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Elizabeth Howell

Elizabeth Howell is a contributing writer for Space.com who is one of the few Canadian journalists to report regularly on space exploration. She is the author or co-author of several books on space exploration. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota in Space Studies, and an M.Sc. from the same department. She also holds a bachelor of journalism degree from Carleton University in Canada, where she began her space-writing career in 2004. Besides writing, Elizabeth teaches communications at the university and community college level, and for government training schools. To see her latest projects, follow Elizabeth on Twitter at @howellspace.

Articles by: Elizabeth Howell

A Chinese Long March 4C rocket lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, carrying three Yaogan 31 Group 3 satellites to orbit.

China just launched three more Yaogan 31 reconnaissance satellites to orbit

By Elizabeth Howell

China successfully sent three reconnaissance satellites into orbit Tuesday (Feb. 23), according to media reports.

Mary W. Jackson overcame the barriers of segregation and gender bias to become the first African American female engineer to work at NASA. She later led the efforts to ensure equal opportunities for future generations. The Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington, D.C. has been named in her honor.

NASA hosts ceremony renaming headquarters building for 'Hidden Figure' Mary Jackson

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA commemorated Mary Jackson, one of the agency's "Hidden Figures," today (Feb. 26) during a ceremony renaming the agency's headquarters after her.

Apollo 14 golf shot

50 years ago, an Apollo 14 astronaut played golf on the moon. Here's the inside story.

By Elizabeth Howell

Most golfers really want to avoid sand traps, but NASA astronaut Alan Shepard had no choice but to deal with that when wielding a six-iron head on the moon's dusty surface 50 years ago this month.

The core stage of the Artemis 1 SLS rocket as seen on the test stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

NASA delays 2nd test fire of SLS megarocket booster due to valve issue

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA's moon megarocket is facing yet another testing delay ahead of the vehicle's expected first flight for the Artemis program.

A raw image of the Martian surface below the Perseverance rover captured on Feb. 24, 2021, the fourth day of the mission.

Where to find the latest Mars photos from NASA's Perseverance rover

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA's most powerful rover yet is regularly sending back images from the Red Planet, and you can stay updated on the Perseverance mission's latest snapshots.

An illustration of Relativity Space's Terran 1 rocket launching into space.

Relativity Space readies for its first launch of 3D-printed rocket later this year

By Elizabeth Howell

As Relativity Space plans to launch its 3D-printed Terran 1 rocket late this year, key market indicators show a company growing so quickly that it's attracting massive investor attention.

Billionaire Jared Isaacman is announcing contests for two seats on his Inspiration4 private spaceflight on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft during the 2021 Super Bowl on Feb. 7, 2021.

Time is running out to enter the Inspiration4 contests for a SpaceX rocket trip

By Elizabeth Howell

You only have a few days left to enter to win a chance to go to space on the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission, which is scheduled to launch to Earth orbit in late 2021.

NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren (left) and Bob Hines (right) will fly on the SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station.

These 2 NASA astronauts will fly on SpaceX's Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station in 2022

By Elizabeth Howell

Two NASA astronauts will fly to the International Space Station on the fourth-ever commercial crew mission on SpaceX in 2022.

Hayley Arceneaux, a 29-year-old survivor of childhood bone cancer, will join the private Inspiration4 SpaceX mission led by Jared Isaacman.

Childhood bone cancer survivor joins private Inspiration4 spaceflight on SpaceX rocket

By Elizabeth Howell

Hayley Arceneaux, a 29-year-old survivor of childhood bone cancer, will join the private Inspiration4 SpaceX mission led by Jared Isaacman.

The Northrop Grumman Cygnus NG-15 cargo ship arrives at the International Space Station on Feb. 22, 2021 in this view from a camera on the station's exterior.

Cygnus cargo ship honoring 'Hidden Figure' Katherine Johnson arrives at space station

By Elizabeth Howell

Worms, an advanced supercomputer, an artificial retina experiment and more arrived at the International Space Station on a Cygnus cargo ship Monday.

This still from a White House video shows U.S. President Joe Biden watching NASA's broadcast of the successful Mars landing by the Perseverance rover on Feb. 18, 2021.

Watch President Biden call NASA to celebrate the Perseverance rover's Mars landing

By Elizabeth Howell

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are hailing NASA for the Perseverance rover's Mars landing success.

