News

Scientists told them, 'No, it's too dangerous,' but they did it anyway: Inside Japan's super-close asteroid flyby

By Andrew Jones Published 19 July 26

Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft returned spectacular images of a near-Earth asteroid following a super-close flyby on July 5, but heated debate was needed before teams signed off on the daring attempt.

Another reusable rocket? Japan launches, lands RV-X prototype (video)

By Josh Dinner Published 18 July 26

Japan has succeeded in the first-ever flight test of its RV-X experimental reusable rocket prototype.

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 219 — SpaceX Goes to War!

By Space.com Staff Published 18 July 26

On Episode 219 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the space headlines for the past few weeks.

On this day in space! July 18, 1980: India launches 1st indigenous satellite

By Hanneke Weitering Last updated 18 July 26

On July 18, 1980, India launched its first satellite into orbit.

'We knew we had a lot to live up to': As 'Aliens' turns 40, we chat to the legendary VFX masters who created the Alien Queen (interview)

By Jeff Spry Published 18 July 26

Legacy Effects' Oscar-nominated duo Shane Mahan and Lindsay MacGowan share tales from the trenches of 1986's 'Aliens'

'The dawn of a new space era': Vikram-1, India's 1st private orbital rocket, aces debut launch

By Mike Wall Last updated 18 July 26

Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket aced its debut mission on Saturday morning (July 18), making India the third nation with a private orbital launch capability.

These 'metallic' dunes on Mars look like sci-fi. What are they really?

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published 17 July 26

New images from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter have captured strange-looking waves on the Red Planet.

The Perseid meteor shower starts this week. Here's why you should look up now

By Jamie Carter Published 17 July 26

The Perseid meteor shower begins on July 17 alongside two others, making "shooting stars" likely any night this month and next.

Earth's largest particle accelerator opens new window into the early universe just after the Big Bang: 'A culmination of a decades-long quest'

By Robert Lea Published 17 July 26

According to one researcher, this observation "promises new insights into the evolution of the early universe."

'The Starry Night' in space: Dark Energy Camera channels a cosmic Van Gogh (video)

By Robert Lea Published 17 July 26

The Dark Energy Camera has captured a vibrant view of the Corona Australis Molecular Cloud, with the star-forming region resembling a cosmic take on Van Gogh's The Starry Night.