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Space

396 cards. Each one is a 40-second story with a five-minute read behind it. Page 3 of 7.

121. Why NASA's Crew-11 returned to Earth one month ahead of scheduleFollowing a 167-day mission, the SpaceX Crew-1ability has splashed down in the Pacific. This press conference covers the mission's successful return, the scientific achievements o…
122. An 11-million-pound journey toward the lunar frontierAt just one mile per hour, NASA’s crawler-transporter 2 is preparing for a massive trek. The Artemis II rocket and Orion spacecraft are moving from the assembly building toward th…
123. The crew preparing for NASA's first crewed Artemis flightMeet the astronauts set to embark on Artemis II, a pivotal mission designed to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon and lay the groundwork for future journeys to Mars.
124. What happens after 167 days of orbiting Earth at 71 million miles?The Crew-11 mission has officially returned to Earth. After months of living aboard the International Space Station, a diverse group of astronauts and cosmonauts is now undergoing…
125. Four astronauts prepare for a nine-month journey to the International Space StationAs the SpaceX Crew-12 mission nears its launch window, NASA and international partners are finalizing preparations. This upcoming rotation to the orbiting laboratory brings togeth…
126. Four astronauts prepare for a pivotal journey to the International Space StationA multinational crew is preparing to depart Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. As the Crew-12 mission approaches its launch window, the focus shifts from ground preparations…
127. Preparing the orbit for new solar power: two upcoming NASA spacewalksNASA is preparing for a series of extravehicular activities to upgrade the International Space Station's power systems. As engineers and flight directors gather to preview these c…
128. The crew of Artemis II has arrived to prepare for lunar orbitFour astronauts have gathered at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, marking a pivotal moment for NASA. As they prepare for a historic test flight around the Moon, the mission carries…
129. Inside the quarantine of the Artemis II crewBefore their historic journey around the Moon, the Artemis II astronauts are undergoing protective quarantine. This video features the crew answering questions from Kennedy Space …
130. A brief silence in space: what happened during the Artemis II orbit adjustment?As the Artemis II crew began their 10-day journey around the Moon, a sudden loss of communication briefly disconnected the spacecraft from Earth. While the crew remained in contac…
131. A mission in motion: tracking the Artemis II lunar journeyFollowing the successful April 1 launch, NASA leaders provide a critical status update on the Artemis II crewed flight test. This briefing covers the current activities of the Ori…
132. The Navy pilot leading humanity’s return to the MoonReid Wiseman is not just another astronaut. As commander of the Artemis II mission, this former F-14 pilot and NASA veteran is helming the first crewed voyage beyond Earth orbit s…
133. NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center marks 80 years of aeronautical progressNASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center is celebrating eight decades of aviation milestones. Since 1946, the California-based facility has progressed from early supersonic experim…
134. NASA and Boeing announce updated flight plans for Starliner spacecraftOn September 28, 2026, NASA and Boeing revealed new development strategies for the Starliner spacecraft. The plan includes conducting uncrewed test missions and certifying the Vul…
135. NASA Gains Experience from Swift Observatory Boost Attempt MissionNASA and industry vendor Katalyst Space completed a high-risk mission attempt to boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Although the boost did not raise the spacecraft's orbit,…
136. How the European Space Agency uses immersive technology to train astronauts on EarthSpace exploration requires precision that leaves no room for error. To prepare for the rigors of the International Space Station, the European Space Agency is leveraging Extended …
137. Tracing the ancient, water-carved scars of the Martian landscapeA massive 1,300 km-long channel reveals a violent, watery past. Using high-resolution stereo data from the Mars Express mission, we can now fly over the rugged terrain of Xanthe T…
138. A mission that nearly never left Earth is now halfway to its destinationOne year ago, a combination of launch anomalies and a hurricane threatened to ground the Hera mission indefinitely. Today, the spacecraft is cruising through deep space, having su…
139. How a global network of ground stations maintains the vital link to deep spaceSince 1975, the European Space Agency has operated a sophisticated communication bridge. As the Estrack network approaches its 50th anniversary, we examine the infrastructure that…
140. Training for the Void: Life Inside a 145kg SpacesuitThe path to space involves more than just rocket launches. Astronaut Pablo Álvarez Fernández details rigorous training, including mastering life inside a massive 145kg spacesuit. …
