceNews.com
NRO aims to move fast by relying on commercial products, expanding internal research and development“Commercial space will be fully leveraged in satisfying user needs and fully considered in the development of every future space system,” said NRO Director Betty Sapp. “Just as we do in other areas, we want to design only what we must and buy everything that we can.” SpaceNews.com
FCC commissioner questions regulator’s omission from National Space CouncilAn FCC commissioner said Tuesday she was astonished the White House did not give the telecom regulatory agency a seat on the National Space Council. SpaceNews.com
Technical issue delays next Rocket Lab Electron launchRocket Lab is postponing its next launch by a few weeks because of a technical problem, but the company says it is optimistic about its long-term prospects as demand for its small launch vehicle grows. SpaceNews.com
Rocket Lab postpones first commercial launch after issue during fueling testRocket Lab said Tuesday it will push back the first commercial launch of its light-class Electron rocket from New Zealand by a few weeks to address a problem uncovered during a recent fueling test.
S7 closes Sea Launch purchase, future rocket TBDSome 19 months after announcing its intent to buy the assets of Sea Launch, Russian aviation group S7 has closed the purchase. SpaceNews.com
Spaceflight books launch slots on two Arianespace Vega missionsSpaceflight Industries has secured rideshare opportunities on two Vega rocket missions for tiny satellites. SpaceNews.com
Space Calendar 2018: Launches, Sky Events & MoreHere's a guide to the major astronomical events of the next year, as well as space launches and milestones for spacecrafts already in travel.
Scientists and Entrepreneurs Lobby for NASA Lunar ProgramAs congressional appropriators prepare to review NASA's latest budget request, a group from academia and industry are seeking support for a lunar exploration initiative included in the proposal.
Environmental Group Plans Satellite to Track Greenhouse Gas EmissionsAn environmental group announced plans April 11 to develop and operate its own satellite to track one particular greenhouse gas, the latest sign of the proliferation of smallsat technology.
Space Law Workshop exposes rift in legal community over national authority to sanction space mining“The problem is there is currently not legal certainty about what is allowed and what is not allowed,” said Tanja Masson-Zwaan, former president of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL). SpaceNews.com
The Most Amazing Lyrid Meteor Shower Photos of All TimeSee the most spectacular photos of Lyrid meteors, pieces of Comet Thatcher that rain down on Earth every year in April.
First Days on Mars: Excerpt from "Before Mars" by Emma NewmanIn "Before Mars," a geologist arrives at a small Mars base after a lengthy journey, only to realize that things aren't as they seem.
The Red Planet Can't Be Trusted in "Before Mars": Q&A with the AuthorIn "Before Mars," a geologist arrives at a small Mars base after a lengthy journey, only to realize that things aren't as they seem.
Video: Falcon 9 stands at the launch padThe Falcon 9 rocket stands on launch complex 40 on 16 April as SpaceX prepares to launch NASA's TESS spacecraft on a mission to seek out new planets beyond our Solar System.
Op-ed | Back to ‘back to the moon’If one replaces the 2024 retirement of ISS with the 2010 retirement of space shuttle, you pretty much have the “back to the moon” space policy of the George W. Bush administration. SpaceNews.com
Op-ed | The importance of thinking internationally on space collaborationsIn October 2017, the National Space Council started off its first meeting since re-establishment setting an important tone – that international partners bring value to the U.S. space program. SpaceNews.com
Op-ed | Dear National Space Council: Please keep doing what you’re doingFor the first time, NASA is planning to leverage commercial spacecraft for exploration missions, extending the proven public-private partnership model beyond Earth’s orbit. SpaceNews.com
NASA May Extend Space Station Missions to Address Potential Commercial Crew DelaysNASA is in discussions with its Russian counterparts about extending some upcoming space station missions as a way to buy more time for development of commercial crew vehicles.
NASA's Got a Plan for a 'Galactic Positioning System' to Save Astronauts Lost in SpaceExotic, ultra-precise pulsing stars would be used to navigate probes and crewed ships through deep space.
Astronaut Says It 'Smells Great' Inside the International Space Station (Video)When NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015, he was expecting the air to smell a little like a locker room, he says in a new video posted by NASA.
Senate moving towards vote on Bridenstine nominationAfter a months-long impasse, the Senate may vote to confirm Jim Bridenstine as the next administrator of NASA later this week. SpaceNews.com
NASA Scientists Traverse Antarctica to Prep for New Climate Satellite (Video)Two NASA scientists recently returned from a two week, 470-mile (760 kilometers) expedition in one of the most barren landscapes on Earth.
Companies look to Trump administration to further ease export rules for space technologyFour years after the Obama administration began loosening rules on space technology exports, companies experiencing the benefits are looking to the Trump administration for further regulatory relief. SpaceNews.com
SpaceX Will Build Its Next-Gen Mars Rocket in Los AngelesSpaceX will build its "BFR" spaceship at a new facility in the Port of Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced yesterday (April 16).
Meet OmegA: Orbital ATK Unveils Name, Upper Stage Pick for Next-Gen RocketOrbital ATK's next rocket will be its biggest one yet, and the company has picked a fitting name for new booster: OmegA.
Researchers Propose Mission to Intercept the Next Interstellar AsteroidThe solar system recently received its first interstellar visitor, 'Oumuamua, and researchers have now suggested a plan for a mission to meet the next guest from another star.
Orbital ATK selects Aerojet Rocketdyne’s RL10C for newly christened OmegA rocketOrbital ATK on Monday revealed new details about the rocket it has been developing over the last three years in an effort to take U.S. Air Force launch contracts away from United Launch Alliance and SpaceX. SpaceNews.com
Commerce to take responsibility for space traffic management under new policyA new space traffic management policy announced by Vice President Mike Pence April 16 would give the Commerce Department, and not the FAA, responsibility for providing space situational awareness data to satellite operators. SpaceNews.com
Video: Mission officials brief reporters on TESS launchOfficials from NASA, research institutions and companies involved in the development and launch of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite briefed reporters in the mission Sunday, the day before its scheduled liftoff from Cape Canaveral.
Raytheon says VIIRS could meet DoD weather requirements without further development“The VIIRS sensor today was built to meet all of the DoD’s weather needs for electro-optical infrared,” said Wallis Laughrey, Raytheon Space Systems vice president SpaceNews.com
NASA could extend space station stays as hedge against commercial crew delaysNASA is working with the Russian space agency to potentially extend crew stays on the International Space Station, the agency's acting administrator said last week, as a cushion against expected delays in the development of commercial crew capsules by Boeing and SpaceX.
Goodbye, Kepler, Hello TESS: Passing the Baton in the Search for Distant PlanetsFor centuries, human beings have wondered about the possibility of other Earths orbiting distant stars. Perhaps some of these alien worlds would harbor strange forms of life or have unique and telling histories or futures.
Stratolaunch planning first aircraft flight this summerStratolaunch expects to conduct the first flight of its giant aircraft this summer as it develops a broad spectrum of launch services that will make use of it, the company said April 16. SpaceNews.com
The Astrobiology Magazine Guide to TESSNASA's next mission to continue the search for Earth-like worlds is ready to blast off.
Falcon 9 launch timeline with TESSSpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is set for liftoff from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday, heading east over the Atlantic Ocean to deliver NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite into orbit approximately 49 minutes after launch.
AsiaSat CEO Andrew Jordan stepping downAndrew Jordan, chief executive of regional fleet operator AsiaSat, resigned April 16 a year and a half after taking the position. SpaceNews.com
Photos: TESS prepared for launch in FloridaThese photos show NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite undergoing preparations for launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Elon Musk Says SpaceX Will Try to Land a Rocket with a 'Giant Party Balloon'From anyone else, it would sound ridiculous: Elon Musk says SpaceX is going to try to land a rocket stage with … wait for it … a "giant party balloon."
SpaceX poised to launch planet-hunterSpaceX readied a Falcon 9 rocket for takeoff Monday to launch a planet-hunting satellite for NASA that will monitor the light from countless stars to find potentially habitable planets worthy of follow-up studies by more powerful ground- and space-based observatories.
British startup Earth-i shares first color video from its VividX2 satellite, a prototype for imagery constellation"We look at that is time and movement information as a couple of golden threads that we can attach to our geolocated, time-stamped data," Richard Blain, Earth-i CEO SpaceNews.com
Han & Chewie Banter Highlight New 1 Min Solo 'New Look'See Han Solo ask Chewbacca his name in this new footage from May's SOLO.
A City-Sized 'Telescope' Could Watch Space-Time Ripple 1 Million Times a YearA gravitational wave detector that's 2.5 miles long isn't cool. You know what's cool? A 25-mile-long gravitational wave detector.
Why We Might Miss Extraterrestrial Life Even If It's Staring Us in the FaceResearchers use a cosmic gorilla to uncover the dangers of inattention in the search for alien life.
British startup Earth-i shares first color video from its VividX2 satellite, a prototype for imagery constellationBritish startup Earth-i unveiled the first color video captured by its VividX2 satellite, a prototype for its future Earth imagery constellation, April 16 at the 34th Space Symposium here. SpaceNews.com
Why Sierra Nevada’s owners are betting big on Dream ChaserSierra Nevada Corp.’s largest investment to date is in Dream Chaser, the spaceplane NASA selected in the initial rounds of its campaign to encourage companies to build private space taxis to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station. SpaceNews.com
China reveals cause of Long March 5 failure; lunar sample mission to follow return-to-flightChina has disclosed the cause of the failure of the Long March 5 heavy-lift rocket last July, revealing that a turbopump exhaust issue prevented the rocket reaching orbit. SpaceNews.com
SpaceX Rocket Launching NASA's TESS Exoplanet Hunter Today: Watch LiveNASA's next exoplanet-hunting mission is scheduled to launch today (April 16) atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and you can watch the action live.
This Quantum Random Number Generator Can Never Be HackedA special experimental setup produces certifiably random numbers to use in the creation of "unhackable" messages.
Life on Venus? Why It's Not an Absurd ThoughtThe Venusian surface is famously inhospitable today, but the planet was temperate long ago, with seas that persisted for eons — perhaps 2 billion years or more. And Venus' clouds may be a habitable environment to this day.
National Space Council Will Deliver Space-Junk Plan to Trump, VP Pence SaysThe United States is getting serious about space junk, according to Vice President Mike Pence.
A year later, a new political reality for military spaceOver the course of the past 12 months, not only did Congress pass a law that disbanded the A-11 position but it also stripped the secretary of the Air Force of her role as principal space adviser to the secretary of defense. SpaceNews.com
On 'One Strange Rock,' Former Astronaut Mae Jemison Delves into Life's OriginsAs the late Carl Sagan once said, "We are made of star stuff." Every living thing is composed of atoms that were born inside stars and scattered across the universe through supernova explosions. So, how did those ingredients give rise to life on Earth?
Launch of NASA's TESS Exoplanet Hunter Delayed by Rocket IssueThe launch of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, which was scheduled to take place this evening (April 16), has been delayed by at least 48 hours due to an issue with the spacecraft's rocket ride, a SpaceX Falcon 9.
Gateway to the... Moon: Apollo 11 Capsule Lands on Display in St. LouisSt. Louis is often called the "Gateway to the West" because of its Arch. Well, now the city could also be referred to as "Gateway to the Moon" with the opening of the Smithsonian's exhibit "Destination Moon" at the Saint Louis Science Center.
Exoplanet Exploration: The Search Continues for New, Exciting WorldsThousands of fascinating new worlds have been discovered beyond our own solar system, ranging from supersize gas giant planets to small rocky bodies — and the search continues to better understand these distant worlds.
'Tunguska'-Size Asteroid Makes Surprise Flyby of EarthAn asteroid similar in size to one that exploded over 100 years ago in Russia's Tunguska region in Siberia gave Earth a close shave on Sunday (April 15), just one day after it was discovered by astronomers.
Live coverage: Launch of NASA planet-hunting satellite set for todaySpaceX and NASA will try again to launch a planet-hunting satellite Wednesday from Cape Canaveral, two days after calling off a launch attempt to conduct additional guidance, navigation and control analyses. Liftoff Wednesday is set for 6:51 p.m. EDT (2251 GMT), and SpaceX will attempt to recover the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage on a…
Q&A with Sara Seager, deputy director of science on NASA’s TESS mission (members only)Sara Seager is an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at MIT, and she serves as deputy science director on NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, which aims to find planets around stars relatively close to the sun, searching for worlds that are ideal follow-up targets for missions like the James Webb Space Telescope.
Watch a replay of the Atlas 5 AFSPC 11 launchWatch a replay of the Atlas 5 rocket soaring into space on 14 April carrying multiple U.S. Air Force communications and tech demo satellites.
NASA's TESS Satellite Will Supercharge Search for Nearby, Earth-Like WorldsOn Monday, April 16, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. NASA's new exoplanet hunter will train its sights on nearer, brighter stars than its predecessors did.
Space Ventures Raise Nearly $1 Billion in First Quarter of 2018, Led by SpaceXA new report concludes space ventures raised nearly $1 billion in the first quarter of 2018, half of that as a new funding round for SpaceX that has the company has yet to publicly announce.
Wait For It...The First 'April 23rd Doomsday' Was Predicted in 1843A new prediction for the end of the world sets the apocalypse date as Monday, April 23, based on a mishmash of old numerology, re-readings of the biblical Book of Revelation and rehashed conspiracy theories about a rogue "Planet X."
Multi-satellite payload hoisted into high-altitude orbit by Atlas 5 rocketA package of communications and tech demo satellites for the U.S. Air Force rode a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket into an orbit more than 20,000 miles over the equator after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Saturday evening.
All Systems 'Go' For Launch of NASA Exoplanet Mission MondayNASA's next exoplanet-hunting spacecraft is primed for an on-time liftoff Monday (April 15) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Photos: Atlas 5 rocket blasts off for U.S. Air ForceAn Atlas 5 rocket rumbled into space Saturday evening after lifting off from Cape Canaveral with multiple U.S. Air Force communications and tech demo satellites, and brilliant clear skies made for ideal viewing conditions shortly before sunset.
Pentagon procurement chief Ellen Lord cautiously optimistic about OCXOCX effective April 1 transitioned to agile software development. SpaceNews.com
Q&A with George Ricker, principal investigator for the TESS mission (members only)George Ricker, an astronomer and pioneer in space imaging sensor ships at MIT, leads the science team for NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.
Space as a national security concern is hard to explainThe United States is hugely dependent on a “space architecture we designed a lot like the internet, not with threats in mind.” SpaceNews.com
On the pad: Atlas 5 rocket in position for third flight of 2018These photos captured on the eve of launch show a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket standing on its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, ready for blastoff on the U.S. Air Force's AFSPC 11 mission with three satellites on-board.
Launch timeline for Atlas 5’s AFSPC 11 missionA United Launch Atlas 5 rocket is set to loft three military satellites for the U.S. Air Force on a mission codenamed AFSPC 11. This timeline shows the major mission events planned over a six-hour flight to a near-geostationary orbit.
Atlas V Rocket Launches US Military Satellite and Experimental Spacecraft Into OrbitA United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched two U.S. Air Force satellites into orbit Saturday (April 14), setting the stage for improved military satellite communications and a new generation of space vehicle design.
How NASA's Planet-Hunting TESS Telescope Will Find Habitable WorldsNASA's next planet-hunting telescope will swing between different parts of the sky, searching for worlds that could be habitable.
Lego Just Launched New Sets for 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' (and Yes, They're Awesome)Lego released several new "Star Wars" building sets today (April 13) ahead of the upcoming release of the next film in the saga, "Solo: A Star Wars Story."
Venus Visits Night Sky This Month: How to See ItNow that Venus is finally gaining prominence in the evening sky, it will team with the moon (on April 17), the Pleiades (on April 24) and more, making for some eye-catching configurations.
Photos: Atlas 5 rolled out for Air Force missionA United Launch Alliance arrived at Cape Canaveral's Complex 41 launch pad Friday morning after rolling out of its vertical hangar with three U.S. Air Force satellites designed to provide communications to military leaders and test new in-orbit inspection and surveillance technology.
NASA authorization bill increases emphasis on commercial partnershipsA NASA authorization bill to be considered by the House next week would direct NASA to work more closely with commercial partners in areas ranging from Earth observation to deep space exploration. SpaceNews.com
FCC issues warning in wake of Swarm’s unauthorized launchThe U.S. Federal Communications Commission on April 12 released an enforcement advisory warning that organizations will be penalized for launching spacecraft without the appropriate regulatory approvals and advised launch providers they should be ready to remove unauthorized spacecraft from their rockets if necessary. SpaceNews.com
Pence to Make Space Policy Speech Next WeekWith Vice President Pence expected to make another space policy announcement next week, industry and government officials offered their endorsement of the work the National Space Council has done since it was reconstituted last year.
NASA Studying Sensor Issue with Parker Solar ProbeAs a NASA spacecraft designed to fly closer to the sun than ever before arrived in Florida for launch, project officials are still studying problems with sensors on the spacecraft.
SpaceX Proposes to Conduct Dragon Splashdowns in Gulf of MexicoSpaceX is seeking permission to perform splashdowns of its Dragon spacecraft in the Gulf of Mexico, part of a shift in spacecraft recovery operations from the Pacific Ocean.
Northeast Astronomy Forum 2018 Invites Space Fans to 'Ultimate Experience'Astronomy enthusiasts — including Space.com — will come together next weekend (April 21-22) for the Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF), which producers have billed as "the ultimate astronomy and space experience."
Environmental group plans satellite to track greenhouse gas emissionsAn environmental group announced plans April 11 to develop and operate its own satellite to track one particular greenhouse gas, the latest sign of the proliferation of smallsat technology. SpaceNews.com
This Week's Top Space StoriesA galaxy cluster creates a circle of light, a new study reveals that illicit drug use rose during the 2017 total solar eclipse and researchers looked at a dark zone on an ice sheet in Greenland. These are some of this week's top stories from Space.com.
The Most Amazing Space Photos This Week!Here are our picks for the most amazing space photos of the week.
Blue Origin’s orbital rocket in the running to receive U.S. military investmentBlue Origin submitted a proposal late last year in what's expected to be a four-way competition for U.S. Air Force funding to support development of new orbital-class rockets, a further step taken by the Jeff Bezos-owned company to break into the military launch market, industry officials said.
Live coverage: Atlas 5 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral with multiple satellitesWith its payload shroud filled with multiple U.S. Air Force satellites heading for a high-altitude perch over the equator, a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Saturday at 7:13 p.m. EDT (2313 GMT) in its most powerful configuration with five strap-on solid-fueled boosters.
Photos: Indian rocket makes rare nighttime launchLifting off in the predawn hours from India's island spaceport, a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle added a new navigation satellite to the country's space-based positioning network this week.
Atlas 5 rocket readied for high-altitude multi-satellite flight SaturdayUnited Launch Alliance crews at Cape Canaveral are finishing final preparations for an Atlas 5 rocket launch Saturday evening to dispatch three U.S. military satellites directly to an orbital perch more than 20,000 miles over the equator.
Landmarks on Pluto's Moon Charon Get Their First Official NamesThe names of explorers and the authors of journeys make up some of the first feature names for Charon.
Gritty Survival Marks Debut of New 'Lost in Space' on NetflixThe first episode of Netflix's reimagined "Lost in Space" portrays space exploration as a brutal, unforgiving endeavor.
NASA may extend space station missions to address potential commercial crew delaysNASA is in discussions with its Russian counterparts about extending some upcoming space station missions as a way to buy more time for development of commercial crew vehicles. SpaceNews.com
One 'Strange' Instagram Live: Will Smith Has a Few Quirky Questions for a Space Station AstronautWill Smith called an astronaut at the International Space Station Thursday (April 12) in the first-ever Instagram Live video streamed from space.
India Just Launched a Navigation Satellite (While Trying to Save Another One)India has successfully launched a new navigation satellite, even as the country continues hunting for another satellite that it lost contact with earlier this month.
Oceans' Mysterious Magnetic Field Is Mapped in Stunning Detail from SpaceSatellites circling Earth have mapped an elusive, invisible force in unprecedented detail: the magnetic field created by the currents in the planet's salty oceans, according to new research.
SpaceX Rocket Is Ready to Launch NASA's Next Planet-Hunting TelescopeSpaceX is gearing up to launch NASA's next big exoplanet hunter on Monday (April 16), with a successful test-fire of its Falcon 9 rocket under its belt.
Pence to make space policy speech at Space SymposiumWith Vice President Pence expected to make another space policy announcement April 16, industry and government officials offered their endorsement of the work the National Space Council has done since it was reconstituted last year. SpaceNews.com
In the Trump administration, deep mistrust of Chinese, Russian motives in spaceNational Space Council Executive Secretary Scott Pace said China and Russia are to blame for space no longer being a sanctuary. SpaceNews.com
Orbital ATK confident new rocket will win Air Force supportOrbital ATK's bid to join the U.S. military's roster of rockets to haul the most critical national security satellites into orbit faces stiff competition from entrenched launch providers and billionaire entrepreneurs, but the company is confident its Next Generation Launch system will win one of three funding agreements the Air Force is expected to award…
Judge Finds Apollo Astronaut Can Sue Over Marketing of Replica Moon WatchIf an astronaut wears a watch on the surface of the moon, does the watchmaker have the right to then use the moonwalker's persona to market a replica of the timepiece?
Soar Over Jupiter's Monster Polar Storms with This Stunning NASA VideoThe massive cyclones that swirl near Jupiter's north pole glow like lava in a gorgeous new 3D flyover video captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft.
Bullish Globalstar investor offers $150 million loan to offset operator’s financial troublesAn investor in Globalstar is ready to put $150 million into the low-Earth-orbit satellite operator in the company’s stock should be trading at five times current prices. SpaceNews.com
Delta IV: Payload Launch VehicleDelta IV is a type of rocket that is mainly used to boost satellites into orbit.
'Superflares' May Make It Hard for Life to Thrive on Earth's Nearest ExoplanetThe nearest exoplanet to Earth may get hit hard by damaging ultraviolet radiation, making it tough for life to survive there, a new study suggests.
New Planets May Be Forming Around Young Nearby Stars, Dusty Disks SuggestDiverse disks of dusty material have been spotted around nearby young stars, suggesting new planets are sprouting up around the alien stars.
Gravity Assist Podcast: The Sun, with Nicky FoxNASA's Planetary Science Division Director, Jim Green, talks to solar physicist Nicky Fox about a forthcoming mission to study the Sun's corona.
'Yuri's Night' 2018 Space Party Blasts Off Tonight to Mark 1st Human SpaceflightSpace fans take note: You can meet up with like-minded folks tonight (April 12) for "Yuri's Night," a global celebration of space science and exploration.
Lego's Bat-Space Shuttle Is a Fun Way to Mark NASA's STS-1 AnniversaryHoly Bat-shuttles, Batman! The Dark Knight has his own space program?
Best Space Books and Sci-Fi: A Space.com Reading ListSpace.com's editors present a reading list for space and sci-fi lovers, as well as children who are interested in astronomy and spaceflight.
Space ventures raise nearly $1 billion in first quarter of 2018, led by SpaceXA new report concludes space ventures raised nearly $1 billion in the first quarter of 2018, half of that as a new funding round for SpaceX that has the company has yet to publicly announce. SpaceNews.com
Playful Genius: Tribute Recalls Stephen Hawking's Lighter SideStephen Hawking may have been a world-renowned genius, but he didn't take himself too seriously, according to a tribute published online today (April 12) in the journal Science.
No, the Rapture Isn't Coming on April 23 Because of Nibiru (Which Doesn't Exist)Claims made by outlets such as the Daily Express say the Rapture is coming April 23. Should you really worry the end is nigh?
Best Spaceflight and Space History BooksHere are Space.com writers' and editors' picks for spaceflight and space history books that dazzle.
Skywatching in Spring 2018: Celestial Events Caught on CameraSee photos of planetary conjunctions and other astronomical events captured by amateur astronomer and astrophotographer Victor Rogus in March and April of 2018.
Space Math Heroes of 'Hidden Figures' Inspire Nat Geo Drama SeriesNational Geographic is in the early stages of development for a TV series inspired by 2016's "Hidden Figures," according to a new report from Variety.
ISRO launches for second time in two weeksRiding a column of red-hot rocket exhaust, an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle fired into orbit Wednesday with a replacement satellite for the country's home-grown navigation network.
SpaceX rocket test-fired at Cape Canaveral for NASA telescope launchSpaceX's launch team loaded super-chilled liquid propellants into a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday and fired the booster's nine first stage engines at Cape Canaveral, marching toward liftoff Monday with a NASA observatory built to find planets around other stars in our galactic neighborhood.
Mattis to decide future of nuclear command, control and communicationsThe Air Force today is responsible for about 70 percent of the 62 air, space and ground systems that make up the NC3. SpaceNews.com
Baikonur Cosmodrome can support polar launches with Proton Medium, ILS saysInternational Launch Services says Russia’s Proton rocket will be better able to compete for constellation launches, along with other missions, thanks to new orbits accessible through an upcoming variant of the rocket. SpaceNews.com
Photos: PSLV poised for navigation satellite launchIndia's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle sits on its launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Center on the country's eastern coastline, awaiting blastoff with the IRNSS 1I navigation satellite.
Two commercial suborbital launches delayedTwo commercial suborbital launches scheduled for late last week, one a test flight of an orbital launch vehicle and the other of a suborbital research vehicle, have been postponed. SpaceNews.com
Live coverage: India’s PSLV climbs into space with navigation satelliteIndia's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle lifted off at 2234 GMT (6:34 p.m. EDT) Wednesday with the country's ninth navigation satellite, bolstering a regional positioning and timing network after the loss of a navigation craft on a previous PSLV mission last year.
SN Military.Space | Space Command No. 2 takes office • NRO leading the way in innovation • Satellite as weapons in infowars“Corporate advocacy and stewardship for Air Force space missions and capabilities.” That, in a nutshell, is the job description for Lt. Gen. David D. Thompson, who last Thursday became Air Force Space Command vice commander. SpaceNews.com
Analysts: Space weapons proliferating, there is more congestion and competitionSecure World Foundation releases new report on global counterspace capabilities. "Space is important to everyone, not the sole domain of militaries and intelligence services." SpaceNews.com
Huge Solar 'Tornadoes' Don't Spin After All, Study ShowsGiant plasma "tornadoes" raging across the surface of the sun don't actually spin like astronomers once thought, new research shows.
Cosmic Bling! Colorful Nebulas Decorate Orion's Belt in Stargazer PhotoThe constellation of Orion is teeming with nebulas in this colorful deep-space image.
Why NASA Is Sending a Spacecraft to a Metal Asteroid Called 'Psyche'An ambitious mission to a "world made of metal" will help scientists better understand how Earth and other rocky planets evolved, according to a new video from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
This NASA Video Tour of the Moon in 4K Is Simply BreathtakingImages from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter are not only helping planners with future human missions to the moon, but are also revealing new information about the moon's evolution and structure.
Soyuz Rocket: Russia's Reliable BoosterThe Soyuz rocket is a line of Russian boosters that have been used since the mid-1960s for both cargo and astronaut transportation. Today, Soyuz rockets the main form of transportation to the International Space Station.
In Photos: India's GSLV Rocket Launches GSAT-6A Communications SatelliteOn March 29, 2018, the Indian Space Research Organisation launched the GSAT-6A communications satellite into orbit atop a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. See how the mission went in photos here.
