Space Exploration
Latest about Space Exploration
![NASA’s OSIRIS-REx curation engineer, Neftali Hernandez, fixes one of the tools made to remove the two final fasteners to the capsule.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NDnWLEC26rdWa2z6iaAVD8-320-80.jpg)
NASA finally opens capsule to potentially hazardous asteroid 'Bennu' that may contain seeds of life
By Ben Turner published
Two tight fasteners kept the majority of the Bennu asteroid sample from scientists since it returned to Earth in September. Now they've finally prised it open.
![United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Monday at 2:18 a.m. EST (0718 GMT).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u7wQHecoa7i6653UbYTFHM-320-80.jpg)
'No chance of a soft landing': Company confirms Peregrine mission's human remains won't reach the moon
By Ben Turner published
An oxidizer leak has left the lunar lander stranded in space carrying human remains
![The four astronauts selected for the Artemis II mission, including the first woman and person of color who will land on the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/99scUFKaCYL5WmLEWBjord-320-80.jpg)
NASA's historic Artemis mission to land the 1st woman on the moon delayed until 2026
By Sascha Pare published
NASA has announced it is pushing back its flagship Artemis II expedition to September 2025 and its Artemis III moon-landing mission to September 2026 after testing uncovered safety issues.
![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)
Peregrine moon lander carrying human remains doomed after 'critical loss' of propellant
By Ben Turner published
Just six hours into its maiden flight, Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine moon lander has experienced a technical fault that doomed the mission.
![Vulcan Centaur streaks through the sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cJqy6wW7EpqGoyEpkWet5J-320-80.jpg)
Human remains blasted into space on Vulcan rocket will 'desecrate' the moon, Navajo Nation says
By Harry Baker last updated
Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine moon lander has successfully launched into space on a brand-new rocket and will attempt to touch down on the lunar surface in February. But the lander's payload includes human remains, which leaders of the Navajo Nation claim is "tantamount to desecration."
![Space.com's Josh Dinner captured these incredible shots of Vulcan Centaur blasting off from the launch pad.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MdzLFL7mZrPiadALhQmjcH-320-80.jpg)
See 1st-ever Vulcan Centaur rocket blast off into space in stunning photos and videos
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Monday morning (Jan. 8).
![United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Monday at 2:18 a.m. EST (0718 GMT).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u7wQHecoa7i6653UbYTFHM-320-80.jpg)
Vulcan just launched the 1st US moon mission since Apollo, with human remains aboard
By Josh Dinner published
ULA's new rocket now has one flight under its belt.
![An illustration of the Hera spacecraft near the Dimorphos-Didymos system.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hkjaMcZAZuZtXtfdmBu7ee-320-80.jpg)
Missions to the moon, Mars, Jupiter and more: These are the coolest space missions in 2024
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Ambitious new missions to the moon, Venus, Jupiter and more are planned for 2024. Here is a preview of the exciting year in space ahead.
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