Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace
Latest articles by Elizabeth Howell
Para-astronaut John McFall hopes to see an ISS astronaut with a disability fly by 2030 (exclusive, video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
John McFall, a reserve U.K. para-astronaut with the European Space Agency, recently participated in a feasibility study for ISS astronauts with disabilities. He told Space.com what's coming next.
SpaceX launches 116 satellites on epic Transporter 11 rideshare mission, lands rocket (video)
By Elizabeth Howell last updated
SpaceX's latest launch, Transporter 11, sent a set of payloads into space aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Here's what Boeing Starliner astronauts are doing on the ISS as NASA works on their ride home
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA's Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are not idle while awaiting the decision on the conclusion of the first-ever astronaut mission aboard Boeing Starliner.
Astronauts on ISS practice moon base cement-mixing tech in microgravity
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA and its partners in the Artemis program want to find sustainable ways of building astronaut bases on the moon. An ISS experiment is investigating how.
New ISS images showcase auroras, moon and space station in glorious photos (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick's newest visuals show recent auroras from the International Space Station, along with the moon.
Roller coaster tech could help NASA’s Artemis moon astronauts in case of a launch emergency
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA recently met with roller coaster experts to talk safety. The braking system used on theme park rides is similar to an emergency system designed for agency moon launches.
Axiom Space's next astronaut mission to the ISS with SpaceX delayed to spring 2025
By Elizabeth Howell published
Axiom Space's next astronaut mission will be delayed due to the approval process required for International Space Station crews, according to NASA.
SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida (video, photos)
By Elizabeth Howell published
SpaceX sent another group of its Starlink satellites into space today (Aug. 10), as it continues to build out its giant internet constellation.
Archaeology on the ISS? Scientists study how astronauts use and store stuff in space
By Elizabeth Howell published
The International Space Station Archaeological Project aims to understand how astronauts use and store objects throughout the orbital laboratory to help inform development of future space habitats.
Watch how NASA's Artemis astronauts could escape their rocket in an emergency (photos, video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA's Artemis astronauts need a backup in case something goes awry with their Space Launch System rocket. A basket system will ferry them safely away.
Will SpaceX carry Boeing Starliner crew home? Here’s how Dragon could do it
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA isn't sure yet if it will bring its Starliner astronauts home from the ISS in the Boeing capsule or put them on a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
'World's oldest calendar' discovered carved into ancient monument
By Elizabeth Howell published
A controversial comet strike theory has been circulating for 20 years. Now a group of researchers say they have found new evidence for it in ancient carvings at Göbekli Tepe, in Turkey.
Astronaut captures gorgeous green aurora shining behind Russian spacecraft docked at ISS (photo)
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick has once again delivered an incredible space picture. His latest shows a Russian Soyuz spacecraft poised in front of a green auroral storm.
NASA considers sending Boeing Starliner astronauts home on SpaceX Dragon
By Elizabeth Howell published
As Starliner's planned 10-day mission stretches past two months, the next ISS SpaceX launch will now delay into September to give NASA the option of including the Starliner crew on its ride home.
Satellite imagery reveals hidden monastery at Buddhist holy site: report
By Elizabeth Howell published
Satellite imagery of the Mahabodhi Temple Complex uncovered a possible buried monastery and other buildings. The results are now awaiting peer review and publication.
The 10 most Earth-like exoplanets
By Elizabeth Howell, Ailsa Harvey last updated
Reference Scientists have found more than 5,000 exoplanets since the first such world was confirmed orbiting a sunlike star in 1995. We explore the ones most similar to Earth.
Canadarm2 was not designed to catch spacecraft at the ISS. Now it's about to grab its 50th
By Elizabeth Howell published
Canadarm2 launched in 2001 before companies made their own cargo craft. Now well-versed in the technique, the Canadian robot arm will catch Cygnus no earlier than Aug. 5.
Artemis 2 exercise device soars in parabolic flight (photos, video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
On its way to the moon, the design for an exercise device took to the skies above Montreal for a parabolic flight. The July series of experiments evaluated health tech for astronauts, too.
Renaissance astronomer Tycho Brahe's lab is home to a centuries-old chemical mystery
By Elizabeth Howell published
A chemical mystery lurks in the laboratory of Tycho Brahe, one of the most famous astronomers of all time. Scientists found tungsten in Brahe's lab, and they're not sure how it got there.
No, Boeing Starliner's NASA astronauts are not stranded in space. Here's why.
By Elizabeth Howell published
Boeing Starliner's historic 1st astronaut mission has been extended repeatedly for thruster troubleshooting. But its two astronauts are not stuck on the ISS.
These 17th-century drawings of the sun by Kepler add fire to solar cycle mystery
By Elizabeth Howell published
Earth was cooler than usual in the 16th and 17th centuries and scientists are still trying to figure out why. New analysis of sunspot drawings by Kepler, in 1607, may shed some light.
Boeing's Starliner tests thrusters at ISS as NASA reviews options for astronauts' return to Earth
By Elizabeth Howell published
Crew Flight Test and its NASA astronauts have spent more than 50 days in space ISS after helium leaks and thruster issues.
'That was a really wild experience': How brand-new NASA astronaut Andre Douglas joined Artemis 2 moon mission (exclusive)
By Elizabeth Howell published
Andre Douglas became eligible for NASA spaceflights in March. Weeks later, the NASA astronaut learned he would back up the next mission to fly humans around the moon.
SpaceX moving Crew Dragon splashdowns to West Coast after multiple space debris incidents
By Elizabeth Howell published
The four astronauts flying aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon are supposed to launch no earlier than Aug. 18 and splash down near Florida. Future crews will go to the west coast due to space junk concerns.
How spaceflight’s 'parastronaut program' could improve health-care practices here on Earth
By Elizabeth Howell published
ESA reserve astronaut John McFall's story inspired a study suggesting that the space community's inclusion efforts should be used in other fields, especially medicine.
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!