Wendy Whitman Cobb

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is raised into a vertical position on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A. NASA/Bill Ingalls

SpaceX reaches for milestone in spaceflight – a private company launches astronauts into orbit

SpaceX’s launch of astronauts to the International Space Station will make it the first private company to launch humans to space. The effort has ramifications for NASA and spaceflight in general.
India’s launch vehicle carrying Chandrayaan-2 lifted off from Sriharikota, India, in late July 2019. Indian Space Research Organization via AP

Indian Moon probe’s failure won’t stop an Asian space race that threatens regional security

Are India and China engaged in a new space race? India’s increasingly ambitious space ventures, including its Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission, are evidence of the country’s interest in space exploration.
Minutes after launching the Falcon Heavy rocket, SpaceX was livestreaming footage from the Tesla Roadster it released into space. SpaceX

How SpaceX lowered costs and reduced barriers to space

SpaceX’s advances in space technology have reduced barriers to space and changed the direction of American space policy, but it is not without its challenges.
What will China discover on the far side of the moon? BeeBright/Shutterstock.com

Will China’s moon landing launch a new space race?

China just became the first country to land a probe on the far side of the moon. It’s a technological achievement and another sign of China’s capabilities and ambitions in space.
President George H. Bush promotes space exploration during a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the flight of Apollo 11 on July 20, 1989. Behind the president are, from left: former astronaut Mike Collins, NASA Administrator Richard Truly, former astronaut Neil Armstrong, Vice President Dan Quayle and former astronaut Buzz Aldrin. AP Photo/Barry Thumma

George H.W. Bush’s overlooked legacy in space exploration

George H.W. Bush’s achievements in space are often overlooked but have significantly contributed to America’s current space program.
Crowds watch as the space shuttle Discovery lifts off from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. AP Photo/Phil Sandlin

Would a Space Force mean the end of NASA?

The United States already has a space agency: NASA. So why do we need a Space Force, and what would it do? Could a Space Force strain diplomatic relationships, reigniting the race to militarize space?

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