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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 pursuing a Ph.D. part-time in aerospace sciences (University of North Dakota) after completing an M.Sc. (space studies) at the same institution. She also holds a bachelor of journalism degree from Carleton University. Besides writing, Elizabeth teaches communications at the university and community college level. To see her latest projects, follow Elizabeth on Twitter at @HowellSpace.

Articles by: Elizabeth Howell

Russia's Soyuz MS-09 crew spacecraft is is shown docked to the International Space Station (ISS). The MS-09 carried NASA astronaut Serena M. Auñón-Chancellor, the European Space Agency's Alexander Gerst and cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev to the ISS in June 2018.

Russia Says It Will Keep Source of Hole (and Air Leak) on Soyuz Secret— But NASA Wants to Know: Report

By Elizabeth Howell

But NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine wants answers.

Shannon Gatta, a student at the University of Washington who identifies as pansexual, has won the first phase of the "Out Astronaut" contest

Out Astronaut and Microgravity Flight Contest Winners Announced

By Elizabeth Howell

A nonprofit organization has announced the winners of two international contests that support under-represented minorities in science and space.

This thermoelectric generator harnesses temperature differences to generate renewable electricity. Here the device is powering a small LED light.

This New Device Can Make Renewable Energy from the Cold Night Sky

By Elizabeth Howell

A new thermoelectric device can generate electricity for an LED light bulb even during the blackest night, according to a report by researchers.

A 3D rendition of a crater at Oxia Planum on Mars. The European Space Agency's ExoMars 2020 rover may land here in 2021.

Soar Over the Likely Mars Landing Site of Europe's ExoMars Rover in This 3D Animation

By Elizabeth Howell

Feel like going for a spin around Mars? A new video shows a 3D view of where the European-Russian ExoMars rover will land, in a region that was likely filled with water billions of years ago.

SpaceX launched its Starhopper rocket prototype on its highest flight ever on Aug. 27, 2019. The reusable hopping rocket flew from one pad to the other, with a targeted 500-foot (150 meters) ceiling at SpaceX's South Texas test site near Boca Chica Village.

SpaceX Seeks Property Buyouts Near Starhopper Launch Site in Texas: Report

By Elizabeth Howell

SpaceX wants to buy out the properties of residents in a community located only a few miles away its Starhopper launch site in south Texas, according to a report.

Brad Pitt stars as Roy McBride in the new space thriller "Ad Astra."

Are We Alone? 'Ad Astra' Star Brad Pitt Talks Aliens, Science Fiction and More

By Elizabeth Howell

Brad Pitt says his new space movie, "Ad Astra," won't have a clear position on whether humanity is alone in the universe.

Anthony Rapp as Lieutenant Paul Stamets of the CBS All Access series "Star Trek: Discovery."

'Star Trek: Discovery' Actor Anthony Rapp Talks Diversity, Science and New Role in 'Star Trek Online'

By Elizabeth Howell

From stage to the small screen, "Star Trek: Discovery" actor Anthony Rapp always tried to embody queer-friendly characters. And now his Trek character is coming to the gaming world.

A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft testing its SuperDraco thrusters.

Watch SpaceX's Crew Dragon Fire Its Abort Engines in Amazing Video Compilation

By Elizabeth Howell

A fiery new SpaceX video brings all the "foom" that's been missing from your life.

A still from NASA's Ariana Grande parody music video.

Parody Video Takes Ariana Grande's NASA Fandom to New Heights

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA's newest video from interns at the Johnson Space Center has a definite lunar flavor — and it's feminine.

The European Space Agency is requesting ideas for ways to explore lunar caves with robotic missions.

Europe Wants Ideas for Cave-Spelunking Moon Robots. Here's How You Can Help!

By Elizabeth Howell

As NASA makes a big push to land humans on the moon's surface by 2024, the European Space Agency wants to learn more about the caves that lie beneath.

An artistic depiction of an asteroid flying past Earth.

Watch an Asteroid Fly by Earth Today in a Live Webcast from Slooh!

By Elizabeth Howell

This weekend you can see live telescope views of an asteroid hurtling past Earth, thanks to astronomy broadcaster Slooh.

The first color image of the comet C/2019 Q4 (Borisov), which astronomers believe to be the first known interstellar comet ever identified, was captured by the Gemini North telescope at Hawaii's Mauna Kea. Gemini North acquired four 60-second exposures in two color bands (red and green). The blue and red lines are background stars moving in the background.

1st Color Photo of Interstellar Comet Reveals Its Fuzzy Tail

By Elizabeth Howell

Astronomers took the first multicolor images of a potentially interstellar comet, and it looks spectacular.

