Leonard David

NASA is still studying the performance of the Orion capsule's heat shield during its reentry to Earth's atmosphere at the end of the Artemis 1 moon mission in late 2022.

For the chief leader of the SETI Institute, established to search for and understand life beyond Earth, there's a need to step back and cuddle up to a cup of cosmic reality.

Scientists and engineers are making progress on drilling technology that could access Mars' seemingly vast stores of near-surface water ice.

There's a growing and passionate call for preserving radio silence on the far side of the moon in order to protect the possibility of conducting valuable radio astronomy.

Despite the failure of the first U.S. commercial lunar lander to ever operate in space, Astrobotic is pressing ahead with its next moon, set for 2024.

A giant volcano has been hiding in plain sight for decades in one of Mars' most iconic regions.

A nearly 3-ton leftover tossed overboard from the International Space Station is nearing its plunge toward Earth.

The uncontrolled reentry of the European Space Agency's defunct ERS-2 satellite was a reminder that operators should plan out the safe demise of their spacecraft.

Multiple nations are targeting the moon as an off-Earth destination for long-term human presence. What can they learn from the international research endeavors underway in Antarctica?

The underlying premise of the Accords is promoting 'best practices and norms of responsible behavior' when it comes to lunar exploration. But that's a tall order given the tumult of the times.

A European Space Agency spacecraft is making an uncontrolled nosedive into Earth's atmosphere – with elements of the 2.3-ton spent satellite likely to survive the plunge into purgatory.

NASA's moon-to-Mars strategy identifies science as one of three pillars upon which the agency's quest for a sustained human presence throughout the solar system is built.

Space.com caught up with two leading scientists now engaged in extracting and analyzing samples of asteroid Bennu retrieved by NASA's OSIRIS-Rex mission.

Space.com caught up with Bill Diamond, President and CEO of the SETI Institute for an exclusive, mind-stretching close-encounter discussion regarding the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Moon-based telescopes would allow astronomers to conduct cutting-edge science. But given how busy the moon is getting, will the lunar surface be free enough from interference?

Lunar scientists have started plotting out photographic objects of interest for the four-person Artemis 2 crew to consider during their flyby of the moon.

While ambitious plans to return Red Planet samples to Earth are in development, some scientists argue that we should instead find ways to analyze Mars samples on the planet itself.

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recently bounced a laser off India's Vikram moon lander, marking a space-communications first.

Scientists are investigating the possible forms that alien languages might take — and whether we might be able to understand them.

NASA's Mars Sample Return program is the agency’s highest priority in planetary science, but projected multibillion-dollar overruns have some calling the plan a 'dumpster fire.'

Landing on the moon may soon be much easier thanks to NASA's Lunar Retroreflector Array network being carried to the lunar surface on international and commercial landers.

A new study has found that amino acids — the building blocks of proteins — remain stable in concentrated sulfuric acid, the stuff that Venus' clouds are made of.

Pittsburgh-based company Astrobotic is gearing up for the Jan. 8 launch of its Peregrine lander, which will try to become the first private spacecraft to land on the moon.

The first-ever private mission Venus is slated to launch in 2025. and aims to search for signs of life in its clouds by detecting organic chemistry.

A group has been formed to study and promote a space-based sunshade as a method to help fend off global climate change.