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
![a long view of a rocket firing with smoke pouring out of a tower](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VrTGGepwS78ofauhUeNong-320-80.jpg)
Fire! NASA kicks off Artemis moon program's 2024 with big engine test (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
An RS-25 engine rated for future human moon missions fired up on Jan. 17 for about eight minutes in a key test for NASA's Artemis program.
![cancer constellation is the dimmest of the zodiac constellations.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hEjiJmKCKcsFQWxLPaHfM-320-80.gif)
Cancer constellation: Facts about the crab in the zodiac
By Rebecca Sohn last updated
Reference Cancer the Crab is the dimmest constellation of the Zodiac yet it contains one of the brightest star clusters.
![a satellite image of buildings with a glowing pool of lava beside](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zAYbW6n2LCz3Z2BrKgdKRN-320-80.jpg)
Satellites watch Iceland volcano spew lava towards fishing village (photo)
By Elizabeth Howell published
The tiny Icelandic town of Grindavík lies under threat from a lava flow, imaged from space by a satellite.
![an illustration of the moon with a target zone filled with colors. each color represents concentrations of hydrogen. above are two spacecraft tracks as they move above the surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UPKjGwCRwhhgLwBijBd4hN-320-80.jpg)
There's lots of water on the moon for astronauts. But is it safe to drink?
By Elizabeth Howell published
A new moon water challenge from the United Kingdom and Canada asks participants to purify the liquid for safe drinking, in time for astronaut lunar landings later in the 2020s.
![close-up of protective tarp surrounding a spacecraft with a strut and black space also visible](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AVDPq6cFefy3MFZSFtmVvm-320-80.jpg)
Peregrine moon lander aims for 'safe' crash into Earth's atmosphere on Jan. 18
By Elizabeth Howell published
The ailing Peregrine moon lander is expected to crash into Earth's atmosphere on Jan. 18, a demise that its maker, Astrobotic, pledged to make as safe as possible.
![black and white image of rocks with a delta-shaped rock in the middle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xSTPGjwxaV9iRcxvnRAydn-320-80.jpg)
'Star Trek' on Mars? Curiosity rover spots Starfleet symbol on Red Planet
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA's Curiosity rover found a Mars rock shaped like a Star Trek badge this month. The mission continues to beam up images from the Red Planet after 12 years of work.
![close-up of protective tarp surrounding a spacecraft with a strut and black space also visible](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AVDPq6cFefy3MFZSFtmVvm-320-80.jpg)
Doomed Peregrine moon lander will burn up in Earth's atmosphere — but we don't yet know where
By Elizabeth Howell published
The leak that stopped the Peregrine moon lander's attempt is nearly finished, but the Astrobotic mission is still on track to burn up above Earth instead of reaching its lunar destination.
![person standing looking at the blood moon above](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/73tqDwofyb7G93dhjPQ8Gj-320-80.jpg)
What is a blood moon?
By Elizabeth Howell, Scott Dutfield last updated
Reference It may look spooky, but a blood moon is just a trick of the light. Here we explain this phenomenon and tell you how and where to see the next one.
![A large bright streak of light across the star-studded background with the aurora borealis shining below as a ribbon of green light.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wZ2ivWenAt885hMocduTnL-320-80.jpg)
Taurid meteor shower 2024: When, where & how to see it
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Reference The Taurid meteor shower is composed of two streams known as the Southern Taurids and the Northern Taurids. We explore this impressive shower in more detail here.
![a map of mars stretched out so you can see the whole surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BrMp8enmpptDtnkUBkHrCV-320-80.jpg)
A spacecraft at Mars watched a dust storm lift tons of grains in a short time
By Elizabeth Howell published
The United Arab Emirates' Hope spacecraft spotted a lot of dust moving around on Mars after a regional storm in January 2022.
![the international space station as photographed while looking down at Earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tZWGuwfJ94SUYEuhwJUf9-320-80.jpg)
NASA and Russia will keep launching each other's astronauts to ISS until 2025: report
By Elizabeth Howell published
The International Space Station will continue to see launching crews mixed with American and Russian astronauts, according to media reports based on a Roscosmos press release.
![The launch of the Artemis 1 Space Launch System rocket as seen from the press site at Kennedy Space Center.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dXDKHDXVLHB3FRtJhxaqzh-320-80.png)
Artemis 2 moon astronaut says his 1st space launch will feel epic
By Elizabeth Howell published
Canadian Space Agency Artemis 2 astronaut Jeremy Hansen has never been in space before. But he is getting ready for his 1st launch on NASA's Space Launch System in 2024.
