Russia’s Space Program Is in Big Trouble
A set of Soyuz spacecraft coolant leaks hints that Roscosmos is struggling as the space agency loses international partnerships and funding.
What Lit the Lamps That Let Humanity Measure the Universe
Type Ia supernovas are astronomers’ best tools for measuring cosmic distances. In a first, researchers recreated one on a supercomputer to learn how they form.
The World’s First 3D-Printed Rocket Is About to Launch
Relativity Space’s attempt to reach orbit heralds the increasing use of 3D printing in the space sector.
Tiny, Explosive ‘Jetlets’ Might Be Fueling the Solar Wind
Scientists investigated a weird feature in Parker Solar Probe data—and may have discovered what drives the plasma that pervades the solar system.
What Will Ethical Space Exploration Look Like?
Astrophysicist and ‘Off-Earth’ author Erika Nesvold maps out the questions we need to ask before living on other planets.
No, the James Webb Space Telescope Hasn’t Broken Cosmology
Reports that the JWST killed the reigning cosmological model have been exaggerated. But there’s still much to learn from the distant galaxies it glimpses.
On-Demand Rocket Launches Are Coming
In a factory on the outskirts of Glasgow, aerospace manufacturer Skyrora is building rockets for a space-bound taxi service for satellites.
A Tiny Sun in a Jar Is Shedding Light on Solar Flares
This new lab experiment explores the physics involved in our star’s tumultuous interior regions—by creating a sphere of plasma.
Rovers Are So Yesterday. It’s Time to Send a Snakebot to Space
The student winners of a NASA competition designed a serpentine bot that could sidewind across lunar regolith or roll down hills.