Space Technology - Space Exploration Technologies

Diagram of a proposed network of solar-sailing "statite" craft, which would look for interstellar objects zooming through the solar system and potentially allow up-close study of such visitors.

Solar-sailing sentries could allow up-close study of interstellar visitors like 'Oumuamua

By Mike Wall

A fleet of solar-sailing sentries stationed far from the sun could someday allow scientists to get up-close looks at interstellar visitors like the mysterious 'Oumuamua.

After being sworn in as the first Chief of Space Operations by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Gen. John Raymond addresses the audience in the Executive Eisenhower Office Building, Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14, 2020.

'Get a haircut,' real Space Force chief tells Netflix 'Space Force' star Steve Carell

By Mike Wall

The leader of the real U.S. Space Force says he's looking forward to the Netflix show about the new military branch, but he has a note for series star and co-creator Steve Carell.

The FDA has approved this VITAL ventilator for coronavirus disease patients designed and built by engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

FDA approves new NASA ventilator for COVID-19 treatment

By Tariq Malik

A new ventilator developed by NASA to treat victims of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has received emergency approval from the FDA.

Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, the launch site for an anti-satellite test on April 15, 2020.

Don't panic about Russia's recent anti-satellite test, experts say

By Mike Wall

Russia's recent anti-satellite test wasn't as big of a deal as you probably think.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine (right) shows President Donald Trump technology the agency has developed to fight the coronavirus pandemic, including a sterilization device and an oxygen hood, on April 24, 2020.

Trump checks out new NASA technology to fight coronavirus pandemic

By Meghan Bartels

President Donald Trump inspected new technology developed by NASA to help fight the coronavirus pandemic and its associated respiratory disease, COVID-19.

An artist's depiction of satellites orbiting Earth.

Get out of the way: The 1st restartable solid rocket fuel could help reduce space junk (op-ed)

By Nicholas Dallmann

Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory recently developed and demonstrated the ability to stop and restart solid rocket motors many times — something that has never been done before.

The launch of Hubble Space Telescope on April 24, 1990. This photo captures the first time that there were shuttles on both pad 39a and 39b.

How the Hubble Space Telescope opened our eyes to the first galaxies of the universe

By Rodger I. Thompson

Hubble's infrared eyes provided new major capabilities.

A photograph showing SpaceX's first batch of Starlink satellites during launch on May 23, 2019.

SpaceX's Starlink satellites will soon get glare-reducing 'sunshades,' Elon Musk says

By Mike Wall

SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites will soon sport an accessory to tamp down their surprising brightness.

Some of the dozens of engineers involved in creating a ventilator prototype specially targeted to coronavirus disease patients at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

NASA engineers build new COVID-19 ventilator in 37 days

By Mike Wall

A prototype ventilator built in just 37 days by engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory passed a key test this week at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

A visualization of the "nanocardboard" flyers.

Tiny, levitating 'nanocardboard' aircraft could explore Mars one day

By Chelsea Gohd

Tiny, levitating "nanocardboard" flyers could one day explore the dusty red surface of Mars.

The moon, as seen by the United States' Clementine spacecraft in 1994.

China wants a piece of the moon. Here's how it plans to handle lunar samples.

By Leonard David

A glimpse into China's readiness to handle samples from the moon reveals steps to be taken for storage, processing and preparation of the specimens.

Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicle 1 (MEV-1) captured this view of its target, the Intelsat 901 communications satellite, from a distance of 20 meters during docking operations on Feb. 25, 2020. Earth is visible in the background.

Ailing Intelsat satellite begins new life in orbit after historic servicing mission success

By Meghan Bartels

It's one giant leap for satellite servicing tech.

NASA has launched a "Honey, I Shrunk the NASA Payload" contest to send tiny experiments to the moon.

'Honey, I Shrunk the NASA Payload' challenge seeks tiny designs for the moon

By Chelsea Gohd

"Smaller payloads are game-changing."

The Mars Helicopter and its Mars Helicopter Delivery System were attached to the Perseverance Mars rover at Kennedy Space Center on April 6, 2020. The helicopter will be deployed about two-and-a-half months after Perseverance lands.

Trailblazing Mars helicopter attached to Perseverance rover for July launch

By Mike Wall

The little chopper will attempt to pioneer a new type of off-Earth exploration.

Rocket Lab used a helicopter to capture a falling Electron booster test article during a recovery test in early March 2020, as this screenshot from a company video shows.

Rocket Lab catches falling Electron booster with helicopter in reusability test (video)

By Mike Wall

Rocket Lab pulled off the maneuver early last month during a test over open ocean near New Zealand, the company announced Wednesday (April 8).

5G is not linked to the coronavirus pandemic in any way. Here's the science.

By Stanley Shanapinda

A conspiracy theory claiming 5G can spread the coronavirus is making the rounds on social media. Peddling such misinformation is not only wrong, it's destructive.

How blockchain can change the space industry

By Elizabeth Howell

Artist's illustration of mining activity on the moon.

Trump signs executive order to support moon mining, tap asteroid resources

By Mike Wall

The lunar resources that will help the United States establish a long-term human presence on and around the moon are there for the taking, the White House believes.

If the U.S. wants to send humans to Mars in the 2030s, it may have to rely on nuclear-fission-powered spacecraft to cut the travel time down to three to four months.

Private companies find role in developing nuclear power for space travel

By JoAnna Wendel

The private sector wants to bring nuclear power to space to enable faster and more efficient space travel.

An image of one of Accion's small electric-propulsion systems.

Accion raises $11 million to refine its dime-size spacecraft thrusters

By Sarah Wells

Ion propulsion company Accion Systems has raised $11 million in its latest funding round and has launches and contracts planned this year with NASA, the DoD and academic institutions.