Latest articles by Hanneke Weitering
On Sept. 9, 1982, the first private rocket, Conestoga 1, launched into space from a Texas cattle ranch. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 8, 2004, NASA's Genesis spacecraft crash-landed in Utah after its parachutes failed to deploy. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 7, 1995, the space shuttle Endeavour launched on mission STS-69, NASA's 100th astronaut flight. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 6, 1947, a V-2 rocket launched from an U.S. Navy aircraft carrier for the first time. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 5, 1977, Voyager 1 began its epic journey through deep space with a glorious morning launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 4, 1962, NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft performed the first-ever rocket maneuver in deep space as it did a quick mid-course correction on its way to Venus. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 3, 2006, a European satellite named SMART-1 crashed into the moon! Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 2, 2016, the European Space Agency finally located Philae, its long-lost comet lander on the surface of the Comet 67P. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 1, 1979, NASA's robotic space probe Pioneer 11 became the first spacecraft to fly by Saturn. Here's why it mattered.
On August 31, 1965, NASA's Super Guppy cargo plane took its first test flight. like a flying whale. Here's why it mattered for the space agency.
On Aug. 30, 1992, astronomers spotted an object orbiting the sun beyond Pluto for the very first time. Here's why the discovery of 1992 QB-1 mattered.
On Aug. 29, 1965, two NASA astronauts returned to Earth after spending eight days in space on the record-setting Gemini 5 mission, setting the stage for longer trips to the moon.
On Aug. 28, 1993, NASA's Galileo spacecraft flew by the asteroid Ida on its way to Jupiter. Here's why it mattered.
On Aug. 27, 1962, NASA launched Mariner 2, the world's first spacecraft to successfully visit another planet: Venus.
On Aug. 26, 1978, cosmonaut and pilot Sigmund Jähn became the first German to fly in space. Here's why it mattered.
NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer, or ACE satellite, studies energetic particles traveling through space.
On Aug. 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) decided that Pluto wasn't a planet anymore.
On Aug. 23, 1961, NASA launched the Ranger 1 robotic spacecraft on a precursor mission to test new technologies for later moon missions.
On this day in space! Aug. 22, 1963: U.S. Air Force Captain Joe Walker flew an X-15 rocket plane higher than any pilot had ever flown before.
On Aug. 21, 1914, a total solar eclipse temporarily darkened skies across Europe and Asia.
On this day in space! Aug. 20, 1977: NASA launched the Voyager 2 spacecraft on a mission to explore the outer planets.
On Aug. 19, 1997, the Philippines launched its own satellite for the first time.
On this day in space! Aug. 18, 1868: Total solar eclipse leads to discovery of helium
