Brett Tingley
Brett is curious about emerging aerospace technologies, alternative launch concepts, military space developments and uncrewed aircraft systems. Brett's work has appeared on Scientific American, The War Zone, Popular Science, the History Channel, Science Discovery and more. Brett has English degrees from Clemson University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In his free time, Brett enjoys skywatching throughout the dark skies of the Appalachian mountains.
Latest articles by Brett Tingley
Watch a 100,000-mile-high tower of plasma erupt from the sun in this stunning video
By Brett Tingley published
Astrophotographer Mark Johnston got a front row seat to an epic fireworks show when he filmed a 100,000-mile-high tower of plasma erupting from the sun.
China's mysterious space plane returns to Earth after 268 days in orbit
By Brett Tingley published
China's reusable space plane has landed after spending over 8 months in orbit on a largely secret mission.
NASA's solar sail spacecraft is visible in the night sky. Here's how to see it
By Brett Tingley published
NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) can be seen with the naked eye as it orbits Earth, and can be tracked with a helpful app.
Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory smart telescope review
By Brett Tingley published
Review The Celestron Origin is an easy-to-use smart telescope that will have you producing stunning pictures of deep sky objects in minutes.
Tiny asteroid burns up harmlessly in Earth's atmosphere over Philippines. 'Discovered this morning,' ESA says
By Brett Tingley published
A 3-foot (1-meter) asteroid burned up harmlessly over the Philippines today (Sept. 4) after being detected just this morning.
Shelved NASA spacecraft could spy on asteroid Apophis before 2029 Earth flyby
By Brett Tingley published
NASA is considering pulling a pair of shelved spacecraft out of storage to spy on notorious asteroid Apophis ahead of its April 2029 Earth flyby.
Trump says he'd create a Space National Guard if elected
By Brett Tingley published
Former President Trump said he would create a Space National Guard if elected for a second term this November.
Europe's 1st commercial rocket by RFA explodes on test stand at Scotland spaceport
By Brett Tingley published
Rocket Factory Augsburg's first rocket was destroyed in an explosion on Aug. 19 during a static fire test at Saxavord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands.
Watch Saturn disappear behind the moon in free livestream Aug. 20
By Brett Tingley published
The ringed gas giant and our moon will stroll through the night sky side-by-side, and some parts of Earth will even witness Saturn behind the moon during a lunar occultation.
US Space Force will make history when SpaceX's Crew-9 mission launches in September
By Brett Tingley published
When Crew-9 lifts off no earlier than Sept. 25, Space Force will be launching one of their own active servicemembers from their own launch complex for the first time ever.
Private space launches could double by 2028, FAA says
By Brett Tingley published
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects the number of licensed launches each year to continue rising steeply, potentially reaching 338 by 2028.
SpaceX to resume astronaut launches on Aug. 18 with Crew-9 mission to ISS
By Brett Tingley published
The ninth crew rotation for SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to lift off on Aug. 18 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Park Fire rages across California in dramatic satellite video
By Brett Tingley published
The second-largest wildfire of 2024 continues to rage in northern California, and satellites are watching the destruction unfold.
NASA cancels $450 million VIPER moon rover due to budget concerns
By Brett Tingley published
NASA announced it has ended the VIPER rover project, which was intended to explore the moon in search of ice near the lunar south pole.
Private space-junk probe gets up-close look at discarded rocket in orbit (photo)
By Brett Tingley published
Astroscale's ADRAS-J spacecraft snapped a striking image of a rocket body floating lifeless above a blue-and-white Earth, with the sun's glare reflecting off of it.
SpaceX teases catching Super Heavy booster with 'chopsticks' on upcoming Starship test flight (video)
By Brett Tingley published
SpaceX released a highlight reel from the fourth flight test of the Starship megarocket, which includes a tease of a new capability the company may test on an upcoming flight.
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites, lands Falcon 9 rocket on record 22nd flight (video)
By Brett Tingley published
SpaceX launched and landed one of its Falcon 9 rockets on its 22nd mission on Thursday (June 27), adding another milestone to the company's reusability record.
NASA selects SpaceX to build deorbit vehicle for International Space Station
By Brett Tingley published
NASA has selected SpaceX to develop a vehicle that will bring the International Space Station to a fiery end when the time comes.
Watch GOES-U weather satellite float above a brightly shining Earth in stunning video from space
By Brett Tingley published
Watch as SpaceX's Falcon Heavy second stage deploys the powerful new GOES-U satellite into space as Earth glows in the background.
NASA confirms space debris in North Carolina was from SpaceX Crew Dragon reentry
By Brett Tingley published
NASA has confirmed that pieces of debris found throughout the mountains of North Carolina are the remnants of SpaceX Crew Dragon hardware that reentered the atmosphere in May 2024.
Summer solstice 2024 is here! See celebrations at Stonehenge and beyond (photos)
By Brett Tingley published
Around the world, people celebrated the June 20 solstice in a variety of ways as Earth's north pole reached its greatest tilt towards the sun.
Stoke Space test-fires engine for upcoming fully reusable rocket (photos)
By Brett Tingley published
Stoke Space has announced the first successful hot-fire engine test for its Nova launch vehicle, which the company calls the "most robust, fully and rapidly reusable medium-lift rocket in the world."
NASA wants new ideas for its troubled Mars Sample Return mission
By Brett Tingley published
NASA's Mars Sample Return mission has faced quite a few hurdles, and the agency has selected ten studies to try and find more affordable and quicker means of going about the project.
US military test launches 2 unarmed intercontinental ballistic missiles in 2 days
By Brett Tingley published
The United States Air Force and U.S. Space Force conducted two routine test launches of unarmed intercontinental ballistic missiles this week from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
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