Space Exploration

Latest about Space Exploration

A view of the Florida coastline from space, with the dark green land outlined by a thin white strip of beach before a blue ocean. An inset to the right in a white box shows a red arrow pointing to a white space amidst a green circled off area.

ISS astronaut spots Artemis 2 moon rocket on the launch pad from space (photo)

By Elizabeth Howell published

A NASA astronaut on the ISS captured the Space Launch System rocket for Artemis 2, a mission that aims to bring four astronauts around the moon as soon as Feb. 6.

Human Spaceflight
Found individuals wearing pale blue shirts sit behind a long table with a black cloth over it and the blue NASA circle logo with blue screens behind them.

'We can handle any kind of difficult situation': Crew-11 astronauts say 1st medical evacuation from ISS had a silver lining

By Josh Dinner published

The fact that Crew-11 returned to Earth safely despite unprecedented circumstances bodes well for the success of future missions that go farther afield, astronauts said.

Human Spaceflight
a woman talks into a radio handset while her hair floats in zero gravity around her

Record-setting astronaut Suni Williams retires from NASA after 27 years

By Mike Wall published

Astronaut Suni Williams left NASA late last month after 27 years of service. She spent a total of 608 days in space, more than all but one other American astronaut.

Human Spaceflight
Blue Origin's planned TeraWave satellite-internet constellation will eventually consist of about 5,400 satellites.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin plans to build 5,400-satellite megaconstellation

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin just announced "TeraWave," a planned satellite megaconstellation designed for customers who need super-high-throughput communication services.

Satellites
A team of people examine a metal spacecraft in the middle of a sandy area with Chinese flags waving nearby

Chinese capsule damaged by space-junk strike returns to Earth (video)

By Leonard David published

The first emergency operation in the history of China's human spaceflight program ended on Jan. 19 when an uncrewed Shenzhou 20 capsule damaged by a space-junk strike came safely down to Earth.

Human Spaceflight
An illustration of two satellites with opposing solar panels on either side floating above the glowing blue atmosphere of Earth

US Space Force awards 1st-of-its-kind $52 million contract to deorbit its satellites

By Mike Wall published

"This contract reflects both the value of affordable servicing missions and the technical readiness of the Otter."

Launches & Spacecraft
The Crew-11 astronauts return to Ellington Field in Houston on Jan. 16, 2026. From left to right: NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japan’s Kimya Yui and cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.

NASA's Crew-11 astronauts to discuss medical evacuation from International Space Station today: Watch it live

By Mike Wall published

The four astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-11 mission will discuss their shorter-than-expected stay aboard the International Space Station today (Jan. 21), and you can watch it live.

Human Spaceflight
An Isar Aerospace Spectrum rocke lifts off from Andoya Spaceport in Norway on March 30, 2025 on its first flight.

Watch private German rocket attempt history-making launch from Norway today

By Mike Wall published

Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket will try to become the first vehicle ever to reach orbit from European soil today (Jan. 21), and you can watch the action live.

Launches & Spacecraft
a small rocket carrying six people in a capsule lifts off, set against the rising sun

Watch Blue Origin launch 6 people to suborbital space today

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin will launch six people to the final frontier on Thursday (Jan. 22), and you can watch the space tourism mission live.

Private Spaceflight
a man in a white spacesuit smiles as he is helped to his feet by two people dressed in black

What the first medical evacuation from the International Space Station tells us about healthcare in space

By Kirsty Lindsay, Luke Hughes, Nick Caplan published

The evacuation raises a question worth exploring: how do astronauts stay healthy in space, and why is this early evacuation so unusual?

Human Spaceflight
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