
Brett Tingley
Brett is curious about emerging aerospace technologies, alternative launch concepts, military space developments and uncrewed aircraft systems. Brett's work has appeared on Scientific American, The War Zone, Popular Science, the History Channel, Science Discovery and more. Brett has English degrees from Clemson University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In his free time, Brett enjoys skywatching throughout the dark skies of the Appalachian mountains.
Latest articles by Brett Tingley

SpaceX, NASA scrub Crew-11 astronaut launch due to weather (video)
By Brett Tingley published
SpaceX scrubbed the launch of its Crew-11 astronaut mission for NASA just a minute before liftoff today (July 31) after clouds intruded.

Night sky for tonight: Visible planets, stars and more in this evening's sky
By Jamie Carter last updated
Find out what you can see in the night sky for tonight, from planets and stars to dazzling meteor showers.

SpaceX, NASA say Crew-11 astronaut mission is 'go' for launch to ISS on July 31
By Brett Tingley published
Mission managers with NASA and SpaceX polled 'go' to proceed with a launch attempt of the Crew-11 astronaut mission to the ISS on Thursday (July 31).

Artemis 2 astronauts stress importance of their moon mission as NASA faces budget, workforce cuts: 'We have to move the needle.'
By Brett Tingley published
NASA's next moon astronauts underscored the importance of their upcoming Artemis 2 mission despite a turbulent time for the space agency full of budget cuts and workforce reductions.

Meet the SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts launching to the ISS
By Brett Tingley published
Crew-11 will launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 31 atop a Falcon 9 rocket, if all goes to plan.

Space Force's Golden Dome chief says space-based missile interceptors are possible today. 'We have proven every element of the physics'
By Brett Tingley published
The head of the Trump administration's Golden Dome program says the technologies needed to create such an ambitious space-based missile defense system already exist.

NASA's X-59 'quiet' supersonic jet rolls out for its 1st test drive (video)
By Brett Tingley published
NASA recently took its new X-59 "quiet' supersonic jet for a drive during taxi tests, one of the final hurdles between the aircraft and its first flight.

Scientists find Uranus is surprisingly warm, heating up the case for a new planetary mission
By Brett Tingley published
Scientists have found that Uranus emits its own internal heat, contradicting data from NASA's Voyager 2 probe nearly four decades ago.

US Space Force practices 'orbital warfare' in largest-ever training event
By Brett Tingley published
The United States Space Force is undertaking its largest training exercise ever, in order to demonstrate that it is "prepared to fight and win in space."

Mexico threatens lawsuit against SpaceX over Starship explosion 'contamination'
By Brett Tingley published
The Mexican president said there is a "general review underway of the international laws that are being violated."

Private Japanese moon lander crashed due to laser errors, ispace says
By Brett Tingley published
Japanese company ispace lost its Resilience lunar lander this month due to laser range finder errors, the company said.

Astronomers discover most powerful cosmic explosions since the Big Bang
By Brett Tingley published
Astronomers discovered a new class of cosmic explosions known as "extreme nuclear transients" that are the most powerful phenomena known, aside from the Big Bang.

U.S. Space Force general to lead Trump's $175 billion Golden Dome space defense program
By Brett Tingley published
U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a plan for his ambitious "Golden Dome" missile defense shield this week, stating it will cost $175 billion and take some three years to develop.

US military launches unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile on 4,200-mile test flight (video)
By Brett Tingley published
The U.S. military test launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on May 21 to demonstrate the readiness of its nuclear weapons arsenal.

James Webb Space Telescope captures ghostly images of clouds on Saturn's largest moon Titan
By Brett Tingley published
The James Webb Space Telescope has peered into the atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon Titan, capturing the first evidence of cloud formation in the moon's northern hemisphere.

James Webb Space Telescope captures stunning images of bright auroras on Jupiter (video)
By Brett Tingley published
The James Webb Space Telescope has turned its infrared eyes toward Jupiter, capturing auroras hundreds of times brighter than those on Earth glowing on the gas giant's poles.

Failed Soviet Venus probe Kosmos 482 is expected to fall to Earth tonight, but when and where? Here's what we know
By Brett Tingley published
The Soviet Venus probe Kosmos 482 is expected to fall to Earth on May 10, but exactly when and where remains unknown.

US Space Force test fires thrusters for moon surveillance spacecraft
By Brett Tingley published
The U.S. Space Force tested a new propulsion system designed for satellites that will keep tabs on spacecraft and other objects near the moon.

NASA has used the US military for astronaut rescue for decades. So why ask private companies for help now?
By Brett Tingley published
NASA is asking private industry and academia for ideas for new rescue services for its astronauts on Earth in the event of emergencies.

US Army launches hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
By Brett Tingley published
The U.S. Army launched its new hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force station last week, just days after naming it the "Dark Eagle."

South Korea sends 4th spy satellite to orbit on SpaceX rideshare launch
By Brett Tingley published
South Korea sent its fourth homegrown spy satellite to orbit this week in an effort to bolster its ability to keep tabs on its neighbor and adversary North Korea.

US Space Force now has a framework for fighting a war in space
By Brett Tingley published
The U.S. Space Force now has an official "Space Warfighting" doctrine outlining how the service can train and prepare units for a war fought in space.

Keeping space safe is the 'ultimate team sport', and the US Space Force has a new playbook
By Brett Tingley published
The U.S. Space Force is leaning more heavily into its allies around the world and unveiling a new International Partnership Strategy, the service's chief said today.
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