Articles by: Hanneke Weitering

This pressure vessel, which came from the second stage of a Falcon 9 rocket, fell onto a farm in central Washington, local authorities reported April 2, 2021.

Debris from SpaceX rocket launch falls on farm in central Washington

By Hanneke Weitering

A piece of debris from a SpaceX launch has turned up on someone's farm in central Washington, local authorities reported Friday (April 2).

SpaceX's Starship could launch on its first uncrewed flight to Mars in 2024.

Elon Musk says SpaceX's 1st Starship trip to Mars could fly in 4 years

By Hanneke Weitering

SpaceX is on track to launch its first Mars mission in as little as four years from now, SpaceX's founder and CEO Elon Musk said Friday (Oct. 16) at the International Mars Society Convention.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk celebrates after the successful launch of the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on May 30, 2020.

Elon Musk 'overcome with emotion' after SpaceX's 1st astronaut launch

By Hanneke Weitering

SpaceX founder Elon Musk was choked up with emotion after his company successfully launched astronauts to space for the first time on Saturday (May 30).

The Falcon 9 booster separates from the rocket's second stage in this still image from SpaceX's Demo-2 mission animation.

How SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission will work in 13 steps

By Hanneke Weitering

Here's a step-by-step explainer of what will happen during SpaceX's first Crew Dragon mission with astronauts, from prelaunch preparations to splashdown.

Annie Glenn is pictured at a celebration dinner at The Ohio State University honoring the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's historic flight aboard Friendship 7, on Feb. 20, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio.

Annie Glenn, widow of 1st American astronaut in orbit John Glenn, dies at 100

By Hanneke Weitering

Annie Glenn, widow of the late NASA astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn — the first American to orbit the Earth — has passed away at the age of 100, NASA announced yesterday.

This artist's impression shows the orbits of the objects in the HR 6819 triple system, which consists of a binary star pair in which one star (orbit in blue) orbits a black hole (orbit in red), as well as another star with a wider orbit (also in blue).

Astronomers discover closest black hole to Earth. And you can 'see' it.

By Hanneke Weitering

A newfound black hole may be the closest black hole to Earth, and you can spot its cosmic home in the night sky without a telescope.

South Dakota: Latest updates on coronavirus

By Hanneke Weitering

Here's an update on the coronavirus case counts in South Dakota and the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.

You can see Venus and the moon in the "horns" of Taurus, the bull, on April 26, 2020.

See the bright 'evening star' Venus swing by the crescent moon tonight

By Hanneke Weitering

After a close encounter with the moon on Sunday (April 26), Venus will be at its greatest brightness of the year on Tuesday (April 28).

Coronavirus pandemic's global impact seen from space in chilling satellite images

By Hanneke Weitering

The global response to the novel coronavirus pandemic is so intense that it's visible from space.

This animation by Gianluca Masi at the Virtual Telescope Project shows the movement of the potentially hazardous asteroid 1998 OR2 in the night sky on March 16, 2020, between 4:31 p.m. EDT and 5 p.m. EDT (2031-2100 GMT).

Giant 'potentially hazardous' asteroid will fly safely by Earth in April

By Hanneke Weitering

A large and "potentially hazardous" asteroid is poised to fly by Earth next month, but don't worry — it poses no threat to Earth.

Mercury transits the sun, as seen behind the Washington Monument, on Nov. 11, 2019.

Rare Mercury Transit, the Last Until 2032, Thrills Skywatchers Around the World

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell

The tiny planet Mercury scooted across the sun's face today (Nov. 11) for the last time until 2032, and skywatchers around the world had the chance to witness the rare celestial event.

The Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys captured this image of two merging galaxies collectively known as Arp-Madore 2026-42.

Colliding Galaxies Form Piercing Eyes of 'Ghost Face’ in New Hubble Telescope Image

By Hanneke Weitering

A ghastly face with glowing eyes glares in deep space in a new image from the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine says the first astronaut to walk on Mars could be a woman.

The 1st Human on Mars May Be a Woman, NASA Chief Says

By Hanneke Weitering

It won't be long before we see the first woman on Mars, and she just might beat the first man there, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said Friday (Oct. 18).

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (left) and Christina Koch are scheduled to take a spacewalk together on Oct. 21, 2019.

The 1st All-Female Spacewalk Is Back On, After Medium-Size Spacesuits Acquired

By Hanneke Weitering

NASA is gearing up for a marathon of spacewalks, and one of them could be the first spacewalk to be conducted entirely by women.

India Loses Contact with Lunar Lander During Historic Mission

By Meghan Bartels, Hanneke Weitering

India's daring moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, lost contact just above the lunar surface, dashing Indian dreams of becoming just the fourth country to successfully land on the moon.

Photos: Hurricane Dorian Rages in Pics from Space

By Hanneke Weitering

As Hurricane Dorian pummels the Caribbean and the U.S. East Coast, NASA satellites and space station astronauts are keeping an eye on the epic storm from space.

Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the sixth meeting of the National Space Council at the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Va., on Aug. 20, 2019.

New US Space Command Will Launch Next Week, VP Pence Says

By Hanneke Weitering

The United States Space Command will officially be up and running by the end of the month, Vice President Mike Pence said today (Aug. 20) at a meeting of the National Space Council.

China's Long March 11 rocket lifts off from a mobile launch platform in the Yellow Sea on June 5.

China Aces Its 1st Rocket Launch at Sea, Puts 7 Satellites in Orbit

By Hanneke Weitering

Watch the rocket soar above the Yellow Sea!

RIP Pikachu: Ashes of Beloved Cat Will Launch to Space in Cosmic Burial

By Hanneke Weitering

Pikachu will go where no (cremated) cat has gone before.

How Flat-Earthers Explain Total Lunar Eclipses

By Hanneke Weitering

1st Interstellar Visitor 'Oumuamua Is Actually Not That Special

By Hanneke Weitering

An artist's impression of the blue asteroid 3200 Phaethon.

Bizarre, Blue Space Rock Even Weirder Than Astronomers Thought

By Hanneke Weitering

The autumnal equinox arrives on Sept. 22, 2018, at 9:54 p.m. EDT (0154 GMT on Sept. 23).

Why the Autumnal Equinox Doesn't Fall on the Same Day Every Year

By Hanneke Weitering

Astrophotographer Stojan Stojanovski captured this photo of a fireball during the Perseid meteor shower in August 2018.

Perseid Meteor Show Wows Skywatchers with Celestial Fireworks (Photos)

By Hanneke Weitering

Brilliant displays of Perseid meteors lit up the heavens this past weekend as the annual Perseid meteor shower reached its peak.

How Theoretical Physicists Can Help Find E.T.

By Hanneke Weitering

If and when humans discover extraterrestrial intelligence, should we expect to find it in the form of biological brains or artificially intelligent robots?