This high-resolution still image is part of a video taken by several cameras as NASA’s Perseverance rover touched down on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021. A camera aboard the descent stage captured this shot.

NASA will unveil dramatic video of the Perseverance rover landing on Mars today. Here's how to watch live.

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA will unveil video of the Perseverance rover as it landed on Mars as seen from the rover itself today (Feb. 22) and you can watch it live here.

An artist's depiction of NASA's Ingenuity helicopter on Mars.

The first helicopter on Mars phones home after Perseverance rover landing

By Elizabeth Howell

The first helicopter ever sent to another world is doing just fine on Mars after surviving a "seven minutes of terror" landing aboard NASA's Perseverance.

Boeing's Starliner capsule seen atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket before launch on its first test flight, which landed early after failing to reach the International Space Station.

Widespread Texas power outages delay Boeing's second Starliner spacecraft test flight to April

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA's commercial crew program hit another delay in getting a second spacecraft ready to ferry astronauts to space.

The Empire State Building in New York City was illuminated with red lights to celebrate the landing of NASA's Mars rover Perseverance.

NYC's Empire State Building turns red to celebrate NASA's Perseverance rover

By Elizabeth Howell

New York City's most famous building turned red overnight to celebrate NASA's Perseverance rover landing Thursday (Feb. 18).

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover will search for signs of past microbial life.

Get ready for the Perseverance Mars rover landing with this epic NASA documentary

By Elizabeth Howell

It's "Mars madness" day for space fans NASA's Perseverance rover mission targets an epic landing today (Feb. 18). A NASA documentary takes a close look at the mission.

The sun sets below the rim of Gusev crater on Mars in this stunning view captured by NASA's Spirit rover on May 19, 2005.

NASA's Perseverance rover team will have to live on 'Mars time' after landing on the Red Planet

By Elizabeth Howell

The Perseverance team will return to a time-honored tradition at NASA these past few decades — the tradition of living on "Mars time."

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover will search for signs of past microbial life.

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover landing: Why do we keep going back to the Red Planet?

By Elizabeth Howell

With hundreds of worlds in the solar system to explore, it's fair to ask as NASA's Perseverance rover makes its final approach for landing Thursday (Feb. 18): Why do we keep going back to Mars?

A supersonic parachute will help slow Mars 2020's atmospheric descent to about 200 mph (320 km/h).

It's landing day on Mars! NASA's Perseverance rover will touch down on the Red Planet today

By Elizabeth Howell

It's landing day for Perseverance and all eyes are on the Red Planet.

Moogega Cooper, planetary protection lead engineer for the Perseverance rover, sampled the spacecraft's surface for microbes in June 2019.

National Geographic's 'Built for Mars' will let you tag along with NASA's Perseverance Mars rover landing

By Elizabeth Howell

A new National Geographic documentary will let you share in the excitement of NASA's Perseverance Mars rover landing on the Red Planet Thursday.

Iranian government footage shows the country's new Zoljanah's first suborbital test launch.

Iran launches new rocket on suborbital test flight: report

By Elizabeth Howell

Iran recently test-launched a new rocket, according to the country's state television on Monday (Feb. 8) and news reports.

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

How a fleet of spacecraft will watch NASA's Perseverance rover land on Mars

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA's next Mars rover, Perseverance, will have a squad of spacecraft watching its dangerous descent from above Thursday (Feb. 18).

An illustration shows Jezero Crater, where NASA's Mars Perseverance rover will look for signs of ancient life.

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover is about to land in Jezero Crater. Here's what we know about the place.

By Elizabeth Howell

Jezero Crater may be the proving ground in our search for Martian life.

Russia's Progress 76 cargo resupply ship is pictured shortly after it departed the International Space Station on Feb. 9, 2021. The new Progress 77 cargo ship docked on Feb. 17.

Russia's Progress 77 cargo ship docks with the International Space Station

By Elizabeth Howell

An artist's illustration of NASA's Mars rover Perseverance landing on the Red Planet.

Here's how to watch NASA's Perseverance rover land on Mars on Thursday

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA's Mars rover Perseverance will make a harrowing landing on the Red Planet Thursday (Feb. 18) and you'll be able to watch the historic event live online.