Scientists and entrepreneurs lobby for NASA lunar programAs congressional appropriators prepare to review NASA’s latest budget request, a group from academia and industry are seeking support for a lunar exploration initiative included in the proposal. SpaceNews.com
'The Expanse' Season 3 Premieres Tonight! What to ExpectWar is on for Earth, Mars and the asteroid belt in Season 3 of "The Expanse," starting tonight (April 11) at 9 p.m. EDT/8 p.m. CDT on Syfy.
A Luxury Hotel in Space? Aurora Station Promises VR and Wi-Fi, If It Gets Off EarthEver dreamed of vacationing in space? Aurora Station, a luxury space hotel, promises virtual reality and Wi-Fi for travelers in low-Earth orbit — but we'll have to wait and see if it really flies.
There's a Lot of Sperm on the International Space Station Right NowFor the first time (officially), NASA will set loose some human sperm in outer space.
Weird Neutrinos Can't Quite Explain Matter's Huge Riddle YetEarly results from an experiment deep underground have found no evidence that neutrinos are their own antiparticles.
NASA Chooses Its Next Chief Scientist: Jim GreenNASA has tapped current Planetary Sciences Division Director Jim Green to be the space agency's next chief scientist.
Guardians of the Galaxy Find 'Handsome, Muscular' Thor in New ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ FootagePlus a few new interesting shots of action from the highly-anticipated film.
Training for Mars: An Excerpt from Space Thriller "One Way"In an excerpt from the space thriller "One Way," the main character, taken out of prison to train for a one-way trip to Mars, finally gets to know one of the other potential colonists during training and begins to learn a critical skill for surviving.
NASA selects planetary science director as new chief scientistThe longtime director of NASA’s planetary science division will become the agency’s next chief scientist next month, NASA announced April 10. SpaceNews.com
Q&A with Mike Laidley, vice president of Orbital ATK’s Next Generation Launch program (members only)Mike Laidley leads development of Orbital ATK's Next Generation Launch system, a rocket the commercial space company hopes will provide a foothold in the lucrative market to launch U.S. military satellites, a business currently dominated by SpaceX and United Launch Alliance.
Pentagon advisory panel: DoD could take a page from SpaceX on software developmentThe Defense Science Board cited SpaceX as an example of a company that can meet stringent military requirements and still use agile software development methods. SpaceNews.com
U.K. Space Industry Act to future-proof against BrexitThe U.K. Space Industry Act, passed last month, aims to "future-proof" the country’s space sector as it faces the challenging Brexit period while striving to become a major global space player. SpaceNews.com
'Inhumans' Star Boards 'Star Trek: Discovery' as the Enterprise's Captain PikeThe Enterprise's original captain is reportedly joining the cast of Star Trek: Discovery.
'Hole' in the Sun Spawns Powerful Solar Wind; Could Amp Up AurorasA massive "hole" on the surface of the sun has unleashed a strong solar wind that scientists say may amp up the northern lights in some areas of the U.S. and could disrupt satellite communications over the next few days.
LADEE: NASA's Next Mission to the MoonNASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) launched in September 2013. Here is everything you need to know about it.
Ellen Stofan, Former NASA Chief Scientist, to Head National Air and Space MuseumEllen Stofan was 8 years old when Apollo 11 landed astronauts on the moon. Now almost 50 years later, she has been chosen to lead the Smithsonian museum entrusted with that mission's artifacts, filling a role first held by a member of the Apollo 11 crew.
Chinese Long March 4C rocket deploys four satellites in orbitThree Chinese military surveillance spacecraft and an experimental nanosatellite rode a Long March 4C rocket into orbit Tuesday.
Hubble Telescope Discovers a Light-Bending 'Einstein Ring' in SpaceThe perfect circle surrounding a galaxy cluster in a new Hubble Space Telescope image is a visual indicator of the huge masses that are bending time and space in that region.
Inside the Clean Room with NASA's TESS Exoplanet Hunter (Images)Space.com took a tour of the clean room at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the agency's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission was being prepped for its planned April 16, 2018 launch. See images here.
About 17,000 Big Near-Earth Asteroids Remain Undetected: How NASA Could Spot ThemTo date, astronomers have detected just one-third of the near-Earth asteroids big enough to obliterate an entire state. But a dedicated asteroid-hunting space mission could change that in a big way.
Take a Symphonic Journey into a Black Hole with 'Metacosmos'The New York Philharmonic took a metaphysical journey into a black hole with the world premiere of "Metacosmos," a symphonic poem by the Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir.
SpaceX Not to Blame for Zuma Spy-Satellite Launch Failure: ReportSpaceX isn't responsible for the loss of the top-secret Zuma spy satellite during the craft's launch earlier this year, according to media reports.
SpaceX proposes to conduct Dragon splashdowns in Gulf of MexicoSpaceX is seeking permission to perform splashdowns of its Dragon spacecraft in the Gulf of Mexico, part of a shift in spacecraft recovery operations from the Pacific Ocean. SpaceNews.com
Greenland Has a Mysterious 'Dark Zone' — And It's Getting Even DarkerA new study investigates the dark zone that seems to be getting bigger on the western edge of the ice sheet.
If 'Oumuamua Is an Alien Spacecraft, It's Keeping Quiet So FarAre there intelligent aliens living on the cigar-shaped, interstellar object that's zooming through our solar system? To find out, astronomers in Western Australia used the Murchison Widefield Array telescope to eavesdrop on the rocky visitor.
Saturn Moon Dione Toes the Line in Stunning NASA PhotoSaturn's icy moon Dione hovers against the thin line of the gas giant's edge-on rings in a gorgeous photo by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
Air Force Wants Help to Operate and Maintain Space Surveillance TelescopesThree sites provide nearly complete coverage of the Earth's geosynchronous orbital belt and deliver nearly 80 percent of all geosynchronous observations.
NASA Studies Extending Boeing Commercial Crew Test Flight to Support ISSA commercial crew contract modification moves NASA one step closer to using a test flight as an operational mission to maintain a presence on the International Space Station.
NASA Begins Building Next Mars Rover for 2020 LaunchNASA technicians have officially begun the assembly, test and launch operations (ATLO) phase of development on the agency's next Mars rover, keeping the project on track for an expected 2020 launch.
In New Space Thriller 'One Way,' a Mars Colony Turns Deadly: Q&A with the AuthorIn S.J. Morden's "One Way" (Orbit Books, 2018), a private company gives eight criminals a way out of life in prison: a one-way trip to build a base on Mars.
Touring the Galactic 'Zoo' This Spring, Using Mobile AppsEvery spring in the Northern Hemisphere, the obscuring stars, gas and dust of our own Milky Way galaxy vacate the night sky, leaving a literal window of opportunity for skywatchers to peer at distant galaxies.
Boeing proposes extending test flight of commercial crew capsuleNASA has agreed to consider a Boeing proposal to extend the first piloted test flight of its commercial CST-100 Starliner crew capsule from two weeks to up to six months with an extra crew member for the International Space Station, hedging against potential delays that could jeopardize U.S. crew access to the orbiting outpost.
Investigation into Zuma failure reportedly lays blame on Northrop GrummanGovernment investigators have exonerated SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket in the loss of a top secret space mission known as Zuma in January, blaming a malfunction in a component modified by Northrop Grumman that connected the launcher with its classified payload, according to the Wall Street Journal.
NASA studying sensor issue with Parker Solar ProbeAs a NASA spacecraft designed to fly closer to the sun than ever before arrived in Florida for launch, project officials are still studying problems with sensors on the spacecraft. SpaceNews.com
Another reason space is a battleground: Satellites will be key weapons in the fight against fake newsThe U.S. military will need “resilient information networks" to ensure enemies are not able to steer signals for nefarious purposes. SpaceNews.com
Falcon 9 slated to launch Iridium, GRACE-FO satellites May 19SpaceX has set May 19 as the launch date for a Falcon 9 mission that will carry satellites for commercial fleet operator Iridium and a joint mission for NASA and Germany, according to Iridium. SpaceNews.com
NASA is counting on long-lived Mars orbiter lasting another decadeWith NASA's attention at the red planet shifting to collecting and bringing rock samples back to Earth -- a feat that could take a decade with costs that will leave little money for other Mars missions -- the space agency is counting on its workhorse Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter continuing its imaging and radio relay functions…
Atlas V: Reliable, Flexible RocketThe Atlas V is a type of rocket that is commonly used for interplanetary missions, military payloads and cargo runs to the International Space Station.
'E' is for Apollo: 'STEM Education' Stamps Use Spacecraft to Illustrate EngineeringNASA's Apollo spacecraft illustrates the "E" in "STEM" on a set of four new U.S. postage stamps. The STEM Education stamps depict Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The Engineering stamp features Apollo as a "positive" and "recognizable" example.
Leidos bests Raytheon for FAA hosted payload contractDefense and IT company Leidos triumphed over competitor Raytheon this week in a competition to build a hosted payload for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for honing GPS signals. SpaceNews.com
Han Solo's 'Got a Good Feeling About This' New 'Star Wars Story' TrailerA new "Solo: A Star Wars Story" trailer has been released, with a Sabacc deck full of new details on the film - from Chewbacca's age to Paul Bettany's villain Dryden Vos ... and even a twist on a familiar Star Wars phrase.
Earth's Shields Protect Life from the Sun on 'One Strange Rock'Planet Earth and the life it contains wouldn't exist if it weren't for the sun. But the sun also poses a serious threat to life, by constantly spewing harmful radiation into the solar system.
Why Extraterrestrial Life May Be More Unlikely Than Scientists ThoughtPhosphorus is an essential element for life — but that there was enough of it for life to start on Earth might just have been a matter of luck, new findings suggest.
Is Dark Matter Made Up of Mini Black Holes from the Big Bang?Dark matter may actually be a scattering of primordial black holes that arose soon after the Big Bang as a result of instabilities in the Higgs field, according to a new theory.
Could Isaac Asimov's Planet Where Nightfall Almost Never Comes Really Exist?The classic science-fiction tale "Nightfall" is set on a planet on which night only falls every 2,049 years. Now, a scientist proposes a planet could exist on which night would never fall — provided it was lit on all sides by a ring of stars orbiting a bl
New NASA Planet Hunter Is Launching One Week from TodayNASA's next exoplanet-hunting spacecraft, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, will take to the skies one week from today (April 9), if all goes according to plan.
Early Life Had Evolutionary Power to Survive Radical Changes in EnvironmentLife on Earth could have originated in cold conditions near the surface, before spreading to warmer environments, according to research that analyzes the possible gene sequences belonging to the earliest life.
Astronauts Become Billiard Balls to Demonstrate Newton's Third Law (Video)Watch two astronauts curl themselves up like balls in microgravity to demonstrate Newton's third law of motion in a new educational video.
Elon Musk Shows Off 'Tool' for Mars-Colonizing Spaceship (Photo)SpaceX's Mars spaceship won't be a mere concept vehicle for much longer, if a new photo is any guide.
This Newfound Stellar Remnant Is the First of Its Kind: Why It's So SpecialThe strands of gas and dust left behind from a 2,000-year-old supernova shine in spring colors like lilac and rose-red in new imagery created by ground- and space-based telescopes.
The Story Claiming Buzz Aldrin Saw Aliens in Space Is Utter NonsenseA viral story claims Buzz Aldrin passed a lie-detector test proving he saw a UFO in space. This is complete nonsense.
NASA’s InSight lander inside one month to launch toward MarsNASA's InSight Mars lander will be buttoned up for launch in the coming weeks at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, in preparation for its hoisting atop an Atlas 5 rocket for blastoff in the predawn hours of May 5.
U.S. military trying to be a player, not a bystander, in the new space race“Today feels like 1998, that was the last time we had the same level of enthusiasm with startups,” says Randy Kendall, vice president of launch program operations at The Aerospace Corporation. SpaceNews.com
How to See the 'Jupiter Triangle' in April's Night SkyJupiter and two bright stars make up a "Jupiter triangle" in the night sky. Here's how to look for it in April and through summer.
Sewage Suggests That People Got High for 2017 Solar EclipseIllicit drug residues in sewage spiked for holidays and special events during summer 2017 in rural Kentucky.
Elon Musk Worries That AI Research Will Create an 'Immortal Dictator'"It would live forever... and we could never escape," Musk says in a new documentary.
German Scientists Harvest Their 1st Antarctic Salad, and It Looks AmazingLettuce, cucumbers and radishes are among the first plants to be collected from the greenhouse.
A Third of Young Millennials Are Confused About This Incontrovertible FactYounger people seem perplexed about whether Earth is round or flat.
Awesome Video Shows What It Was Like to Fly Virgin Galactic's Rocket-Powered Test FlightEven after flying 140 different types of aircraft, the chief pilot on Virgin's successful powered spaceship test yesterday (April 5) says being at the helm of the VSS Unity was "something else."
Help wanted to operate and maintain Air Force deep space telescopesThe Air Force Space Command last week posted a “sources sought” notice for the operations and maintenance of the Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System. SpaceNews.com
Rocket Lab preps for first commercial satellite launchRocket Lab's first full-up commercial launch is set for April 19, U.S. time, from the company's privately-operated launch base in New Zealand with three U.S.-owned satellites to collect weather data.
Saturn’s clouds run deep, rings may rain organicsSaturn’s clouds have roots deeper inside the planet’s atmosphere than scientists previously thought, and Saturn’s rings — now believed to have formed in the last 200 million years — appear to be raining organic molecules down on the planet, according to observations made by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft last year in the final weeks of its…
Wall Street analysts balk at Viasat-Eutelsat split on European broadbandEutelsat’s decision to scrap an investment in Viasat’s ViaSat-3 system in favor of a fully-owned satellite means the two companies will now be competitors in the European broadband market — a stance analysts view as bad for both operators. SpaceNews.com
NASA studies extending Boeing commercial crew test flight to support ISSA commercial crew contract modification moves NASA one step closer to using a test flight as an operational mission to maintain a presence on the ISS. SpaceNews.com
Video: SpaceShipTwo rocket plane soars on supersonic test flightVirgin Galactic's commercial SpaceShipTwo rocket plane made its highest and fastest flight to date Thursday, moving the company's space tourism ambitions closer to reality more than three years after a fatal accident suspended powered test flights.
