Space exploration news, features and articles
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'Stranded' astronauts aboard Chinese space station are preparing to come home — but no date has been announcedThree astronauts remain stuck on China's Tiangong space station after errant debris struck their return capsule last week. But their return vessel has already arrived, meaning a flight home will come sooner rather than later.
By Ben Turner Published
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Three Chinese astronauts stranded in space after debris hits their return capsuleThree Chinese taikonauts — Wang Jie, Chen Zhongrui and Chen Dong — will be extending their stay aboard China's Tiangong space station after their return capsule was struck by a presumed piece of orbital debris on Wednesday.
By Harry Baker Published
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We sharpened the James Webb telescope's vision from a million miles away. Here's how.A small piece of metal engineered in Australia helped sharpen the James Webb telescope's vision from a million miles away.
By Benjamin Pope Published
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Controversial startup's plan to 'sell sunlight' using giant mirrors in space would be 'catastrophic' and 'horrifying,' astronomers warnCalifornia-based startup Reflect Orbital aims to build a swarm of 4,000 giant mirrors in low Earth orbit to "sell sunlight" to customers at night. Experts warn that the mirrors could mess with telescopes, blind stargazers and impact the environment.
By Harry Baker Published
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Two spacecraft will pass right through comet 3I/ATLAS' tailTwo ESA spacecraft, Hera and Europa Clipper, are poised to fly through the long tail of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, a new paper finds.
By Andy Tomaswick Published
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Charred piece of secretive Chinese rocket found still smoldering in the Australian outbackExperts believe that a five-foot-wide piece of space debris discovered near an Australian mining town was part of a dead Chinese rocket. The wreckage likely crashed just before it was found.
By Harry Baker Published
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$20 million NASA mission to visit 'God of Chaos' asteroid saved from budget cuts in last-minute decisionNASA's OSIRIS-APEX mission, which was one of 19 designated to be canceled by the Trump administration, has been saved from the chopping block in a last-minute decision. There will be a significant change to its structure, however.
By Elizabeth Howell Published
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New report warns that China could overtake the US as top nation in space — and it could happen 'in 5-10 years,' expert claimsA new report from the Commercial Space Federation warns that China could soon overtake the U.S. in the "new space race." The country's rapid progression starkly contrasts the limitations imposed on NASA by record-breaking budget cuts.
By Harry Baker Published
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Human stem cells become more active in space — and that's not a good thingStem cells age faster and become functionally exhausted in low Earth orbit, making crewed long-duration space travel even more challenging.
By Patrick Pester Published