141. Can a prosthetic limb navigate the challenges of life in orbit?A recent feasibility study suggests that physical disability is no barrier to space exploration. As part of the European Space Agency’s FLY initiative, researcher and Paralympian …
142. The final piece of a planetary surveillance puzzle has reached orbitOn 4 November 2025, the Ariane 6 rocket carried Sentinel-1D into space, marking the arrival of the final satellite in the first generation of the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission. Th…
143. How a single satellite launch expands our global vision of EarthOn 4 November 2025, the Sentinel-1D satellite successfully reached orbit. This isn't just another piece of hardware in space; it is a vital upgrade to a radar-based surveillance n…
144. How surviving Antarctic winters prepares the next generation for deep spaceWhat do extreme polar survival and spacecraft robotics have in common? For ESA astronaut reserve members, the connection is vital. Discover how researchers like Carmen Possnig use…
145. How extreme heat tests the limits of space probes and human infrastructureFrom the solar-scorched path of the Juice spacecraft to the record-breaking heatwaves in England, rising temperatures present a shared engineering and survival challenge. Whether …
146. The first Ariane 6 mission successfully deployed Europe's newest navigation satellitesOn 17 December 2025, a milestone mission launched from French Guiana, marking the debut of the Ariane 6 heavy-lift launcher. This flight carried two vital new components of the Ga…
147. The origami-style telescope rewriting the history of our universeLaunched on Christmas Day 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope is more than just a camera. It is a massive, folding marvel designed to unfold like a Transformer in the deep void, …
148. ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot prepares for her inaugural journey to the International Space StationAfter years of rigorous preparation, including complex spacewalk simulations and emergency drills, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot is ready for the εpsilon mission. She will join an i…
149. Can high-power lasers nudge space junk out of our orbit?As mega-constellations crowd Low Earth Orbit, the risk of satellite collisions is climbing. Scientists are now testing a bold solution: using ground-based lasers to physically pus…
150. How Sophie Adenot is testing the future of human survival in orbitAs Sophie Adenot orbits Earth aboard the International Space Station, her mission extends far beyond simple observation. She is conducting vital European-led experiments designed …
151. The complex choreography behind Europe’s most powerful rocket launchBuilding the heavy-lift version of Ariane 6 is a high-stakes assembly of precision engineering. From the arrival of the central core to the attachment of four massive boosters, ev…
152. Gravity's Grip: Testing Einstein Near the Milky Way's CoreAstronomers have finally observed the predicted warping of spacetime caused by a supermassive black hole. Using the Very Large Telescope, they tracked a star's path, confirming Ge…
153. How tracking 30 stars proved a supermassive black hole existsFor sixteen years, astronomers have watched stars dance around the Milky Way's center. By mapping these orbits with unprecedented precision, researchers have finally unraveled the…
154. A cosmic dance of binary stars fuels a spectacular nebulaDeep within the Carina constellation, a violent celestial ballet is unfolding. A complex nebula, shaped by powerful ejections of matter, surrounds a mysterious star. New observati…
155. Four astronauts prepare for SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space StationNASA and its international partners are preparing to launch the Crew-13 mission on October 1, 2026. The four-person crew will travel aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the Inter…
156. Artemis II astronauts to discuss lunar mission at Houston public eventThe four crew members of NASA's Artemis II mission will appear at the University of Houston on Wednesday, September 30. The event marks the final public appearance in Houston for …
157. The Artemis Accords international coalition expands to 76 participating nationsNASA has announced that the Artemis Accords have grown to include 76 countries following the recent addition of Albania, Croatia, Côte d’Ivoire, and San Marino. This expansion mar…
158. A new window into the infrared: MATISSE achieves first light at ParanalAstronomers have just unlocked a powerful new way to peer through cosmic dust. The MATIS and MATISSE instrument is now operational on the Very Large Telescope Interferometer, prom…
159. The cosmic echoes of the Big Bang are still audible todayLong before stars or galaxies existed, the infant universe was a place of immense vibration. Massive sound waves pulsed through primordial gas, creating a rhythmic pattern that le…
160. The Sun is a massive, violent engine consuming 600 million tons of hydrogen every secondIt appears as a steady, unchanging light in our sky, but the Sun is a dynamic powerhouse. Beneath its glowing surface lies a complex mechanism of extreme temperatures and immense …
