Space Travel

Space Patrol depended more on good stories, excellent production values, and an empathic cast of characters than it did on expensive visual special effects. As a result it had a large adult audience, which didn’t stop merchandise being created with younger viewers in mind.

How Artists, Mad Scientists and Speculative Fiction Writers Made Spaceflight Possible

A new book chronicles spaceflight’s centuries-long journey from dream to reality

You, Too, Could Own a Copy of the Voyager Golden Record

Ozma records is producing a box set of the album sent into the cosmos to reach out to potential extraterrestrial life

This composite image shows suspected plumes of water vapor erupting at the 7 o’clock position off of Jupiter’s moon Europa.

Evidence Stacks Up for Icy Geysers Erupting on Europa

Possible water plumes could give researchers a way to study Jupiter’s moon without drilling

The Evpatoria radio telescope RT-70 and the Long Range Space Communications Center, which were used for one of the most ambitious efforts at extraterrestrial communication.

How a Couple of Guys Built the Most Ambitious Alien Outreach Project Ever

You might think it takes vast governmental resources to launch an extraterrestrial communication effort. Nope

Carmel Johnston (left), crew commander, enjoys her first meal outside the dome.

Astronauts Tell All About Their One Year on “Mars”

In an unprecedented simulation, NASA learned that its astronauts are a bunch of overachievers

Ramazzottius varieornatus, the tardigrade examined in the study

Water Bear Genes Could Help Protect Space Explorers From Radiation

A protein produced by tardigrades, a group of microscopic but hardy creatures, protects and repairs DNA damaged by X-rays

As more countries and companies send spacecraft to other worlds, scientists are worried about potential contamination risks. Here, NASA's Curiosity rover takes a self-portrait on Mars.

Can We Save Mars From Ourselves?

When we travel to Earth-like worlds, contamination may be inevitable

Melba Roy led the group of human computers who tracked the Echo satellites in the 1960s.

The True Story of "Hidden Figures," the Forgotten Women Who Helped Win the Space Race

A new book and movie document the accomplishments of NASA’s black “human computers” whose work was at the heart of the country’s greatest battles

OSRIS-REx

Watch OSIRIS-REx Head to the Cosmos to Grab a Scoop of Asteroid Dust

Today, NASA will launch the spacecraft which will travel to the nearby asteroid Bennu

Delayed InSight Mission to Mars Slated to Launch in 2018

With redesigned equipment, scientists hope to unearth how the Red Planet came to be

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”

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