Space

A rocket lifts off from its launch pad with clouds of smoke billowing around it, set against a blue sky.

The New Space Race

Reusable rockets are real, the internet is in orbit, and we’re heading to Mars. With space manufacturing, asteroid mining, and lunar bases, the new space race has just begun, transforming life on Earth forever.
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T-Minus: 10 milestones in commercial spaceflight
T-Minus looks back at 10 major milestones in the commercial space industry — including several SpaceX triumphs.
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T-Minus: 10 space startups to watch
Today’s aerospace industry includes hundreds of startups, all vying to be the next SpaceX. Here are 10 that could actually do it.
T-Minus: 10 space stations of the future
The International Space Station may be nearing retirement, but 10 new space stations are just preparing for launch.
T-Minus: Counting down 10 upcoming moon missions
A countdown of 10 upcoming moon missions, all leading up to the one expected to return NASA astronauts to the lunar surface.
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Why do we care about moon rocks, anyway?
China’s Chang’e 5 is bringing the first new set of moon rocks and debris to Earth since the 70s. Why do scientists want these precious stones?
Reusable rockets: Making space more affordable
Reusable rockets, like those developed by SpaceX, are ushering in a new, cheaper era in space exploration
Bacteria could make space mining 400% more efficient
Using a bioreactor packed with bacteria could make space mining more efficient by speeding up the extraction of elements from rock.
The plan to convert space debris into labs for astronauts
Space services company Nanoracks plans to convert space debris into orbiting “Outposts” that could serve as hotels, research parks, and more.
Fusion-powered spaceships could take us into deep space
Fusion could make frequent trips into deep space possible.
NASA confirms existence of water on the moon
A study confirmed the existence of water on the moon the same day another provided evidence that the lunar surface could be rife with water reserves.
Why NASA just landed a spacecraft on the asteroid Bennu
NASA has collected samples from the asteroid Bennu that could yield insights into everything from the origin of life to avoiding an asteroid impact on Earth.
Nokia is building a 4G network on the moon
As part of NASA’s “Tipping Point” program, Nokia will establish a 4G network on the moon to help astronauts communicate with each other and Earth.
Supersonic travel went stale. Can Boom bring it back with new commercial jet?
The startup aims to make supersonic travel available to the public within a decade.
Two dozen “superhabitable” exoplanets may be better than Earth
Earth is successful at supporting life, but it may not be the most successful. These 24 “superhabitable” exoplanets may be even better.
The latest step in manufacturing in space
Made In Space is sending a 3D printer to the ISS in hopes of providing proof-of-concept that microgravity is the place to build precision parts.
Fresh ice spotted in unexpected part of Saturn's moon Enceladus
Saturn’s moon Enceladus is already suspected of hosting extraterrestrial life, and new Cassini data suggests where that life might exist.
Can we turn the moon into a gas station?
NASA is looking to buy moon rocks from private companies. This lunar marketplace will spur the development of new technologies that can extract resources from the moon.
Signs of life found on Venus
Scientists found the gas, phosphine, in Venus’ atmosphere. So far, the only explanation is alien life.
Astronauts lose muscle in space. These mice could hold the solution
Without gravity, astronauts experience muscle and bone loss, limiting mission time. Mice that gain mass in orbit may hold the key to preventing that loss.
New route makes a journey to the moon faster, cheaper
To make a journey to the moon faster, the NASA scientists behind an upcoming moon mission designed a brand new route for their spacecraft to take.
Did life on Earth travel here from Mars?
Bacteria that survived on the outside of the ISS for three years suggests that panspermia is still a viable theory for the origin of life on Earth.
Hackers build a DIY satellite tracker to eavesdrop on space
The NyanSat guided challenge asks hackers to build a satellite tracker, making low-earth-orbit satellites more accessible.
The dwarf planet Ceres may hide a subterranean sea
The largest body in the asteroid belt, the dwarf planet Ceres may hide a salty subterranean sea.
Scientists find a new way to detect space junk orbiting Earth
A new technique for tracking space junk with lasers works during daylight hours — making previously “invisible” space debris visible.
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