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two chinese astronauts hugging aboard the tiangong space station while a third crewmate looks on in the background.

Watch China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts enter Tiangong space station (video)

By Andrew Jones published

A new video shows the three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 16 mission entering the Tiangong space station on Tuesday (May 30).

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 56 of the company's Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 24, 2023.

Watch SpaceX launch 52 Starlink satellites to orbit early Wednesday

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX plans to launch 52 of its Starlink broadband satellites to orbit early Wednesday morning (May 31), and you can watch the action live.

A white and black SpaceX Dragon Ax-2 capsule docked the space station with blue Earth behind.

Watch SpaceX Dragon carrying private Ax-2 astronauts return to Earth tonight

By Mike Wall published

The four astronauts of the private Ax-2 mission are scheduled to return to Earth in their SpaceX Dragon capsule tonight (May 30), and you can watch the action live.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom floats against the black of space

SpaceX Dragon capsule with Ax-2 private astronauts undocks from space station (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

The four astronauts of the private Ax-2 mission are scheduled to head home to Earth today (May 30), and you can watch the action live.

View of Earth's curve against the blackness of space captured from a camera on SpaceX's Starship rocket.

Relive SpaceX Starship's epic launch with these amazing highlights (video)

By Josh Dinner published

Recently released footage gives new, highly detailed looks at the first-ever launch of a fully stacked Starship vehicle, which SpaceX conducted last month.

a large sunspot on the surface of the sun with four Earths superimposed over it for scale

A massive sunspot is currently visible to the unaided eye. Here's how to see it safely before it's gone

By John Loeffler published

A massive new sunspot is visible without using a telescope or binoculars, but you'll still need to protect your eyes when observing it.

Tech

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a small spacecraft expands to form an octagonal heat shield as it enters Earth's atmosphere

SpaceX could launch this wild, origami-inspired folding heat shield later this year

By Josh Dinner published

A private company has plans to test a revolutionary new heat shield that folds and unfolds like origami, and it could conduct a test flight aboard a SpaceX rocket later this year.

a person dressed as an astronaut sits at a kitchen able surounded by NASA inventions and spin-offs now regularly found in the home.

10 everyday NASA inventions and spin-offs you can find in your home

By All About Space magazine published

Explore 10 everyday inventions and spin-offs by NASA, many of which you'll find in your home.

Spaceflight

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two chinese astronauts hugging aboard the tiangong space station while a third crewmate looks on in the background.

Watch China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts enter Tiangong space station (video)

By Andrew Jones published

A new video shows the three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 16 mission entering the Tiangong space station on Tuesday (May 30).

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom floats against the black of space

SpaceX Dragon capsule with Ax-2 private astronauts undocks from space station (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

The four astronauts of the private Ax-2 mission are scheduled to head home to Earth today (May 30), and you can watch the action live.

Science & Astronomy

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illustration of a spacecraft with two wing-like solar panels extended from a gold, cube-shaped body.

Europe's JUICE Jupiter probe finishes deploying its instruments

By Andrew Jones published

Europe's JUICE spacecraft is now in its full flight configuration, six weeks after the flagship mission launched for Jupiter.

a person sleeps in a glass pod

Scientists may be able to put Mars-bound astronauts into 'suspended animation' using sound waves, mouse study suggests

By Ben Turner published

Firing ultrasound signals into rodent brains puts them in a torpor-like state. Scientists are wondering if it could be used on humans.

Meet The Team

Search For Life

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An artist's depiction of the Trace Gas Orbiter at work around Mars.

'Alien' signal beamed to Earth from Mars in SETI test

By Mike Wall published

A European Mars orbiter beamed a coded message to Earth today (May 24), kicking off a weeks-long project designed to help us prep for a real signal from E.T.

The Allen Telescope Array in Northern California is dedicated to astronomical observations and a simultaneous search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).

How would we decode a message from ET? New project will give us a trial run

By Mike Wall published

A new project called 'A Sign in Space' will give scientists and laypeople around the world practice at decoding a message from intelligent aliens.

Artist's impression of the newfound exoplanet LP 791-18 d, a roughly Earth-size world that may be quite volcanically active.

Volcanoes may carpet surface of newfound Earth-size exoplanet

By Mike Wall published

A newfound exoplanet that lies 90 light-years from Earth may be studded with active volcanoes, whose emissions could sustain an atmosphere.

Skywatching

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One of the best star trackers for astrophotography, the Star Adventurer Mini Composited in front of a starry sky landscape

Best star trackers for astrophotography 2023

By Jamie Carter last updated

Buying Guide The best star trackers help render stunning long-exposure images of the stars by moving with the Earth's rotation, making astrophotography a breeze.

Buying Guide
An illustration of the completely dark new moon against a backdrop of the moon during its lunar cycle.

New moon calendar 2023: When is the next new moon?

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference Here is a schedule of when each new moon will occur in 2023. We explore what a new moon is and how it differs from a full moon.

Reference
Graphic illustration with "space calendar" in large blue neon letters and 2023 below it in smaller white letters. Below the title are four neon images depicting a meteor or comet, a telescope, a rocket launch and an astronaut's helmet. There is a starry background to the entire image.

Space calendar 2023: Rocket launches, skywatching events, missions & more!

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference Keep up with all the rocket launches, astronomical events and mission milestones for 2023 with our space calendar.

Reference

Entertainment

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Apollo astronauts Charlie Duke, Harrison Schmitt and Rusty Sweickart join active NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik on the grand marshals float in the National Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29, 2023 in Washington, D.C..

National Memorial Day Parade 2023 honors Apollo astronauts in US capital (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman last updated

Apollo lunar module pilots Charlie Duke, Harrison Schmitt and Rusty Schweickart joined active NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC.

Still from the video game Surviving Mars - best space settlement games.

Best space settlement games: Manage bases & build cities on other worlds

By Fran Ruiz published

We're still a ways off from living on other planets in the real world, but the best space settlement games let you tame the unknown today.

Scene from "Star Wars: A New Hope" showing the ceremony honoring Han Solo and Luke Skywalker.

Princess Leia's original 'Star Wars' ceremonial dress could fetch $2 million at auction (exclusive)

By Jeff Spry published

Princess Leia's ceremonial dress costume from 'Star Wars' goes up for auction in June and could draw some staggering bids.

References

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Virgin Galactic Farnborough Press Event Tent.

Who is Virgin Galactic and what do they do?

By Josh Dinner last updated

Reference Virgin Galactic is offering suborbital flights to anyone with pockets deep enough to buy a seat, and there is a lengthy waitlist.

Reference
One of the best star trackers for astrophotography, the Star Adventurer Mini Composited in front of a starry sky landscape

Best star trackers for astrophotography 2023

By Jamie Carter last updated

Buying Guide The best star trackers help render stunning long-exposure images of the stars by moving with the Earth's rotation, making astrophotography a breeze.

Buying Guide
An illustration of the completely dark new moon against a backdrop of the moon during its lunar cycle.

New moon calendar 2023: When is the next new moon?

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference Here is a schedule of when each new moon will occur in 2023. We explore what a new moon is and how it differs from a full moon.

Reference