Space Exploration

Latest about Space Exploration

Five towering starship segments stand near cranes against a blue sky, by a dusty road walked on by a guy in a backwards white ball cap and tshirt.

SpaceX wants Starbase to become an official city in Texas

By Samantha Mathewson published

SpaceX is hoping to officially make its Starbase launch site a new city in South Texas.

Private Spaceflight
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the mPower 7 & 8 satellites for SES from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 17, 2024.

SpaceX launches 2 mPOWER satellites from Florida on 2nd leg of spaceflight doubleheader (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched two communication satellites to orbit from Florida's Space Coast today (Dec. 17) on the second leg of a spaceflight doubleheader.

Launches & Spacecraft
SpaceX conducts a single-engine static fire test with the upper stage of the Flight 7 Starship vehicle. The company posted this photo via X on Dec. 17, 2024.

SpaceX test-fires Starship spacecraft again ahead of Flight 7 launch (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX test-fired the upper stage of its seventh Starship megarocket again recently, practicing an in-space engine burn.

Launches & Spacecraft
SpaceX's CRS-31 Dragon cargo capsule, seen from the International Space Station shortly after undocking on Dec. 16, 2024.

SpaceX’s 31st Dragon cargo capsule returns to Earth with splashdown off Florida coast

By Josh Dinner last updated

SpaceX's 31st robotic Dragon cargo capsule splashed down off the Florida coast today (Dec. 17), a day after undocking from the International Space Station.

International Space Station
closeup of two postage stamps that feature colorful cosmic views

Webb mail: US Priority Mail stamps to again star deep space images in 2025

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The universe of U.S. postage stamps featuring James Webb Space Telescope imagery is set to expand again in 2025. The U.S. Postal Service revealed its Priority Mail and Express flat rate stamps.

James Webb Space Telescope
a bright plume of fire shoots through a dark early morning sky

SpaceX launches 6th batch of next-gen US spy satellites from California (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched the sixth batch of "proliferated architecture" spy satellites for the NRO this morning (Dec. 17) from California's central coast.

Launches & Spacecraft
an astronaut in a black long sleeve shirt floats in a cluttered space station behind a cubical robot with two blue tentacles like bunny ears.

NASA astronaut Suni Williams poses with adorable tentacle-armed Astrobee robot on ISS (photo)

By Samantha Mathewson published

An Astrobee robotic free-flyer with tentacle-like arms was tested in a demonstration experiment aboard the space station.

Tech
an illustration of a four-wheeled robot with long extendable arms

Meet Endurance, a pioneering NASA moon rover designed to survive the frigid lunar night

By Leonard David published

NASA has begun blueprinting the Endurance rover to traverse the gigantic South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin, a wonderland of promising geological surprises.

Moon Rovers
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the RRT-1 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Dec. 16, 2024.

SpaceX launches advanced GPS satellite in 'rapid response' demo for US Space Force (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched an advanced GPS satellite to orbit Monday night (Dec. 16), on a mission that the U.S. Space Force said showcased a new level of responsiveness and readiness.

Launches & Spacecraft
a tall pointy chrome rocket with black belly and white frosty mid section fires its engines on a test stand with smoke billowing to the left.

Watch SpaceX Starship test fire engines ahead of flight 7 launch (video)

By Josh Dinner published

SpaceX fired up its next Starship for an engine test before the rocket's next launch to space.

Launches & Spacecraft
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