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

Data from SARAO's MeerKAT radio telescope data (green) showing the odd radio circles, is overlaid on optical and near infra-red data from the Dark Energy Survey.

Cosmic orcs? Scientists snap best image yet of eerie 'odd radio circles' in space

By Elizabeth Howell published

Astronomers imaged a weird circle in space in high-definition for the first time as they try to find out how these mysterious structures form.

The sun rises behind the Artemis 1 Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule after their first-ever rollout to the launch pad, on March 18, 2022.

The sun and moon photobomb NASA's Artemis 1 megarocket in these amazing photos

By Elizabeth Howell published

The uncrewed Artemis 1 round-the-moon mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than May.

Blue Origin employee Gary Lai and five paying customers will fly on the upcoming NS-20 mission, which is scheduled to launch on March 31.

Meet the 6 spaceflyers on Blue Origin's NS-20 mission

By Elizabeth Howell published

Five paying customers and one of Blue Origin's first 20 employees are scheduled to fly to suborbital space aboard the company's New Shepard vehicle on March 31.

The stunning spiral galaxy NGC 4571 as spotted by the Hubble Space Telescope. It is part of the vast Virgo Cluster that contains thousands of galaxies.

Hubble telescope spies striking spiral galaxy that's part of a huge cosmic structure

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Hubble Space Telescope caught a galaxy on camera that underlies a much larger structure, known as the Virgo Cluster.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket lifts off from the company's West Texas launch site, carrying Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen and 82-year-old Wally Funk, on July 20, 2021.

Blue Origin's NS-20 space tourism launch: When to watch and what to know

By Elizabeth Howell published

Here's everything you need to know about Blue Origin's launch of six people aboard its New Shepard spacecraft on March 31, 2022.

Astrophotographer Chris Schur captured this stunning photo of Comet Leonard on Dec. 4, 2021 from Payson, Arizona using a 10-inch Newtonian telescope and 60-minute camera exposure.

Comet Leonard has broken into pieces as it rounds the sun: report

By Elizabeth Howell published

Comet Leonard, the brightest comet of 2021 has disintegrated, according to EarthSky.

In March 2022, NASA confirmed the discovery of the 5,000th exoplanet.

5,000 exoplanets! NASA confirms big milestone for planetary science

By Elizabeth Howell published

It took 30 years to find so many alien worlds, but the pace of discovery is accelerating.

SpaceX tweeted this photo of a stacked Starship prototype on the launch pad in South Texas on March 18, 2022.

See SpaceX's Starship Mars rocket fully stacked for testing on the pad (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell published

New images show Starship getting ready for an orbital test flight, which SpaceX hopes to launch a few months from now.

Saturn, venus, mars and others in the night sky, a screenshot from Stellarium

See Saturn, Venus and Mars as moon shines near bright Antares

By Elizabeth Howell published

Enjoy the glittering worlds and star along with (early) breakfast.

An image taken by the James Webb Space Telescope during its alignment process shows galaxies and stars in the background.

NASA's work to align the James Webb Space Telescope is extending to more instruments

By Elizabeth Howell published

After James Webb Space Telescope officials released a stunning image of a single star, the team is ready to get other telescope parts in line with the observatory's mirrors.

Startup Aquarian Space hopes to connect lunar and Earth science via high-speed Internet.

Startup Aquarian Space aims to deliver high-speed internet at the moon (and maybe Mars)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Aquarian Space aims to provide internet project to connect the Earth, moon and potentially Mars with broadband.

Spring equinox sunrise photograph

March equinox 2022 brings spring to Northern Hemisphere as Earth's seasons change

By Elizabeth Howell published

March's equinox comes today, marking the beginning of spring. The days will get longer for the next few months.

An artist's impression of a fast radio burst (FRB) reaching Earth, with colors signifying different wavelengths of light.

Hints of intriguing diversity seen in super-energetic 'fast radio bursts'

By Elizabeth Howell published

There might be different populations of these powerful cosmic flashes, new research suggests.

This photo, taken by Maxar Technologies’ WorldView-2 satellite on March 14, 2022, shows the world "children" written in front of and behind a theater in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. According to news reports, the theater was bombed by Russian forces on March 16, 2022.

Satellite photo shows word 'children' in front of now-destroyed Ukrainian theater

By Elizabeth Howell published

Satellite images also show extensive damage in the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol, Sumy, Chernihiv and Kharkiv.

The March full moon is called the Worm Moon, among many other names.

The Worm Moon shines in Friday's night sky. It's the last full moon of winter 2022.

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Worm full moon of March peaks early Friday, March 18, but still appears full for a day or two.

The Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover by Venturi Astrolab.

This tech startup's Flex modular moon rover for astronauts could lead to Mars cars

By Elizabeth Howell published

Modular moon rovers could reduce the costs of surface lunar exploration and, potentially, human Mars excursions, a California-based space-tech startup envisions.

Artist's illustration of Planet Nine, a world about 10 times more massive than Earth that may lie undiscovered in the far outer solar system.

Another search for Planet 9 comes up empty

By Elizabeth Howell published

A theorized huge, Planet 9 beyond the orbit of Neptune once again wasn't found in a new survey.

Scott Kelly, shown here in the cupola of the International Space Station, completed a yearlong space mission in March 2016.

Former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly ending Twitter fight with Russian space chief: report

By Elizabeth Howell published

Former astronaut Scott Kelly plans to halt his Twitter fight with a senior Russian space official, at NASA's request.

Solar scientist Eugene Parker watched as NASA's Parker Solar Probe, named for him, launched into space from Florida on Aug. 12, 2018.

Eugene Parker, astrophysicist namesake of NASA's Parker Solar Probe, dies at 94

By Elizabeth Howell published

Eugene Parker was the namesake of NASA's Parker Solar Probe, which is swooping up close to the sun to get unprecedented detail about how our star works.

The European Space Agency's Gaia spacecraft spotted the James Webb Space Telescope, circled in green, with two inset views.

James Webb Space Telescope spotted by Europe's Gaia spacecraft 1 million miles from Earth (photo)

By Elizabeth Howell published

A star-charting spacecraft spotted NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, while both were working in deep space.

NGC 1097 as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Hubble Space Telescope spots eerie galaxy 'eye' staring across the universe

By Elizabeth Howell published

A new Hubble Space Telescope clearly captures the heart of a distant galaxy structured much like our own.

A photograph taken by the Perseverance rover of the Ingenuity helicopter on the surface of Mars in April 2021, just after the rover deployed the chopper.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity to keep flying through September (at least)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Ingenuity now has clearance to continue flying until at least September, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced today (March 15).

Perseverance's collection system on Mars, photographed as the rover captured its eighth Red Planet sample in March 2022.

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover nabs 8th rock sample on the Red Planet

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's top-notch Red Planet geology rover is moving on to explore an ancient river delta now that its eighth rock sample is secured for future analysis.

A jet emerging from the black hole at the center of the Centaurus A galaxy photographed by the Event Horizon Telescope.

Event Horizon Telescope returns to work touring black holes and exotic cosmic objects

By Elizabeth Howell published

The planet-scale array of observatories most famous for creating the first-ever image of a black hole is heading back to work.

SpaceX's Starman mannequin sits inside Elon Musk's red Tesla Roadster with Earth in the background, shortly after the initial launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket on Feb. 6, 2018.

SpaceX unveils epic highlight reel for its 20th birthday (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Starship, self-landing rockets and a Tesla-driving mannequin are part of the package.