Space Exploration

Latest about Space Exploration

closeup photo of a white humanoid robot with a gold helmet in a museum exhibit hall

NASA's Robonaut-2 reunited with its ride into space at Smithsonian

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

NASA's space shuttle Discovery has been reunited with one of its last crew members. The National Air and Space Museum debuted Robonaut-2 (R2), NASA's first dexterous humanoid robot flown into space.

Human Spaceflight
four black and white photos showing closeup looks at a spacecraft in earth orbit

NASA's solar-sailing spacecraft has a bent boom and is still tumbling in Earth orbit (photo)

By Mike Wall published

The technology-demonstrating Advanced Composite Solar Sail System has a bent boom in Earth orbit, but NASA says it shouldn't be a big deal.

Tech
Four Crew-8 astronauts smile and wave in white SpaceX spacesuits inside their spacecraft.

SpaceX Crew-8 astronaut mission: Live updates

By Elizabeth Howell published

Read the latest news about SpaceX's Crew-8 and Crew-9 missions to the International Space Station for NASA.

Human Spaceflight
Thermal overhead view of SpaceX's Crew Dragon "Endeavour" splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. The capsule returned from the International Space Station with Crew-8 members Matt Dominick, Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps and Alexander Grebenkin.

Crew-8 astronauts splash down on SpaceX Dragon Endeavour after weather delays (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Crew-8 is back on Earth after an extended mission and a wait for the weather to clear. Matt Dominick, Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps and Alexander Grebenkin splashed down on Dragon Endeavour.

Human Spaceflight
illustration of a blue and white space capsule against a blue background

Chinese company Deep Blue Aerospace plans to start launching space tourists in 2027

By Mike Wall published

Chinese company Deep Blue Aerospace plans to start launching customers to suborbital space and back in 2027, for a price of about $210,000 per seat.

Human Spaceflight
a space capsule splashes down in the ocean on a sunny clear day

Watch SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts return to Earth early Oct. 25

By Mike Wall published

The astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-8 mission will return to Earth early Friday morning (Oct. 25), and you can watch their homecoming live.

Human Spaceflight
Artist's illustration of space junk orbiting Earth.

Fighting space junk: More than 100 partners sign Europe's 'Zero Debris Charter'

By Andrew Jones published

More than 100 partners have signed Europe's Zero Debris Charter, a push to help get Earth's space junk problem under control.

Satellites
In a room with black spikey foam walls, a white pipe holds up a device with metal components that circle outward to the left to connect with a thing rectangular bar standing adjancent.Power-beaming equipment developed by Space Solar tested in a lab experiment.

Breakthrough coming? Iceland could get solar power from space in 2030

By Tereza Pultarova published

A British startup plans to supply solar power from space to Icelanders by 2030, in what could be the world's first demonstration of the novel renewable energy source.

Tech
The nose cone of an Astra rocket with its arrow logo and U.S. flag

Launch startup Astra gets up to $44 million from US military for new 'Rocket 4' line

By Mike Wall published

Launch startup Astra has secured a contract with the US military, worth up to $44 million, to continue developing its new Rocket 4 vehicle.

Launches & Spacecraft
a black and white rocket launches into a clear blue sky from a seaside pad

SpaceX launches next-gen US spy satellites on 100th Falcon 9 flight of the year (video, photos)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched a batch of spy satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office today (Oct. 24) on the 100th Falcon 9 flight of the year.

Launches & Spacecraft
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives