Space Travel

Philae's final resting spot on the comet. If you look closely the robotic lander's raised leg can be seen in the middle of the image's right edge.

After Two Years of Searching, Comet Lander Philae Finally Found

Photographs of the small probe come just weeks before the mission ends with Rosetta’s comet touchdown

Boldly going where no curatorial object has gone before.

The Mission to Restore the Original Starship Enterprise

The beloved 1960s studio model stars in <em>Building Star Trek</em>, a documentary premiering on Smithsonian Channel this Sunday

A Falcon 9 explodes on the launch pad, 9:07 a.m. on September 1, 2016.

SpaceX Explosion Sets Back Launch Date, Hopes

The Falcon 9 blow up may be a sign that Elon Musk is moving too fast

An "astronaut" walks outside of the HI-SEAS dome on Mauna Loa.

Crew From NASA's Yearlong Mars Simulation Finally Emerges From the Dome

Would-be Martians say aloha to a challenging experiment

The first photo of Earth from the moon was taken on August 23, 1966.

Fifty Years Ago, This Photo Captured the First View of Earth From the Moon

And Earth’s view of itself changed forever

This crater with curious ridges in its center is a possible future site for exploration

Explore Far Out Views From Mars' Surface With Over 1,000 New Photos

It's the Martian "magic hour"

NASA put a man on the moon, but it's been tricky to hold onto the bags used to bring back lunar samples.

NASA Accidentally Sold a Precious Apollo Artifact

A seemingly simple bag is at the center of multiple lawsuits

NASA's Kepler spacecraft launched on March 6, 2009. Today, technology and international collaborations are democratizing the space race.

Opening the Space Race to the Entire World

A new era of collaboration and affordable technology has scientists across the globe sending spacecraft into outer space

An artist's concept of Moon Express's MX-1 Micro Lander, which may head to the moon as soon as next year.

The First Private Lunar Landing Was Just Approved

Moon Express will head to Earth’s nearest neighbor in 2017

A 3D view of the console of the Apollo 11 "Columbia" command module.

Explore the Apollo 11 Command Module in 3D

For the first time, you can peek inside the craft that enabled “one giant leap for mankind”

An artist's illustration of the Tiangong-1 space lab in orbit.

No, China's Tiangong-1 Will Not "Rain Molten Metal Down Onto Earth"

It's not spiraling out of control, and even if it was, it wouldn't enter the atmosphere until 2017

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What if I Told You... Space Is Once Again the New Frontier

The space race is reigniting, catalyzing changes in the new space economy.

Jupiter's moon, Europa, is one of the most promising candidates for life elsewhere in the solar system.

Juno Will Eventually Go Up in Flames to Protect Theoretical Alien Life

Juno, we hardly knew you

An artist's rendition of Juno in orbit around Jupiter. The craft is powered entirely by the sun's rays.

It's Official: We Are Now in Orbit Around Jupiter

After a nerve-wracking entry, NASA spacecraft Juno successfully entered the gas giant's orbit

Wieger Wamelink inspects his "Martian" crops

Researchers Will Soon Get Their First Taste of "Martian" Vegetables

After testing them for heavy metals, the scientists will eat vegetables grown in simulated Martian soil later this week

Perhaps it's best that this comet is billions of miles away from Earth.

This Perfume Smells Like a Comet

Yum?

A view of twilight on Pluto

New Evidence Strengthens the Case for Pluto's Underground Ocean

Features on the dwarf planet's smooth surface suggest that not all is frozen on that tiny, distant world

Meet Three of Earth's Tiny Celestial Buddies

A handful of quasi-satellites, mini-moons and Trojan asteroids tag along with Earth as it whizzes around the sun

Just what lies beyond the next valley, canyon, crater, or hill is NASA's perpetual question.

Check Out NASA's Retro Mars Recruitment Posters

Farmers, teachers, surveyors and engineers will all be needed in the envisaged Mars settlement

A concept design for a space elevator.

A New Hitch in the Plan for Building a Space Elevator

Carbon nanotubes may not be as strong as scientists once thought

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