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A potential framework for the use of lunar water ice and asteroid resources.

US Military Eyes Strategic Value of Earth-Moon Space

By Leonard David

The protection of trade routes and lines of communication are traditional military responsibilities, and this will continue to be true as cislunar space becomes "high ground."

A closeup of the M7.6-class solar flare that erupted from the sun on July 23, 2016 as seen by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. NASA is considering two proposals that would study space weather from the sun.

NASA Eyes Missions to Track Space Weather Threats with Small Satellites

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA is considering two proposals that would study space weather from the sun, which poses a radiation threat to astronauts cruising across the solar system.

NASA's Deep Space Atomic Clock, seen here in an artist's illustration, is testing new technology for deep-space navigation.

NASA Just Activated Its Deep Space Atomic Clock

By Chelsea Gohd

NASA's Deep Space Atomic Clock, which will pave the way for deep space exploration, has been activated and will now begin a year-long tech demo.

conceptual drawing of a spaceship on alien world

Scientists Are Building a Real-Life Version of the Starship Enterprise's Life Scanner

By Adam Mann

A novel method relying on biochemistry could provide an unambiguous signal of life on other worlds.

SpaceX's Starhopper prototype is seen just after a launch abort at the company's South Texas test site near Boca Chica Village on Aug. 26, 2019.

SpaceX Aborts Starhopper Rocket Prototype Launch at Last Second

By Tariq Malik

SpaceX postponed the launch of its Starhopper test rocket's highest flight yet on Monday (Aug. 26) after a last-second abort.

Artist's illustration of the U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane in orbit.

X-37B Military Space Plane Breaks Record on Latest Mystery Mission

By Mike Wall

The robotic X-37B has been circling Earth for nearly 719 days on its latest mystery mission, which is known as Orbital Test Vehicle 5 (OTV-5).

The Russian robot Skybot F-850 is a humanoid automaton visiting the International Space Station in August 2019.

In Photos: Russia's Humanoid Skybot Robot for Space

By Tariq Malik

An artist's illustration of an ispace lander and rover on the surface of the moon.

Japanese Company ispace Now Targeting 2021 Moon Landing for 1st Mission

By Mike Wall

A Japanese company that aims to help humanity settle the moon has adjusted the timeline of its first two missions.

Sierra Nevada Corp.'s Lunar Gateway ground prototype is deployed at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on Aug. 21, 2019. The Large Inflatable Fabric Environment, or LIFE, habitat is inflated to its 27-foot (8 meters) expanded diameter.

Inside Sierra Nevada's Inflatable Space Habitat for Astronauts in Lunar Orbit (Photos)

By Robert Z. Pearlman

Astronauts may one day orbit the moon, live on the lunar surface or travel to Mars in a multifloor, inflatable habitat, should Sierra Nevada's Gateway concept be adopted by NASA.

An artist’s illustration of a crewed moon base.

Newt Gingrich Pushing $2 Billion Moon-Base Race: Report

By Mike Wall

Gingrich is trying to sell Donald Trump's White House on a $2 billion competition to set up an outpost on the moon, according to Politico.

Terraforming Mars — turning it into a planet much like our own, at least on the surface — is a longstanding sci-fi dream.

Looks Like Elon Musk Is Serious About Nuking Mars

By Mike Wall

Elon Musk seems serious about terraforming Mars.

This summer, researchers tested rover and drone prototypes on lava fields in Iceland from July 8 to Aug. 5, 2019. This work will inform NASA's Mars 2020 operations team.

Robots Explore 'Mars-Like' Lava Field in Iceland as Prep for NASA's Mars 2020 Rover

By Chelsea Gohd

Researchers traveled to Iceland this summer to test a prototype rover and drone. These tests will help to inform the Mars 2020 operations team.

Engineers install one of the three radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) on NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017.

Trump Issues New Launch Guidelines for Nuclear Spacecraft

By Samantha Mathewson

The United States has set new guidelines for launching safe and sustainable nuclear spacecraft on future missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.

An illustration of a spacecraft powered by nuclear thermal propulsion.

Nuclear Propulsion Could Be 'Game-Changer' for Space Exploration, NASA Chief Says

By Mike Wall

Humanity's next giant leap could be enabled by nuclear thermal propulsion, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said.

Russia's Skybot F-850: "Not a Terminator" but a space robot, and will launch to the International Space Station on a Soyuz space capsule in August 2019.

Meet Skybot F-850, the Humanoid Robot Russia Is Launching into Space

By Tom Metcalfe

When a Russian Soyuz spacecraft launches from Kazakhstan for the International Space Station Wednesday, it will carry a humanoid robot called Skybot F-850.

Artist's illustration of Astrobotic's Peregrine lander on the surface of the moon.

Astrobotic's Private Moon Lander Will Launch on a Vulcan Centaur Rocket in 2021

By Mike Wall

A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket will send Astrobotic's Peregrine lander on its way toward Earth's nearest neighbor two years from now.

A team from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is taking part in the underground competition on August 15-22.

NASA Robots Rove Through Caves for Underground DARPA Competition (Video)

By Passant Rabie

Robots from different parts of the world are about to go on a subterranean adventure.

SpaceX's Starhopper Starship prototype makes its first untethered flight at the company's Boca Chica test site in South Texas on July 25, 2019 in this still from a drone camera.

Big Leap by SpaceX's Starship Prototype Pushed to Next Week

By Mike Wall

It looks like we'll have to wait a little longer to see Starhopper make its biggest leap yet.

Some exploration advocates would like to terraform Mars, making it an easier place for humans to live.

Elon Musk Floats 'Nuke Mars' Idea Again (He Has T-Shirts)

By Mike Wall

Nuking Mars is still on Elon Musk's wish list, it would seem.

LinkSpace's RLV-T5 rocket prototype nears its landing pad during an April 19, 2019 test flight. The company is pursuing vertical launch vertical landing technology for space missions.

LinkSpace Reusable Rocket Prototype Makes Its Highest Flight Yet (And Lands, Too!)

By Tariq Malik

The Chinese company LinkSpace successfully flew a rocket prototype on its highest flight yet, then nailed the landing as the firm pursues reusable spaceflight technology.