Photos: VSS Unity’s first powered test flightThese images captured by photographer Gene Blevins show Virgin Galactic's second SpaceShipTwo space plane making its first rocket-powered test flight Thursday over California's Mojave Desert, then gliding back to a runway landing.
April Full Moon 2018: When to See the 'Pink Moon'The full Pink Moon peaks near the end of the month on Sunday, April 29, at 8:58 p.m. EDT (0058 GMT on April 30), offering a fine view for after-dinner skywatchers in the eastern U.S.
In 'Rocket Men,' Robert Kurson Retells 'Greatest Space Story Ever Told'Robert Kurson was at the museum to see a submarine. The author of a bestselling book about the discovery of a U-boat, Kurson was visiting the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago when he came across the Apollo 8 command module.
What Is a Planet?Many astronomers define a planet as an object that orbits the sun (but not another object), is round (or nearly so) and has cleared the area around its orbit.
Leo Constellation: Facts About the LionMany cultures have recognized this constellation as the Lion.
'Traffic Jam' from Collapsing Ring May Have Carved Saturn MoonThe slow death of a ring may have built up the distinctive ridges on Saturn's walnut-shaped moon.
The Most Precise Measurement of Antimatter Yet Deepens the Mystery of Why We ExistThe incredibly precise measurement could help explain why the universe exists.
Meet the Higgs Bubble That Will Destroy the Universe. Maybe.Scientists have calculated an end date for the universe. Presuming there are no surprises, of course.
Volcanoes, Swamps and the South Pole: NASA Scientists Take Research to ExtremesFor some NASA scientists, the extreme environments they study aren't on a distant planet or moon — they're right here on Earth.
Watch Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity Soar on 1st Powered Flight (Video)Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo performed its first powered test flight in more than three years yesterday (April 5), and a new video takes you along for the highly anticipated ride.
This Is (Probably) the Only Way Dark Matter Interacts with Ordinary MatterNew, more accurate measurements of a group of colliding galaxies appear to indicate that dark matter interacts with itself and ordinary matter only via gravity, reversing conclusions scientists had drawn from observations three years earlier.
NASA's TESS Exoplanet-Hunting Mission in PicturesSee images of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, which is scheduled to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on April 16, 2018.
A Space Hotel in Images: Orion Span's Luxury Aurora StationThe space startup Orion Span aims to build a luxury space hotel called Aurora Station in low-Earth orbit for space tourists looking for the ultimate escape. See how it would work in images.
Secretive X-37B Military Space Plane Wings Past 200 Days in OrbitThe U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane has winged past 200 days in orbit on its latest clandestine mission.
2018 Full Moon CalendarThe full moon happens once a month. Find out when.
This Space Junk Removal Experiment Will Harpoon & Net Debris in OrbitThe first experiment designed to demonstrate active space debris removal in orbit has just reached the International Space Station aboard SpaceX's Dragon capsule.
Ariane 5 lofts two long-awaited telecom satellitesArianespace on April 5 launched two satellites for telecom operators that for separate reasons were both more than a year behind their original launch schedules. SpaceNews.com
Ariane 5 returns to service with dual-satellite launchBoosted by two solid-fueled motors and a hydrogen-burning main engine, a European Ariane 5 rocket took off Thursday from French Guiana with a Japanese military communications payload and a U.S.-built, British-owned broadband satellite, returning to service after a January mission placed two spacecraft in the wrong orbit.
Startup announces plans for low-cost commercial space stationA startup claims it will be able to place a single-module commercial space station into orbit by 2022, although the company faces multiple and significant technical and financial hurdles. SpaceNews.com
Video: Ariane 5 rocket lifts off with communications satellitesA European Ariane 5 rocket climbed off its launch pad in French Guiana with nearly 3 million pounds of thrust Thursday, carrying two communications satellites to orbit for the Japanese military and British-based Avanti Communications.
SN Military.Space | DoD elated by budget hike, but good times may not last • USAF ready to ‘go fast’ in space • Three-star space commander swearing inAfter President Trump signed the massive $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill March 23, Pentagon officials have gone out of their way to thank Congress. SpaceNews.com
Eutelsat ditches ViaSat-3 investment, buys half-terabit satellite from Thales Alenia SpaceGlobal fleet operator Eutelsat, after months of protracted negotiations with partner Viasat, on April 5 said it would go it alone on a powerful new satellite instead of investing in Viasat’s second ViaSat-3 satellite. SpaceNews.com
Virgin Galactic completes first rocket-powered test flight since 2014Virgin Galactic’s second piloted suborbital spaceship made its first rocket-powered test flight Thursday, three-and-a-half years after the loss of an earlier model in an accident that killed one test pilot and injured another.
Second SpaceShipTwo performs first powered test flightVirgin Galactic’s second SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle successfully performed its first powered flight April 5, the first such test flight since a fatal crash nearly three and a half years ago. SpaceNews.com
Lunar X Prize competition to restart, without prizeDays after the decade-old Google Lunar X Prize competition expired without a winner, the X Prize Foundation announced it would “relaunch” the competition, albeit without a prize purse for now. SpaceNews.com
Live coverage: Ariane 5 lifts off on first flight since off-target launchThe first Ariane 5 launch since a mission flew off course Jan. 25, deploying two communications satellites into an off-target orbit, is underway. Liftoff with the DSN 1/Superbird 8 and Hylas 4 communications satellites occurred on time at 2134 GMT (5:34 p.m. EDT).
Nat Geo's New 'Space Projection Helmet' is an Out-of-This-World Virtual Reality ExperienceWe tried Nat Geo's new virtual-reality "Space Projection Helmet" for the series premiere of "One Strange Rock," and it was awesome.
NASA Has a Plan to Put Robot Bees on MarsThese Marsbees would flap their way around the Red Planet, mapping the terrain and collecting air samples.
Could Boeing's 'Starliner' Spacecraft Be a Next Step for Reaching the Moon and Beyond?The space travel of science fiction could be closer than you think.
2 Satellites Will Probe Earth's Massive Ice Sheets (Video)NASA plans to launch two new satellites by the end of 2018 in order to explore Earth's ice sheets, sea ice, glaciers, snow cover and permafrost, collectively known as the "cryosphere."
Rocket Lab Sets Date for First Commercial LaunchRocket Lab plans to perform the first commercial launch of its Electron rocket later this month, carrying satellites for at least two companies, the company announced April 3.
Virgin Orbit aims to offer responsive launch and constellation maintenance servicesVirgin Orbit plans to offer customers a variety of services including responsive launch, maintenance of large satellite constellations and potentially debris removal. SpaceNews.com
Drake Equation: Estimating the Odds of Finding E.T.The Drake Equation is used to estimate the number of communicating civilizations in the cosmos, or more simply put, the odds of finding intelligent life in the universe.
Alien Atmospheres Cooked Up in Lab May Aid Exoplanet SearchHazes baked in a lab may help researchers to understand the atmosphere of exoplanets.
April New Moon 2018: Planets, Meteors and Stars Light Up the Moonless SkyThe new moon arrives in the middle of April, a day before a meteor shower gets underway for Northern Hemisphere observers.
A Dark Version of 'Lost in Space' Is Coming to Netflix This MonthNetflix will launch a reboot of "Lost in Space" on April 13 — and you can expect a much darker, more intense tone than the lighthearted feel of the original 1960s series, its screenwriters say.
Europa Lander Concept Redesigned to Lower Cost and ComplexityRevised concepts for a proposed Europa lander mission could reduce its mass and cost by simplifying its science requirements and doing away with a dedicated communications relay.
NASA Weighs Changes to Space Technology Programs and OrganizationsAs NASA reviews the windfall it received in the 2018 omnibus spending bill, the agency is moving ahead with a reorganization of its space technology work that puts in question the future of some of its current projects.
Scientists Spot the Ghostly Aurora Footprint of Jupiter's Moon CallistoResearchers may have finally found the ghostly footprint of Jupiter's moon Callisto in the planet's auroras.
NOAA speeds up remote sensing license reviews amid broader regulatory changesThe small office that currently handles licensing of commercial remote sensing systems says it’s made major progress in processing license applications, even as the government moves ahead with broader reforms. SpaceNews.com
European Rocket Lofts Communications Satellites in 1st Launch Since GlitchA European rocket bounced back from a minor January anomaly with a picture-perfect launch of two commercial communications satellites today (April 5).
Cosmic 'Yardstick' Measures Distance to One of Universe's Oldest ObjectsAstronomers are constantly searching for better ways to figure out how far away objects in the sky are, and researchers recently measured the distance to one of the oldest collections of stars in the universe.
The Chinese Space Station Narrowly Missed Landing in the World's Largest 'Spacecraft Cemetery'Welcome to the actual middle of nowhere — home of the world's largest spaceship cemetery.
European Rocket to Launch Satellites for Japan, UK Today: Watch LiveA European rocket will launch two communications satellites today (April 5) in its first action since a Jan. 25 anomaly, and you can watch the flight live.
Virgin Galactic Completes 1st Powered Test Flight Since Fatal 2014 CrashVirgin Galactic's new SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity launched its first rocket-powered test flight over Mojave, California, on April 5, 2018. The flight did not go to space, but was the company's first powered test since a 2014 crash.
NOAA Explains Restrictions on SpaceX Launch WebcastA cutoff of live video on a recent SpaceX launch reflects new awareness by regulators of the imaging capabilities of onboard cameras on launch vehicles and requirements for companies to adhere to laws that some in the industry believe are outdated.
X Prize Is Relaunching a Private Moon Race Without Google (or a Prize)A private race to the moon is back on, without a title sponsor or a big cash prize.
'Luxury Space Hotel' to Launch in 2021Well-heeled space tourists will have a new orbital destination four years from now, if one company's plans come to fruition.
Op-Ed | Supporting America’s plan to lead on the moonAs we prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Apollo lunar landings, we’re on the cusp of an exciting return to our nearest planetary neighbor with the administration’s 2019 proposed budget for NASA. SpaceNews.com
DNI Coats: Enemies are developing advanced technology, space weapons. ‘We have to up our game’Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats: "There are a lot of efforts out there by more than one country relative to gaining space capabilities." SpaceNews.com
Dragon cargo capsule reaches space station for second timeA commercial Dragon spacecraft glacially approached the International Space Station on Wednesday, allowing a robotic arm controlled by Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai to reach out and grapple the supply ship as it soared 250 miles over Africa, completing SpaceX's 14th mission to the research complex, and the second by the same capsule.
Boeing Ops Team Reveals Mission Patch for Starliner Orbital Test FlightThe preparations for the first demonstration mission of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner crew spacecraft took a symbolic step forward with the reveal of its first patch. The NASA team contracted to run Starliner mission control in Houston debuted their emblem.
Blue Origin Switches Engines for New Glenn Second StageBlue Origin quietly changed the design of its New Glenn rocket around the beginning of the year in order to hold to a 2020 first launch and increase the range of orbital missions the rocket can complete.
SpaceX and Boeing Test Parachutes for Future Astronaut Space TaxisAs NASA prepares to send astronauts to space in private space taxis, Boeing and SpaceX are running multiple parachute tests for the crucial re-entry phase.
72 Mysterious Cosmic Flashes Puzzle AstronomersFast and furious cosmic flashes leave scientists flummoxed.
Parker Solar Probe (Photos)See the inner workings of the Parker Solar Probe, bound for the closest-ever approach to the sun.
Black Holes in Galactic Bellies May Launch More Gravitational WavesBlack holes in the centers of galaxies could accelerate mergers between objects and produce more ripples in space-time, also known as gravitational waves, a new study suggests.
The Milky Way Galaxy Is Growing Faster Than the Speed of SoundOur Milky Way galaxy is growing faster than the speed of sound as new stars pop up in its hinterlands, a new study suggests.
So Hot, It's Cool: Record-Breaking Sun Probe Nearly Ready for LaunchFinal checkouts are completed here at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center to prepare the agency's Parker Solar Probe for launch.
SpaceX Cargo Capsule Arrives at Space Station with Tons of SuppliesA SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule carrying 5,800 lbs. (2,630 kilograms) of supplies and science gear has arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) after a two-day orbital chase.
Dragon Resupply Mission (CRS-14)On Monday, April 2 at 4:30 p.m. EDT, SpaceX had a successful liftoff of its fourteenth Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-14) to the International Space Station. The Dragon spacecraft separated from the Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage about 10 minutes after liftoff and attached to the space station on Wednesday, April 4. This is SpaceX’s…
Rocket Lab sets date for first commercial launchRocket Lab plans to perform the first commercial launch of its Electron rocket later this month, carrying satellites for at least two companies, the company announced April 3. SpaceNews.com
3D Map Dices Space-Time to Reveal Thousands of Early GalaxiesAstronomers produced one of the largest 3D maps of the young universe, allowing them to "literally slice the universe in cosmic time."
New AI Program Classifies Planets and Predicts Probability of LifeResearchers have developed a new technique that uses artificial intelligence to classify planets and, in turn, determine whether life may exist on other worlds.
Could Life Exist in the Clouds of Venus?Nobody likes to have their life adrift — but on Venus, the drifting clouds of that hellish world could be a niche for extraterrestrial microbial life.
Vast Black Hole Swarm May Surround Milky Way's HeartA swarm of thousands of black holes may surround the giant black hole at the heart of our galaxy, a new study finds.
