Spaceflight - News About Space Travel and Exploration

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter captured this image of tracks made by the Perseverance rover during its ninth flight, on July 5 2021.

New photos from the Mars helicopter Ingenuity's 9th flight help refine Perseverance rover science goals

By Tereza Pultarova

A new batch of images from the recent Ingenuity flight is helping NASA scientists to refine science goals for the Perseverance rover as it searches for signs of life on the Red Planet.

China wants to launch asteroid-deflecting rockets to save Earth from Armageddon

By Ben Turner

Although the asteroid, Bennu, only has a 1-in-2700 chance of hitting Earth, scientists are taking the risk seriously.

The four Inspiration4 crewmembers experience weightlessness during zero-g flight on a Zero Gravity Corp. plane. They'll launch to space on Sept. 15.

The private Inspiration4 crew launching with SpaceX experience zero gravity for 1st time

By Samantha Mathewson

The first all-civilian orbital flight crew, Inspiration4, flew in zero gravity for the first time this weekend as part of preparations to launch in September.

NASA's Perseverance rover acquired this image of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter on the floor of Jezero Crater.

NASA is mapping out plans for bigger, more capable Mars helicopters

By Leonard David

Given the highly successful and ongoing flights of NASA's Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, engineers are turning their attention to future aerial craft for the Red Planet.

Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity vehicle powers its way to suborbital space on July 11, 2021.

Elon Musk will fly to space with Virgin Galactic: reports

By Mike Wall

Richard Branson apparently won't be the only space billionaire to fly with Virgin Galactic.

Always bring mementos: Richard Branson reveals Unity 22 keepsakes

By Robert Z. Pearlman

Richard Branson carried snapshots of his parents and kids with him to suborbital space Sunday (July 11) on the "Unity 22" test flight of Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity vehicle.

Join our Space.com Forums giveaway to win a space shuttle Endeavour model!

By Mohamed Mohammed

You can win a scale model of NASA's space shuttle Endeavour or a sweet space t-shirt in Space.com Forum giveaway this month.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson soars like Superman while in weightlessness during his Unity 22 launch on the SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity on July 11, 2021.

Amazing Virgin Galactic video shows Richard Branson's Unity 22 crew soaring into space

By Elizabeth Howell

New camera views from the cockpit and carrier launch plane follow Richard Branson on his debut flight on a Virgin Galactic spaceship.

Russia's new Nauka module undergoes testing at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Russia's new Nauka module readied for launch to International Space Station

By Leonard David

Russia's Nauka laboratory module is now slated to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 21.

An artist's impression of China's Tiangong space station.

China could gain a monopoly on space stations. Here's what to expect.

By Steffi Paladini

After NASA decommissions the ISS, China's Tiangong will probably be the only functioning space station — until NASA launches its Lunar Gateway.

Jeff Bezos at the Blue Origin launch pad with a New Shepard rocket in the background.

With Virgin Galactic's launch of Richard Branson in the books, all eyes are on Blue Origin and Jeff Bezos

By Mike Wall

Richard Bransons' flight Sunday (July 11) was just the first of two planned billionaire spaceflights this month. Blue Origin boss Jeff Bezos is scheduled to fly on July 20.

SpaceX's newest drone ship, A Shortfall of Gravitas, is headed to Florida to catch Falcon 9 rocket boosters at sea.

Elon Musk unveils SpaceX's newest drone ship for rocket landings at sea

By Elizabeth Howell

The drone fleet used by SpaceX to catch falling rockets now has a third autonomous ship, whimsically called "A Shortfall of Gravitas."

Lego's NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander toy set was developed with input from the space agency to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Best Lego space sets and deals for 2021

By Space.com Staff

We've scoured Amazon and Lego for sets that are space or science-themed, as well as many science-fiction-themed sets.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity launches billionaire Richard Branson and a crew of five others to suborbital space and back in a flight from Spaceport America, New Mexico on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity 22 launch with Richard Branson. See video and photos of the flight.

By Tariq Malik

Here's everything you need to know about Virgin Galactic's launch of Richard Branson and his crew on SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity Sunday, July 11.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson (foreground) and his crew float in weightlessness aboard the VSS Unity spacecraft during their suborbital Unity 22 spaceflight on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic teams with Omaze to raffle off 2 tickets to space to the public

By Elizabeth Howell

Virgin Galactic will partner with a charity fundraising platform to offer the out-of-this-world opportunity.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson (right) and the crew of Unity 22 celebrate their successful suborbital launch over Spaceport America, New Mexico after landing on July 11, 2021. Branson's crewmates are: (from left) Colin Bennett, Beth Moses and Sirisha Bandla, all Virgin Galactic employees.

'Welcome to the dawn of a new space age,' Richard Branson says after Virgin Galactic flight

By Chelsea Gohd

Virgin Galactic's newly minted astronauts are beyond thrilled following their journey to space on the company's first fully crewed spaceflight.

A view of the Earth and the feathered tail of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity during the Unity 22 flight on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic launches Richard Branson to space in 1st fully crewed flight of VSS Unity

By Chelsea Gohd

Early this morning (July 11), billionaire Richard Branson and three other passengers briefly went to space for the first fully crewed spaceflight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo spaceplane.

This screenshot from a Virgin Galactic video shows the company's VSS Unity vehicle firing up its rocket motor during its third test flight to suborbital space, on May 22, 2021.

Virgin Galactic will launch billionaire Richard Branson into space today. Here's how to watch it live.

By Elizabeth Howell

Virgin Galactic will broadcast the flight of its founder, Richard Branson, as he soars into space on Sunday (July 11).

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson rides a bike to Spaceport America ahead of his launch on the Unity 22 mission on July 11, 2021.

Billionaire Richard Branson rode a bike to Virgin Galactic's Unity 22 launch site ahead of his big spaceflight

By Elizabeth Howell

Virgin Galactic's billionaire founder Richard Branson decided to bike to the launch pad at Spaceport America ahead of his long-awaited trip to space.

SpaceShipTwo Unity completes a runway landing at Spaceport America, New Mexico.

This NASA-supported plant experiment will launch to space on Virgin Galactic's Unity 22 flight

By Elizabeth Howell

Three tubes of plants will be among the experiments flying to space on Virgin Galactic's Unity space plane with the company's founder Richard Branson and his crew today (July 11).