A Long March 2C rocket launched three Yaogan-43 spy satellites to orbit from southwestern China on Oct. 22, marking the third liftoff of the mysterious satellite series.
Space News & Blog Articles
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SpaceX Crew-8 astronaut hospitalized in Pensacola after Dragon splashdown, in 'stable condition'
Four astronauts aboard SpaceX Crew-8 went to a Pensacola hospital shortly after their splashdown. NASA said the visit was done as a precaution.
NASA's Robonaut-2 reunited with its ride into space at Smithsonian
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.
Here are Some Potentially Habitable World Targets for the Upcoming LIFE Mission
The odds are good that we are not alone in the Universe. We have found thousands of exoplanets so far, and there are likely billions of potentially habitable planets in our galaxy alone. But finding evidence of extraterrestrial life is challenging, and even the most powerful telescopes we currently have may not produce definitive proof. But there are telescopes in the pipeline that may uncover life. It will be decades before they are built and launched, but when they are, which systems should they target first? That’s the question answered in a recent paper.
NASA's solar-sailing spacecraft has a bent boom and is still tumbling in Earth orbit (photo)
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.
Returning astronauts taken to “local medical facility” after initial checks aboard recovery ship
The four members of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission wave after the side hatch opens following their return to Earth on Oct. 25, 2024. Left to right: Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, pilot Michael Barratt, commander Matthew Dominick, astronaut Jeanette Epps. Image: SpaceX
Three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut returned to Earth early Friday, splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico to close out an extended 235-day expedition to the International Space Station. After initial medical checks, all four were flown to a nearby medical facility for “additional evaluation,” NASA said.
A meteorite 200 times bigger than the dinosaur-killing asteroid helped life on Earth flourish
The destructive power of asteroids is undeniable — just ask the dinosaurs. New research suggests a huge space rock that struck Earth over 3 billion years ago may have benefitted early life.
Setting the course in space: highlights from IAC 2024
Video: 00:06:03
From 14 to 18 October 2024, the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) returned for its 75th edition, and ESA took on a front-centre role, from presenting Europe’s future space ambitions and showcasing major steps towards them, to addressing global challenges alongside other world space leaders. Held at the Milano Congress Centre (MiCo), the largest conference venue in Europe, the event brought together more than 11 000 experts from industry, research institutions, and space agencies worldwide. The first four days featured a comprehensive programme of events and presentations for professionals and stakeholders, while the final day was open to the public.
Listen to haunting sounds of Earth's magnetic field flipping 41,000 years ago in eerie new animation
A new video shows how Earth's magnetic field weakened and warped before temporarily flipping during a recent "polar reversal event."
Thin cool surface skin boosts ocean’s carbon uptake
New research, partially funded by ESA, reveals that the cool ‘ocean skin’ allows oceans to absorb more atmospheric carbon dioxide than previously thought. These findings could enhance global carbon assessments, shaping more effective emission-reduction policies.
Seven ways navigation tech contributes to sustainability
What does satellite navigation have to do with sustainable development? Quite a lot, in fact. Satnav and other positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies provide critical data that support green solutions across numerous sectors. From enabling smart mobility to optimising energy grids and facilitating precision farming, the potential for PNT to drive sustainability is immense.
Earth from Space: Northern Ohio
Image: This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image showcases the rich agricultural landscape of northern Ohio in the mid-western of the United States.
Crew-8 astronauts splash down on SpaceX Dragon Endeavour after weather delays
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.
Chinese Company is Taking Space Tourism Orders for 2027 Flights
China has some bold plans for space research and exploration that will be taking place in the coming decades. This includes doubling the size of their Tiangong space station, sending additional robotic missions to the Moon, and building the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) around the lunar south pole. They also hope to begin sending crewed missions to Mars by 2033, becoming the first national space agency to do so. Not to be left behind in the commercial space sector, China is also looking to create a space tourism industry that offers suborbital flights for customers.
Live coverage: Crew-8 splashdown off the coast of Pensacola, Florida
Three U.S. astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut are closing in on their return to Earth after spending more than seven months in space.
Measuring How Much Dust Spacecraft Kick Up When they Land
The arrival of spacecraft on alien worlds uses a number of different techniques from giant air bags to parachutes and small rockets. The use of rockets can pose a problem to onboard technology though as the dust kicked up can effect sensors and cameras and the landing site can be disturbed in the process. A team of researchers have developed a new instrument that can measure the dust that is kicked up on landing to inform future instrument design.
Chinese company Deep Blue Aerospace plans to start launching space tourists in 2027
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.
Watch sun erupt in 1st images from NOAA's groundbreaking new satellite (photos)
NOAA shared new images taken by the world's first operational space-based coronagraph, CCOR-1, captured during a solar storm outburst.
Did Some of Earth’s Water Come from the Solar Wind?
The source of Earth’s water is an enduring mystery that extends to exoplanets and the notion of habitability. In broad terms, Earth’s water was either part of the planet from the beginning of its formation in the solar nebula or delivered later, maybe by asteroids and comets.
