Human spaceflight

Latest about Human spaceflight

In this illustration, NASA astronauts drill into the Mars’ subsurface. The agency is creating new maps that show where ice is most likely to be easily accessible to future astronauts.

How does spaceflight affect astronauts' brains? There's good news and bad

By Victoria Corless published

Long-duration spaceflight affects some aspects of astronauts' cognitive health, but the observed impairment was not found to be lasting, a new study finds.

Human Spaceflight
a bald man in a light blue shirt and dark blue pants scrunches his body into a ball around a white piece of metal machinery, floating in a busy spacecraft.

How do astronauts weigh themselves in space?

By Keith Cooper published

Space mysteries In microgravity, astronauts must measure their mass, not their weight, which they can do with two devices on the ISS.

Space mysteries
Photo of a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launching the NS-20 space tourist mission in March 2022.

Blue Origin space tourist launches: Live mission updates

By Mike Wall last updated

Blue Origin's next space tourist mission hasn't yet been announced yet. Here are live updates of what we know.

Human Spaceflight
a smiling woman in an orange flight suit kneels next to a young girl

Documentary director redefines astronaut Eileen Collins as the 'Spacewoman' (interview)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The dictionary defines "spacewoman" as simply "a woman astronaut." In the case of its latest usage, though, the term carries more meaning. "Spacewoman" is a new film about Eileen Collins.

Human Spaceflight

Artemis 2's Orion capsule goes into altitude chamber to prep for 2025 moon mission (photo)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Today, an altitude chamber. Next year, the moon.

Human Spaceflight
China and the U.S. both have big plans for the Moon, but there are a number of reasons why no country could actually claim ownership of any land there.

The US is now at risk of losing to China in the race to send people back to the Moon’s surface

By Jacco van Loon published

In all, 12 Americans landed on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972. Now, both the US and China are preparing to send humans back there this decade.

Human Spaceflight
photo of a small monument featuring the number 7 amid bushes and grass

At 60 years, monument to NASA's Project Mercury still stands, but what of its time capsule?

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A 60-year-old tribute to America's first human spaceflight program is standing up to the test of time, but what about the contents of its time capsule not to be opened until 2464?

Human Spaceflight
European Space Agency reserve astronaut John McFall takes part in a parabolic flight on April 6, 2023 sponsored by the agency and Novespace, in Bordeaux, France. McFall is the first reserve astronaut with a disability.

Recruiting the world’s first disabled astronaut doesn't mean space travel is inclusive – here’s how to change that

By Sean Cullen, Ezgi Merdin Uygur, Vanja Garaj published

How can space agencies and “space tourism” companies make spaceflight more inclusive for disabled astronauts?

Human Spaceflight
four people in red, white and blue shirts float in zero gravity in a cramped laboratory filled with wires and computers

Why can't active NASA astronauts endorse US presidential candidates?

By Brett Tingley published

NASA astronauts can vote from space, but why can't they endorse political candidates? As it turns out, U.S. federal law specifically prohibits them from doing so.

Human Spaceflight
a white rocket with two white side boosters stands on a grey metal platform fixed on a track at the splitting toward two pink decorated hanger buildings

India delays its 1st-ever Gaganyaan astronaut launch to 2026

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

India plans to launch astronauts to Earth orbit no sooner than 2026, roughly a year past the previously known timeline, following a series of uncrewed flight tests slated to begin in December.

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