An artist's impression of "blue stragglers," bright, blue stars with masses that are higher than average for stars that belong to a cluster. Blue stragglers sink toward the center of a star cluster over time.

‘Blue Stragglers’ in Space May Mask True Age of Star Clusters in Hubble Views

By Elizabeth Howell

By spying on star clusters in a nearby galaxy, the Hubble Space Telescope has shown that star clusters aren't always as old as they appear.

An artist's depiction of NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope.

NASA's WFIRST Space Telescope, a Refurbished Spysat Eye, Passes Early Review

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA's repurposed spy telescope is ready for the next stage of development.

A structural test article for NASA's Space Launch System rocket is loaded onto the test stand at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, on Jan. 14, 2019. At 149 feet (45 meters) long, it is the largest piece of hardware for the rocket's core stage.

Watch NASA's SLS Megarocket Get Ready for New US Moon Missions (Video)

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA is hard at work getting its new, moon-bound rocket and spacecraft ready for Artemis 1, the next mission of the agency's program, which aims to eventually land humans on the lunar surface.

An artist's depiction of the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs.

The Asteroid Impact That Doomed the Dinosaurs Also Spawned a Mega-Tsunami

By Elizabeth Howell

The dinosaur-killing asteroid that hit the Earth around 66 million years ago probably generated a huge tsunami, according to new research.

The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H-IIB rocket carrying the HTV-8 spacecraft atop its launchpad at Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on Sept. 10, 2019.

Launchpad Fire Forces Japan to Postpone Cargo Ship Launch to Space Station: Report

By Elizabeth Howell

Japan called off a planned cargo ship launch to the International Space Station today (Sept. 10) after a fire erupted on the launch platform for the mission's rocket, according to press reports.

An ArianeWorks reusable Themis rocket prototype returns to Earth in a video animation of the group's new reusable rocket program.

Europe's ArianeWorks Aims for Reusable Rockets (with a Very SpaceX Look)

By Elizabeth Howell

Veteran launch provider Arianespace's parent Ariane Group has teamed up with the French space agency CNES for ArianeWorks, a project for reusable rockets.

This image of the planet Neptune was obtained during a test of the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope array in northern Chile, in July 2018.

Neptune Is at Opposition Today: Here's How to Spot the Distant Planet

By Elizabeth Howell

This week is a great time to see the solar system's outermost gas giant planet, if you have a telescope and a little patience.

The Indian Space Research Organisation's Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft (bottom) and its Vikram lander (top) are prepared to be encapsulated by a payload fairing before being loaded on their Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III-M1 rocket for a July 2019 launch.

Chandrayaan-2: India's Orbiter-Lander-Rover Mission

By Elizabeth Howell

Chandrayaan-2 is India's planned second mission to the moon. It will consist of an orbiter, a lander and a rover.

K. Sivan, head of the India Space Research Organisation, holds a lunar model on Aug. 26, 2019, as the country's Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft flew toward the moon.

India Looks Beyond the Moon to Mars, Venus and Astronaut Missions

By Elizabeth Howell

India's space program may have hit a major stumbling block on the road to the moon, but the country has already made major strides in lunar and Mars exploration.

British inventor and musician Sam Battle teamed up with Lego to produce an epic Lego "Star Wars" "orchestra."

Watch 95 Lego Star Wars Droids Transform Into a 'Star Wars' Orchestra

By Elizabeth Howell

May the music be with you! Thanks to 'one crazed inventor,' 95 Lego 'Star Wars' droids stopped fighting long enough to play the iconic 'Star Wars' theme on 42 instruments.

See the moon make a close pass with the planet Saturn on Saturday night (Sept. 7).

Catch the Moon and Saturn Cozying Up to Each Other This Weekend

By Elizabeth Howell

The moon and Saturn have a close encounter in North American skies this weekend (Sept. 7-8).

An artist's illustration depicts a quasar, or supermassive, ultra-luminous black hole. One new study explores the science behind the brilliant colors of quasars.

One Quasar, Two Quasar, Red Quasar, Blue Quasar: A Seuss-Like Space Color Mystery Explained

By Elizabeth Howell

While the colors of weird astronomical objects known as quasars might seem elementary, the science behind these colors is rather complicated.

A still from an animation shows India's Vikram lunar lander, part of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, descending to the lunar surface.

See How India's Moon Lander Will Reach the Lunar Surface (Video)

By Elizabeth Howell

As India's lunar lander prepares for an epic descent today (Sept. 6), the country's space agency released a video showing how it will attempt to make a soft touchdown.