![Artist's illustration of ispace's Series 2 robotic lander on the surface of the moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mcQ5D295vqYEfxnJn5oFUn-320-80.jpg)
Japan's ispace shows off a tiny moon lander for its 2nd moon mission in 2024
By Elizabeth Howell published
The Resilience lander for ispace's 2nd moon mission is under construction, as it aims to send a mini-rover to the lunar surface after a winter 2024 launch.
![two humans in ornage space suits, without helmets, walk down a gantry way outside during a sunny day.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EqYw2zbHABErVMDZpJBpNB-320-80.jpg)
Will Artemis 2 launch to the moon in 2024? NASA has a lot of work ahead
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission took some important strides toward launch this year, but it's unclear if the ambitious effort will get off the ground as planned in late 2024.
![a man wears an orange spacesuit with no helmet.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/owtg2RBSaMuZQ3VjKdgRj3-320-80.jpg)
Artemis 2 moon crew invited to visit SpaceX to talk Starship (exclusive)
By Elizabeth Howell published
"This is an amazing time to be a part of this program."
![Taken aboard Apollo 8 by Bill Anders, this iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon, with astronauts Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell aboard.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QmSgRCb5z62ZVgjdeDyDrB-320-80.jpg)
55 years after Apollo 8's Christmas at the moon, a new Artemis crew readies for launch (exclusive)
By Elizabeth Howell published
Apollo 8 flew three astronauts around the moon in 1968. Artemis 2 plans to run a similar mission in 2024 or so, and the mission commander said the astronauts do see parallels in the two missions.
![a spacecraft backdropped by earth. the canadarm2 is visible just below, having released the spacecraft. space station panels are also visible at bottom](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nVv6mmLpu8V9M9WRaZLtFW-320-80.jpg)
Cygnus cargo craft departs the ISS Dec. 22 for fiery re-entry in new year (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
A Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft departed the International Space Station on Dec. 22, and will make a re-entry into Earth's atmosphere in January.
![An illustration of the private Nova-C moon lander built by Intuitive Machines with NASA's Polar Resources Ice-Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1) attached to the spacecraft.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JfK3j9qJa3Xe5xnD3cniY7-320-80.jpg)
Private moon lander's SpaceX launch delayed a month, to February
By Elizabeth Howell published
Intuitive Machines will wait an extra month, until mid-February 2024, to send a private moon lander into space atop a SpaceX rocket.
![a white spacecraft undocks from the international space station with earth in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sg7F9Gc8jyhQAUPi2aeHQE-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule returns to Earth from ISS
By Elizabeth Howell last updated
SpaceX's robotic Dragon cargo ship left the International Space Station on Thursday (Dec. 21) and splashed down a day later.
![the curve of earth against the blackness of space, with part of a silvery spacecraft in the foreground.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HZFvmLDEh4bes4TZ3TCAZ-320-80.jpg)
Virgin Galactic to launch 6th commercial spaceflight on Jan. 26
By Elizabeth Howell published
Virgin Galactic plans to launch its sixth operational spaceflight on Jan. 26, 2024 with four passengers, who are yet to be named.
![four people in blue flight jackets pose for a picture with a man in a suit in front of an american flag in an ornate office](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PMDFUaaGYnZAj8xdQmmSGD-320-80.jpg)
Artemis 2 moon astronauts discuss 21st-century 'moonshots' with President Biden
By Elizabeth Howell published
New details about the Artemis 2 astronauts' White House meetings last week were released Dec. 19, on the eve of the new National Space Council meeting chaired by Vice-President Kamala Harris.
![four white jets fly above a giant orange rocket on a launch pad below](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PHFQtHSag5pc2rCRsHXFYg-320-80.jpg)
What's it like to buzz an Artemis SLS moon rocket with a supersonic jet? NASA's Artemis 2 commander tells all (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
When Artemis 1's moon rocket arrived on the launch pad in 2022, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman spent months gathering a group to fly over it.
![NASA Artemis 2 moon commander Reid Wiseman slides away from a mock Orion spacecraft during emergency egress training, in a video released on Dec. 18, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KkzgD23hwBFzoN4JBcwjHK-320-80.jpg)
Watch Artemis 2 moon crew take a slide for NASA training (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
The next moon astronauts practiced sliding out of their Orion spacecraft during a simulated emergency splashdown. Artemis 2 aims to fly the four astronauts in 2024.
![A white and blue rocket stands on its launch pad awaiting liftoff in the Texas desert](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gnsFmaEBr8DEDhKFwaNNHC-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin calls off 1st New Shepard rocket launch since 2022 failure due to 'ground system issue'
By Elizabeth Howell published
Blue Origin scrubbed its first mission since Sept. 2022 this morning (Dec. 18), with no new launch date announced. It could attempt flying again as early as this week, however.