Asteroid & Comet Missions

Latest about Asteroid & Comet Missions

two grayish orbs shrink in size as one moves from right to left above the other
Hera asteroid probe 'waves goodbye' at Earth and moon from 2.3 million miles away (image)

By Elizabeth Howell Published

The moon is getting smaller in the window.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
NASA's 15-year-old NEOWISE asteroid hunter meets fiery doom by burning up in Earth's atmosphere

By Elizabeth Howell Published

NEOWISE spent nearly 15 years in space across two missions.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
illustration of a white, cubical spacecraft orbiting Earth
Europe makes moves to rendezvous with asteroid Apophis in 2029

By Andrew Jones Published

The European Space Agency has taken the first big steps toward rendezvousing with the infamous asteroid Apophis during its close approach to Earth in 2029.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
An artist's visualization video showing the Psyche spacecraft getting closer to the asteroid.
The Psyche mission: A visit to a metal asteroid

By Adam Mann, Vicky Stein Last updated

Reference Psyche is a NASA mission that will explore a 140-mile-wide (225 kilometers) metallic asteroid called 16 Psyche. To provide an insight into planetary formation.

Reference
a large white boxy object sits in the cargo bay of a plane
Europe's Hera probe to launch Oct. 7 to inspect asteroid NASA smacked in 2022

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published

Europe's Hera mission to the asteroid Dimorphos, which NASA's DART probe hit in September 2022, has arrived at its launch site in Florida ahead of its planned Oct. 7 liftoff.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
Asteroid Phaethon is one of the bluest objects in the solar system.
Meet Phaethon, a weird asteroid that thinks it's a comet – our new research may explain what's going on

By Martin D. Suttle Published

Meet Phaethon, a "rock comet" that blurs the definitions between asteroid and comet, and learn why it will be worth paying attention to this fascinating object in the coming years.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
illustration of a spacecraft with two circular solar panels deployed. below the spacecraft is an asteroid's surface
UAE on track to launch bold 7-asteroid mission in 2028

By Leonard David Published

The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt will conduct high-speed flybys of six asteroids, then orbit and drop a lander onto a seventh space rock.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
An artist's depiction of the Janus spacecraft.
Shelved NASA spacecraft could spy on asteroid Apophis before 2029 Earth flyby

By Brett Tingley Published

NASA is considering pulling a pair of shelved spacecraft out of storage to spy on notorious asteroid Apophis ahead of its April 2029 Earth flyby.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
a giant rock flying through space
Space mining startup AstroForge aims to launch historic asteroid-landing mission in 2025

By Mike Wall Published

Asteroid-mining startup AstroForge plans to launch its third mission, which will land on a metallic space rock, in 2025.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
a round capsule rests on the ground of hazy, dim desert.
NASA’s asteroid sample mission gave scientists around the world the rare opportunity to study an artificial meteor

By Brian Elbing, Elizabeth A. Silber Published

While very small meteoroids are common, larger ones — bigger than a dishwasher — are not.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
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