Hanneke Weitering
Hanneke Weitering is a multimedia journalist in the Pacific Northwest reporting on the future of aviation at FutureFlight.aero and Aviation International News and was previously the Editor for Spaceflight and Astronomy news here at Space.com. As an editor with over 10 years of experience in science journalism she has previously written for Scholastic Classroom Magazines, MedPage Today and The Joint Institute for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After studying physics at the University of Tennessee in her hometown of Knoxville, she earned her graduate degree in Science, Health and Environmental Reporting (SHERP) from New York University. Hanneke joined the Space.com team in 2016 as a staff writer and producer, covering topics including spaceflight and astronomy. She currently lives in Seattle, home of the Space Needle, with her cat and two snakes. In her spare time, Hanneke enjoys exploring the Rocky Mountains, basking in nature and looking for dark skies to gaze at the cosmos.
Latest articles by Hanneke Weitering

NASA wants a return to the moon in 2024. New human spaceflight chief makes no guarantees.
By Hanneke Weitering published
Kathy Lueders, the first woman to lead NASA's human spaceflight program, will helm the agency's return to the moon.

NASA completes investigation on flawed Boeing Starliner capsule test flight
By Hanneke Weitering published
NASA has completed its investigation into Boeing's problematic first test flight of a Starliner crew capsule as the company and agency look toward a second test flight sometime this year.

Astronauts are taking a spacewalk outside their space station today. Watch it live!
By Hanneke Weitering published
Two NASA astronauts will venture outside the International Space Station for a spacewalk today (July 1), and you can watch it live online.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo aces 2nd glide flight over Spaceport America
By Hanneke Weitering published
Virgin Galactic successfully completed a second test flight of its SpaceShipTwo space plane from the company's New Mexico spaceport on Thursday (June 25).

Kathy Lueders, NASA's 1st female spaceflight chief, will guide a US return to the moon
By Hanneke Weitering published
She expects 'really big things' from future women in space.

Elon Musk 'overcome with emotion' after SpaceX's 1st astronaut launch
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
SpaceX founder Elon Musk was choked up with emotion after his company successfully launched astronauts to space for the first time on Saturday (May 30).

SpaceX's Crew Dragon has that 'new car smell' and flies 'totally different' than a NASA shuttle
By Hanneke Weitering published
It was "huffing and puffing" on the way to orbit, astronauts say.

What time is SpaceX's Demo-2 astronaut launch for NASA?
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
Mark your calendars!

Here's the weather forecast for SpaceX's 2nd astronaut launch attempt on Saturday
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
If it weren't for the weather, SpaceX would have made history Wednesday (May 27). Now the company will have to wait another three days to try again — if Mother Nature cooperates.

How SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission will work in 13 steps
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
Here's a step-by-step explainer of what will happen during SpaceX's first Crew Dragon mission with astronauts, from prelaunch preparations to splashdown.

For SpaceX's historic astronaut launch, the stakes have never been higher
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
The stakes have never been higher for SpaceX, which is poised to become the first commercial spaceflight company to launch NASA astronauts to space on Wednesday (May 27).

SpaceX, NASA give final 'go' for historic astronaut launch Wednesday
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
SpaceX is officially "go" to launch two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station this week after the final launch readiness review. But some bad weather could potentially cause delays.

A NASA astronaut launched a model rocket on eve of his own historic SpaceX launch
By Hanneke Weitering published
On the eve of his historic launch on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, NASA astronaut Bob Behnken got ready for the big day by launching a rocket of his own.

How long will the 1st astronauts to ride SpaceX's Crew Dragon be in space? No one knows exactly (yet).
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
Two NASA astronauts will make history this month when they fly to the International Space Station in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. But how long their mission will last has yet to be determined.

Why did NASA's human spaceflight chief Doug Loverro abruptly resign?
By Hanneke Weitering published
Space.com spoke with NASA's former human spaceflight chief Doug Loverro, who abruptly resigned on the eve of a historic launch with little explanation.

NASA renames WFIRST space telescope after astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, the 'Mother of Hubble'
By Hanneke Weitering published
NASA has renamed its Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) to honor the renowned astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, also known as the "mother of Hubble."

Annie Glenn, widow of 1st American astronaut in orbit John Glenn, dies at 100
By Hanneke Weitering published
Annie Glenn, widow of the late NASA astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn — the first American to orbit the Earth — has passed away at the age of 100, NASA announced today.

Mars orbiter finds evidence of ancient, long-lived rivers on the Red Planet
By Hanneke Weitering published
Rivers could have been raging on ancient Mars for hundreds of thousands of years, a new study finds.

See the moon near Jupiter and Saturn in the predawn sky Tuesday
By Hanneke Weitering published
The moon will make a close approach to Jupiter and Saturn in the predawn sky on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

Newfound black hole is the closest one to Earth we've ever found
By Hanneke Weitering published
A newfound black hole may be the closest black hole to Earth, and you can spot its cosmic home in the night sky without a telescope.

Flashy 'dance' of two monster black holes captured by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
If two black holes tango in space but astronomers cannot see them, can we still admire their flashy dance moves?

See the big asteroid 1998 OR2 just before its Earth flyby in a Slooh webcast today
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
A big asteroid will safely fly by Earth early tomorrow morning (April 29), and you can watch it approach our planet in real time tonight with a free webcast from the Slooh online observatory.

Venus shines at its brightest of the year tonight! Here's how to see it.
By Hanneke Weitering published
Venus, the most brilliant planet in the night sky, will be shining at its brightest tonight (April 28).

Mile-long asteroid 1998 OR2 dons 'mask' before Earth flyby (photos)
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
The huge "potentially hazardous" asteroid 1998 OR2, which will safely fly by Earth on April 29, appears to have brought its own face mask for its close encounter with our pandemic-ridden planet.

Russia is launching a cargo ship to the International Space Station today. Watch it live!
By Hanneke Weitering published
Russia will launch a cargo resupply spacecraft to the International Space Station today (April 24), and you can watch the launch and docking live online.
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