Karl Tate

Karl Tate

Space.com contributor

Karl's association with Space.com goes back to 2000, when he was hired to produce interactive Flash graphics. From 2010 to 2016, Karl worked as an infographics specialist across all editorial properties of Purch (formerly known as TechMediaNetwork).  Before joining Space.com, Karl spent 11 years at the New York headquarters of The Associated Press, creating news graphics for use around the world in newspapers and on the web.  He has a degree in graphic design from Louisiana State University and now works as a freelance graphic designer in New York City.

Articles by: Karl Tate

Are there alternative theories that could explain the origin of the universe?

Alternatives to the Big Bang Theory (infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Infographic Most astronomers believe the universe began 13.8 billion years ago in a sudden explosion called the Big Bang. Other theorists have invented alternatives and extensions to this idea.

The nearest stars, their distances in light-years, spectral types and known planets.

The Nearest Stars to Earth (Infographic)

By Karl Tate last updated

Get to know our nearest stars, their distances in light-years, spectral types and their known planets.

John Glenn's Mercury mission was the first American space flight around the world.

1st American in Orbit: How John Glenn (And NASA) Made History (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

See how John Glenn's Mercury mission put the first American in orbit in 1962 in this SPACE.com infographic.

Beagle 2, an ESA Mars probe lost after landing.

Beagle 2 Mars Lander: How It Was Lost and Found on Red Planet (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Paul Allen's Stratolaunch Systems plans to build a giant carrier vehicle in order to air-launch rockets to Earth orbit.

Stratolaunch: Biggest Aircraft in History to Launch Spaceships (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Paul Allen's Stratolaunch Systems plans to build a giant carrier vehicle in order to air-launch rockets to Earth orbit.

Postage-stamp-sized space probes could make a flyby of planets around Alpha Centauri within 20 years after launch.

How Breakthrough Starshot's Interstellar Probes Would Work (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Postage-stamp-sized space probes could make a flyby of planets around Alpha Centauri within 20 years after launch.

Facts about Hitomi, the JAXA satellite that fell silent shortly after orbiting Earth in early 2016.

Hitomi: Japan's X-Ray Astronomy Satellite Explained (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Learn all about the X-ray astronomy satellite Hitomi, a satellite built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency that launched in February 2016 and fell silent just over a month later.

Infographic: Bigelow Aerospace's BEAM expandable module will enhance the living area of the International Space Station.

Inflatable Space Stations of Bigelow Aerospace (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Bigelow Aerospace's BEAM expandable module will enhance the living area of the International Space Station.

As the Earth and moon orbit the sun together, the moon goes through several ‘phases.’ SPACE.com explains the 8 major named phases of the moon.

Earth's Moon Phases, Monthly Lunar Cycles (Infographic)

By Karl Tate last updated

Moon Astronomy Lesson: See the moon phases, and the difference between a waxing and waning crescent or gibbous moon, in this Space.com infographic about the lunar cycle each month.

Orion's Twin Main Rocket Engines

Fantastic Flight: The Orion III Spaceplane from "2001: A Space Odyssey"

By Karl Tate published

Check out this fantastic photo essay about the history of the Orion III space plane, from the sci-fi movie epic "2001: A Space Odyssey," including images of an incredibly accurate, fan-made model.

Details of the ExoMars orbiter, lander and rover.

How Europe's ExoMars Missions to Mars Work (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

The European Space Agency's ExoMars project involves an orbiter, lander and rover, launched on two separate Proton rockets.

Details of the Skylon space plane.

How the British Skylon Space Plane Works (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

The British company Reaction Engines Ltd. hopes to manufacture Skylon, a runway-to-orbit space plane using hybrid air-breathing rocket engines.

Details of XCOR's Lynx space plane.

How XCOR's Lynx Space Plane Works (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

XCOR aims to take paying passengers on a suborbital weightless hop to the edge of space.

Facts about the proposed DARE spacecraft.

How the DARE Dark Ages Radio Explorer Spacecraft Would Work (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

DARE is a proposed lunar satellite that would study the early era of the universe when the stars first starting turning on.

Breakdown of planets by mass range.

'Planet Nine'-Type Worlds Are the Most Common Ones We Know (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Mini-Neptunes outnumber other types of planets found by astronomers.

Chart details the causes of the destruction of Challenger on Jan. 28, 1986.

The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster: What Happened? (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Chart details the causes of the destruction of Challenger on Jan. 28, 1986.

Known facts about the suspected planet.

'Planet Nine': Facts About the Mysterious Solar System World (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Researchers say an anomaly in the orbits of distant Kuiper Belt objects points to the existence of an unknown planet orbiting the sun.

Chart of types of nova and supernova explosions.

Know Your Novas: Star Explosions Explained (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

How is a supernova different from a hypernova? Learn about the different types of exploding stars that astronomers have identified.

Spaceships in "The Martian" compared with real NASA vehicles

Spaceships of 'The Martian' Explained (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Ridley Scott's new space film showcases a lot of space hardware derived from actual NASA plans for interplanetary travel.

Chart of events to watch in the sky in 2016.

Skywatching In 2016: The Year's Must-See Events (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Here is a chart of some of the must-see spectacles that the night sky has to offer in 2016.

Diagrams of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory

Manned Orbiting Laboratory: Secrets of a US Military Space Station (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Planned in the 1960s but never realized, the Gemini-based manned spy satellite was finally declassified in 2015.

Facts about planet GJ1132b

Exoplanet GJ 1132b: Earth-size World Is Near-Twin of Venus (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

A planet close to its parent star is hot like Venus, but rotates quickly and could have a substantial atmosphere.

Chart of the math problems of food supply in "The Martian."

Do the Math: How to Survive in 'The Martian' (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Spoiler Alert! Here's the complicated math problems Mark Watney has to solve in order to survive in "The Martian."

Details Cassini space probe and its discoveries.

Inside Cassini's Multi-Year Saturn Mission (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Since 2004, the Cassini space probe has orbited Saturn, collecting photos and data that have revolutionized our understanding of the planet and its moons.

Chart of star types.

How to Tell Star Types Apart (Infographic)

By Karl Tate published

Astronomers group stars into classes according to spectral color and brightness.

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