
Hanneke Weitering
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.
Latest articles by Hanneke Weitering

Europe's planet-hunting CHEOPS telescope spies its 1st alien worlds
By Hanneke Weitering published
Europe's new exoplanet-spotting space telescope has observed its first alien worlds.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft aces asteroid-sampling dress rehearsal
By Hanneke Weitering published
NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which is getting ready to scoop a sample of asteroid Bennu, has successfully completed a partial dress rehearsal for its historic trip to the asteroid's surface.

Stephen Colbert calls space station astronaut for social isolation tips
By Hanneke Weitering published
Comedian Stephen Colbert phoned the International Space Station today (April 15) to get some isolation tips from NASA astronaut Jessica Meir.

How to see the 'Super Pink Moon' online in live webcasts today
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
A "Super Pink Moon" will rise into the evening sky today (April 7), and you can watch it online with webcasts from The Virtual Telescope Project and Slooh.

Huge asteroid 1998 OR2 will zip harmlessly by Earth April 29. See the latest telescope photos.
By Hanneke Weitering published
The "potentially hazardous" asteroid 1998 OR2 is just a few weeks away from its close encounter with Earth, and you can watch the giant space rock's approach online or with a small telescope.

NASA asks its employees for new ideas to combat coronavirus
By Hanneke Weitering published
NASA is calling on its workforce to come up with creative ways that the agency can help fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Locust swarms are invading Africa. Here's how NASA satellites can help stop them.
By Hanneke Weitering published
Billions of locusts have been swarming in eastern Africa for months, ravaging crops and threatening the food source for millions of people. NASA satellites are coming to the rescue.

Saturn, Mars and Jupiter align over New York City in gorgeous night-sky photos
By Hanneke Weitering published
Three bright planets line up across the predawn sky above the New York City skyline in these gorgeous views by local photographer Alexander Krivenyshev.

See Mars and Saturn tango in the predawn sky Tuesday. Here's where to look.
By Hanneke Weitering published
The bright planets Mars and Saturn will tango in the predawn sky on Tuesday (March 31). You can catch them above the southeast horizon before sunrise.

Coronavirus pandemic's global impact seen from space in chilling satellite images
By Hanneke Weitering published
The global response to the novel coronavirus pandemic is so intense that it's visible from space.

China's Long March 2C rocket launches military surveillance satellites into orbit
By Hanneke Weitering published
China successfully launched three new military surveillance satellites into orbit on a Long March 2C rocket today (March 24).

Giant 'potentially hazardous' asteroid will fly safely by Earth in April
By Hanneke Weitering published
A large and "potentially hazardous" asteroid is poised to fly by Earth next month, but don't worry — it poses no threat to Earth.

You can see Jupiter and Mars snuggle up in the predawn sky Friday. Here's how.
By Hanneke Weitering published
Early Friday morning (March 20), Jupiter and Mars will make a close approach, and you can catch them together with Saturn and the crescent moon.

Free space projects for kids (and adults) stuck at home during the coronavirus outbreak
By Elizabeth Howell, Hanneke Weitering published
If the coronavirus pandemic has you stuck at home and yearning for some space exploration, here are some free space projects and activities to keep you occupied.

Astronauts celebrate St. Patrick's Day 2020 with photos of Ireland from space
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
To celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the International Space Station, NASA astronauts share photos of Ireland from space.

NASA could have a timeline for Boeing's next Starliner flight by the end of the month
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
NASA has still not decided whether it will require Boeing to do a second uncrewed test flight of its Starliner spacecraft, which failed to reach the International Space Station in December.

In photos: Record-breaking NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
Veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson holds the records for the most cumulative spacewalking time by a woman and is the oldest woman to go to space. Here are some of her most memorable moments.

Boeing defends Starliner space capsule ground tests after problematic debut flight
By Hanneke Weitering published

Watch Mars 'sneak' behind the crescent moon in these amazing views (video)
By Hanneke Weitering published
The Red Planet briefly disappeared behind the moon for skywatchers in North America on Tuesday (Feb. 18), providing a rare celestial treat for early risers and astrophotographers.

An Ariane 5 rocket will launch 2 satellites for Japan, Korea today. Watch it live!
By Hanneke Weitering published
An Ariane 5 rocket will launch two new satellites for Japan and South Korea from French Guiana today (Feb. 18) at 5:18 p.m. EST (2218 GMT), and you can watch it live online.

NASA's Mars 2020 rover arrives at Florida launch site for July liftoff
By Hanneke Weitering published
NASA's newest Mars rover has just left the nest.

NASA has a plan for yearly Artemis moon flights through 2030. The first one could fly in 2021.
By Hanneke Weitering published
The first flight of NASA's Space Launch System and Orion crew capsule was originally scheduled to launch this year, but the mission is now expected to slip to 2021.

Boeing's 2nd Starliner software glitch could have led to an in-space collision
By Hanneke Weitering published
Starliner's crew module could have "bumped" into its service module after separation if Boeing hadn't caught the error.

Three astronauts will return to Earth Thursday. You can watch their landing live.
By Hanneke Weitering published
Three Expedition 61 crewmembers will leave the International Space Station and return to Earth Thursday (Feb. 6), and you can watch their journey home live online.

Cygnus cargo ship leaves International Space Station, begins new mission in orbit
By Hanneke Weitering published
Northrop Grumman's Cygnus NG-12 cargo spacecraft departed the International Space Station today (Jan. 31) and will spend the next month completing a secondary mission before meeting its fiery demise.
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