Incredible Technology

At the center of space exploration beats a heart of incredible technological marvels and innovation that inspires scientists and engineers to reach for the stars. See some of the wildest space tech concepts here, as well as technologies needed to ensure humanity's expansion across the solar system.

Related Topics: 3D Printing, Curiosity Mars Rover Mission, SpaceX, International Space Station 

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a set of three different antennas in varying sizes. they look like white squares of plastic on tripod legs

Amazon's Kuiper satellite constellation will use these sleek antennas to serve you internet

By Rahul Rao published

Amazon has revealed three terminals that customers might use to link up with Project Kuiper, the company's planned satellite internet program.

In this artist's impression of the breadcrumb scenario, autonomous rovers can be seen exploring a lava tube after being deployed by a mother rover that remains at the entrance to maintain contact with an orbiter or a blimp.

Mars cave-exploring robots take inspiration from Hansel and Gretel's breadcrumb trick

By Robert Lea published

The rovers could use communication "breadcrumbs" to keep in touch with the surface as they explore caves, oceans, and lakes on alien worlds.

StarCrete, a material made of potato starch, salt and simulated Mars or moon dirt, is twice as strong as conventional concrete, its creators say.

Potatoes are better than human blood for making space concrete bricks, scientists say

By Josh Dinner published

Engineers have created a superstrong concrete alternative using simulated Martian or lunar soil, potato starch and salt.

Relativity Space's first Terran 1 rocket streaks toward space in this long exposure view of its debut test launch from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on March 22, 2023. The rocket failed to reach orbit.

Relativity Space launches world's first 3D-printed rocket on historic test flight, but fails to reach orbit

By Mike Wall published

Relativity Space's Terran 1 rocket, the world's first 3D-printed launcher, failed to reach orbit Wednesday (March 22) on its debut liftoff — but it notch some important milestones.

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

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

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

The second stage of Relativity Space's first Terran 1 rocket comes to life briefly after stage separation during a test launch on March 22, 2023. It failed to reach orbit.

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

By Mike Wall last updated

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Relativity Space's first Terran 1 rocket is fueled for flight during its second launch attempt at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 11, 2023.

Relativity Space aborts launch of Terran 1, the world's first 3D-printed rocket, twice in 1 day

By Tariq Malik published

An attempt by startup Relativity Space to launch the world's first 3D-printed rocket was cut short by two aborts in one day on Saturday (March 11).

Relativity Space's first Terran 1 rocket is fueled for flight during its first launch attempt at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 8, 2023.

Relativity Space scrubs debut launch attempt of world's 1st 3D-printed rocket after abort

By Tariq Malik published

The space startup Relativity Space called off the first-ever flight of its new 3D-printed rocket on Wednesday (March 8) after a last-minute abort and temperature issues during the countdown.

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

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

By Mike Wall last updated

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.

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

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.

The European Union recently adopted the proposal for the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection and Security by Satellites (IRISS) constellation, which will provide broadband connectivity via up to 170 satellites.

European Union to build its own satellite-internet constellation

By Andrew Jones published

Europe's planned IRISS constellation will consist of 170 satellites and provide a multi-orbital connectivity infrastructure.

An illustration of Relativity Space's Terran 1 rocket launching into space.

Relativity Space sets launch of world's 1st 3D-printed rocket for March 8

By Elizabeth Howell published

The 3D-printed Terran 1 rocket from Relativity Space will fly from Florida's space coast, and will also mark the first natural liquid natural gas booster in space if all goes to plan.

A U.S. Air Force pilot looked down at the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon as it hovered over the Central Continental United States February 3, 2023.

This photo of China's spy balloon taken from a U-2 reconnaissance plane is absolutely bonkers (video)

By Brett Tingley published

The Department of Defense released an image taken from the cockpit of a U-2 spy plane of the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that floated over the United States earlier this month.

A photograph taken by the Perseverance rover of the Ingenuity helicopter on the surface of Mars in April 2021, just after the rover deployed the chopper.

Mars helicopter Ingenuity's historic 1st flights shed light on Martian dust dynamics

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Scientists analyzing videos of Ingenuity's historic first flights on Mars are learning more about dust behavior on the Red Planet.

A photograph taken by the Perseverance rover of the Ingenuity helicopter on the surface of Mars in April 2021, just after the rover deployed the chopper.

Ingenuity helicopter aces 43rd Mars flight, its longest in 10 months

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter conducted its 43rd Mars flight on Thursday (Feb. 16), covering 1,280 feet (390 meters) of Red Planet ground.

Artist's illustration of PneumoCell's proposed "PneumoPlanet" habitats on the surface of the moon.

'PneumoPlanet' inflatable moon habitat could house 32 astronauts

By Laurence Tognetti published

The PneumoPlanet inflatable lunar habitat offers an opportunity for future lunar astronauts to comfortably live, eat and work on the moon, its designers say.