Josh Dinner is Space.com's Spaceflight Staff Writer. He is a writer and photographer with a passion for science and space exploration, and has been working the space beat since 2016. Josh has covered the evolution of NASA's commercial spaceflight partnerships and crewed missions from the Space Coast, NASA science missions and more. He also enjoys building 1:144-scale model rockets and spacecraft. Find some of Josh's launch photography on Instagram, and follow him on X, where he mostly posts in haiku.
Latest articles by Josh Dinner

Cards Against Humanity wants to erect a monument to 'honor' Elon Musk
By Josh Dinner Published
"We can build something on our land. Something that will annoy Elon Musk. A grand monument to make him wonder, for a brief moment, 'Wait, am I a sad little b---- with no friends?'"

US Space Force gives Rocket Lab $397 million to build threat-tracking 'Flatellites'
By Josh Dinner Published
The U.S. Space Force has awarded Rocket Lab $397 million to manufacture a new fleet of "Flatellites" designed to detect and track airborne threats from space.

On this day in space! Aug. 14, 1992: Meteorite shower hits Uganda
By Hanneke Weitering Published
On Aug. 14, 1992, a space rock entered the atmosphere over Mbale, Uganda and exploded into hundreds of pieces!

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke retires after 30 years at the space agency
By Josh Dinner Published
With four launches and nine spacewalks under his belt, Fincke leaves NASA as the fourth-most-flown astronaut at the space agency.

NASA's canceled lunar space station tech will help build the Artemis moon base
By Josh Dinner Published
Northrop Grumman plans to take technology built into the HALO module for NASA's canceled lunar space station and repurpose it to help develop the Artemis moon base.

On this day in space! Aug. 12, 2005: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launched
By Hanneke Weitering Published
On Aug. 12, 2005, NASA launched its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) mission.

SpaceX wraps Starlink double header day with the launch of 24 Starlink satellites from California
By Josh Dinner Published
SpaceX launched 24 more of its Starlink global internet satellite constellation to orbit from California on Aug. 11, wrapping the second Starlink launch of the day.

Chinese rocket explodes less than 90 seconds after liftoff (photos)
By Josh Dinner Last updated
China's latest rocket launch ended in failure this morning (Aug. 10), lighting up the skies with some unwanted fireworks.

SpaceX Starship Flight 13 launch updates: SpaceX 'over the moon' after Starship launch
By Josh Dinner Last updated
Relive SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 test flight, including its launch, stunning views from space and surprising ending here.

Vulcan Centaur swapped out again: NASA goes with SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for launch of space weather mission
By Josh Dinner Published
NASA's SunRISE mission has been assigned a new launch vehicle: It will now be delivered to orbit by a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket rather than a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur.

Should Artemis IV astronauts actually land near the moon's south pole? Artemis II pilot says the lunar equator might be better
By Josh Dinner Published
NASA has long eyed the moon's south pole for its first crewed Artemis landing. But Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover says the agency should target an easier and safer place to touch down.

Space Force orders 36 more Golden Dome missile-tracking satellites, for $1.75 billion
By Josh Dinner Published
The Space Development Agency announced partnerships with two companies worth up to $1.75 billion total, to develop 36 satellites for the Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile-defense initiative.

Artemis III astronauts will beam 4k video from Orion to Earth using SpaceX Starlink lasers
By Josh Dinner Published
Expect some of the sharpest live views of Orion in space that we've ever seen.

Four astronauts, 3 spacecraft, 2 weeks in orbit: Artemis III will be NASA's most complicated mission ever
By Josh Dinner Published
NASA's Artemis III mission is shaping up to be NASA's most complex mission in history, coordinating the launch and rendezvous of three different spacecraft.

Another reusable rocket? Japan launches, lands RV-X prototype (video)
By Josh Dinner Published
Japan has succeeded in the first-ever flight test of its RV-X experimental reusable rocket prototype.

SpaceX stacks massive Starship rocket ahead of July 23's Flight 13 test launch (video)
By Josh Dinner Published
SpaceX has stacked the two stages of its giant Starship rocket ahead of the Flight 13 test launch, which is scheduled to occur on Thursday evening (July 23).

'Full steam ahead': NASA ramps up prep for Artemis III astronaut launch in 2027
By Josh Dinner Published
NASA is working hard on readying Artemis III to launch next year.

Watch Archimedes burn! Rocket Lab fires up engine for its powerful next-gen Neutron launcher (video)
By Josh Dinner Published
Rocket Lab recently performed a full-duration static fire test with the engine that will power the second stage of its powerful new Neutron launch vehicle.

NASA begins stacking rocket ahead of 2027 Artemis III astronaut launch (photos)
By Josh Dinner Published
NASA has begun assembling segments of the SLS solid rocket boosters that will help launch astronauts on Artemis III as early as next year.

SpaceX targets July 16 for Starship Flight 13, reveals what went wrong on previous launch
By Josh Dinner Published
Expect to see some big steps forward if this launch is successful.

Launching from 2 continents: Germany's Isar Aerospace leases Canadian pad for $150 million
By Josh Dinner Published
German company Isar Aerospace is expanding its operations overseas after signing an agreement with Canada's Maritime Launch Services for use of its Spaceport Nova Scotia.

SpaceX ignites all 33 powerful engines on Starship booster ahead of Flight 13 launch (video)
By Josh Dinner Published
SpaceX completed an engine test of the next Super Heavy booster slated to launch Starship's next mission, which could lift off as soon as next week.

Japanese company books 1,100 pounds of cargo space on SpaceX Starship mission to the moon
By Josh Dinner Published
The Japanese company ispace is expanding its already extensive moon plans to include SpaceX's Starship megarocket.
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