Hanneke Weitering

Hanneke Weitering

Contributing expert

Hanneke Weitering is a multimedia journalist in the Pacific Northwest reporting on the future of aviation at FutureFlight.aero and Aviation International News and was previously the Editor for Spaceflight and Astronomy news here at Space.com. As an editor with over 10 years of experience in science journalism she has previously written for Scholastic Classroom Magazines, MedPage Today and The Joint Institute for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After studying physics at the University of Tennessee in her hometown of Knoxville, she earned her graduate degree in Science, Health and Environmental Reporting (SHERP) from New York University. Hanneke joined the Space.com team in 2016 as a staff writer and producer, covering topics including spaceflight and astronomy. She currently lives in Seattle, home of the Space Needle, with her cat and two snakes. In her spare time, Hanneke enjoys exploring the Rocky Mountains, basking in nature and looking for dark skies to gaze at the cosmos. 

Articles by: Hanneke Weitering

This pressure vessel, which came from the second stage of a Falcon 9 rocket, fell onto a farm in central Washington, local authorities reported April 2, 2021.

Debris from SpaceX rocket launch falls on farm in central Washington

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

A piece of debris from a SpaceX launch has turned up on someone's farm in central Washington, local authorities reported Friday (April 2).

A Chinese Long March 7A rocket lifts off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on March 11, 2021.

China's Long March 7A rocket launches on 1st successful flight

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

China's new Long March 7A rocket successfully launched its first orbital mission after its first attempt one year ago ended with a failure.

Image for NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars is carrying an adorable 'family portrait' of Martian rovers

NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars is carrying an adorable 'family portrait' of Martian rovers

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

NASA's Perseverance rover has brought the "family portrait" bumper sticker fad to a whole new world.

An illustration of NASA's Perseverance rover landing on the Red Planet.

What time will NASA's Perseverance rover land on Mars today?

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover is scheduled to touch down on the Red Planet today (Feb. 18) at 3:55 p.m. EST (2055 GMT) — or at least that's when NASA will find out if it landed.

NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins works to ready the International Space station's port-side truss structure for future solar array upgrades during a spacewalk on Jan. 27, 2021.

Spacewalking astronauts will install new cameras and wrap up space station power upgrades today. Watch it live!

By Hanneke Weitering published

On Monday (Feb. 1) two NASA astronauts will set out for their second spacewalk together to tackle battery and camera upgrades at the International Space Station.

Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong seen inside the Mobile Quarantine Facility during the 2.5-day trip back to port on the USS Hornet, which picked them up when they splashed down.

'Apollo 11: Quarantine' short documentary lands in IMAX theaters

By Hanneke Weitering published

"Apollo 11: Quarantine," which opens in select IMAX theaters Jan. 29, tells the story of what the Apollo 11 astronauts went through in their first 21 days back on Earth.

Technicians observe as Boeing's Starliner crew module is placed on top of the service module in the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Jan. 14, 2021. The Starliner spacecraft is being prepared for Boeing's second Orbital Flight Test (OFT-2).

Boeing targets a March 25 launch for next Starliner test flight for NASA

By Hanneke Weitering published

Boeing is planning to launch its Starliner astronaut taxi on a second test flight on March 25, company officials announced Monday (Jan. 25).

Bernie Sanders sits on Saturn's rings in this image from NASA's Cassini mission, which citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill edited to include Bernie Sanders.

Bernie Sanders in space! These inauguration mitten memes are out of this world

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

After casually stopping by President Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday (Jan. 20), Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont set out on a tour of the universe — sort of.

The Vespera smart telescope from the French startup Vaonis.

Vespera, a smart telescope to make astrophotography easier, nabs CES 2021 Innovation Award

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

Vaonis, a French startup that raised eyebrows in 2018 with its sci-fi robot-looking Stellina smart telescope, has revealed its latest newbie-friendly astrophotography invention.

SpaceX's Dragon CRS-21 cargo resupply ship is pictured docked to the International Space Station's Harmony module. At right, a portion of the JAXA Kibo laboratory module is pictured.

SpaceX's upgraded Cargo Dragon supply ship makes 1st Atlantic splashdown

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

A SpaceX Dragon cargo resupply spacecraft returned to Earth from the International Space Station Wednesday (Jan. 13), splashing down off the coast of Florida for the first time ever.

During the Quadrantid meteor shower a meteor streaks across the star-studded sky with mountains below.

Quadrantid meteor shower: When, where & how to see it in 2024

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on January 3-4 and is active between Dec. 28 and Jan. 12. Our guide tells you how and where you can see the Quadrantid display.

The U.S. Space Command reports that Russia tested a space-based anti-satellite weapon in orbit on Dec. 16, 2020. This image shows the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, the site of another Russian anti-satellite missile test in April 2020.

