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Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell

Elizabeth Howell, Ph.D., is a contributing writer for Space.com since 2012. As a proud Trekkie and Canadian, she tackles topics like spaceflight, diversity, science fiction, astronomy and gaming to help others explore the universe. Elizabeth's on-site reporting includes two human spaceflight launches from Kazakhstan, and embedded reporting from a simulated Mars mission in Utah. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, and a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University. Her latest book, NASA Leadership Moments, is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday.

Articles by: Elizabeth Howell

The astronauts of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission pose for a portrait in their spacesuits during a training session. From left are: NASA astronauts Kayla Barron, Raja Chari, and Thomas Marshburn, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer.

How to watch NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 astronaut launch events this week

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX's next astronaut launch for NASA is set for the spooky date of Halloween (Oct. 31). Here's how to watch the Crew-3 launch online.

A bomb cyclone has merged with a Category 5 "atmospheric river" — giant flowing trains of moist air in the sky — and is dropping lots of precipitation across Northern California.

A 'bomb cyclone' is battering much of California

By Elizabeth Howell published

A "bomb cyclone" in the Pacific is dumping extreme rain and several feet of snow on California.

A view of supernova SN 2020fqv captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Hubble telescope spots doomed star that is the 'Rosetta stone' of supernovas

By Elizabeth Howell published

A new supernova captured by the Hubble Space Telescope may act as a decoder for other star explosions.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), will orbit the sun 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope: Hubble's Cosmic Successor

By Elizabeth Howell, Daisy Dobrijevic published

Reference Everything you need to know about the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's Big Bang-probing space observatory.

SpaceX's megarocket Starship tested its vacuum Raptor engine for the first time last week, paving the way for a possible debut orbital flight next month.

SpaceX shows off its 'Gateway to Mars' for Starship launches in video

By Elizabeth Howell published

The company is waiting on regulatory approval for its first orbital mission.

Adam Dipert space juggler

Space juggling and dance could make suborbital flights more fun

By Elizabeth Howell published

A 'space juggler' plans to release a film shortly about the joys and challenges of doing performance art in zero gravity.

This photo from the Hubble Space Telescope shows two galaxies, NGC 7752 and NGC 7753, interacting as a single object called Arp 86 220 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Pegasus.

Hubble telescope spots a pair of 'squabbling' galaxies locked in cosmic dance

By Elizabeth Howell published

The research may shed light on cosmic evolution.

An Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket carrying the SES-17 and Syracuse 4A communications satellites for SES and France's Ministry of Defense, respectively, lifts off from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana at 10:10 p.m. EDT (0210 GMT) on Oct. 23, 2021.

Ariane 5 rocket successfully launches two satellites into orbit on its heaviest mission ever

By Elizabeth Howell published

An Ariane 5 rocket will launch satellites for SES and the French military tonight, Oct. 23, and you can watch it live here.

A "selfie" of the Perseverance rover, which landed Feb. 18, 2021.

Hear sounds from Mars captured by NASA's Perseverance rover

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Perseverance rover has recorded up to five hours of sounds on the Mars, giving engineers a sense of how the Red Planet sounds different from Earth.

An artist's depiction of a white dwarf drawing matter from a companion star.

Strange white dwarf switches 'on' and 'off' in front of astronomers

By Elizabeth Howell published

A spacecraft that usually seeks new worlds saw a white dwarf suddenly switch "off" with a swift drop in brightness. Then it switched back on again.

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet reads "Dune" aboard the International Space Station.

'Dune' reaches space as astronaut celebrates Frank Herbert's iconic sci-fi novel

By Elizabeth Howell published

Thomas Pesquet tucked a copy of the story in paperback somewhere in the SpaceX Crew Dragon before his launch.

Ariana Grande is ready to take on monsters in this space-themed outfit for "Fortnite."

Spacefarer Ariana Grande lands in Fortnite as a new sci-fi skin and NPC

By Elizabeth Howell published

Spacefarer Ariana Grande has has a starring role in Fornite's Fornitemares event for Chapter 2, Season 8 as "the galaxy's greatest monster hunter."

An Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket on the launch pad.

Arianespace delays double-satellite launch indefinitely to allow extra ground systems checks

By Elizabeth Howell published

Arianespace halted plans to launch two communications satellites into orbit on Friday (Oct. 22) to allow time for more ground equipment checks.

Artist's illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope with its massive sunshield fully deployed.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will face '29 days on the edge' after launch (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's newest space telescope will face 29 'harrowing' days after launch as it makes its way to a deep-space destination nearly 1 million miles (1.6 million km) from Earth.

NASA and the Canadian Space Agency have teamed up for the Deep Space Food Challenge, which aims to spur new ideas about how to feed astronauts on long voyages.

NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge awards $450,000 to first-round winners

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA and the Canadian Space Agency just announced 18 winners in Phase 1 of the Deep Space Food Challenge, which aims to spur the development of potentially game-changing food tech.

The uncrewed Russian cargo ship Progress 78 approaches the International Space Station on July 1, 2021 in this image taken by an astronaut on the station ahead of docking operations.

Russian cargo ship completes novel 28-hour docking port move at space station

By Elizabeth Howell published

An uncrewed Russian cargo ship is swapping parking spots at the International Space Station.

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 published

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

SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts (from left) Matthias Maurer, Thomas Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron. Credit: SpaceX

SpaceX, NASA target Halloween launch for Crew-3 astronaut flight to space station

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's next space station launch is set for Halloween and will put four more astronauts into space on a SpaceX rocket.

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

New Horizons: Exploring Pluto and Beyond

By Elizabeth Howell published

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.

Paul Atreides and Chani from "Dune" have landed in Fortnite.

'Dune' movie skins land in Fortnite because the Spice must flow on the island

By Elizabeth Howell published

You can play as Dune's Paul Atreides or his co-star, Chani, in Fortnite now.

An artist's depiction of a near-Earth asteroid.

An asteroid just zipped past Earth closer than the moon's orbit

By Elizabeth Howell published

There was never a threat to our planet.

aurora

Astronauts capture stunning aurora from International Space Station

By Elizabeth Howell published

The sky show took place over Antarctica and New Zealand.

Mars as seen by India's Mangalyaan Mars Orbiter Mission in 2014.

Live this week: Watch the 2021 International Mars Society Convention online

By Elizabeth Howell published

The 24th Annual International Mars Society Convention begins Thursday (Oct. 17), and you can watch the whole thing online for free.

People all over the world are celebrating the International Observe the Moon Night Oct. 16, 2021.

International Observe the Moon Night 2021: Don't miss these live moon webcasts tonight.

By Elizabeth Howell published

The moon stars in live webcasts tonight NASA and lunar enthusiasts celebrate International Observe the Moon 2021.

The 10 people living and working on the International Space Station share dinner in a photograph shared by cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky on Oct. 14, 2021.

Russian film crew returns to Earth from space station today. Here's how to watch online.

By Elizabeth Howell published

A Russian cosmonaut, actress and producer-director will all return to our planet Sunday (Oct. 17).