Trending

Spaceflight

Latest

The Mercury astronauts go for a spin on the Multiple-Axis Space Test Inertia Facility, or MASTIF, in the third episode of the National Geographic series "The Right Stuff" now on Disney Plus.

'The Right Stuff' recap: This is not a game ('Single Combat Warrior')

By Robert Z. Pearlman

In his 1979 book, Tom Wolfe wrote about the Mercury astronauts as being the last of the single-combat warriors. The third episode of NatGeo's "The Right Stuff" borrows the phrase for its title.

This image shows an artist's depiction of a crewed mission to Mars.

You can watch the International Mars Society's 2020 convention online today for free

By Tariq Malik

The International Mars Society Convention 2020 goes virtual from Oct. 15 to Oct. 18 and here's how to watch live.

international space station expedition 62

Without gravity, the fluid around an astronaut's brain moves in weird ways

By Doris Elin Urrutia

The fluid that cushions the human brain redistributes in the skull during spaceflight, according to a new study.

Still from a LeoLabs animation modeling a close approach between two big pieces of space junk on Thursday night (Oct. 15). The chance of a collision was higher than 10%, LeoLabs calculated. Thankfully, a smashup seems not to have occurred.

Phew! 2 big hunks of space junk zoom safely past each other in near-miss

By Mike Wall

The chance of a collision was higher than 10%, according to LeoLabs.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule takes off atop a Falcon 9 rocket on Jan. 19, 2020. On Oct. 14, the FAA announced the SLR2, a new rule opening up restrictions around commercial launch and reentry procedures.

FAA cuts the red tape for commercial rocket launches (and landings, too)

By Chelsea Gohd

Commercial space is about to become more accessible than ever before.

A roughly 12-inch (30 centimeters) rock to be analyzed by Yutu 2.

China's moon mission robots wake up for a 23rd lunar day as team snags major award

By Andrew Jones

China's Chang'e 4 spacecraft have awoken for another lunar day on the far side of the moon, while on Earth the mission received a prestigious international award for its accomplishments.

Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity spaceliner captured this view of Earth during the vehicle's first trip to space, on Dec. 13, 2018.

New Horizons Pluto probe leader Alan Stern is going to space with Virgin Galactic

By Mike Wall

Alan Stern, who leads NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond, has been selected to fly aboard SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Galactic's six-passenger suborbital space plane.

The European-Japanese BepiColombo Mercury mission captured this view of the planet Venus during a flyby on Oct. 15, 2020, its first of two by the planet on the mission's way to orbit Mercury.

BepiColombo spacecraft swings past Venus on long road to Mercury

By Meghan Bartels

It's a long, looping journey from Earth through the inner solar system to reach Mercury, but scenery can make any circuitous trip more exciting.

Still from a LeoLabs animation modeling a close approach between two big pieces of space junk on Thursday night (Oct. 15). The chance of a collision is higher than 10%, LeoLabs has calculated.

2 big pieces of space junk could collide Thursday night

By Mike Wall

Two big pieces of space junk are zooming toward a close approach that will occur Thursday (Oct. 15) at 8:56 p.m. EDT (0056 GMT on Oct. 16), according to California-based tracking company LeoLabs.

The International Space Station as of October 2018.

How commercializing the International Space Station can help astronauts get to the moon and Mars

By Elizabeth Howell

Commercializing the International Space Station could allow for testing components for moon and Mars missions, and the orbiting platform could also be a pit stop on the way to the moon.

An artist's depiction of astronauts working on the moon.

NASA awards $370 million to private companies to aid moon exploration push

By Mike Wall

SpaceX, Astrobotic and a dozen other companies just got an infusion of NASA cash to develop potentially game-changing exploration technologies.

Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner photographed a Soyuz rocket launching three colleagues to space on Oct. 14, 2020.

Blastoff! Cosmonaut snaps amazing photos of Soyuz rocket launch from space

By Meghan Bartels

Three astronauts made a record-setting jaunt to the International Space Station, and another astronaut already in orbit caught stunning photos of the launch.

The Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov is seen as it approaches the International Space Station during a 3-hour flight on Oct. 14, 2020.

A Soyuz capsule just made a record-breaking 3-hour flight to the International Space Station

By Hanneke Weitering

Three new crewmembers arrived at the International Space Station today (Oct. 14) after a record-breaking speedy flight to the orbiting lab.

The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lands on May 30, 2020, after launching the Demo-2 mission toward the International Space Station. Russia plans to develop a new rocket called the Amur whose first stage will land in a similar fashion.

Russia planning to go reusable in 2026 with new Amur rocket

By Mike Wall

The Amur looks a lot like a SpaceX Falcon 9.

Michael Lopez-Alegria, seen here in 2006 during his last visit to the International Space Station, is now assigned to command Axiom Space's AX-1 commercial mission to the orbital complex.

Former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria to return to orbit on Axiom private mission

By Robert Z. Pearlman

Michael Lopez-Alegria had no plans to fly into space again. But should all go to plan, about a year from now, he will lead the first fully-private mission to the International Space Station.

Russia’s Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft launches with Kate Rubins of NASA and Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of Roscosmos for the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Oct. 14, 2020.

Soyuz crew launches on 'ultrafast' two-orbit flight to space station

By Robert Z. Pearlman

NASA's Kate Rubins and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov launched to the International Space Station just ahead of and to extend 20 years of a continuous human presence in orbit.

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins (left) and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov (center) and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov (right) of Roscosmos pose for a photo while in quarantine on Oct. 13, 2020 ahead of their Oct. 14, 2020 flight to the International Space Station.

Watch NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and two cosmonauts launch into space tonight

By Chelsea Gohd

Four years after her first flight to the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins will return to space today (Oct. 14).

NASA astronaut Danny Olivas smiles on the flight deck of space shuttle Atlantis during the STS-117 mission to the International Space Station in June 2007

Shuttle astronaut Danny Olivas talks diversity on Earth (and space) in 'Virtual Astronaut' webcast Wednesday

By Elizabeth Howell

Two-time shuttle astronaut John "Danny" Olivas will host a virtual talk about how working for diversity improves equity and opportunities for organizations.

An artist's depiction of astronauts walking on the moon as part of NASA's Artemis program.

8 nations sign US-led Artemis Accords for moon exploration and beyond

By Mike Wall

Eight nations have signed the Artemis Accords, a set of principles outlining the responsible exploration of Earth's nearest neighbor, NASA officials announced today (Oct. 13).

Blue Origin's New Shepard vehicle made its 13th flight on Oct. 13, 2020.

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket aces record 7th launch, landing in test flight

By Hanneke Weitering

Blue Origin successfully launched its New Shepard rocket for space tourism on an uncrewed test flight over West Texas on Tuesday (Oct. 13).