Astra Space preparing for suborbital test launchA secretive California company is gearing up for a test flight of a small launch vehicle it has developed as soon as April 5, according to government notices. SpaceNews.com
Pentagon reports rising costs for GPS terminals, ground control systemThe annual SAR report looks at Defense Department acquisition programs' cost, schedule, and performance changes. SpaceNews.com
NOAA explains restriction on SpaceX launch webcastA cutoff of live video on a recent SpaceX launch reflects new awareness by regulators of the imaging capabilities of onboard cameras on launch vehicles and requirements for companies to adhere to laws that some in the industry believe are outdated. SpaceNews.com
ISRO loses contact with new communications satelliteGround controllers have lost contact with an Indian communications satellite launched last week, and Indian news reports suggest engineers believe the spacecraft's power system is at fault.
Global Eagle looks abroad for new aviation businessSatellite connectivity provider Global Eagle Entertainment on April 2 detailed three nearly complete international connectivity deals with airlines in Europe and Asia that have the potential to increase its number of connected aircraft by a third. SpaceNews.com
Military’s focus on space a boon for cloud, IT companiesThe Air Force is looking to upgrade its cloud computing systems to support the massive downloads of weather data from satellites. SpaceNews.com
Three Gaofen Earth observation satellites launched by ChinaChina has launched its 10th space mission of the year, deploying three civilian-operated Earth observation satellites with cameras to help monitor natural disasters, survey natural resources and assist in infrastructure planning.
Q&A: Air Force Gen. John Hyten says U.S. space strategy, budget moving ‘down the right path’U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten offered his take on the president’s budget, Pentagon acquisition reforms and the ongoing debate over how the military should be organized to fight in space. SpaceNews.com
'2001 A Space Odyssey' 50 Years On: Q&A with Computer Scientist Stephen WolframIn April 1968, Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke released “2001: A Space Odyssey," which has delighted and confounded audiences for 50 years now.
Space Image of the Day Gallery (February 2018)See amazing images of the night sky and cosmos in Space.com's gallery of cosmic images posted in February 2018.
Space Image of the Day Gallery (January 2018)See amazing images of the night sky and cosmos in Space.com's gallery of cosmic images posted in January 2018.
India Loses Contact with New Communications Satellite Just Days After LaunchIndia lost contact with a communications satellite only days after the country launched the craft into space, according to multiple media reports and the Indian Space Research Organisation.
Dangling on a Wire: A Tale from the Making Of '2001: A Space Odyssey'In this excerpt from "Space Odyssey," Michael Benson describes the extraordinary (and quite literally suffocating) lengths Stanley Kubrick went to — with the help from stuntman Bill Weston — to film a realistic spacewalk.
Shape-Shifting Robots on Titan and 24 Other Wild Tech Ideas Have Caught NASA's EyeA futuristic space-exploration proposal from NASA would see shape-shifting robots roaming the surface or atmosphere of the soupy Saturnian moon Titan.
'2001: A Space Odyssey' Creation and Legacy Probed in 50th-Anniversary Book"2001: A Space Odyssey" premiered 50 years ago today (April 3), making now a perfect time to look back on the key personalities that created the iconic film.
Gallery: Making of '2001: A Space Odyssey'"Space Odyssey" by Michael Benson documents the making of the iconic film "2001: A Space Odyssey," which celebrates its 50th anniversary in April 2018. Here's a look at photos from the movie's production process.
Stephen Hawking Mourned by Hundreds at Cambridge FuneralHundreds of people celebrated the life and legacy of Stephen Hawking at the famed cosmologist's funeral Saturday (March 31).
Blue 'Sap Moon' Shines Bright in Stunning Skywatcher PhotosThis past weekend, skywatchers across the world pulled out their cameras to capture the splendor of the Blue Sap Moon.
In Photos: The Last 'Blue Moon' of 2018The last "Blue Moon" of 2018 shone bright for skywatchers around the world on March 31. Here are some of the most amazing photos from Space.com readers.
WFIRST Work Continues Despite Budget and Schedule UncertaintyDespite problems with another large astronomy mission and its own threatened cancellation, NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) is expected to clear a major review next month after having reduced its costs.
NASA Hires Lockheed Martin to Build Quiet Supersonic X-PlaneNASA has taken a huge leap forward in its quest to create an aircraft that can travel faster than the speed of sound without causing the ear-splitting sonic boom.
X-Rays Could Spell Doom for Life on Planets Around Red DwarfsIntense radiation from red dwarf stars could make their planets uninhabitable or restrict life on such worlds to the oceans, a new study suggests. 
'2001: A Space Odyssey' Turns 50: Why Haven't Humans Been to Jupiter Yet?Five decades after the famous "2001: A Space Odyssey" movie came out, we still don't have astronauts operating near Jupiter. What is so difficult about the planet's environment?
SpaceX supply ship departs Cape Canaveral for space stationHauling nearly three tons of supplies, hardware and experiments, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket shot into orbit Monday from Cape Canaveral, with a previously-flown Dragon cargo carrier riding a reused first stage booster to kick off a nearly two-day journey to the International Space Station.
Video: Multi-angle replays of Falcon 9’s liftoff from Cape CanaveralWatch views of the Falcon 9 rocket's fiery liftoff Monday at Cape Canaveral from multiple angles as the slender, kerosene-fueled launcher climbed into space on the way to the International Space Station.
Video: Falcon 9 rocket lifts off on SpaceX’s 14th station cargo missionPacked with food, hardware and experiments in biology, Earth science and space technology, a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon supply ship lifted off Monday from Cape Canaveral destined for the International Space Station.
Video: Press site view of SpaceX resupply launch (members only)A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soared into orbit Monday from Cape Canaveral with nearly three tons of hardware and supplies for the International Space Station.
SpaceX launches reused Dragon to ISSA SpaceX Falcon 9 successfully launched a Dragon spacecraft April 2 carrying more than two and a half tons of cargo for the International Space Station. SpaceNews.com
Timeline for SpaceX’s next station cargo launchSpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket will go from Cape Canaveral to low Earth orbit in 10 minutes Monday with a Dragon capsule heading for the International Space Station carrying more than 5,800 pounds of supplies and experiments.
Chinese space program insights emerge from National People’s CongressThe involvement of dozens of space sector officials in the high-profile 18-day long rubber-stamp political gathering also provided a rare opportunity for updates on various aspects of China’s space program and an outline of its reliably nebulous scheduling. SpaceNews.com
SpaceX Is About to Send Tons of Science to Space (and Bring a Robot Home)A used SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will launch nearly 3 tons of food, supplies and science gear to the International Space Station today (April 2). And before the mission ends, Dragon will bring a glitchy NASA robot home for repairs.
How Was China's Tiangong-1 Space Station Crash Tracked So Accurately?China's Tiangong-1 space lab burned up in the atmosphere over the southern Pacific Ocean late last night (April 1), falling right in the middle of the window predicted by a number of organizations.
Proton, Soyuz engine reinspections complete, Roscosmos saysA review of more than 70 Russian rocket engines manufactured at a factory that used the wrong solder is now complete, according to the Russian state corporation Roscosmos. SpaceNews.com
Chinese space lab burns up on re-entry over Pacific OceanChina’s Tiangong 1 space lab, home to two astronaut crews in 2012 and 2013, fell back to Earth uncontrolled Sunday, likely burning up over the Pacific Ocean as satellite trackers monitored the module’s gradual descent from orbit.
Meteor and Jupiter Light Up the Night Sky Over a Glistening Lagoon (Photo)In this cloudy, winter scene, a bright and fast meteor crosses the night sky near Arcturus, the brightest star in the constellation Boötes.
Kids Have a Blast Exploring Space in 'Ready Jet Go!' Season 2Young Amy Mainzer was one of the few children who looked forward to a trip to the dentist. In those pre-internet times, the waiting room was one of the few places she could read about NASA's Voyager missions.
SpaceX Cargo Mission Launches to the Space Station Today: Watch It LiveSpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will launch toward the International Space Station today (April 2) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, hauling more than 5,800 lbs. (2,630 kilograms) of experiments and supplies.
Boom! Cosmic Collisions Give Earth Life on 'One Strange Rock'Earth may be the most hospitable place in the universe that we know of, but our planet would never have become such an ideal place to live if it weren't for a series of violent and catastrophic collisions.
Tiangong-1 reenters over South PacificChina’s Tiangong-1 module, whose uncontrolled reentry had been watched with both anticipation and apprehension, returned to Earth harmlessly over the South Pacific Ocean late April 1. SpaceNews.com
After Tiangong-1, What Are the Next Big Pieces of Space Junk to Crash to Earth?The Chinese experimental space station Tiangong-1 fell to Earth on Sunday (April 1). But hundreds of thousands of pieces of space junk still circle Earth, and a few of them will crash soon, experts said.
Mission Ctrl-P: HP Launches New Zero-G Printer for the Space StationThe astronauts residing on the International Space Station have a slew of state-of-the-art scientific instruments and cutting-edge tech, from DNA sequencers to robot assistants to a 3D printer.
Mysterious Russian reconnaissance satellite successfully launchedA small spacecraft built for the Russian military lifted off Thursday on top of a modified Soyuz booster, beginning a mission to reportedly test a compact Earth-imaging platform that could be used on future spy satellites.
Used SpaceX Dragon Launches NASA Cargo to Space Station on Pre-flown RocketSpaceX launched a used Dragon cargo spacecraft on a return trip to the International Space Station today (April 2) on a Falcon 9 rocket that has also been to space before.
Q&A with Guglielmo Aglietti, RemoveDebris principal investigator (members only)Guglielmo Aglietti is the director of the Surrey Space Center in Britain, and he leads a team of scientists and engineers who developed an experiment named RemoveDebris to demonstrate techniques to approach, capture and remove space junk from orbit.
Rare Cosmic Alignment Reveals Most Distant Star Ever SeenThe Hubble Space Telescope has found the most distant "ordinary" star ever observed, at an astounding 9 billion light-years from Earth — which means the light scientists see started traveling at least 9 billion years ago.
Live coverage: SpaceX launches reused rocket and capsuleA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a reused first stage booster and a previously-flown Dragon cargo capsule lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT) Monday on a resupply flight to the International Space Station.
Eliminating space junk could take step toward reality with station cargo launchEuropean engineers who developed a small satellite hitching a ride to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX supply ship Monday are gearing up for a first-of-a-kind experiment to examine ways to snare a chunk of space junk and tug it back to Earth.
Wilson: Space programs can move faster, but Congress has to tolerate some failuresWilson believes the Air Force should embrace its cultural past, when it took big chances on technologies. SpaceNews.com
Falling Chinese Space Station Spotted by Skywatcher on Eve of CrashRound and round it goes, when and where it stops, nobody knows. China's Tiangong-1 space station is making its last orbits around Earth and a skywatcher in Texas has captured one last video of the space lab before its inevitable crash.
Farewell, Tiangong-1: Chinese Space Station Meets Fiery Doom Over South PacificTiangong-1 is no more. China's prototype space station, whose name translates as "Heavenly Palace 1," met a fiery end in Earth's atmosphere today (April 1), breaking apart and burning up in the skies over the Pacific Ocean.
Omnibus Spending Bill Funds Big-Ticket Military Communications Satellites That DoD Did Not RequestThe satellite communications industry was shocked to see a $600 million addition for WGS-11 and WGS-12.
NASA Rocket Launches Supersonic Mars Parachute in Key TestA supersonic parachute designed to land future NASA spacecraft on Mars just underwent a key test high up in Earth's skies.
Best Night Sky Events of April 2018 (Stargazing Maps)See what's up in the night sky for April 2018, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software.
Night Sky, April 2018: What You Can See This Month [Maps]Find out what's up in your night sky during April 2018 and how to see it in this Space.com stargazing guide.
Chinese Space Station Tiangong-1 Falling to Earth Now, But Where?It's almost crash time for China's falling space station Tiangong-1. The school bus-sized space station began what should be its last day in orbit today (April 1).
Chinese Space Station's Crash to Earth: Everything You Need to KnowChina's first prototype space station, Tiangong-1, will come crashing back to Earth on April 1, give or take half a day, experts say. Here's a primer on the space lab and its mission.
Where Will Debris from China's Falling Space Station Land? Here's the Latest UpdateWhile it's still hard to predict exactly when and where the defunct Chinese space station Tiangong-1 will fall, the latest prediction from Aerospace Corp. says the debris will most likely descend into the ocean Sunday (April 1) near Malaysia.
Satellite Tracker Map: How to Spot China's Falling Space Station, Hubble & MorePinpoint the International Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope and other satellites in the sky above you as they orbit Earth with this satellite tracker.
Why Are People Freaking Out About These Satellites SpaceX Launched?SpaceX pulled off another successful launch today, lofting a set of new polar-orbiting satellites. By itself, this Falcon 9 launch isn't unique. So why did the new launch generate worldwide attention?
FCC Approves SpaceX Constellation, Denies Waiver for Easier Deployment DeadlineU.S. telecom regulators the evening of March 29 accepted SpaceX’s application to reach U.S customers with a megaconstellation of 4,425 broadband satellites.
Last 'Blue Moon' of 2018 Rises Tonight! What to ExpectA full Blue Moon rises into the evening sky tonight. This will be the second and final Blue Moon of 2018, so don't miss it!
Chinese Space Station Could Crash to Earth Late Sunday or Early MondayQuiet solar activity has once again pushed back the re-entry time for a China's falling space station, Tiangong-1, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). Late Sunday, April 1, or early Monday are the targets.
Air Force: It’s time to pull the plug on JSTARS; Congress: Not so fastThe argument the Air Force makes in its 2019 budget request for not buying new aircraft to replace the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, or JSTARS, is rather straightforward. It can’t survive modern air defenses. SpaceNews.com
On National Security | Space Force fans, be careful what you wish forEver since the topic of a “Space Force” was brought up by President Trump, congressional hawks can’t stop talking about it. SpaceNews.com
SN Military.Space | Faster acquisitions a ‘daunting task’ for DoD; Satellite comms: What does DoD want?Air Force Gen. John Hyten has been insistent that U.S. military space programs need to “go faster” as adversaries continue to close in on the United States. SpaceNews.com
NASA considers acquiring more than one gateway propulsion moduleAs NASA prepares to request proposals from industry to develop the first element of its proposed cislunar gateway, the agency says it may be open to buying more than one of the modules. SpaceNews.com
Falcon 9 deploys Iridium satellites after SpaceX ends video citing NOAA’s ordersSpaceX delivered its latest batch of Iridium Next satellites to orbit Friday morning, but stopped its live video feed nine minutes into the launch citing orders from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). SpaceNews.com
Iridium messaging network gets another boost from SpaceXTen more satellites for Iridium's commercial communications network flew into orbit Friday aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, raising the total number of upgraded Iridium spacecraft launched to 50 and clearing the way for liftoff of a SpaceX supply ship Monday from Cape Canaveral to the International Space Station.
