Space Exploration

Latest about Space Exploration

A large red streak shines across the night sky

SpaceX rockets keep tearing blood-red 'atmospheric holes' in the sky, and scientists are concerned

By Harry Baker published

Astronomers have discovered a new type of "aurora" created by falling SpaceX rocket boosters that punch temporary holes in the ionosphere. Experts are concerned that these blood-red light shows could be causing unknown problems for astronomy and communication.

Space Exploration
Artist's impression of the Psyche spacecraft.

Earth receives laser-beam message from 10 million miles away in new NASA experiment

By Rahul Rao published

Earth successfully received a message beamed from NASA's Psyche spacecraft, located some 10 million miles away.

Space Exploration
SpaceX's giant Starship Super Heavy booster explodes after separating from its upper stage during the company's second flight test on Nov. 18, 2023.

Watch SpaceX Starship megarocket explode in 'rapid unscheduled disassembly'

By Josh Dinner published

SpaceX's next-generation Starship megarocket launched on its second-ever test flight this Saturday (Nov. 18), but exploded in a 'rapid unscheduled disassembly.'

Space Exploration
SpaceX's Starship at the launch pad against a yellow clouded sky,

How to watch SpaceX's Starship launch for 2nd time ever on Saturday, Nov. 18

By Elizabeth Howell published

Liftoff of SpaceX's enormous Starship is currently scheduled for Nov. 18, during a 20-minute window that opens at 8 a.m. ET.

Space Exploration
An astronaut tool bag dropped during a spacewalk can be seen orbiting Earth on Nov. 2, 2023.

Astronauts accidentally dropped a tool bag on a spacewalk, and you can see it with binoculars

By Robert Lea published

A tool bag that gave astronauts the slip during a spacewalk at the International Space Station is surprisingly bright and can be seen from Earth with binoculars.

Space Exploration
Illustration of a wooden square satellite as it orbits the earth.

NASA and Japan to launch world's 1st wooden satellite as soon as 2024. Why?

By Ben Turner published

The magnolia wood LignoSat is an attempt to make space junk biodegradable. NASA and Japan's space agency (JAXA) could launch it as soon as 2024.

Space Exploration
The Crab Nebula. An oval nebula with complex structure against a black background. On the nebula’s exterior, particularly at the top left and bottom left, lie curtains of glowing red and orange fluffy material. Its interior shell shows large-scale loops of mottled filaments of yellow-white and green, studded with clumps and knots.

Space photo of the week: James Webb telescope finds a secret at the Crab Nebula's heart

By Jamie Carter published

The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed the most detailed image so far of the Crab Nebula, a gorgeous supernova remnant of a star that exploded 1,000 years ago.

Space Exploration
An artistic representation of the spiral barred galaxy ceers-2112, observed in the early universe. The Earth is reflected on an illusive bubble surrounding the galaxy, recalling the connection between the Milky Way and ceers-2112.

James Webb telescope uncovers mysterious Milky Way 'twin' in the early universe

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A Milky Way doppleganger discovered in the early universe suggests some key physical ingredient is missing from cosmological models.

Space Exploration
a space crew eating food around a table

'The forbidden space meal': What happens if you need to be a cannibal on Mars?

By Kelly and Zach Weinersmith published

In this book extract, Kelly and Zach Weinersmith look at cannibalism in space from a legal and culinary perspective.

Space Exploration
Some of the plants grown by China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts aboard the nation's Tiangong space station.

China successfully grows lettuce and tomatoes aboard Tiangong space station

By Andrew Jones published

Lettuce, cherry tomatoes and more are sprouting in space aboard China's Tiangong space station.

Space Exploration
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