Space

China’s Moon Missions Could Threaten U.S. Satellites: Pentagon

A concept of an orbital moon station from Boeing.

A satellite on the far side of the moon might not be quite what the Chinese say, Air Force official warns.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One

Could Do-It-Yourself AI Make People More Comfortable with It?

As artificial intelligence makes strides in government, it could be helpful to see for yourself what the tech can do.

  • By John Breeden II
An artist's impression of the InSight lander on Mars. An artist's impression of the InSight lander on Mars.

NASA Designed a Special Claw For the Mars Insight Lander

The claw is essential for investigating the red planet.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover NASA's Curiosity Mars rover

NASA Made the Mars Curiosity Rover Switch Brains

No, NASA can't do this process on people.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

Are the U.S. Space Forces Starting to Muster?

It's still the final frontier.

  • By John Breeden II
An Apollo astronaut on a moonwalk in 1971 An Apollo astronaut on a moonwalk in 1971

The Moon Is Open for Business

Commercial companies are proposing lunar missions at a pace the world hasn’t seen since the Apollo program.

  • By Marina Koren, The Atlantic

NASA's Mini-Satellite Could Improve Your Weather Forecast

This tiny device is designed to track massive storms.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

NASA’s Beloved Mars Rovers Are Having a Rough Year

One was felled by a dust storm. And now the other has been sidelined by a technical glitch.

  • By Marina Koren, The Atlantic

Watch a Space Robot Capture a Runaway Satellite With its Net

Space debris like an errant satellite can pose a risk to other things in orbit.

  • By Tim Fernholz, Quartz

NASA’s First Female Chief Spaceflight Director is Holly Ridings

Ridings will lead all human spaceflight missions from Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

  • By Jane C. Hu, Quartz
This enhanced satellite image made available by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Florence, upper left, in the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. This enhanced satellite image made available by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Florence, upper left, in the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018.

NOAA Invests in a Second Round of Commercial Weather Data

The agency announced a second round of awards for its Commercial Weather Data Pilot as it preps for a third.

  • By Aaron Boyd
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying two U.S.-German science satellites and five commercial communications satellites blasts off from Vandenberg Air Force base. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying two U.S.-German science satellites and five commercial communications satellites blasts off from Vandenberg Air Force base.

SpaceX: We’ll Consider Launching Space Weapons If Asked

Elon Musk’s rocket startup says it might join the space arms race.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One

NASA's Space Probes Shouldn't Be Tacky Billboards

Apollo, Voyager, Hubble … The Dorito?

  • By Marina Koren, The Atlantic

Launching Rogue Satellites Into Space Was a ‘Mistake’

Sara Spangelo says she isn’t rebellious by nature. So why did she defy federal regulators?

  • By Marina Koren, The Atlantic
A Soyuz capsule mated to the International Space Station in August 2018. A Soyuz capsule mated to the International Space Station in August 2018.

A Tiny Hole in the Soyuz Spacecraft Could Be a Huge Headache for NASA

This puts more pressure on Boeing and SpaceX to fly astronauts.

  • By Tim Fernholz, Quartz

$600 Million Satellite Imagery Contract Shifts from One Intel Agency to Another

Management of the EnhancedView commercial satellite imagery contract shifted from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to the National Reconnaissance Office.

  • By Aaron Boyd

NASA Is Waiting for the Opportunity Rover to Phone Home

Scientists and researchers are standing by.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
A Delta IV rocket, carrying the Parker Solar Probe, lifts off from launch complex 37 at the Kennedy Space Center, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. A Delta IV rocket, carrying the Parker Solar Probe, lifts off from launch complex 37 at the Kennedy Space Center, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

For First Time in 3 Years, NASA Is Shopping For New Spacecraft

At first, NASA officials didn’t think they’d see anything new in commercial spacecraft this year. Now they’re taking a second look.

  • By Aaron Boyd
This "Catstronaut" selfie was taken with NASA's new app. This "Catstronaut" selfie was taken with NASA's new app.

NASA App Lets You Explore the Stars Using VR

Space selfie time!

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
A Falcon 9 SpaceX heavy rocket lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. A Falcon 9 SpaceX heavy rocket lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018.

How Rocket-Makers Ensure 3D Printed Parts Are Strong Enough for Space

X-rays and microscopes are involved.

  • By Tim Fernholz, Quartz