Iridium Next enters the homestretchAs Iridium finishes its new constellation, it’s facing a changing competitive landscape. SpaceNews.com
Op-ed | Moon Direct: How to build a moonbase in four yearsThe recent amazing success of the Falcon Heavy launch offers America an unprecedented opportunity to break the stagnation that has afflicted its human spaceflight program for decades. In short, the moon is now within reach. SpaceNews.com
Watch a replay of SpaceX’s fifth launch for IridiumA SpaceX Falcon 9 launcher rocketed into orbit Friday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, climbing away from a hillside launch complex just after sunrise with 10 Iridium communications satellites.
Hayabusa2: Japan's 2nd Asteroid Sample MissionHayabusa2 is speeding toward an asteroid and will return a sample from its surface.
Liftoff! Used SpaceX Rocket Launches 10 Iridium Satellites into OrbitA used SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 10 new Iridium Next communications satellites into orbit from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base Friday (March 30), one year to the day after the company's first used-rocket launch and landing.
Iridium-5 MissionOn Friday, March 30 at 7:13 a.m. PDT, SpaceX successfully launched the Iridium-5 mission from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This was the fifth set of 10 satellites in a series of 75 total satellites that SpaceX will launch for Iridium’s next generation global satellite constellation, Iridium® NEXT.…
Launch timeline for Iridium’s fifth launch with SpaceXFollow the key events of the Falcon 9 rocket's ascent to orbit with the fifth set of 10 next-generation satellites for Iridium's voice and data relay fleet.
Hayabusa: Troubled Sample-Return MissionHayabusa, a Japanese spacecraft that brought back mineral samples from an asteroid, was riddled with technical glitches.
60 Years in Orbit for 'Grapefruit Satellite': The Oldest Human Object in SpaceSixty years ago, a grapefruit-sized aluminium sphere with six antennas and some tiny solar cells was launched into Earth orbit. The Vanguard 1 satellite is still up there and is the oldest human-made object in space.
Saturday's Blue Moon Is Also a Paschal Moon for Easter. Here's WhyThe full moon shows up for a second time in March, on the 31st at 8:37 a.m. EDT — a Blue "Paschal" Moon that sets the date of Easter.
Watch SpaceX Launch 10 Satellites on a Used Rocket Today!SpaceX will launch a new batch of Iridium communications satellites on a used Falcon 9 rocket this morning (March 30) and you can watch the liftoff live.
What's the Deal with SpaceX, NOAA and Live Rocket Launch Video?It was weird today (March 30) when, 9 minutes into an otherwise routine SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of 10 Iridium Next communications satellites from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base, SpaceX cut the feed. Here's why.
'Marsquakes' May Reveal Clues About How the Red Planet FormedA little shaking on Mars will tell planetary scientists a lot about the Red Planet's structure.
This Smart Telescope for Newbies Looks Like a Sci-Fi Space RobotA new app-enabled telescope makes stargazing and astrophotography easier than ever. Stellina, a fully automated and motorized "smart telescope," takes all the hassle out of setting up and operating a telescope, so you can just kick back and enjoy the view
March's Blue 'Sap' Moon Stars in Slooh Webcast Saturday! Here's How to WatchThe second Blue Moon of the year and the second full moon of March will rise this weekend — and you can watch the event in a live web broadcast from Slooh's online observatory.
Photos: Falcon 9 rocket stands vertical at VandenbergThe SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket set to loft the fifth batch of Iridium Next mobile communications satellites stands vertical on Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
Live coverage: Falcon 9 rocket lifts off with fifth set of Iridium Next satellitesSpaceX's fifth launch for Iridium's upgraded mobile communications network occurred at 7:13 a.m. PDT (10:13 a.m. EDT; 1413 GMT) Friday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The Falcon 9 rocket flew with a reused first stage, but SpaceX did not intend to recover the booster after Friday's launch.
Chinese Space Station Tiangong-1 May Fall to Earth Later Than ExpectedA doomed Chinese space station will fall to Earth later than expected due to changes in the sun's predicted activity, the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Space Debris Office in Germany predicted.
FCC approves SpaceX constellation, denies waiver for easier deployment deadlineU.S. telecom regulators the evening of March 29 accepted SpaceX’s application to launch a megaconstellation of 4,425 broadband satellites, but denied the company’s request to relax the deadline by which it must have its entire constellation in orbit. SpaceNews.com
Two new satellites join China’s Beidou navigation fleetTwo Chinese Beidou navigation satellites launched Thursday, growing the country's home-grown space-based GPS network nearly 14,000 miles above Earth.
Iridium boss senses shift in SpaceX rhythm with another launch set for FridayOn the eve of the Iridium's fifth launch with SpaceX, the mobile telecom satellite operator's chief executive says he no longer waits for SpaceX's rockets to be ready. Instead, Iridium's satellite team is racing to keep pace churning spacecraft off their assembly line.
National security think tank recommends military invest in small-satellite networksStudy: The Pentagon needs to invest in a new mix of space constellations and information systems. SpaceNews.com
India tests upgraded engine tech in successful communications satellite launchAn Indian satellite built as a technological testbed for mobile communications successfully launched Thursday on top of a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, one of 10 space missions planned by India by the end of the year.
World View raises $26.5 million for near-space balloon systemsWorld View, the Arizona company developing high-altitude balloons to provide services typically performed by satellites, announced March 29 that it has raised $26.5 million in a round that marks the entry of another high-profile venture capital firm into the space industry. SpaceNews.com
Thaicom hires new CEOThai satellite operator Thaicom on March 29 appointed Anant Kaewruamvongs to succeed Paiboon Panuwattanawong as chief executive May 1. SpaceNews.com
Blue Origin switches engines for New Glenn second stageBlue Origin quietly changed the design of its New Glenn rocket around the beginning of the year in order to hold to a 2020 first launch and increase the range of orbital missions the rocket can complete. SpaceNews.com
Goldfein: Air staff ‘excited’ about new three-star space commanderThe new vice commander Lt. Gen. Thompson will help Gen. Raymond advance Air Force Space Command issues in D.C. SpaceNews.com
Newfound Alien Planet is a Metal-Heavy CannonballScientists have discovered a metal-heavy cannonball of an exoplanet resembling an Earth-size version of Mercury.
Hubble Telescope Captures Cosmic 'Tug-of-War' Between GalaxiesTwo galaxies surrounding our Milky Way are playing a game of gravitational tug-of-war, and new data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has revealed the cosmic winner.
Gravity Assist: An Interview with NASA's Jim GreenThe host of the popular Gravity Assist podcast talks to Astrobiology Magazine's Keith Cooper about why he feels the show is giving back something important to the listeners.
2 Pilots in Different Planes Saw the Same 'UFO.' The FAA Can't Explain It.The FAA is completely stumped by this mysterious sighting over Arizona.
Discover the Science of 'Star Wars' and 'Black Panther' at Future ConDelve into the science of science fiction as Live Science visits Future Con in Washington, D.C.
Crashing Chinese Space Station Will Go Down Shooting — FireballsScientists expect that as the station burns up, it will generate huge fireballs visible from the ground.
Spacewalkers accomplish all objectives in six-hour excursionTwo newly arrived space station astronauts, both veteran spacewalkers, suited up and ventured outside the lab complex Thursday to install additional wireless communications gear, to replace a balky camera and its pan-and-tilt mechanism and to remove two suspect hoses in the station's ammonia coolant system.
Gas Giants: Facts About the Outer PlanetsThe solar system's outer planets — Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune — are mainly giant balls of gas much larger than Earth.
Without Amos-8, IAI angling for government lifeline in telecom satellite manufacturingIsraeli satellite operator Spacecom’s decision to buy its next satellite from U.S. manufacturer Space Systems Loral is jeopardizing Israel’s domestic comsat manufacturing capability. SpaceNews.com
Exoplanets: Worlds Beyond Our Solar SystemAstronomers have discovered thousands of extrasolar planets. Researchers hope to find a habitable planet someday.
How Many Stars Are in the Milky Way?Astronomers have several ways to count stars, but getting a definitive answer to how many there are in a galaxy is "surprisingly difficult."
March Full Moons 2018: When to See the (Blue) 'Sap Moon'The month of March opens and closes with a full moon this year, making this 2018's second "Blue Moon" month.
NASA's Next Mars Lander Will Look Deep to Understand the Red Planet — and EarthNASA's InSight Mars lander, set to launch May 5 at the earliest from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, will bring a trio of powerful instruments to measure the wobbles, quakes and heat flow that reveal what's going on deep inside the Red Planet.
China's Falling Space Station Highlights the Problem of Space Junk Crashing to EarthAny day now, the Chinese space station Tiangong-1 is expected to fall back to Earth – but it's uncertain where it will crash land. We know that Australia is in the potential zone, and we have been hit before by a falling space station.
Chinese Space Station Crash: Why It's So Hard to Predict Where Space Debris Will LandThe now defunct Chinese space station Tiangong-1 is en route to crash into Earth – completing its "atmospheric reentry phase."
Watch NASA's Mars InSight Lander Arrive at Its California Launch SiteNASA's InSight lander arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Feb. 28, bringing the spacecraft one step closer to its launch in May. A new video from NASA captures its landing and unloading for mission readiness tests.
Saturday's Blue Moon Is the Last One Until 2020 (Don't Miss It!)The upcoming Blue Moon rises on Saturday (March 31). It'll be the second Blue Moon of the year, and the last until 2020.
Astronauts Are Taking a Spacewalk Today: Watch It LiveTwo NASA astronauts are taking a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) today (March 29), and you can watch their 6.5-hour excursion live.
Chinese Space Station Is Tumbling Toward an Easter Sunday CrashThe falling Chinese space station Tiangong-1 is tumbling in orbit and may crash back to Earth early Easter Sunday (April 1), experts say.
Europa lander concept redesigned to lower cost and complexityRevised concepts for a proposed Europa lander mission could reduce its mass and cost by simplifying its science requirements and doing away with a dedicated communications relay. SpaceNews.com
NASA Astronauts Ace 100th Spacewalk by Space Station Expedition CrewsTwo NASA astronauts worked outside the International Space Station on what marked the 100th spacewalk performed by members of the orbiting laboratory's expedition crews. Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold installed and upgraded hardware during the spacewalk.
Live coverage: Indian GSLV launches with communications satelliteAn Indian Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle debuting an upgraded higher-thrust second stage engine lifted off at 1126 GMT (7:26 a.m. EDT) Thursday with an S-band communications satellite.
DigitalGlobe books two launches with SpaceX for Earth-imaging fleetTwo Falcon 9 rockets with reused first stage boosters will place the initial block of DigitalGlobe's commercial WorldView Legion satellite fleet in orbit in 2021, the Earth-imaging company recently announced.
Undergrad Science Experiments Launch on a NASA Sounding RocketUndergraduate students watched their spaceflight projects soar into the sky over the weekend, thanks to a two-year NASA program that turned classroom lessons into hands-on experience.
'Spaceport Earth': Journey to the World's Launchpads in New BookSpaceX's spectacular Falcon Heavy launch last month — which saw a powerful rocket lift off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center with a Tesla Roadster on board — is just one herald of the new era of space exploration, argues the author of a new book.
Colorful Milky Way Twinkles Over Acid Water in Stunning Night-Sky PhotoA colorful mosaic of the Milky Way shows the dusty galactic core glowing over a puddle of acid water at São Domingos Mine in southeast Portugal.
Exploring the Apollo Moon Missions Using Mobile AppsNext summer will mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission — when humans first set foot on another celestial object.
Chandrayaan-2: India's Orbiter-Lander-Rover MissionChandrayaan-2 is India's planned second mission to the moon. It will consist of an orbiter, a lander and a rover.
Mars Colony Would Be a Hedge Against World War III, Elon Musk SaysHumanity's brutal and bellicose past provides ample justification for pursuing settlements on the moon and Mars, Elon Musk said.
China Space Station Crash: What Are the Odds a Piece Will Hit You?If you're worried about the upcoming fall of China's prototype space station Tiangong-1, don't be. The odds that you'll get hit by a chunk of the spacecraft are less than 1 in 1 trillion, experts say.
Interstellar Visitor 'Oumuamua Never Should Have Left Home, Theories SayAfter an interstellar object whizzed through our solar system last year, astronomers say the brief visit is confounding our understanding of how planets, comets and asteroids form.
Watch China's Tiangong-1 Space Station in Real Time As It Nears Its DemiseAs Tiangong-1 makes its last few orbits of Earth before burning up in the atmosphere in a few days, you can watch the Chinese space station live online through a robotically controlled telescope at The Virtual Telescope Project.
WFIRST work continues despite budget and schedule uncertaintyDespite problems with another large astronomy mission and its own threatened cancellation, NASA’s WFIRST mission is expected to clear a major review next month after having reduced its costs. SpaceNews.com
Telescope Spots Doomed Chinese Space Station (Photo)With just a few days left before China's Tiangong-1 space station is expected to come crashing down on Earth, astronomers captured this incredible view of the derelict craft zooming through space.
NASA's Next Planet Hunter Will Launch a 'New Era of Exoplanet Research'NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which is scheduled to launch on April 16, is expected to discover thousands of nearby alien worlds, some of which could be studied in detail by other instruments.
