Leonard David
Leonard David is an award-winning space journalist who has been reporting on space activities for more than 50 years. Currently writing as Space.com's Space Insider Columnist among his other projects, Leonard has authored numerous books on space exploration, Mars missions and more, with his latest being "Moon Rush: The New Space Race" published in 2019 by National Geographic. He also wrote "Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet" released in 2016 by National Geographic. Leonard has served as a correspondent for SpaceNews, Scientific American and Aerospace America for the AIAA. He has received many awards, including the first Ordway Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History in 2015 at the AAS Wernher von Braun Memorial Symposium. You can find out Leonard's latest project at his website and on Twitter.
Latest articles by Leonard David
UFOs 101: Hype, uproar, disinformation and mystery: 'Here we are again.'
By Leonard David published
UFOs are making headlines again, but lost in the hype and ruckus is the question of when this all started and how we got to this point.
Polaris Dawn crew prepares for world's 1st private spacewalk with SpaceX
By Leonard David published
The crewmembers of the Polaris Dawn mission are busily training for their orbital flight early next year, one that will see the first commercial spacewalk.
Surviving the lunar night can be a challenge for astronauts on the moon
By Leonard David last updated
As multiple nations plot out their moon exploration strategies, how best to survive the lunar night gives space engineers the cold sweats.
US military's X-37B space plane zooms past 900 days in orbit
By Leonard David published
The U.S. military's X-37B robotic space plane just passed 900 days in orbit on its latest hush-hush mission, adding to the program's flight-duration record.
Getting space junk under control may require an attitude shift
By Leonard David last updated
It's important to start taking action against space junk now, experts say, because Earth orbit is only going to get more congested.
Chinese launch next week will set stage for another big space-junk crash
By Leonard David published
The Long March 5B rocket expected to launch China's Mengtian module on Oct. 31 will likely fall back to Earth uncontrolled a week or so later.
Landing on Mars: Keep straight and fly right for Martian touchdown success
By Leonard David published
Touching safely down on Mars is a true, nail biting event. Landing securely on Mars remains a delicate balance of technical skill, mixed in with hard-earned luck.
Contact with ET: How would humanity react?
By Leonard David last updated
The knowledge that we're not alone in the universe could have far-reaching effects on our view of ourselves and our place in the universe. But it's tough to get more specific than that.
Can we live long and prosper in space? The astronaut health dilemma
By Leonard David last updated
Space life scientists are pushing for the development of an international database on long-term health effects of spaceflight.
Russia delays launch of Luna 25 moon lander to 2023
By Leonard David published
Russia's reactivation of lunar exploration via its robotic Luna 25 lander has slipped to 2023.
Space junk threat: Researchers working to reduce impact of falling debris
By Leonard David published
Researchers are working to come up with ways to mitigate the space junk problem, one of which would use fabrication concepts to reduce the size of debris pieces that make it to Earth.
In Trouble on the Moon? A 911 Call for a Search and Rescue Organization
By Leonard David published
Given all of the planned international lunar activity, emergencies could happen that will call for the unconstrained mobilization of all possible aids.
Meteor crater: The hole from space that keeps on giving
By Leonard David last updated
The huge, bowl-shaped Meteor Crater in Arizona that was formed some 50,000 years ago continues to yield new information, surprisingly so.
On the trail of unidentified aerial phenomenon: the Galileo Project looks ahead
By Leonard David last updated
The Galileo Project is the first systematic scientific research program in a search for artifacts or remnants of extraterrestrial technological civilizations.
Rocket Lab planning to launch private Venus mission in May 2023
By Leonard David last updated
Rocket Lab aims to send a probe to Venus soon, and a new paper lays out the details of the ambitious mission.
Where will NASA set up its moon base?
By Leonard David last updated
Artemis Base Camp will be established in the moon's south polar region, in a to-be-determined spot that features plentiful sunlight, direct-to-Earth communications and good access to water ice.
Probing the Red Planet: Finding past life at Jezero Crater
By Leonard David last updated
Perseverance Mars rover is gathering up samples of Martian rock and soil that could help tease out an answer concerning past life on Mars.
Pluto explorer deep dives to the Titanic
By Leonard David published
For planetary scientist Alan Stern, witnessing the 20th century deep sea sarcophagus that is the Titanic serves up analogies to spaceflight.
Space philosopher Frank White on 'The Overview Effect' and humanity's connection with Earth
By Leonard David published
Frank White's "overview effect" has increasingly become iconic for explaining a very human condition attached to the space travel experience.
South Korea is ready to launch its 1st moon mission
By Leonard David last updated
The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, also known as Danuri, is scheduled to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket next Tuesday (Aug. 2).
The amazing eye and insight of NASA space photographer Bill Ingalls
By Leonard David published
Bill Ingalls has been a professional photographer for three decades and has served as the Senior Contract Photographer for NASA Headquarters since 1989.
Interstellar probe: Has its time finally come?
By Leonard David last updated
Launching an interstellar probe sounds exceedingly lofty, ambitious, and tough to do. But there's no need to wait for new technology, say advocates.
Alien hunters should look for city lights from 'urbanized planets,' study suggests
By Leonard David published
Scientists searching for signs of extraterrestrial technology should keep an eye out for city lights on exoplanets, a new study suggests.
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