Space Technology - Space Exploration Technologies

Relativity Space's first Terran 1 rocket on the pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Watch Relativity Space launch world's 1st 3D-printed rocket tonight (March 22)

By Mike Wall last updated 23 March 23

Relativity Space aims to launch its pioneering Terran 1 rocket tonight (March 22) at 10 p.m. EDT (0200 GMT on March 23). Watch it live here.

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter captured this image of its own shadow on March 21, 2023, during its 48th flight on the Red Planet.

Mars helicopter Ingenuity aces 48th flight on the Red Planet

By Robert Lea published 22 March 23

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter took to the Martian skies again on Tuesday (March 21), making its 48th flight above the floor of Jezero Crater.

The Port in-space manufacturing facility envisioned by Arkisys for the U.S. Space Force.

US Space Force wants to test how to build satellites in orbit with $1.6 million Arkisys deal

By Jeff Spry published 22 March 23

Arkisys Inc. and its partners awarded $1.6 million contract by the U.S. Space Force for scalable spaceport.

Meade telescopes and binocular deals: discounts & what's in stock

By Gemma Lavender last updated 22 March 23

Deals We're keeping our eyes peeled for Meade telescopes and binoculars deals.

Deals

Best space-themed 3D prints: Recreate iconic spacecraft and objects

By Chris McMullen published 22 March 23

Recreate famous space objects and NASA spacecraft using your 3D printer and these free print files.

Artist's illustration of a moon base powered by Rolls-Royce microreactors.

Rolls-Royce gets funding to develop miniature nuclear reactor for moon base

By Josh Dinner published 19 March 23

The U.K. Space Agency has decided to continue funding a project by Rolls-Royce to create a small nuclear-powered reactor that could serve as a long-term energy source for lunar bases.

Creality Sonic Pad review: A turbo boost for your FDM printer

By Will Zoobkoff published 17 March 23

The Creality Sonic Pad offers plug-and-play firmware modding for compatible 3D printers, giving you faster prints without compromising quality.

Sky-Watcher telescope deals available right now

By Gemma Lavender last updated 17 March 23

DEALS We've found the best Sky-Watcher telescope deals for you.

DEALS

Artist's illustration of Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander delivering NASA’s LuSEE-Night radio telescope to the far side of the moon.

NASA selects Firefly Aerospace for mission to moon's far side in 2026

By Andrew Jones published 17 March 23

NASA has selected Firefly Aerospace to land payloads on the moon and send another into orbit to provide communications with the lunar far side.

Artist's impression of CatSat with its antenna inflated in orbit around Earth. To compensate for any small leaks it may incur from encounters with space debris or micrometeorites, the engineers provided it with enough gas onboard to completely refill the "balloon" 25 times.

Student-led 'beach ball' space antenna aims to boost cubesat communications

By Josh Dinner published 16 March 23

University of Arizona students' inflatable "beach ball" antenna prototype could change the way small satellites send data back to Earth.

Hypersonic missiles can change course to avoid detection and anti-missile defenses.

Suspected US hypersonic missile test launch from Cape Canaveral scrubbed

By Andrew Jones published 15 March 23

The U.S. Department of Defense scrubbed a test launch of an undisclosed missile out of Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station earlier this month.

Image of presentation slide at the Space City Leicester launch event at the National Space Centre (UK).

UK launches Space City Leicester to push into the final frontier

By Daisy Dobrijevic published 14 March 23

A UK 'Space City' cluster has been established in Leicester, creating one of the biggest Enterprise Zones for space-related activities in the U.K.

The far side of the moon, as imaged by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Radio telescope on moon's far side will peer into universe's 'Dark Ages'

By Josh Dinner published 13 March 23

A few years from now, a small radio telescope on the far side of the moon could help scientists peer into the universe's ancient past.

Watch Relativity Space abort the launch of Terran 1, world's 1st 3D-printed rocket, on second try

By Mike Wall last updated 11 March 23

Relativity Space's Terran 1 rocket, the world's first 3D-printed launcher, is scheduled to lift off Saturday (March 11) at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT). Watch it live here.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter captured this photo of the sun setting on Mars on Feb. 22, 2023, during its 45th Red Planet flight.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter captures breathtaking shot of Martian sunset (photo)

By Josh Dinner published 10 March 23

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter recently took to the skies for its 45th flight, traveling nearly one-third of a mile (0.5 kilometers) — and photographing a Red Planet sunset in the process.

Best DSLR cameras: Image shows man using DSLR next to lake

Best DSLR cameras in 2023: Our top picks of full-frame and crop-sensor bodies

By Jason Parnell-Brookes last updated 9 March 23

Buying Guide Here's our run down of the best DSLR cameras in 2023 that still hold their own when compared to mirrorless.

Buying Guide

The Lunar rover "Max," from Clearpath Robotics, is being tested in a moon-like facility in Ottawa, Canada. The small company Mission Control is readying software systems in its facility for lunar exploration and beyond.

I drove a rover on a moon-like landscape and felt like an Apollo astronaut (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published 5 March 23

An ordinary office door opened before me, exposing a portal to the moon. When I stepped inside, I felt a strange connection with explorers of all ages.

Chinese automaker Geely plans to launch 72 satellites by 2025 to enable self-driving in its vehicles.

Chinese carmaker to launch 72 satellites to assist intelligent driving

By Andrew Jones published 5 March 23

Chinese automaker Geely plans to launch 72 satellites by 2025 to support a new range of cars.

Best stargazing apps: Image shows person holding mobile up to starry night sky

Best stargazing apps: AR apps and virtual star maps to help you navigate the night sky

By Ian Evenden last updated 3 March 23

Our picks of the best stargazing apps for Android and iOS can enhance your sky watching enjoyment and knowledge.

The Haughton Impact Crater is similar to Mars in many ways, making it a great place for researchers to test new technology that could one day be used to explore other planets. Here a team of researchers working on the ground are seen from a drone.

Designing a drone that can search for life on other planets

By Nina Lanza published 3 March 23

We have yet to find microbial life on another planet. But with the assistance of autonomous drones, we may be able to find it sooner rather than later.