These Scientists Have a Wild Plan to Throw Salt into the Atmosphere. Here's Why.Sprinkling large amounts of salt into the atmosphere could stave off climate change, a group of researchers has proposed.
The Robots in 'Pacific Rim Uprising' Could Use a Lesson from Real-Life ScienceAlthough "Pacific Rim Uprising" topped the domestic box office this past weekend, the film's giant robots (also known as Jaegers or mechas) could use a lesson from real-life science, one robotics researcher argues.
Earth Likely Had Water Before Moon-Forming SmashupThe collision that created the moon must have been so powerful that it caused the material of the young Earth and the large body that hit it to completely blend, new research suggests — and water must have already been on the surface of Earth.
321 Launch App Brings Live Rocket Experience to Mobile DevicesA new app called 321 Launch, coming out this week, promises to give spaceflight enthusiasts an interactive mobile-device experience during real-time rocket launches.
Defying Theories, This Ghostly Galaxy Has Almost No Dark MatterA ghostly galaxy has almost no dark matter.
Ground equipment problem slips next Falcon 9 launch to FridayTrouble with a piece of ground equipment used for testing of the 10 Iridium communications satellites aboard the next Falcon 9 rocket launch has forced a 24-hour delay in the mission to Friday, officials said Tuesday.
Webb telescope’s launch delayed until 2020Blaming a slew of technical snags and "avoidable errors," NASA officials said Tuesday that the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, already years behind schedule, will be delayed to 2020, potentially pushing the mission's development cost above an $8 billion cap mandated by Congress.
Surprise addition of military satellites to DoD budget irks commercial industryPeterman: While WGS is an important capability for the military, it is technology that has been surpassed by the private sector. SpaceNews.com
AsiaSat “cautiously optimistic” as revenues reboundSatellite fleet operator AsiaSat of Hong Kong reported a 6 percent increase in revenue for 2017, bolstering the company’s claim that Asia’s demand for broadcast and connectivity services is strong enough to gradually overcome a regional oversupply of satellite capacity. SpaceNews.com
NASA delays JWST launch to 2020NASA announced March 27 that the launch of its next flagship astronomy spacecraft, the James Webb Space Telescope, will be delayed an additional year and that the mission is likely to overrun its $8 billion cost cap. SpaceNews.com
What Will Happen to China's Tiangong-1 As It Falls Through the Atmosphere?Heat and friction will destroy the space station.
What Should You Do If You Find a Piece of China's Crashed Space Station?So, you found a piece of space debris. Now what?
Gravity Assist Podcast: Explorer 1 and Jim Green's 'Gravity Assist'NASA's Planetary Science Division Director, Jim Green, describes his own gravity assist under the tutelage of James Van Allen, whose discoveries paved the way for studying the magnetic fields and radiation belts of the planets.
'Mars Ain't Gonna Be Easy': What Apollo 17 Leaders Are Saying About Future Space ExplorationTo commemorate the 45th anniversary of Apollo 17 — the last time astronauts walked on the moon — three key figures from the historic mission held a panel discussion at the 49th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
NASA Delays Launch of James Webb Space Telescope Until 2020The launch of NASA's next great space observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope, has been delayed until no earlier than May 2020, nearly a year later than previously planned, the space agency announced Tuesday (March 27).
Relativity closes $35 million Series B roundRelativity Space, a startup developing small launch vehicles using 3D-printing technologies, announced March 27 a $35 million funding round led by a venture fund making its first space investment. SpaceNews.com
Chandrayaan-1: India's First Mission to the MoonChandrayaan-1 was India's first mission to the moon. The lunar orbiter is best known for helping to discover evidence of water molecules on the moon.
White House: Protect Apollo Moon Landing Sites, But Treaties Could Lead to BacklashThe White House sees a value in preserving and protecting the Apollo moon landing sites for historic, cultural and scientific objectives, but has qualms about hindering commercial initiatives or negotiating international treaties to do so.
Red Giant Stars: Facts, Definition & the Future of the SunA red giant star is a dying star in the last stages of stellar evolution. Our own sun will turn into a red giant star, expand and engulf the inner planets, possibly even Earth.
Efforts underway to ease Florida’s Space Coast launch congestionThe recent launch boom on Florida’s Space Coast is creating some headaches for the companies involved, as well as for NASA and the U.S. Air Force. SpaceNews.com
What Will NASA Say About the James Webb Space Telescope Today at 11:30 am ET?NASA will hold a teleconference today (March 27) to update the media and public on its next great space observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled to launch in June 2019.
You Could Soon Buy an 'Artificial Meteor Shower' — for a Hefty FeeA Japanese company has a plan to commercialize dropping metal pellets from space.
New Image Shows How the Sun Changes Over a 22-Year CycleOut of billions of stars in the Milky Way galaxy, there's one in particular, orbiting 25,000 light-years from the galactic core, that affects Earth day by day, moment by moment.
Chinese Space Station May Crash Like NASA's SkylabThe uncontrolled fall to Earth of China's Tiangong-1 space lab may share some similarities with the end of the Skylab space station in 1979; some of Skylab's pieces rained down on rural Australia.
Venus and Uranus Get Close in Wednesday's SkyHave you ever seen two planets together in the same high-power telescope field of view? This can be done Wednesday evening (March 28), when Venus, the most brilliant planet, closely snuggles up to the seventh planet from the sun, Uranus.
This New Detector Technology Aims to 'Scintillate' Elusive Dark Matter ParticlesDark matter is thought to account for 25 percent of the mass of the universe, but it has never been observed. Berkeley Lab researchers hope to change that with a new approach.
In Photos: Tiangong-1, China's Space Station That's Falling to EarthTiangong-1, China's first space lab, launched in September 2011 and will fall to Earth in 2018 between March 30 and April 2. See photos and images of Tiangong-1's mission in our full gallery here.
China's Doomed Space Station Did Some Science Work, TooChina's out-of-control Tiangong-1 space lab didn't just host visiting astronauts. The craft was also outfitted with scientific payloads, such as Earth-observation instrumentation and space environment detectors.
Why Is China's Space Station Falling to Earth in the First Place?The one-module station is in an uncontrolled fall and will re-enter the atmosphere somewhere underneath the spacecraft's orbit, but nobody knows exactly when or where that will happen.
NASA weighs changes to space technology programs and organizationAs NASA reviews the windfall it received in the 2018 omnibus spending bill last week, the agency is moving ahead with a reorganization of its space technology work that puts in question the future of some of its current projects. SpaceNews.com
Here's How to See the Chinese Space Station's Final Orbits and Fiery FallChina’s first-ever space laboratory, Tiangong-1, will fall to Earth within the next week and, weather permitting, you may get an opportunity to see it in one of its final trips around our planet.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope: Hubble's Cosmic SuccessorEverything you need to know about NASA's Big Bang-probing space telescope.
Space communications: As the industry launches new products, military can’t decide what to buyAir Force Col. George Nagy, who oversees the DoD wideband communications analysis of alternatives study: “Today we operate a hybrid commercial and military architecture." SpaceNews.com
SSL bags Amos-8 and BSAT-4b manufacturing contractsSatellite manufacturer Space Systems Loral on March 26 announced two satellite operators contracted the company to build geostationary telecommunications satellites ahead of fast-approaching 2020 deadlines. SpaceNews.com
In Rare Supernova, Cocooned Star Dies Super-Rapid DeathUsing data from NASA's Kepler space telescope, astronomers detected the rapid evolution and violent explosion of a dying star cocooned inside a dense shell of gas and dust.
Astronauts Serve as Earth's Storytellers in National Geographic's 'One Strange Rock'The producers behind National Geographic Channel's "One Strange Rock" knew at the start they wanted to tell the definitive story of the Earth in a multi-part TV series unlike any that had come before.
Titan: Facts About Saturn's Largest MoonTitan is the only moon in the solar system with a thick atmosphere. See more Titan facts here.
Kepler Space Telescope: Exoplanet HunterNASA's Kepler Space Telescope is an observatory in space dedicated to finding planets outside our solar system.
Trump's New National Space Strategy emphasizes 'America First' PoliciesA new National Space Strategy announced by the White House March 23 fits into an “America First” theme of the Trump administration, seeking to protect American interests in space through revised military space approaches and commercial regulatory reform.
Flat-Earther Blasts Himself into the Sky on Homemade Rocket (and He Survives)A flat-Earth conspiracy theorist named Mike Hughes finally lifted off our spherical planet's surface into the skies aboard a self-made, steam-powered rocket Saturday (March 24).
Unlikely Duo Teams Up for 'One Strange Rock': Q&A with Chris Hadfield and Darren AronofskyFilmmaker Darren Aronofsky and astronaut Chris Hadfield — two men with very different career paths — talked about their shared passion for the upcoming documentary show "One Strange Rock."
Does It Matter That NASA Still Doesn't Have a Permanent Leader?NASA has been without a permanent administrator for almost 14 months, which is a record. How does this situation affect the space agency and American space policy?
ESA to Study Links Between Space Debris Removal and Satellite ServicingThe European Space Agency is no longer proceeding full speed ahead with its campaign to send a 1,600-kilogram satellite into low Earth orbit to grab its defunct Earth observing Envisat and bring it back into the atmosphere around 2023.
China's Out-Of-Control Space Station Is Nowhere Near the Biggest Thing to Fall From SpaceHere's how China's Tiangong-1 space station will compare to other uncontrolled re-entries when it hits the atmosphere.
How Much Space Junk Hits Earth?China's Tiangong-1 space station isn't the first spacecraft to shed bits of junk onto Earth, and it won't be the last.
Zero 2 Infinity Gets 3D-Printed Engine Part for Bloostar Launch VehicleSpanish startup Zero 2 Infinity will use a 3D-printed combustion chamber for the engines it is developing to power its Bloostar balloon-assisted orbital rocket.
Weirdly Dimmable 'Alien Megastar' Darkens AgainOne of the biggest dips in the brightness of Tabby's star points to a possible source for its dusty light-blocker.
The March of Women: A Giant Leap for Humanity (Op-Ed)To march is to "walk or proceed quickly, and with determination" — a fitting definition for the month of March, as we celebrate Women's History Month and commemorate the achievements of countless women.
See China's Falling Space Station in These Radar ImagesAs the Chinese space station Tiangong-1 tumbles towards an inevitable breakup in Earth's atmosphere around Easter weekend (March 30 to April 2), researchers in Germany are keeping a close eye on the station to better predict where and when it will hit.
NASA Is Testing a Supersonic Mars Parachute Thursday: Watch It LiveNASA will put the supersonic parachute for its 2020 Mars rover to the test once again Thursday morning (March 29), and you can watch the action live.
Tiangong-1: China's First Space StationTiangong-1 is a single-module space station operated by the China National Space Administration.
Is the Cost of Military Space Programs Going Up or Down? Depends on How You CountIn three of the largest and costliest space programs — the AEHF communications satellites, the SBIRS missile-warning constellation and the evolved expendable launch vehicles — the Air Force claims to have brought prices down considerably.
Exos Aerospace Prepares for First Suborbital LaunchWith a key test completed and a launch license in hand, Exos Aerospace is preparing for the first flight of its reusable suborbital rocket in April.
Did Prehistoric 'Astronomers' Build Stonehenge?Ever since humans could look up to see the sky, we have been amazed by its beauty and untold mysteries. Naturally then, astronomy is often described as the oldest of the sciences, inspiring people for thousands of years.
Air Force stakes future on privately funded launch vehicles. Will the gamble pay off?The Launch Service Agreement fits the Air Force’s broader goal to get out of the business of “buying rockets” and instead acquire end-to-end services from companies. SpaceNews.com
New National Space Strategy emphasizes “America first” policiesA new National Space Strategy announced by the White House March 23 fits into an “America First” theme of the Trump administration, seeking to protect American interests in space through revised military space approaches and commercial regulatory reform. SpaceNews.com
NASA's Curiosity Rover Just Spent Its 2,000th Day on Mars!This week, NASA's nuclear-powered Curiosity rover celebrated its 2,000th Martian day (or Sol), but don't expect a pit stop any time soon.
China's Space Station Will Fall to Earth, But When and Where? Here's the LatestThe impending re-entry of China's Tiangong-1 space station is being closely monitored, but experts still can't say exactly when and where the bus-size laboratory will fall to Earth.
Alaskan Spaceport to Host Secretive Commercial Launch SoonAn Alaskan spaceport will host the first launch of a rocket developed by a stealthy startup company as soon as next week, spaceport officials confirmed March 20.
Stephen Hawking's Last Paper (Probably) Doesn't Prove We Live in a MultiverseStephen Hawking's last paper has been touted to provide a way to finally test for the existence of a multiverse, but it's unlikely to do that, several experts said.
Watch University Student Projects Launch on a NASA Rocket Early SundayStudent spaceflight projects will launch from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Sunday morning (March 25), and the rocket carrying them will be visible along parts of the U.S. East Coast.
Scepter Inc. unveils plan for global atmospheric monitoring constellationScepter Inc., a Silicon Valley startup, plans to establish a satellite constellation in low Earth orbit capable of offering hourly updates on air pollution in vertical air columns globally. SpaceNews.com
Space Launch System, planetary exploration get big boosts in NASA budgetNASA's planned rocket to send humans back to the moon and the agency's solar system exploration program were big winners in a $20.7 billion budget passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on Friday.
Soyuz spacecraft with crew of three docks with space stationA Russian Soyuz ferry ship carrying a Russian commander and two NASA astronauts caught up with the International Space Station Friday and executed a flawless docking to close out a two-day rendezvous that began with launch Wednesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Exos Aerospace prepares for first suborbital launchWith a key test completed and a launch license in hand, Exos Aerospace is preparing for the first flight of its reusable suborbital rocket in April. SpaceNews.com
Atlas 5 rocket assembled for first Mars mission launch from VandenbergGround crews at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California raised a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket on its launch pad earlier this month in preparation for liftoff May 5 with NASA's InSight lander heading to Mars.
