Meghan Bartels
Meghan is a senior writer at Space.com and has more than five years' experience as a science journalist based in New York City. She joined Space.com in July 2018, with previous writing published in outlets including Newsweek and Audubon. Meghan earned an MA in science journalism from New York University and a BA in classics from Georgetown University, and in her free time she enjoys reading and visiting museums. Follow her on Twitter at @meghanbartels.
Latest articles by Meghan Bartels
James Webb Space Telescope tweaks observing plans to avoid micrometeoroids
By Meghan Bartels last updated
After taking a few hits, NASA's newest space telescope will adjust its observation strategy to avoid its mirror being struck by tiny space rocks.
Artemis 1's Orion capsule sends Earth 1st image of home on the way to the moon
By Meghan Bartels published
Artemis 1 has sent home its first stunning image from what will be a 25-day mission through deep space.
Where DOES Space Begin? Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Flies Right into the Debate
By Meghan Bartels last updated
'Hidden Figure' Katherine Johnson Tells Her Own Story in Young Readers' Book
By Meghan Bartels last updated
Happy Birthday, Katherine Johnson! 'Hidden Figures' Math Whiz Celebrates Her 101st.
By Meghan Bartels last updated
Katherine Johnson, a retired NASA mathematician of "Hidden Figures" fame, turned 101 today (Aug. 26).
Katherine Johnson, pioneering NASA mathematician of 'Hidden Figures' fame, dies at 101
By Meghan Bartels last updated
Katherine Johnson, whose career making vital calculations for NASA was immortalized in the 2016 book and movie "Hidden Figures," has died at 101.
Red Planet's massive dust storm finally weakening as Mars changes seasons
By Meghan Bartels published
A massive dust storm on Mars that threatened a NASA lander is finally fading away.
NASA's ailing Mars lander feels shockwaves from ice-blasting meteoroid impact
By Meghan Bartels published
Christmas came one day early for a robotic geologist stationed on the Red Planet.
Uranus moons beckon to plans for a NASA orbiter mission to the sideways world
By Meghan Bartels published
Uranus is a strange world, knocked on its side and with a lopsided magnetic field. Its moons may be even stranger.
NASA's DART asteroid crash: What scientists have learned about Dimorphos so far
By Meghan Bartels published
Smashing a spacecraft into an asteroid isn't NASA's usual approach to planetary science, but it was certainly an opportunity nonetheless.
Hubble Space Telescope sees unexpected twin 'tails' from NASA asteroid impact
By Meghan Bartels published
A week or two after a NASA spacecraft slammed into an asteroid, scientists have spotted something unexpected: The space rock has grown two tails.
James Webb Space Telescope still performing better than expected despite glitch, micrometeoroids
By Meghan Bartels published
NASA's newest space telescope is hard at work despite an ongoing instrument glitch and continuing small micrometeoroid strikes.
Scientists just detected an earthquake from a balloon and might be able to do it on Venus, too
By Meghan Bartels last updated
Researchers have detected an earthquake using instruments flying in a balloon above California, and the technology could one day detect quakes on Venus.
Puerto Rico's Iconic Arecibo Observatory Closed by Major Earthquake
By Meghan Bartels last updated
Staff at Puerto Rico's iconic Arecibo Observatory are monitoring the facility for potential damage in the midst of a spate of earthquakes rocking the island.
NASA's asteroid scout zips past Earth today on 1st launch anniversary
By Meghan Bartels published
A deep-space mission is celebrating the first anniversary of its launch from Earth by zipping closer to the planet than the International Space Station's orbit.
NASA's TESS exoplanet hunter in safe mode after computer glitch
By Meghan Bartels last updated
NASA's TESS mission to spot exoplanets is in safe mode after a computer glitch hit the spacecraft on Monday (Oct. 10).
Fallen Arecibo Observatory telescope won't be rebuilt despite scientists' hopes
By Meghan Bartels last updated
Puerto Rico's iconic radio telescope, which collapsed in 2020, won't be rebuilt, although the site will see a new education center open next year.
Mysterious dust ring around Uranus spotted in rediscovered Voyager 2 data
By Meghan Bartels published
Scientists have uncovered a new mystery about Uranus' rings buried deep in data from NASA's iconic Voyager 2 mission.
NASA's DART impact changed asteroid's orbit forever in planetary defense test
By Meghan Bartels last updated
A dramatic asteroid crash that slammed a NASA probe into a space rock in a first-of-its-kind test to defend our planet was more effective than scientists dreamed possible.
Why NASA's Mars rover Perseverance will use nuclear power to keep itself warm
By Meghan Bartels last updated
A spacecraft is only as strong as its power source, which is why when NASA was designing its Perseverance Mars rover, the agency turned to radioactive plutonium.
NASA's Perseverance rover is the 1st spacecraft in years to carry fresh US plutonium. It won't be the last.
By Meghan Bartels last updated
Deep inside some of NASA's most venerable spacecraft beat similar plutonium-filled hearts to warm and power the robots.
Massive Mars dust storm threatens NASA's InSight lander
By Meghan Bartels last updated
Scientists have acknowledged for months that the mission's end was near, and now, a continent-size dust storm is darkening the Martian skies, further impacting power production.
The asteroid targets of this NASA mission are turning out to be very strange
By Meghan Bartels published
NASA's Lucy spacecraft still has five years of trekking through space before it sees its first Trojan asteroid, but mission scientists are already getting a sense of what these rocks look like.
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