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Space Travel

An artist's rendering of a space elevator.

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Japan Takes Tiny First Step Toward Space Elevator

Two mini-satellites will test elevator motion in space as part of research for an elevator between Earth and low orbit

The drill hole in the ISS.

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Russia Says Hole in International Space Station Was Drilled

Authorities are unsure whether tiny hole in a Soyuz capsule was created in a production facility on the ground or on board the ISS

Nervous about how southern television viewers would react, NBC executives closely monitored the filming of the kiss between Nichelle Nichols and William Shatner.

Fifty Years Ago, “Star Trek” Aired TV’s First Interracial Kiss

For actress Nichelle Nichols, the first black woman to have a continuing co-starring role on TV, it was the beginning of a lifelong career in activism

New Research

Why Astronomers Want to Look for Earth’s Mini-Moons

A new, powerful telescope in Chile will be able to detect tiny asteroid chunks circling our planet, which could be a goldmine for researchers

Betsy Congdon, lead engineer for Parker Solar Probe’s heat shield, looks on as technician Tony Ahan attaches the interface plates that will allow the heat shield above them to eventually be installed onto the spacecraft.

Behind the Scenes With the Spacecraft That Will Soar Through the Sun’s Atmosphere

The probe, which launches Sunday, will attempt to solve enduring mysteries about the sun

Nine Travel Tips From Astronauts

What can terrestrial travelers learn from people who have been to space?

Mars' south polar cap as it appeared to the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) on April 17, 2000. Strong evidence of an underground lake was found nearby.

Compelling Evidence Suggests There’s a Liquid Lake Beneath Mars’ Surface

But do the findings hold water?

Mission specialist Sally Ride became the first American woman to fly in space.

An Astronaut Reflects on Sally Ride’s Legacy for Women in STEM

Ride encouraged girls to embrace science and engineering, helping democratize space for all. But more work is needed

The imagined surface of Kepler-186f, an Earth-size planet orbiting a small red star.

NASA’s New Exoplanet Travel Bureau Lets You ‘Tour’ Far-Distant Planets In 360 Degrees

Eager space tourists can now visit sunny Kepler-186f, a moon of Kepler-16b or the Earth-like TRAPPIST-1e virtually

Artist’s impression of satellites and debris in low-Earth orbit. Currently 70 percent of all cataloged objects are in low-Earth orbit, which extends to 2000 km above the Earth’s surface.

Greening the Future of Outer Space

A team of scientists and policy experts want to develop space sustainably for future generations

This Science Experiment Could Help Us Live on Another Planet

In 1991, eight people spent two years living in giant, sealed-off glass domes, deep in the Arizona desert

Stephen Hawking’s Stark Warning for Humans to Leave Earth

In one of his final on-camera appearances, iconic physicist Stephen Hawking issued a warning to humanity about the existential threats we face

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the moon surface in July of 1969.

New Research

Lunar Dust Might Pose Severe Health Risks to Future Human Colonies on the Moon

Prolonged exposure to lunar dust can cause illnesses like bronchitis and cancer, according to a new study

Inside Look at Elon Musk-Funded Mars Simulation Project

Billionaire Elon Musk has donated money to the Mars Society in Utah. Its purpose is to help scientists prepare for the incredibly hostile conditions

Richard Branson Speaks on Plan for Space Tourism

Billionaire Richard Branson has set up Virgin Galactic as part of his dream to conquer the final frontier

The story of Laika (above, in a postage stamp from the Emirate of Ajman, now part of the UAE) lives on today in websites, YouTube videos, poems, and children’s books, at least one of which provides a happy ending for the doomed dog.

The Sad, Sad Story of Laika, the Space Dog, and Her One-Way Trip Into Orbit

A stray Moscow pup traveled into orbit in 1957 with one meal and only a seven-day oxygen supply

This past fall, astronauts harvested Mizuna mustard, Waldmann's green lettuce and Outredgeous red romaine lettuce from the Veggie plant growth chamber on the International Space Station.

Future Con

If Humans Want To Colonize Other Planets, We Need To Perfect Space Cuisine

At this year’s Future Con, researchers will describe a future of food in space that is anything but bland

Illustration of the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft approaching the Sun.

Get a “Hot Ticket” to Send Your Name to the Sun

Sign up to have your name placed on a microchip that will travel on board the Parker Solar Probe

Bigelow's inflatable modules, called B330, could host commercial ventures and travelers in the near future.

Cool Finds

A Space Hotel Could Be Coming Soon to Skies Near You

Bigelow Aerospace wants to launch two inflatable modules for a space habit as early as 2021

Artist's illustration of PTScientist's Audi Quattro Lunar Rover visiting NASA's 1972 rover.

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4G Coverage Bound for the Moon in 2019

A private moon mission scheduled for next year will use an ultra-compact network to beam back live images of the lunar surface

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