Space Exploration

Latest about Space Exploration

a triple-core rocket blasts off under a sunny, partly cloudy blue sky. smoke expands below next to an obscured launch tower, near a long white hanger with SPACEX written on the side. To the left, a bird flies away.

Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?

By Tariq Malik, Josh Dinner last updated

Follow Space.com's rocket launch blog for the latest on when the next rocket launch will be and how to follow it live.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white-tipped black rocket stands against a backdrop of snowy hills and a cloudy bright sky.

Watch 1st-ever orbital rocket launch from European soil early on March 30

By Josh Dinner last updated

Isar Aerospace is set to launch its new Spectrum rocket from Europe's first orbit-capable spaceport facility in Norway.

Launches & Spacecraft
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 members stand inside the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. From left are Mission Specialist Kimiya Yui from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Commander NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Mission Specialist Oleg Platonov of Roscosmos, and Pilot NASA astronaut Mike Fincke.

NASA astronaut who gave up seat for Starliner crew takes command of SpaceX Crew-11 flight to ISS

By Mike Wall published

Zena Cardman, who was removed from an ISS launch to facilitate the return to Earth of Starliner's first crew, will command SpaceX's upcoming Crew-11 mission to the station.

International Space Station
an image of two spiral galaxies that appear to be one colorful, strangely-shaped galaxy.

James Webb Space Telescope discovers 2 galaxies forming breathtaking 'cosmic lens': Space photo of the day

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The space telescope's image of a odd-looking spiral galaxy is, in reality, two distant galaxies overlapping each other.

James Webb Space Telescope

This spacecraft swarm could spot interstellar visitors zipping through our solar system

By Stefanie Waldek published

Hiroyasu Tsukamota has developed a deep-learning-based guidance and control framework called Neural-Rendezvous that could allow spacecraft to safely encounter interstellar objects.

Tech
The astronauts of SpaceX's Fram2 mission, which will fly over Earth's poles. From left to right: Mission specialist and medical officer Eric Phillips, pilot Rabea Rogge, vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen and commander Chun Wang.

Meet the astronauts of SpaceX's Fram2 mission, the 1st to fly over Earth's poles

By Julian Dossett published

The crew of SpaceX's pioneering Fram2 mission includes a polar explorer, a marine technology scientist, a filmmaker and a bitcoin magnate.

Human Spaceflight
rows of starlink satellites in the lower left portion of the image with Earth in the background and a slither of black space in the lower right side of the image.

Starlink satellites: Facts, tracking and impact on astronomy

By Tereza Pultarova last updated

Reference Starlink satellites have been developed by SpaceX to provide internet to remote locations. Here we explore the controversial megaconstellation in more detail.

Reference

Starlink satellite train: how to see and track it in the night sky

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference Starlink satellites are visible from Earth, you just need to know when and where to look.

Reference
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is pictured docked to the Harmony module’s forward port at the International Space Station.

Boeing's next Starliner launch for NASA could slip to early 2026 after fixes

By Mike Wall published

NASA and Boeing are still working on the thruster issues that Starliner experienced on its first crewed flight last year, so the capsule's next liftoff is a ways off yet.

International Space Station
ULA's second Vulcan Centaur rocket lifts off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Oct. 4, 2024.

US Space Force certifies new Vulcan Centaur rocket to launch national security missions

By Mike Wall published

The U.S. Space Force has certified ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket to launch national security missions, doubling the number of providers for such flights.

Launches & Spacecraft
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