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NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity (lower right, photographed by the Perseverance rover) didn't get off the ground as planned on April 29, 2021.

Mars helicopter Ingenuity misses takeoff for 4th flight on Red Planet

By Mike Wall

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity was supposed to get a real workout this morning (April 29), but things didn't go as planned.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity takes its third flight on the Red Planet in this zoomed-in view of a photo from the Perseverance rover taken on April 25, 2021.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity will attempt its boldest flight yet today

By Tariq Malik

After three successful test flights, NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity is ready to push the envelope in the skies of the Red Planet.

Spaceflight

SpaceX and NASA's Crew-1 astronauts. From left: NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi.

SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts' return to Earth delayed again due to weather

By Tereza Pultarova

NASA and SpaceX have again delayed the return to Earth for four astronauts on the Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station due to bad weather.

Artist's impression of NASA's Messenger spacecraft in orbit at Mercury. Messenger arrived at the solar system's innermost planet in March 2011.

On This Day in Space! April 30, 2015: MESSENGER spacecraft crashes into Mercury

By Hanneke Weitering

On April 30, 2015, NASA's MESSENGER mission to Mercury intentionally crashed into the planet. See how it happened in our "On This Day In Space" series!

Science & Astronomy

Mars helicopter Ingenuity misses takeoff for 4th flight on Red Planet

By Mike Wall

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity was supposed to get a real workout this morning (April 29), but things didn't go as planned.

Eleven occupants of the International Space Station pose for a photo inside the somewhat overcrowded orbital outpost as they await the decision on the departure of the three members of Crew-1.

Pictures from space! Our image of the day

By Space.com Staff

Members of Crew-1, Crew-2 and Soyuz MS-18, pose for a photo inside the somewhat overcrowded International Space Station as they await the decision on the departure of the three Crew-1 members.

Search For Life

The Library of the Great Silence will feature artifacts of transition, like this handaxe.

'Library of the Great Silence' invites E.T. to share long-term survival strategies

By Mike Wall

Intelligent aliens will soon have a space here on Earth where they can share how they made it through their technological adolescence.

Artist's impression of a primitive ocean on Mars, which may have had more water than the Arctic Ocean on Earth. (Most of that water was later lost to space.)

Mystery solved? Heat-trapping clouds may explain ancient Mars' rivers and lakes

By Mike Wall

Cloudy skies may have allowed water to flow on Mars long ago.

Artist's conception of a violent flare erupting from the star Proxima Centauri.

Proxima Centauri shoots out humongous flare, with big implications for alien life

By Harry Baker

Scientists have detected the largest stellar flare ever recorded from Proxima Centauri. The finding changes what we know about stellar flares and the potential for alien life around red dwarfs.

Skywatching

The image shows diagonal lines caused by the light reflected by a group of 25 Starlink satellites passing through the field of view of a telescope at Lowell Observatory in Arizona during observations of the NGC 5353/4 galaxy group on May 25, 2019.

Astronomers ask UN committee to protect night skies from megaconstellations

By Tereza Pultarova

A United Nations committee will discuss whether pristine night sky should be protected against Starlink trains.

A supermoon rises behind the U.S. Capitol, Monday, March 9, 2020, in Washington., D.C.

The Super Pink Moon of 2021 rises tonight, but it won't look pink

By Tereza Pultarova

If you have a clear sky tonight, look up! Today’s full moon will be bigger and brighter than usual as the Earth’s companion makes a close approach to the planet during its full moon phase.

Astrophotographer John Chumack took this image of Tycho Crater on the moon's surface on Feb. 19, 2016.

In the light of the Super Pink Moon, look for the radiant Tycho crater

By Joe Rao

If you look up at the Super Pink Moon this Monday (April 26), don't expect to see anything rosy. But with binoculars, you may be able to spot a magnificent lunar feature.

Entertainment

"THE INFINITE: Living Among the Stars" is a new immersive exhibit incorporating the virtual reality footage shot aboard the International Space Station for "Space Explorers: The ISS Experience."

International Space Station to go on tour with VR exhibit 'The Infinite'

By Robert Z. Pearlman

The International Space Station will soon open its hatches to a continuous (virtual) flow of over 100 people, and you can join them in "The INFINITE: Living Among the Stars."

'Library of the Great Silence' invites E.T. to share long-term survival strategies

By Mike Wall

Intelligent aliens will soon have a space here on Earth where they can share how they made it through their technological adolescence.

Lego has an epic new R2-D2 droid, its biggest and best yet, available for May the 4th 2021.

Lego unveils its biggest and best R2-D2 set in time for May the 4th

By Scott Snowden

Lego's biggest and best Star Wars R2-D2 droid set yet will launch into stories on May 1 in time for May the 4th celebrations.

Live: NASA update on Mars helicopter test flights

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