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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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Thousands of the satellites orbiting Earth are small – like this cubesat seen here being released from the International Space Station.

How many satellites are orbiting Earth?

By Supriya Chakrabarti

It seems like every week, another rocket is launched into space carrying rovers to Mars, tourists or, most commonly, satellites.

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter flew over these sand dunes and rocks during its ninth flight, on July 5, 2021.

Flying on Mars getting tougher as Ingenuity helicopter gears up for 14th hop

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter is getting ready for its 14th Red Planet flight, but the thinning Martian air is making such sorties more and more challenging.

Mars as seen from orbit by NASA’s Viking mission.

How astronaut blood could help build a Mars colony

By Mike Wall

Settlements on the moon and Mars could grow thanks to the blood, sweat and tears of pioneering astronauts — literally.

Optical lattice clocks could help researchers detect the ripples in space-time known as gravitational waves, among many potential applications.

Super-precise clock tech wins $3 million physics Breakthrough Prize

By Mike Wall

Two physicists just snagged $3 million for helping develop a super-precise clock that could allow scientists to study and explore the universe like never before.

NASA's X-59 experimental supersonic plane is taking shape, with a fuselage and wings, as the space agency aims to build quieter faster-than-sound aircraft.

NASA's 'quiet' X-59 supersonic plane is coming together as space agency chases faster flight

By Tereza Pultarova

NASA engineers are building a next-generation supersonic plane that will produce a barely audible thump instead of the infamous boom that can rattle furniture and break glass.

NASA Administrator BIll Nelson presents Lunar Outpost CEO Justin Cyrus with a check for 10 cents.

NASA just cut a 10-cent check to kick-start moon mining tech

By Chelsea Gohd

NASA has cut a 10 cent check to space startup Lunar Outpost in the first-ever payment to a company to mine the moon.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch working on the Genes In Space-6 experiment on the International Space Station.

Astronauts successfully demonstrate DNA repair in space using CRISPR technology

By Ailsa Harvey

New research on the International Space Station has increased astronauts' knowledge of DNA repair in space.

Dawn Aerospace's robotic Mk-II Aurora suborbital space plane conducts a test flight over New Zealand's South Island in July 2021.

Soar with Dawn Aerospace's space plane on its 1st-ever test flights (video)

By Mike Wall

Dawn Aerospace's suborbital space plane took to the skies for the first time last month, and a new video takes you along for the ride.

Space Foundation is honoring Fisher Space Pen and its founder, the late Paul C. Fisher, with induction into the Space Technology Hall of Fame.

Space Foundation adds Fisher Space Pen to Space Tech Hall of Fame

By Robert Z. Pearlman

More than 50 years after its pressurized writing instruments first entered orbit, Fisher Space Pen and its late founder are entering the Space Technology Hall of Fame.

Drone in flight

A microwave-powered rocket? Drone project suggests it may be possible

By Scott Dutfield

Scientists have demonstrated that beamed microwaves can be converted to electricity to power drones.

The near side of the moon, as seen by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.

NASA awards $500,000 to develop moon-mining tech

By Mike Wall

NASA has awarded a total of $500,000 to 13 different teams via its Break the Ice Lunar Challenge, a competition designed to nurture the development of moon-mining tech.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket similar to the one seen here will launch a Canadian satellite that will beam ads from space in 2022 as part of a separate mission bound for the moon.

Elon Musk's SpaceX may launch a tiny Canadian satellite that will livestream ads from space: report

By Elizabeth Howell

SpaceX plans to launch a Canadian advertisement-beaming satellite into space that will eventually accept payments in Dogecoin, according to a media report.

NASA's Perseverance rover acquired this image of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter on the floor of Jezero Crater.

Ingenuity Mars helicopter gearing up for 11th Red Planet flight

By Mike Wall

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity is getting set for its 11th off-Earth flight, which could happen early Thursday morning (Aug. 5).

Space-based solar power could be a clean and efficient solution to the problem of humanity's growing energy needs, advocates say.

Space solar power project got off the ground with billionaire's $100 million donation

By Mike Wall

Real estate mogul Donald Bren's donation could help seed an energy revolution.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity sees its shadow on the Martian surface during its 10th flight on July 24, 2021.

NASA's Mars helicopter soars past 1-mile mark in 10th flight over Red Planet

By Tariq Malik

The Mars helicopter Ingenuity flew its 10th flight on Saturday (July 24) to pass its first 1-mile marker.

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter flew over these sand dunes and rocks during its ninth flight, on July 5, 2021.

Mars helicopter Ingenuity gearing up for 10th Red Planet flight this weekend

By Mike Wall

Ingenuity's 10th flight on Mars could happen as early as Saturday (July 24).

Artist's concept of a spacecraft powered by nuclear thermal propulsion.

NASA, DOE fund three nuclear thermal space propulsion concepts

By Mike Wall

NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy have teamed up to fund three design concepts for reactors that could become part of a nuclear thermal propulsion system.

Todd Mason, Mason Productions Inc./LSST Corporation, Author provided (no reuse)

Four ways artificial intelligence is helping us learn about the universe

By Ashley Spindler

The universe is getting bigger and so too is the amount of information we have about it.

In this screenshot from an animation about the Rocket Mining System, a joint effort of Masten Space System, Lunar Outpost and Honeybee Robotics, a rocket-equipped rover rolls onto the lunar surface to begin its ice-mining work.

Space miners may use rockets to harvest the moon's water ice (video)

By Mike Wall

Three companies — Masten Space Systems, Lunar Outpost and Honeybee Robotics — are developing a new system that would use rockets to mine water ice on the moon.

SLS rocket

How rockets work: A complete guide

By Giles Sparrow, All About Space magazine

Rockets of all kinds are still our only way of reaching space — but how exactly do they work?