Russia has launched an anti-satellite missile test, US Space Command says

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

Russia has launched a new anti-satellite missile test, its latest push to weaponize space, U.S. Space Command officials said Wednesday (Dec. 16).

U.S. Air Force test pilot Charles E. Yeager (shown standing with the Bell X-1 supersonic rocket plane) became the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound in level flight on Oct. 14, 1947.

Chuck Yeager, 1st pilot to break the sound barrier, is dead at 97

By Hanneke Weitering published

Chuck Yeager, the U.S. Air Force Pilot who became the first person to break the sound barrier, passed away today (Dec. 7) at the age of 97.

SpaceX's Dragon CRS-21 cargo spacecraft docks with the International Space Station, on Dec. 7, 2020.

SpaceX's 1st upgraded Dragon cargo ship docks itself at space station with science, goodies and new airlock

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

A SpaceX Dragon cargo ship arrived at the International Space Station today (Dec. 7) to deliver vital supplies for NASA and try something brand-new: park itself without the help of astronauts.

Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev lays cable for the installation of the Icarus animal-tracking experiment on the Zvezda service module during a spacewalk on Aug. 15, 2018.

Two cosmonauts are taking a spacewalk outside the space station today. Here's how to watch.

By Hanneke Weitering published

Two Russian cosmonauts are taking a spacewalk outside the International Space Station Wednesday (Nov. 18), and you can watch their six-hour excursion live online.

The Crew Dragon Resilience approaches the International Space Station.

SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule docks at space station with its 1st crew of 4

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule has successfully delivered a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew-1 spacecraft stands atop Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida ahead of a Nov. 14, 2020 astronaut launch to the International Space Station for NASA.

NASA urges COVID caution for spectators of SpaceX Crew-1 astronaut launch

By Hanneke Weitering published

SpaceX and NASA are gearing up for another historic astronaut launch from Florida this weekend, and officials are again asking spectators to take safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket are pictured in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, ahead of the planned launch of the Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station.

NASA certifies SpaceX's Crew Dragon for astronaut flights, gives 'go' for Nov. 14 launch

By Hanneke Weitering published

SpaceX's next astronaut flight for NASA is "go" for launch this weekend. The company has been certified for regular flights to and from the International Space Station.

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C49) lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on Nov. 7, 2020, carrying the EOS-1 Earth observation satellite and nine secondary payloads.

India's space agency breaks dry spell with its 1st rocket launch of 2020

By Hanneke Weitering published

After nearly 11 months without a rocket launch, ISRO is back in action. The space agency successfully launched 10 satellites to orbit Saturday (Nov. 7), including a new Earth observation satellite.

NASA captured this view of Hurricane Zeta with one of the International Space Station's external cameras, on Oct. 28, 2020.

Hurricane Zeta spotted from the International Space Station (video)

By Hanneke Weitering published

As Hurricane Zeta churned toward the northern Gulf Coast today (Oct. 28), the International Space Station captured some incredible views of the massive storm from orbit.

The cover art for Foxanne's single, "Opportunity," released Oct. 9, 2020. On the right is an artist's impression of NASA's Opportunity rover on Mars.

In 'Opportunity' music video, Foxanne imagines a dying Mars rover's cry for help

By Hanneke Weitering published

If NASA's long-silent Opportunity Mars rover could phone home one last time to sing a sweet, sentimental song to its Earthly overlords from its dusty grave, it might go a little something like this.

NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi will fly on the Crew-1 mission, currently scheduled to launch on Nov. 14, 2020.

SpaceX now targeting Nov. 14 for next astronaut launch

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

SpaceX will launch four astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA on Nov. 14, the agency announced Monday (Oct. 26).

SpaceX's Starship could launch on its first uncrewed flight to Mars in 2024.

Elon Musk says SpaceX's 1st Starship trip to Mars could fly in 4 years

By Hanneke Weitering published

SpaceX is on track to launch its first Mars mission in as little as four years from now, SpaceX's founder and CEO Elon Musk said Friday (Oct. 16) at the International Mars Society Convention.

The Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov is seen as it approaches the International Space Station during a 3-hour flight on Oct. 14, 2020.

A Soyuz capsule just made a record-breaking 3-hour flight to the International Space Station

By Hanneke Weitering published

Three new crewmembers arrived at the International Space Station today (Oct. 14) after a record-breaking speedy flight to the orbiting lab.

Blue Origin's New Shepard vehicle made its 13th flight on Oct. 13, 2020.

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket aces record 7th launch, landing in test flight

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

Blue Origin successfully launched its New Shepard rocket for space tourism on an uncrewed test flight over West Texas on Tuesday (Oct. 13).

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