Smithsonian Channel Specials Tell Humanity's Story, from the Big Bang to Colonizing SpaceFour exciting space documentaries will make their American debut on the Smithsonian Channel over the next two Sundays (March 25 and April 1). Together, the films tell humanity's story from the perspective of space.
New NASA Model Could Help Predict Landslides (Video)A new NASA computer model identifies landslide hazards around the world in near real time, potentially allowing scientists and first responders to get a jump on these natural disasters, a new study reports.
Air-Breathing Thruster Paves Way for Never-Ending Space Missions at Earth and MarsFor the first time, the European Space Agency has tested a novel air-breathing electric thruster that could allow near-Earth orbiting satellites to stay in space almost indefinitely.
US Can't Stop Hypersonic Weapons, Air Force General SaysMissiles that spit out warheads traveling up to 20 times the speed of sound and with the ability to perform elusive acrobatics may be too much for the U.S. defenses to block, U.S. Stratcom chief says.
'Pacific Rim Uprising' Unreels More Cool Giant Robots, But Also a Weak Plot"Pacific Rim: Uprising," which opens in U.S. theaters today (March 23), is a sequel that had many tools for succeeding, but uneven plot and weak action will frustrate viewers before the good stuff finally happens.
SpaceX Rocket Launch Created Shock Wave 4 Times Larger Than CaliforniaA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch last year generated a shock wave in Earth's atmosphere four times larger than the state of California, a new study reports.
NatGeo's 'One Strange Rock' Is the Story of Earth, Told by People Who Left ItThe new National Geographic documentary series "One Strange Rock," is the story of planet Earth, told by the people who have left it. The show's creators and the astronauts who participated in it say the series captures the interconnectedness of life.
Stars For Sale! But No, You Can't Really Buy an Official Star Name for SomeoneIf you read the fine print of many other companies they usually say that astronomers do not officially recognize the name of the star you just purchased.
Creator of 'Grand Unified Theory of Mathematics' Wins Prestigious Math PrizeRobert Langlands, a professor at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton University, won one of mathematics' most prestigious prizes for a lifetime for groundbreaking work.
Japan to modernize spaceport launch pads to support H3 rocketSeeking to double the number of launches it can conduct annually, Japan will add a second launch pad to the Tanegashima spaceport to support its next-generation H3 rocket. SpaceNews.com
Elon Musk Deletes Facebook Pages for SpaceX and TeslaSpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has joined the #deletefacebook movement. He's deleted the Facebook pages for both SpaceX and Tesla.
NASA Astronauts, Cosmonaut Arrive at Space Station After 2-Day TripNASA astronauts Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold, together with Oleg Artemyev of the Russian federal space agency Roscosmos, docked their Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft to the International Space Station today (March 23) at 3:40 p.m. EDT (1940 GMT).
House committee advances two space billsThe House Science Committee favorably reported bills March 22 that would recognize a NASA center as a center of excellence in rocket propulsion and would resolve a commercial space regulatory issue. SpaceNews.com
Exoplanet telescope selected as ESA’s next space science missionA mission to investigate the atmospheres of planets around other stars has been selected by the European Space Agency for launch in the late 2020s, officials announced this week.
Omnibus spending bill funds big-ticket military communications satellites that DoD did not requestThe 2018 defense appropriation may be the one and only chance for Congress to add $600 million for two new satellites given how large of an increase the Pentagon is getting — $61 billion more than last year’s funding. SpaceNews.com
Zero 2 Infinity gets 3D-printed engine part for Bloostar launch vehicleSpanish startup Zero 2 Infinity will use a 3D-printed combustions chamber for the engines it is developing to power its Bloostar balloon-assisted orbital rocket. SpaceNews.com
Omnibus bill increases funding for NOAA weather satellite and space weather programsA final fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill released March 21 fully funds two key weather satellite programs at NOAA while increasing funding for future weather satellites and space weather efforts. SpaceNews.com
China's First Space Station Is Going to Fall Out of Space Very SoonA Chinese space station is going to fall out of space, and now trackers know when. Kind of.
Astronomer Announces He Has Discovered ... MarsIn an online publication, this astronomer reports the detection of a very bright object in the night sky that wasn't there before. Turns out, he's thousands of years late for this discovery.
US National Park Rangers Look to the Stars with Skywatching Training ProgramThe U.S. National Park Service has partnered with the McDonald Observatory to create training programs for park rangers and improve skywatching events.
InSight Lander: Probing the Martian InteriorNASA's next lander, InSight, will study the interior structure of Mars for signs of tectonic activity.
Omega Reveals 'Dark Side of the Moon' Chronograph for Apollo 8 50thThe 50th anniversary of the first humans to fly to the moon has inspired the design of a timepiece by the watchmaker that made the chronographs worn by the crew.
Tennis Star and Astronaut to Help Dedicate New Sally Ride Postage StampThe Postmaster General will join tennis star Billie Jean King and veteran astronaut Ellen Ochoa to dedicate a U.S. postage stamp for the late Sally Ride, America's first woman in space. The ceremony will be held May 23.
New LightSail 2 Spacecraft Will Boost Solar-Sailing Interplanetary MissionsA new solar-sailing spacecraft will be a call to all (future) occupants of interplanetary craft.
Gravity Assist Podcast: Science and Science Fiction with Andy WeirNASA's Planetary Science Division Director, Jim Green, talks to author Andy Weir about his science fiction novels that take place in the near-future on the Moon and Mars.
Gemini 3 in Photos: The 1st Crewed Flight of NASA's 2-Person SpaceshipOn March 23, 1965, NASA launched the Gemini 3 mission, NASA's first crewed Gemini flight, with astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young aboard. See how the mission went in photos in this space history gallery.
China's Tiangong-1 Space Lab Expected to Fall to Earth Over Easter WeekendChina’s Tiangong-1 space lab will likely fall to Earth between March 30 and April 2, according to the latest prediction by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Space Debris Office in Darmstadt, Germany.
NASA to Allow Nuclear Power Systems for Next Discovery MissionCiting progress in producing plutonium-238, NASA will allow scientists proposing missions for an upcoming planetary science competition to use nuclear power sources.
Is SpaceX Planning to Build Its BFR Mars Rocket in Los Angeles?SpaceX is negotiating with the Port of Los Angeles to build a facility there for manufacturing "large commercial transportation vehicles."
NASA Receives $20.7 Billion in Omnibus Appropriations BillA final fiscal year 2018 spending bill released by House and Senate appropriators March 21 would give NASA more than $20.7 billion, far above the administration's original request.
NASA receives $20.7 billion in omnibus appropriations billA final fiscal year 2018 spending bill released by House and Senate appropriators March 21 would give NASA more than $20.7 billion, far above the administration’s original request. SpaceNews.com
Some fresh tidbits on the U.S. military space budgetThe Air Force's share of the Defense Department's $12.5 billion national security space budget is $11.4 billion. SpaceNews.com
Belgian court punches hole in Inmarsat’s European Aviation NetworkA Belgian court reversed approval for Inmarsat’s European Aviation Network in the country after fleet operator Viasat challenged the legality of its authorization. SpaceNews.com
Soyuz takes off with three bound for space stationA Russian Soyuz rocket blasted off and shot into orbit Wednesday, carrying a Russian cosmonaut and two NASA astronauts, all veteran space fliers, on a two-day flight to the International Space Station.
Video: Soyuz lifts off with three-man crewThree veteran space fliers rode a Soyuz rocket into orbit Wednesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, heading to the International Space Station for a five-month stay.
ESA to investigate links between debris removal and satellite servicingThe European Space Agency is revising its e.Deorbit program to look for synergies between the mission and satellite servicing vehicles. SpaceNews.com
Hyten: To keep edge in space, military needs cheaper launch costs, faster satellite developmentCongress expects to receive from Hyten in June a “warfighting concept of operations” for space. One of the topics will be how to prepare the military for space operations. SpaceNews.com
Relativity reaches deal to use Stennis test standRelativity, the startup company developing small launch vehicles using additive manufacturing technologies, announced March 21 an agreement with NASA’s Stennis Space Center to take over one of its test stands. SpaceNews.com
A Star Grazed Our Solar System 70,000 Years Ago, and Early Humans Likely Saw ItSome distant objects in our solar system bear the gravitational imprint of a small star's close flyby 70,000 years ago, a new study suggests.
See the Spring Snowstorm Over the US Northeast in These Satellite ViewsA massive storm is expected to dump more than a foot of snow in some states along the northeastern U.S. coast, and satellites are tracking the snowfall from space.
Google Doodle Celebrates Mexican Astronomer Guillermo HaroGoogle's latest homepage Doodle celebrates Guillermo Haro, a Mexican astronomer who in 1959 became the first Mexican elected to the Royal Astronomical Society.
Syfy's Superman Prequel 'Krypton' Launches Tonight (Review)How does SyFy's new SUPERMAN prequel drama shake out? Find out with this review.
In George R.R. Martin's 'Nightflyers' on Syfy, Space Looks Terrifying (Video)The next TV project based on work from "A Game of Thrones" author George R.R. Martin will take place in space.
Messier's List: Hubble Telescope's Stunning Views of Deep-Sky ObjectsThe Hubble Space Telescope has snapped views of 93 deep-sky objects from French astronomer Charles Messier's famous list. Here are some of the most spectacular.
Live coverage: Soyuz crew arrives at International Space StationTwo U.S. astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut, all spaceflight veterans, launched from Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz booster Wednesday to begin a two-day pursuit of the International Space Station. The crew docked with the orbiting research complex Friday at 1940 GMT (3:40 p.m. EDT) to begin a five-month stay.
Europa: Facts About Jupiter's Icy Moon and Its OceanEuropa is an icy moon of Jupiter and one of the four so-called Galilean moons.
#SpaceForce takes Capitol Hill by storm • What is the true cost of space programs? • Space budget deep divePresident Trump's riff on creating a military space force captured the public’s imagination, spawning memes and jokes about starship ninjas gearing up to fight the nation’s wars in space. SpaceNews.com
Watch Auroras Shimmer from Space in This Serene Satellite ViewThe shimmering dance of the aurora shines in a video released recently by the European Space Agency.
Space Junk Could Be This Company's TreasureThe Singapore-based company Astroscale wants to make the removal of space debris profitable.
European Space Agency Picks Exoplanet-Studying Spacecraft for 2028 LaunchThe European Space Agency has selected the Atmospheric Remote‐sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large‐survey (ARIEL) project as its next medium-class space mission, with a launch targeted for 2028.
Veteran Crew Launches to the Space Station Today: Watch It LiveThree veteran space fliers lift off today (March 21) on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, beginning a 50-hour journey to the International Space Station.
New fund to boost Japanese space startupsThe Japanese government, working with private ventures, announced plans March 20 to establish a nearly billion-dollar fund to support the development of space startups in the country. SpaceNews.com
High-Tech Harpoon Could Help Clean Up Space JunkA space harpoon test went off without a hitch in a lab of European aerospace company Airbus recently, suggesting that the technology could be on track to help clean up the ever-growing cloud of orbiting debris.
Take an Amazing Solar System Tour with This Mobile Augmented-Reality AppHumans may never venture beyond the moon or Mars to see any other planets up close, but a new augmented reality app provides a much simpler way to explore other worlds.
Saturn Moon Quadcopter, or Comet-Sample Return? Only 1 NASA Mission Will Be PickedShould NASA send a quadcopter to explore Titan, or launch a spacecraft to fetch a sample from a comet? Only one of these space missions will be selected to launch in the mid-2020s.
Soyuz Rocket Launches US-Russian Crew to Space StationAmericans Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold and Russian Oleg Artemyev launched aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan today (March 21).
Alaskan spaceport to host secretive commercial launchAn Alaskan spaceport will host the first launch of a rocket developed by a stealthy startup company as soon as next week, spaceport officials confirmed March 20. SpaceNews.com
Photos: Soyuz booster rolls out for launch of space station crewA Russian Soyuz rocket rolled out to its launch pad in Kazakhstan on Monday, two days before its scheduled departure with three passengers on the way to the International Space Station.
Soyuz crew set for Wednesday launch on station flightEngineers readied a Russian Soyuz rocket for launch Wednesday to ferry a veteran cosmonaut and two NASA shuttle fliers to the International Space Station for a five-month stay.
Launch preps advance in California for next Falcon 9 flightSpaceX's fifth launch of replacement spacecraft for Iridium's global voice and data communications network is set for March 29 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a flight that Iridium hopes will signal the start of a brisk pace of West Coast missions to complete deployment of the telecom company's initial 75-satellite constellation this summer.
Updated schedule for JWST expected next weekA decision on a new launch date for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, and announcement of any potential breach of its $8 billion cost cap, could come next week, an agency official said March 20. SpaceNews.com
ULA touts new Vulcan rocket in competition with SpaceXSpaceX and its visionary founder Elon Musk win the lion's share of public attention in the commercial rocket arena, with dramatic, increasingly routine booster landings and spectacular stunts like the launch of Musk's Tesla Roadster on the maiden flight of the company's new Falcon Heavy rocket last month.
House members call on Senate to confirm Bridenstine as NASA administratorA letter signed by more than 60 House members calls on the Senate to advance the stalled nomination of fellow congressman Jim Bridenstine to be NASA administrator. SpaceNews.com
OneWeb asks FCC to authorize 1,200 more satellitesCiting recent reforms that provide more time to orbit a new satellite constellation, satellite broadband-startup OneWeb asked U.S. telecom regulators to nearly triple the size of its authorized low-Earth-orbit constellation. SpaceNews.com
U.S. Air Force divides new launch contracts between SpaceX, ULASpaceX and United Launch Alliance have split up to $645 million in new contracts to deploy U.S. Air Force navigation and surveillance satellites into orbit from 2019 through 2021.
CreativeMinds WordPress Plugin Curated RSS Aggregator
