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Tech

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope in a cleanroom at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, in October 2021. The observatory is scheduled to launch on Dec. 18.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope looks squeaky clean at spaceport for December launch (photos)

By Mike Wall 21 October 2021

These are some of the last good looks we'll get at NASA's huge James Webb Space Telescope before it leaves this world forever.

Rocket Lab recovered the first stage of its Electron booster for the first time during the “Return to Sender” mission, which launched on Nov. 19, 2020.

Rocket Lab to recover booster on launch next month

By Mike Wall 20 October 2021

Rocket Lab plans to recover the first stage of an Electron launcher during its next mission, which is scheduled to lift off from New Zealand during a two-week window that opens on Nov. 11.

Spaceflight

The Orion crew capsule for NASA's Artemis 1 mission is stacked atop its Space Launch System rocket at Kennedy Space Center on Oct. 20, 2021.

NASA stacks Orion capsule atop SLS megarocket for Artemis 1 moon mission (video)

By Mike Wall 21 October 2021

NASA stacked its Orion capsule atop a Space Launch System megarocket yesterday (Oct. 20), notching a major milestone for the agency and its Artemis program of crewed lunar exploration.

An artist's illustration of the Starlab private space station, a joint project of the companies Nanoracks, Lockheed Martin and Voyager Space. Starlab will be operational by 2027, if all goes according to plan.

Meet Starlab: Private space station planned to fly in 2027

By Mike Wall 21 October 2021

Nanoracks, Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin announced today (Oct. 21) that they plan to get a free-flying private space station called Starlab up and running in low Earth orbit by 2027.

Science & Astronomy

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope looks squeaky clean at spaceport for December launch (photos)

By Mike Wall 21 October 2021

These are some of the last good looks we'll get at NASA's huge James Webb Space Telescope before it leaves this world forever.

This visualization shows space radiation interacting with Earth's magnetosphere.

Deep-space radiation could cause have big impacts on the brain, mouse experiment shows

By Chelsea Gohd 21 October 2021

In a new study, male mice exposed to simulated galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) — high-energy radiation in space more commonly known as deep-space radiation — experienced impaired spatial learning.

Search For Life

Inferred paleolake level inside Mars’ Jezero Crater at the time of Kodiak sediment deposition. The red star indicates theOctavia E. Butler (OEB) landing site of NASA’s Perseverance rover. Background from the Context Camera (CTX) mosaic.

Perseverance rover confirms existence of ancient Mars lake and river delta

By Mike Wall 07 October 2021

Photos snapped by Perseverance show that Jezero Crater did indeed host a large river-fed lake in the ancient past.

Mars as seen from orbit by NASA’s Viking mission.

Mars: What we know about the Red Planet

By Charles Q. Choi 01 October 2021

Learn about planet Mars’ atmosphere, water supply and the possibility to support life, plus findings from the various Mars rover missions.

Artist's illustration of a Mars with Earth-like surface water. The Red Planet was a wet world in the ancient past.

Mars was always too small to hold onto its oceans, rivers and lakes

By Mike Wall 20 September 2021

Mars was doomed to desiccation by its small size, a new study suggests.

Skywatching

The nearly full Hunter's Moon rises from The Observatory at America’s Square in Washington, on Oct. 19, 2021.

October's full 'Hunter's moon' of 2021 wows skywatchers (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell 21 October 2021

The full moon of Wednesday (Oct. 21), known by many as the "Hunter's Moon," provided a celestial treat for skywatchers around the world.

This sky map shows the view of Uranus and the moon just after midnight on Oct. 21, 2021, as seen from midnorthern latitudes.

How to see Uranus near the full Hunter's Moon in the night sky this week

By Hanneke Weitering 21 October 2021

The full Hunter's Moon will light the way to Uranus in the early morning sky this week, and with some luck you could see a "shooting star" while looking for the celestial pair.

The Hunter's Moon arrives on Oct. 20, 2021.

October's full Hunter's Moon of 2021 rises tonight! Here's what to expect.

By Samantha Mathewson 20 October 2021

The Hunter's Moon rises tonight, marking the first full moon of the fall season in the northern hemisphere.

Entertainment

Lego Star Wars The Child set review: image shows The Child Lego set

Lego Star Wars The Child review

By Jordan Middler 21 October 2021

Review The LEGO Star Wars The Child set is an adorable, if repetitive build.

Review

Astronaut Nicole Stott's "Back to Earth" chronicles her experience on the International Space Station and how the lessons there could help people on Earth.

In 'Back to Earth,' NASA astronaut brings the space station mindset home

By Meghan Bartels 21 October 2021

Astronaut Nicole Stott's new book "Back to Earth" chronicles her experience on the International Space Station and how lessons there could help people on Earth.

Book excerpt: 'Back to Earth' (Seal Press, 2021) by astronaut Nicole Stott

By Nicole Stott 21 October 2021

How can going to space change the way we live on Earth? Sure, spaceflight leads to new technologies, but it also offers new philosophies.

References

Marvel movies in chronological order

By Lauren O'Callaghan 21 October 2021

Want to watch the Marvel movies in chronological order? Well look no further than our helpful breakdown of the MCU timeline.

Artist's impression of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft.

New Horizons: Exploring Pluto and Beyond

By Elizabeth Howell 20 October 2021

New Horizons was the first spacecraft to visit dwarf planet Pluto and Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth. The spacecraft is still actively exploring the solar system.

Vortex binoculars: Images shows a man in camouflage with binoculars

Vortex binoculars: Deals and discounts

By Ian Evenden 20 October 2021

We've picked out our favorite Vortex binoculars – and found the best prices for them, too.

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