161. How a global network of telescopes created a virtual Earth-sized lensCapturing a black hole requires more than just a powerful lens; it requires turning our entire planet into a single, massive eye. By linking telescopes from Greenland to the South…
162. NASA launches competition for students to solve Earth and space technology challengesNASA has announced the ORBIT Challenge 2027, an initiative inviting university and community college students across the United States to tackle mission-related problems. Particip…
163. Long-time contractor Kristie Foster joins NASA as a civil servantIn June, quality engineer Kristie Foster transitioned from a contractor role to a civil servant position at NASA's Stennis Space Center. Based in Mississippi, Foster's new role in…
164. NASA engineers develop dexterous robots to assist humans in space explorationAt NASA’s Johnson Space Center, a 16-member Dexterous Robotics Team is building advanced hardware and software designed to perform complex manual tasks in extreme environments, ai…
165. The Vostok programme picked short pilots and tested its capsule on dogs firstTo fit the cramped Vostok capsule, Soviet cosmonauts could be no taller than 1.75 metres and weigh no more than 72 kilograms. The capsule borrowed from a spy satellite design, the…
166. The Voyagers rode a planetary lineup that comes round once every 175 yearsIn the 1960s an engineer noticed that the outer planets would soon line up so that one spacecraft could swing from each to the next. NASA cut the grand version to pay for the Spac…
167. Venus, not Mars, has received more landers than any other planetVenus has a surface hot and crushing enough to wreck machines within hours, yet more landers have been sent there than to any other planet, nearly all of them Soviet. That fits th…
168. The Space Shuttle was a compromise between NASA's dreams and the Air Force's payloadsEngineers wanted a fully reusable spaceship: a winged orbiter riding a winged booster. What flew from 1981 to 2011 was only partly reusable, shaped by Air Force demands for a huge…
169. Space stations went from one-shot cans to orbiting building setsSomeone has been living in orbit without a break since October 2000. That streak rests on an idea the Soviets proved in the 1970s and 1980s: instead of launching a sealed can and …
170. Being in orbit means falling around Earth fast enough to keep missing itA satellite does not float above gravity. It is falling the whole time, just moving sideways so quickly that the ground curves away beneath it. Getting that speed still requires r…
171. Sputnik 1 was the Soviet Union's quick backup plan, and it changed historyThe first artificial satellite was never meant to be first. Soviet engineers had planned a heavy science laboratory, but it fell behind schedule, and fear of an American launch pu…
172. It took thousands of years to learn that stars are distant sunsOn a dark night you can see about 4,000 stars, every one of them inside our own galaxy, out of somewhere between ten sextillion and a septillion in the observable universe. For mo…
173. The Sun was born in a star cluster that fell apart long agoAlmost every lone star in our galaxy, the Sun included, began life packed alongside siblings in a cluster that later dissolved. Some clusters never break up: globular clusters hol…
174. Starburst galaxies make stars so fast they burn through their fuel in a cosmic blinkThe Milky Way turns roughly three Suns' worth of gas into new stars each year. A starburst galaxy can manage a hundred or more. At that pace its whole gas supply is gone in around…
175. Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth with his controls locked and the code already whispered to himNo one knew whether a person could think clearly while weightless, so Vostok 1's manual controls were locked. The unlock code sat in a sealed envelope for emergencies, and his sup…
176. The solar wind was dismissed as nonsense until Soviet probes flew through itIn 1958 a reviewer told Eugene Parker to go to the library before writing about a subject he clearly misunderstood. Parker's claim was that the Sun's corona is so hot it streams o…
177. At each solstice the Sun seems to pause in the sky before turning backTwice a year the Sun's noon height stops climbing or sinking and reverses. The Romans called that moment solstitium, a sun-stoppage. On the equator, though, the longest day of the…
178. A spiral galaxy's arms are traffic jams that stars drive throughIf the arms of a spiral galaxy were fixed chains of stars, the galaxy's uneven rotation would wind them into a tight coil within a few turns. They survive because an arm is really…
179. The biggest black holes can be less dense than waterA black hole of billions of solar masses sounds like the densest thing imaginable. Yet divide its mass by the volume inside its event horizon and the average can fall below the de…
180. Our galaxy is overdue a supernova we can see with the naked eyeOn average a star in the Milky Way should explode every 61 years or so, yet the last one anyone actually saw here was Kepler's in 1604. Dust in the galactic disc may hide some; on…

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