Space Exploration

Latest about Space Exploration

top-down view of a small tank with four silver-white fish in it

China aims to breed zebrafish aboard Tiangong space station (video)

By Andrew Jones published

Zebrafish aboard China's Tiangong space station are doing well in orbit, according to an update on the experiments.

Human Spaceflight
A Soviet technician works on Sputnik 1 before its launch in 1957.

On this day in space! Oct. 4, 1957: Sputnik 1 becomes 1st human-made satellite

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the satellite that started the Space Race.

Space Shuttle
a cube-shaped spacecraft with two solar panels above a white moon streaked with red lines

How to watch SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket launch NASA's Europa Clipper probe on Oct. 10

By Mike Wall published

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch NASA's highly anticipated Europa Clipper astrobiology mission on Oct. 10, and you can watch the action live.

Launches & Spacecraft
Earth is seen in the background. In the foreground, starlink satellites look stacked prior to deployment.

Dangerous satellite air pollution exists in a legal loophole

By Tereza Pultarova published

Air pollution from re-entering satellites is a potential environmental disaster that evades Earth-based laws, experts say.

Satellites
a rocket launch into a early morning sky colored pink and purple.

ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket launches on 2nd test flight (video)

By Mike Wall published

United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan Centaur rocket just launched on its second-ever mission, a key test flight that keeps it on track for certification by the U.S. Space Force.

Launches & Spacecraft
two-panel image. In the left panel, dozens of small galaxies are scattered on the black background of space. Just to the left of the center, there is a long, red arc. At its left is a cluster of a few white galaxies that look like a glowing orb. To the right of the center, the red arc and glowing orb of galaxies at the left appear to be mirrored. The curved and distorted galaxy image on the right side is highlighted with a white box. Lines extend from the box’s corners to the right panel, which shows an enlarged view of the curved galaxy. Three faint points of light are circled.

James Webb Space Telescope finds supernova 'Hope' that could finally resolve major astronomy debate

By Robert Lea published

The James Webb Space Telescope has observed a distant cosmic explosion that erupted in the early universe called "supernova Hope" that could help resolve lingering "Hubble trouble."

James Webb Space Telescope
aerial view of a red and white rocket on the launch pad, with greenery and the ocean in the background

How to watch ULA's 2nd-ever Vulcan Centaur rocket launch on Oct. 4

By Samantha Mathewson published

United Launch Alliance is set to launch the second test flight of its Vulcan Centaur rocket on Friday morning (Oct. 4), and you can watch the action live online.

Launches & Spacecraft
A torn up wheel close up image.

Curiosity Mars rover's wheels are more battered than ever — but they still work

By Stefanie Waldek published

The latest photo of Curiosity's wheels shows new — but not debilitating — damage.

Mars Rovers
Seven Earth-like planets orbit the Trappist-1 star.

Mass extinctions on Earth can help us find alien life in the cosmos. Here's how

By Conor Feehly last updated

The history of life on Earth offers clues to aid the search for complex life elsewhere in the cosmos.

Search for Life
two images, one (at left) showing three pages of typed text and the other (at right) showing a smiling older man in a dark blazer

First moonwalker Neil Armstrong's speech notes posted online by Purdue

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Neil Armstrong is perhaps best known for saying 12 words on July 20, 1969: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." But there's more to his record, as his alma mater can attest.

Apollo
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