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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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large hadron collider

Supersymmetric 'Sleptons' Might Exist. But They'd Have to Be Huge.

By Rafi Letzter

The biggest, most expensive science experiment in the world might be losing all its dark matter. But physicists are looking on the bright side.

In this screenshot, you can see what may be an "anomalous aerial vehicle."

Why Is the Pentagon Interested in UFOs?

By Iain Boyd

New rules encourage U.S. Navy pilots and sailors to report UFO sightings. Here's why.

The U.S. national kilogram, created in 1879.

There's a Brand-New Kilogram, And It's Based on Quantum Physics

By Rafi Letzter

The kilogram isn't a thing anymore. Instead, it's an abstract idea about light and energy and fundamental universal constants.

Russia, China and the United States each have separate GPS systems. With blockchain technology, entrepreneur Arie Trouw argues,spacefarers could share satellite data securely to improve navigation and accuracy.

Could Blockchain Tech Launch Spacefaring Nations Into a Data-Sharing Frontier

By Elizabeth Howell

Data sharing between entities in space will be easier and more secure using technologies such as blockchain, an industry participant argued at the Humans to Mars summit on May 16.

An illustration of a hypersonic aircraft, published by Hermeus Corp.

Startup Hermeus Wants to Build a Hypersonic Jet That Flies at 5 Times the Speed of Sound

By Doris Elin Salazar

A U.S. venture-capital firm recently led a round of seed investment for Hermeus Corp., a new startup looking to develop a hypersonic aircraft.

Parachutes being developed for Boeing's CST-100 Starliner undergo a reliability test using a "dart" in place of the crew capsule.

Parachute Development a Challenge for Commercial Crew

By Jeff Foust

An incident involving a test of parachutes for one commercial crew vehicle has heightened awareness of the challenges involved in developing those systems.

The P3 (platform performance prototype) at the University of Cambridge, used to test the design for the Science Data Processor, a new supercomputer that will be the fastest in the world.

New Supercomputer Will Span Continents, Outrace World's Fastest

By Mindy Weisberger

Paired processors on two continents will power a new computer "brain."

Apollo Fusion is licensing technology from JPL to create a new high-power Hall thruster called AXE that offers a longer lifetime than existing systems.

Apollo Fusion Obtains Hall Thruster Technology from JPL

By Jeff Foust

Satellite electric propulsion startup Apollo Fusion is expanding its product line through an agreement with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, giving it access to advanced Hall thruster technology.

Sandra Olson, an aerospace engineer at NASA's Glenn Research Center, demonstrates just how fire acts differently in space through her art. She overlaid three separate microgravity flame images in this artwork. This image won first place in the 2011 Combustion Art Competition, held at the 7th U.S. National Combustion Meeting.

Fire in the Sky: New Space Extinguisher Sucks in Flames Instead of Smothering Them

By Elizabeth Howell

Scientists have come up with a new fire extinguisher for space.

An upcoming NASA procurement will seek proposals for integrated lunar lander concepts, and not just the ascent stage as originally announced.

NASA Tweaks Call for Moon Lander Concepts

By Jeff Foust

NASA has updated a planned call for proposals for lunar landers to enable a human mission in 2024, broadening the scope to include integrated lander concepts.

One of the Astrobee robots, with its "eyes" glowing on its touch screen.

Meet the Astrobees! These Tiny, Cube-Shaped Robots Have Arrived in Space

By Chelsea Gohd

Last week, two little, cube-shaped Astrobee robots arrived at the International Space Station. These robots are designed to help out astronauts and maintain the space station.

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy will launch the STP-2 mission this year for the U.S. Air Force.

Cape Canaveral Preparing for Key Military Launches

By Sandra Erwin

The Air Force 45th Space Wing is gearing up for three high-profile space launches at Cape Canaveral over the coming months.

These images of a storm in Saturn's atmosphere were obtained with the Cassini spacecraft’s wide-angle camera on March 4, 2008, at a distance of approximately 800,000 miles (1.3 million kilometers) from Saturn. Image scale is 46 miles (74 km) per pixel.

'Deep Learning' Algorithm Reveals Huge Saturn Storm in New Light

By Mike Wall

A new "deep learning" algorithm that could help scientists better understand planetary atmospheres has passed its first big test, a new study reports.

New developments in space exploration, like plans to return samples from Mars, have prompted NASA to ask an independent committee to review its planetary protection policies.

New Committee to Review NASA Planetary Protection Policies

By Jeff Foust

NASA will establish an independent committee to review its planetary protection policies to reflect new developments in human space exploration and commercial spaceflight.

Scott Pace executive secretary of the National Space Council, described the administration's new approach to a human return to the moon as a "strategy of speed leading towards sustainability" in an April 23 speech.

Lunar Base and Gateway Part of Sustainable Long-Term Human Exploration Plan

By Jeff Foust

As NASA works to develop a plan for an accelerated human return to the moon, a top White House official emphasized the need for long-term sustainability.

A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft testing its SuperDraco thrusters. A NASA safety panel said it will take some time to get to the root cause of an anomaly during an April 20 test of the thrusters.

Safety Panel Urges Patience in SpaceX Crew Dragon Investigation

By Jeff Foust

Members of an independent safety panel said it will take time to determine what happened during a SpaceX Crew Dragon testing incident several days ago.

The voyage to Mars will expose astronauts to deadly levels of cosmic radiation. But a group of college students has a plan to shield spacecraft from radiation.

College Students Hatch Nuclear-Powered Magnetic Plan to Protect Marsonauts from Cosmic Rays

By Rafi Letzter

A team of undergraduate students at Drake University in Iowa is developing a magnetic shield to defend interplanetary astronauts from the intense cosmic radiation between Earth and Mars.

The combustion chamber of Reaction Engines' Synergistic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) core.

Air-Breathing Rocket Engine Gets Green Light for Major Tests

By Tereza Pultarova

The SABRE air-breathing rocket engine is ready for a major round of testing in the next 18 months after passing a preliminary design review by the European Space Agency.

Stratolaunch's rocket-carrying plane flew for the first time on April 13, 2019.

What It Was Like to Fly the 'Roc' — Stratolaunch's Massive Rocket-Carrier Airplane

By Elizabeth Howell

A moon base could be constructed remotely.

Can Robots Build a Moon Base for Astronauts? Japan Hopes to Find Out.

By Elizabeth Howell

Japan's space agency wants to create a moon base with the help of robots that can work autonomously, with little human supervision.