How NASA Is Protecting Its Precious Asteroid Bennu Sample
The OSIRIS-REx capsule containing a “treasure trove” of space rocks has now arrived at Johnson Space Center, where scientists will gingerly unpack it.
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Is About to Bring Asteroid Pieces Back to Earth
The OSIRIS-REx probe is carrying rock samples from the asteroid Bennu, millions of miles away. If it works, it will be only the third such retrieval in history.
The Dumb Alien Mummy Story Takes an Entirely Predictable Turn
A week ago, two bodies believed to be a muddle of human and animal bones were presented in Mexico’s Congress as proof of alien life. Now the scientific community is fighting back.
A Pair of Sun Probes Just Got Closer to Solving a Solar Enigma
The solar corona is hotter than expected, and scientists are using European Space Agency and NASA spacecraft to figure out why.
SpaceX Must Fix 63 Issues Before Its Starship Can Fly Again
Following a joint “mishap investigation” by SpaceX and the FAA, the federal agency listed 63 issues that must be addressed before launches can resume at the Texas site.
Russia and India Are Racing to Put Landers on the Moon
Robotic spacecraft from both countries are aiming to touch down on the moon’s southern hemisphere, as one’s space program waxes and the other wanes.
The Space Force Is Launching Its Own Swarm of Tiny Satellites
Defense satellites used to be big, costly, and “juicy” targets for attack. Now the Pentagon is aiming for a more resilient network of nearly 1,000 mini orbiters.
The Space Force Is Launching Its Own Swarm of Tiny Satellites
Defense satellites used to be big, costly, and “juicy” targets for attack. Now the Pentagon is aiming for a more resilient network of nearly 1,000 mini orbiters.
A New Idea for How to Assemble Life
How would scientists even recognize biological signs of life beyond Earth? Assembly theory proposes a way to identify molecules made by living systems—even those using unfamiliar chemistries.