Articles on Space exploration
Displaying 321 - 340 of 357 articles
What can the data from New Horizons tell us about the dwarf planet’s five moons?
New Horizons mission members have worked on the project for even longer than it’s taken the spacecraft to get to Pluto. They’ve planned, built and researched – and now their efforts are paying off.
Exactly half a century ago the US Mariner 4 made the first flyby of Mars. But why are we still doing flybys today?
Pluto is one of the most enigmatic objects in our solar system, and its secrets are soon to be uncovered by the New Horizons probe.
Jupiter’s moon Europa is one of the most enticing objects in our solar system, and a future NASA mission may help reveal whether it is a suitable for life.
Will the best ever images of Pluto reveal something that presents a case for planethood?
The recent failure of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket presents something of a dilemma for NASA, which still has no domestic launch capability of its own to reach the International Space Station.
NASA has now formally started to pack its bags for the next big discovery mission, this time heading to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. Last month NASA announced the instruments that will fly on this trip and…
Many do not associate Africa with the high-tech sphere of “space”. However, in recent years, many countries on the continent have woken up to the potential and usefulness of space technology.
It was the first probe to find water on Mercury, the planet closest to the sun. Its mission nearly over, MESSENGER is about to crash into the planet it’s been observing.
After ten years in space NASA probe will get up close and personal with Mercury a final time.
Approaching Ceres, the Dawn spacecraft reveals the dwarf planet in colour for the first time.
NASA’s Dawn spacecraft hasn’t reached optimum orbit around Ceres but the data it’s returning has already got scientists excited.
The first space walk was almost a disaster, and it’s still risky today. But we’ll always need to take those steps to truly reap the benefits beyond Earth.
I have always been in awe of the night sky, trying to comprehend the vastness of space and the countless wonders it contains. But I have always felt a certain dissatisfaction with only being able to see…
Elon Musk has built a US$12 billion company in an endeavour to pave the way to Mars for humanity. He insists that Mars is a “long-term insurance policy” for “the light of consciousness” in the face of…
The icy moon Europa is perhaps the most tantalising destination in our solar system. Scientists have been trying for years to kickstart a mission to Jupiter’s most enigmatic moon, with very Earth-like…
2015 is already shaping up to be a big year in astronomy and planetary exploration, with the best yet to come. Here are some highlights to keep your eye on throughout the year. Opportunity January 25 marked…
More than 1,000 exoplanets have now been discovered by the Kepler Space Telescope, announced NASA this month, and the figure continues to climb. Three of the newly confirmed Kepler planets are thought…
It was an exciting year in space exploration, with mind-blowing triumphs and heart-breaking failures. On Earth, new rockets and spacecraft were tested by space agencies and commercial ventures. SpaceX…



















