Interstellar comets are the original cosmic explorers, and by studying their metallic whispers, we are learning the secrets of worlds we may never see directly.
In this period of heightened geopolitical flux, enthusiasm for advances in planetary exploration can be dampened. But that's not stopping NASA from forging ahead in its efforts.
Origami and space exploration might not seem like they have much in common, but the traditional paper-folding technique solves one massive problem for space exploration missions - volume. Satellites and probes that launch in rocket housings are constrained by very restrictive requirements about their physical size, and options for assembling larger structures in orbit are limited to say the least. Anything that can fold up like an origami structure and then expand out to reach a fully functional size is welcome in the space community, and a new paper published in Communications Engineering by Xin Ning of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and his lab describes a novel use case for the idea - electromagnetic waveguides.
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For its most powerful flight yet, Ariane 6 lifts off for the first time with four boosters.
A new proposal suggests borrowing the "Conference of the Parties" model from climate diplomacy to update space law before orbital congestion and lunar competition escalate.
A major theme in communist governments is the idea of central planning. Every five years, the central authorities in communist countries lay out their goals for the country over the course of the next five years, which can range from limiting infant mortality to increasing agricultural yield. China, the largest current polity ruled by communists, recently released its fifteenth five-year plan, which lays out its priorities for 2026-2030. This one, accompanied by a press release of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the country’s state-owned giant aerospace corporation, has plenty of ambitious goals for its space sector.
There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to building the world's largest telescope.
Early rises — and late night skywatchers — will get the chance to spot a wealth of spectacular sights on the lunar surface.
Astronomers have discovered three still-growing galaxy clusters in the early universe that point to a faster track of evolution than expected.
Scientists analyzing decades-old NASA's Magellan data have identified only the second reported lava tube on Venus.
The next solar eclipse will be on Feb. 17, 2026. Here's what you need to know.
This is Part 2 of a series on large extra dimensions. Read Part 1.
The Aurora Borealis and Australis have dazzled and inspired all those who have beheld them since time immemorial. Much like the Moon, stars, constellations, and planets, they are considered a permanent part of our shared cultural heritage. These awe-inspiring displays of light are the result of charged particles from our Sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field. However, there remain unanswered questions about the mechanisms that power aurorae that scientists have been hoping to resolve for decades. For example, there's the question of what powers the electrical fields that accelerate these particles.
Ready for Super Sunday? Huddle up for our out-of-this-world roundup of Big Game ads for the ages
The Orion constellation is home to some of the most luminous stars in our Milky Way galaxy.
Five ways dismantling NCAR will cost the American people, and two ways to save it.
Trapped somewhere between the big ideas of "2001" and the fun of a galaxy far, far away, this 1979 movie is a true space oddity.
Falling launch costs and private innovation are fueling a new space race, transforming Earth orbit into a fast-growing global marketplace.
The nine Merlin 1D engines at the base of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket briefly ignited during a static fire test of the vehicle on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. This test was a precursor to the launch of Crew-12 to the International Space Station. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now
An early morning rocket engine test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station brings NASA and SpaceX one step closer to flying the next long duration mission to the International Space Station.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 25 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Feb. 7, 2025. The mission returned the Falcon to flight after an upper stage issue.
With the astronauts of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission safely home, NASA is moving ahead with preparations for the launch of the Crew-12 mission. The crew will launch for the International Space Station (ISS) no sooner than Wednesday, Feb. 11th. It will consist of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (commander) and Jack Hathaway (pilot), ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot (mission specialist), and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev (mission specialist). Once they reach the ISS, select crew members will participate in human health studies designed to assess how astronauts' bodies adapt to long periods spent in space.
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