Space Technology - Space Exploration Technologies

The NOAA/NASA Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite captured this view of Earth from nearly 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) away in July 2015.

Elon Musk, X Prize launch $100 million carbon-removal competition

By Mike Wall

The $100 million Carbon Removal X Prize launched Thursday (April 22), in an attempt to spur the development of technology that can help stave off the worst effects of human-caused climate change.

President Joe Biden examines a model of NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity, which on April 19 became the first aircraft to perform a powered, controlled flight on a world beyond Earth.

President Biden congratulates Mars helicopter Ingenuity team for historic 1st flight

By Elizabeth Howell

President Joe Biden tweeted his support for the Ingenuity team after the little helicopter's record-setting Mars flight on Monday (April 19).

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity flies on the Red Planet for the second time ever, on April 22, 2021. This image was captured by the Mastcam-Z camera system aboard NASA's Perseverance rover.

Mars helicopter Ingenuity flies higher and longer on Red Planet in 2nd flight

By Mike Wall

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter took to the skies above Mars' Jezero Crater again early this morning (April 22), just three days after making history with its first Red Planet flight.

Telescope lasers could give humanity an edge in war against space junk

By Rafi Letzter

Space junk is a growing problem. Better fight it with lasers.

An image captured by the Ingenuity Mars helicopter shows the vehicle's shadow on the surface of the Red Planet.

So a helicopter flew on Mars for the first time. A space physicist explains why that's such a big deal

By Gail Iles

It marks a milestone in the story of human space exploration.

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover took a selfie with the Ingenuity helicopter, seen here about 13 feet (3.9 meters) from the rover. on April 6, 2021.

NASA's Perseverance rover makes oxygen on Mars for 1st time

By Mike Wall

NASA's Perseverance rover just notched another first on Mars, one that may help pave the way for its human overlords to explore the Red Planet someday.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity, as photographed by the Perseverance rover on April 19, 2021 — the day Ingenuity made the first-ever powered, controlled flight by an aircraft on a world beyond Earth.

More Mars helicopters? NASA is already thinking about Ingenuity's successors

By Mike Wall

NASA is already working to map out the bright exploration future opened up by its little Mars helicopter.

General Atomics, Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin each received contracts for the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program's first phase.

US military picks 3 companies to test nuclear propulsion in cislunar space

By Elizabeth Howell

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has picked three big space companies for the first phase of a larger project to test nuclear propulsion above low Earth orbit by 2025.

China is preparing for a space telescope and its own space station.

China wants to launch its own Hubble-class telescope as part of space station

By Andrew Jones

China could launch the first module for its own space station this month as the country also prepares to send a large space telescope to join it in orbit within the next few years.

This still image from NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars shows the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity hovering above the Martian surface during its historic first flight on April 19, 2021.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter aced an 'absolutely beautiful flight' on Mars. Here's the video.

By Mike Wall

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity just made aviation history, and its robotic buddy caught the whole thing on video.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity takes off on historic 1st powered flight on another world

By Mike Wall

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter lifted off on the Red Planet early this morning (April 19), performing the first-ever powered flight on a world beyond Earth.

NASA's Mars Helicopter Ingenuity is seen on the surface of the Red Planet by the perseverance rover on April 5, 2021.

How to watch the Mars helicopter Ingenuity's first flight online

By Elizabeth Howell

The first helicopter is expected to attempt the first-ever flight on Mars on Monday (April 19), with NASA unveiling the results a day later, and you can follow it all online.

An artist's depiction of ispace's HAKUTO-R lander on the surface of the moon.

Japanese ispace lander to carry UAE moon rover to lunar surface in 2022

By Mike Wall

The United Arab Emirates' robotic Rashid moon rover will be delivered to the lunar surface in 2022 by HAKUTO-R, a lander built by the Japanese company ispace.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity won't fly until next week at the earliest

By Mike Wall

The team will modify and reinstall Ingenuity's flight-control software.

This view from Northrop Grumman's MEV-2 spacecraft shows the IS-10-02 satellite as it approaches to dock.

A Northrop Grumman robot successfully docked to a satellite to extend its life

By Chelsea Gohd

Satellites could live longer lives thanks to new technology being tested by Northrop Grumman.

Celestron Inspire 80AZ telescope: Full review

By Gemma Lavender, All About Space magazine

The Celestron Inspire 80AZ proves to be a reliable starter instrument at a budget price that's furnished with a good selection of accessories

Casio’s new limited edition G-Shock DW5600 digital watch marks 40 years since the first space shuttle launch.

Casio's new digital watch marks 40 years since first space shuttle launch

By Robert Z. Pearlman

Casio is ready to launch a limited edition timepiece commemorating the 40th anniversary of NASA's first space shuttle launch.

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter does a slow spin test of its blades on April 8, 2021, the 48th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. This image was captured by the Mastcam-Z on NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover.

The Mars helicopter Ingenuity is about to make history in the skies of another world

By Chelsea Gohd

NASA is about to make history on the Red Planet with the first controlled, helicopter flight on another world.

Artist's illustration of NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter flying on the Red Planet.

How NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity can fly on the Red Planet

By Mike Wall

Flying on Mars is far from a breeze, but NASA is confident that its little helicopter is up to the challenge.

Celestron FirstScope 76: Full review

By Gemma Lavender, All About Space magazine

The fuss-free Celestron FirstScope 76 is an easy telescope to use, but expectations should be tailored when looking through the eyepiece