Space Exploration
Latest about Space Exploration
![Oleg Kononenko boarding a rocket](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bmSqcTeaduZQb8sFMpogv6-320-80.jpg)
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononeko breaks record for longest time spent in space — and he still has 6 months to go
By Harry Baker published
Oleg Kononeko has broken the record for most cumulative time spent in space after spending his 878th non-continuous day onboard the International Space Station. But he won't return to Earth until September.
![MIRA, Virtual Incision’s miniaturized robotic assisted surgery system, is pictured in position to reach rubber bands serving as simulated surgical tissue.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jeAUJSXCfLEAPWxK5vHMqV-320-80.jpg)
Robot surgeon sent to the International Space Station to dissect simulated astronaut tissue
By Monisha Ravisetti published
A small robotic surgeon was successfully launched to the International Space Station last week. It was joined by a bunch of equally impressive experiments, including machine learning devices and artificial retina prototypes.
![A pair of astronauts on Mars](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FVBZ2EBSRXJA2q7BGKgjY5-320-80.jpg)
Will future colonists on the moon and Mars develop new accents?
By Harry Baker published
As humans start to spread out among the solar system, new accents may begin to emerge in isolated colonies. But why does this happen and what will these new accents sound like?
![This high-exposure photo from the International Space Station shows Earth's atmospheric glow and a starry sky as the orbital complex soared 258 miles (415 kilometers) above the Pacific Ocean northeast of Papua New Guinea.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oaM7Y8Dsi4FG4PS33GAS9X-320-80.jpg)
See Earth's atmosphere glow gold in gorgeous photo taken from the International Space Station
By Samantha Mathewson published
A new photo taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station reveals a golden glow surrounding our planet in a phenomenon known as airglow.
![A pair of spacecraft orbiting Earth with the sun in background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/arzFCmRoVdCYD6an2oTt8d-320-80.jpg)
1st-of-its-kind European spacecraft duo will create mini eclipses in space, transforming how we study the sun
By Harry Baker published
Later this year, the European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission will send two spacecraft into orbit around Earth. By aligning the probes, researchers will create 6-hour-long mini eclipses, allowing the sun's atmosphere to be studied like never before.
![An image taken by Sora-Q, an accompanying robot, shows Japan's SLIM lander safely landed, but tipped on its nose.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AdFnKtpp2o7Nr7vbpzFEY7-320-80.jpg)
Japan's high-precision 'Moon Sniper' spacecraft hit its target, but it landed upside down
By Ben Turner published
On Jan. 19, Japan's 'Moon Sniper' spacecraft made a successful soft landing on the moon. The landing was the most precise in lunar history; it was also upside-down.
![A still from Sierra Space's first full-scale burst test of its space habitat in January 2024, for a future space station complex led by Blue Origin that is scheduled to fly in 2030.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ueBQ3PMNPwU5YNxGwEXZkE-320-80.jpg)
Watch balloon-like space station module explode (on purpose) during 1st full-scale burst test
By Elizabeth Howell published
Engineers intentionally blew up a full-scale prototype of an inflatable space module that could be used in future missions. Watch the big bang unfold here.
![The Chandrayaan 3 mission's Vikram lander photographed on the moon's surface by the Pragyan rover.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AKzrDuMYRsynQGX3UHYLqg-320-80.jpg)
NASA bounces laser off 'Oreo-sized' mirror on the moon for 1st time, paving the way for high-precision lunar landings
By Harry Baker published
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter successfully bounced a laser off of a cookie-sized mirror on Inida's Vikram moon lander in an experiment that could greatly improve the precision of future moon landings.
![SpaceX's huge Starship rocket launches on its second-ever test flight, on Nov. 18, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pLjqA5yAVaL2qxeLsw83hU-320-80.jpg)
Elon Musk's Starship 'almost made it to orbit' before violently exploding, Musk claims at SpaceX meeting
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's 2nd Starship test flight exploded 8 minutes after liftoff, but Elon Musk says it could have been very different if the craft was carrying a payload.
![An image showing a disturbance to the Peregrine's Multi-Layer Insulation, the first visual clue pointing to a problem with the propulsion system.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y5PTbtvmNoA4PXtkJE7hE-320-80.jpg)
Failed Peregrine lunar lander carrying human remains will crash into Earth by Thursday (Jan. 18)
By Harry Baker published
Astrobotic's controversial Peregrine lunar lander, which sprang a fatal propellant leak shortly after launching last week, will be deliberately burned up in Earth's atmosphere in the coming days.
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