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
Sirius: The brightest star in Earth's night sky
By Elizabeth Howell, Ailsa Harvey last updated
Reference Sirius has been the shiniest star in the sky for a long, long time.
In-space manufacturing company Varda plans to land its reentry capsules in Australia: report
By Elizabeth Howell published
Varda Space Industries plans to land future missions in Australia as soon as 2024, a report indicates. Varda's first mission with SpaceX is still awaiting approval for its planned landing in Utah.
Artemis 2 moon astronauts meet car racing teams at Formula 1
By Elizabeth Howell published
Artemis 2 moon astronauts took in a big car racing event in Texas on Oct. 22. NASA's Reid Wiseman and Canada's Jeremy Hansen appeared on the grid at the F1 Grand Prix.
'Sew Sister' Jean Wright shares her NASA space shuttle experience with new book
By Elizabeth Howell published
Jean Wright used to sew critical hardware for NASA's space shuttle program. A new book by Elise Matich celebrates the "Sew Sister" team that brought astronauts into space.
NASA's Artemis moon astronauts may wear electric field spacesuits to fight pesky lunar dust
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA wants to put astronauts on the moon again in the 2020s, and lunar dust is expected to pose a major issue. An electric field spacesuit project received a big grant to find a solution.
NASA tests new kind of Artemis moon-rocket engine in dramatic 'hot fire' test (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
The 550-second test was only the first of 12.
How fast is Earth moving?
By Elizabeth Howell, Doris Elin Urrutia last updated
Earth moves around the sun and across the universe on its axis and at an incredible rate.
Canada to launch new satellites to monitor climate change, gather military data
By Elizabeth Howell published
The Canadian government promises it will get new satellites into space soon to extend its famous Radarsat series for Canada's Earth observation needs, climate change and Arctic military surveillance.
'Astronaut archaeology' could improve space station design. Here's how
By Elizabeth Howell published
'You can think of it as an off-planetary equivalent of excavating a pit.'
Welding issues arise during Artemis 3 moon rocket's assembly, but mission still on track: report
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA says the Artemis 2 rocket's engines have been mounted and other work is ongoing.
NASA delays spacewalk a 2nd time due to leak on International Space Station
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA wants to do extra checks after an International Space Station leak on the Russian side, postponing the first of two scheduled spacewalks for a second time as the coolant investigation continues.
NASA's Hubble, Chandra space telescopes face possible budget cuts: report
By Elizabeth Howell published
Two of NASA's flagship space telescopes, Hubble and Chandra, may have less money to spend if budget predictions come through. NASA may reallocate funds to newer missions.
Axiom Space's 3rd private astronaut crew ready for ISS mission in 2024
By Elizabeth Howell published
The Ax-3 mission is on track with its training, and the four commercial astronauts are excited for launch in early 2024, they told reporters during a briefing Oct. 16.
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio considers himself 'incredibly lucky' after accidental 1-year ISS stay
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is safely back on Earth after an eventful year in space. He talked about the spacecraft leak that kept him stuck there and what he learned from his stay.
Rare all-woman spacewalk this month won't be the last, NASA says
By Elizabeth Howell published
Two NASA astronauts will conduct an all-woman spacewalk on Oct. 30. While only one other crew has done so before, more such spacewalks will come, NASA says.
Why 'ring of fire' solar eclipse on Oct. 14 has scientists excited (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
A 'ring of fire' or annular solar eclipse will sweep across the United States on Oct. 14, bringing incredible views and a lot of science at the same time.
Boeing's 1st Starliner flight with astronauts delayed to April 2024
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA announced that Boeing's commercial crew vehicle, Starliner, will not carry astronauts in a test flight until at least April 2024. Its first operational flight is also delayed into 2025.
A leak on the ISS canceled his spacewalk. But an astronaut says that was the right call
By Elizabeth Howell published
European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen was supposed to step into space Oct. 12. Now facing a delayed spacewalk, he said that was the right call.
Orionid meteor shower 2024: When, where & how to see it
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Reference The Orionid meteor shower peaks between Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 and is visible until early November. We explore the annual shower in more detail here.
Explore a mysterious, crinkly Mars valley in this flyover video
By Elizabeth Howell published
New spacecraft footage from Mars Express shows off a rugged valley on the Red Planet, shaped by volcanic activity from the famous Tharsis region.
NASA calls off spacewalk due to leak on International Space Station
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA has delayed a planned Oct. 12 spacewalk due to a leak of coolant from a Russian module discovered earlier this week. The cause of the leak remains under investigation.
NASA's Astrobee robot 'Honey' flies home to its International Space Station hive
By Elizabeth Howell published
A robotic free-flying robot from NASA is back in space after a year-long pit stop for repairs and maintenance. The Astrobee trio tests science and self-servicing by robots in space.
International Space Station leaks coolant into space, but astronauts are not in danger
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA and Russian officials are investigating a new leak aboard the International Space Station. The Russian Nauka science module sprung a leak in a 13-year-old backup radiator.