Space Exploration
Latest about Space Exploration
![An image of half of the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NcKGh5QanELjnBkBmu2fAe-320-80.jpg)
The moon is getting its own time zone, White House memo to NASA reveals
By Ben Turner published
The moon's lower gravity means that time runs slower on its surface. With more moon missions planned, NASA has now been tasked by the White House to create a lunar time zone by 2026.
![Jennifer M. captured this photo of a fireball in Earth's skies from Phelan, California on April 2, 2024 and forwarded it to the American Meteor Society. The fireball was caused by the reentry of China's Shenzhou 15 orbital module, experts say.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zESuFgY4vQV7GCQk97jF2S-320-80.jpg)
Chinese space junk falls to Earth over Southern California, creating spectacular fireball
By Mike Wall published
A fireball spotted over Southern California was likely the flaming wreck of an orbital module from China's Shenzhou 15 astronaut mission, which launched in November 2022.
![A dashed line of light in the night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooZL6PQgN2v3dUbi9hAsqP-320-80.jpg)
Dying SpaceX rocket creates eerily-perfect 'dashed' line in new photos. What's going on?
By Harry Baker published
New images show a glowing "dashed" line in the night sky above Arizona after part of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket fell back to Earth following a double-header launch.
![The pallet and the batteries immediately after being jettisoned from the ISS in 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QBaijH4MddT6PyWizTaYFg-320-80.jpg)
Mysterious object that crashed through Florida home was likely space junk from the International Space Station
By Ben Turner published
The mysterious cylinder crashed through the home of Alejandro Otero on March 8.
![This still is from a short computer-animated film that highlights Cassini's accomplishments and Saturn and reveals the science-packed final orbits between April and September 2017.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HA3adHX8VVWpkUuiCssYCV-320-80.jpg)
NASA only needs a single grain of ice to detect alien life on Enceladus, study finds
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The icy moons of Saturn and Jupiter shoot enormous geysers into space that may contain evidence of life. New research shows that NASA only needs to grab a few grains of ice from these plumes to find out for sure.
![Artists conception of Voyager 1 spacecraft entering interstellar space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NiRyuepXRJQECYhmiX7En8-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Voyager 1 sends readable message to Earth after 4 nail-biting months of gibberish
By Emily Cooke published
After four months of being unable to detect comprehensible data from the Voyager 1 spacecraft, NASA scientists have had fresh luck after sending a "poke."
![Starship just after launching from its Boca Chica, Texas launchpad on March 14, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L9gohjShBZzRWktYdAVPXM-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX's incredibly powerful Starship lost in the Indian Ocean after reaching orbit for 1st time
By Ben Turner published
SpaceX's powerful Starship system spent roughly an hour in orbit performing test maneuvers for the first time ever. But two simultaneous communications errors means the rocket won't be recoverable.
![Image of one side of the commerative plate which is a silver-color, against a black background. The plate appears to have lots of symbolic markings across it and is the shape of a right-angled triangle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QR6csAkvs5i3KdH8mezkc5-320-80.png)
NASA unveils cryptic message from Earth to be sent to Jupiter's icy ocean moon Europa
By Emily Cooke published
From a poem written by a U.S. Poet Laureate to millions of stenciled names, NASA's Clipper spacecraft's trip to Europa will be marked with a human touch.
![An illustration of a satellite burning up in Earth's atmosphere](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8PKUeroADD9NSHjQCFjSF8-320-80.jpg)
Controversial paper claims satellite 'megaconstellations' like SpaceX's could weaken Earth's magnetic field and cause 'atmospheric stripping.' Should we be worried?
By Harry Baker published
A theoretical new paper argues that atmospheric metal pollution from falling space junk could create an invisible conductive shield around our planet that might weaken our magnetosphere. However, other experts are skeptical of this idea.
![A massive spiral of white light in the night sky with auroras in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HmGRfGzYYq3JMv3m2LSREU-320-80.jpg)
Dying SpaceX rocket creates glowing, galaxy-like spiral in the middle of the Northern Lights
By Harry Baker published
A large swirl of white light that temporarily outshone vibrant auroras in the Arctic last week was triggered by the death throes of a SpaceX rocket that deployed more than 50 satellites into space.
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