Space Exploration
Latest about Space Exploration
![a space crew eating food around a table](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TrJUPkkmozMfWYHcMPeiBh-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TrJUPkkmozMfWYHcMPeiBh-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TrJUPkkmozMfWYHcMPeiBh-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TrJUPkkmozMfWYHcMPeiBh-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TrJUPkkmozMfWYHcMPeiBh-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TrJUPkkmozMfWYHcMPeiBh-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TrJUPkkmozMfWYHcMPeiBh-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TrJUPkkmozMfWYHcMPeiBh-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
'The forbidden space meal': What happens if you need to be a cannibal on Mars?
By Kelly and Zach Weinersmith published
In this book extract, Kelly and Zach Weinersmith look at cannibalism in space from a legal and culinary perspective.
![Some of the plants grown by China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts aboard the nation's Tiangong space station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vkTp7BYESzstvKQZCnpemK-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vkTp7BYESzstvKQZCnpemK-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vkTp7BYESzstvKQZCnpemK-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vkTp7BYESzstvKQZCnpemK-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vkTp7BYESzstvKQZCnpemK-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vkTp7BYESzstvKQZCnpemK-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vkTp7BYESzstvKQZCnpemK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vkTp7BYESzstvKQZCnpemK-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
China successfully grows lettuce and tomatoes aboard Tiangong space station
By Andrew Jones published
Lettuce, cherry tomatoes and more are sprouting in space aboard China's Tiangong space station.
![Illustration of tractor beam in space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CYqLATJgRALyyrQHfKvdbD-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CYqLATJgRALyyrQHfKvdbD-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CYqLATJgRALyyrQHfKvdbD-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CYqLATJgRALyyrQHfKvdbD-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CYqLATJgRALyyrQHfKvdbD-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CYqLATJgRALyyrQHfKvdbD-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CYqLATJgRALyyrQHfKvdbD-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CYqLATJgRALyyrQHfKvdbD-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Sci-fi inspired tractor beams are real, and could solve a major space junk problem
By Harry Baker published
Researchers are developing a real-life tractor beam, with the goal of pulling defunct satellites out of geostationary orbit to alleviate the space junk problem.
![Illustration of a satellite burning up as it reenters Earth's atmosphere](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YcByGmbmeaYiNutuPMANFD-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YcByGmbmeaYiNutuPMANFD-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YcByGmbmeaYiNutuPMANFD-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YcByGmbmeaYiNutuPMANFD-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YcByGmbmeaYiNutuPMANFD-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YcByGmbmeaYiNutuPMANFD-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YcByGmbmeaYiNutuPMANFD-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YcByGmbmeaYiNutuPMANFD-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Falling metal space junk is changing Earth's upper atmosphere in ways we don't fully understand
By Harry Baker published
A research plane that flew through Earth's stratosphere identified more than 20 elements that are linked to the aerospace industry. Experts predict that the problem could become much worse in the future.
![An illustration of the Gaia spacecraft as it makes its observations.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8Yne5kmYsqtaS8sp4KpUYK-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8Yne5kmYsqtaS8sp4KpUYK-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8Yne5kmYsqtaS8sp4KpUYK-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8Yne5kmYsqtaS8sp4KpUYK-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8Yne5kmYsqtaS8sp4KpUYK-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8Yne5kmYsqtaS8sp4KpUYK-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8Yne5kmYsqtaS8sp4KpUYK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8Yne5kmYsqtaS8sp4KpUYK-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Gaia spacecraft reveals 'goldmine' of over 500,000 undiscovered stars
By Robert Lea published
The European Space Agency's Gaia telescope revealed half a million newfound stars, and detailed the orbits of over 150,000 asteroids.
![The International Space Station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jr3KrmLEmq6P7RK6a8QQbF-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jr3KrmLEmq6P7RK6a8QQbF-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jr3KrmLEmq6P7RK6a8QQbF-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jr3KrmLEmq6P7RK6a8QQbF-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jr3KrmLEmq6P7RK6a8QQbF-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jr3KrmLEmq6P7RK6a8QQbF-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jr3KrmLEmq6P7RK6a8QQbF-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jr3KrmLEmq6P7RK6a8QQbF-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Ammonia leak on Russian section of International Space Station 'has now ceased,' but astronauts remain cautious
By Elizabeth Howell published
A toxic coolant leak discovered on Russian space station equipment is only the latest in a series of malfunctions in recent months.
![An illustration of the Psyche spacecraft surveying the massive, metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/omBWDXdRo8iPjKKbn6LVfG-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/omBWDXdRo8iPjKKbn6LVfG-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/omBWDXdRo8iPjKKbn6LVfG-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/omBWDXdRo8iPjKKbn6LVfG-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/omBWDXdRo8iPjKKbn6LVfG-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/omBWDXdRo8iPjKKbn6LVfG-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/omBWDXdRo8iPjKKbn6LVfG-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/omBWDXdRo8iPjKKbn6LVfG-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Psyche: Everything you need to know about NASA's mission to a huge metallic asteroid
By Ben Turner published
Launched on Oct. 13, 2023, the NASA mission to visit the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche aims to find crucial clues about the formation of our solar system's planets.
![Artist's depiction of the China Space Station Telescope.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8vtZyW9J45SKiqKpGcP4Y7-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8vtZyW9J45SKiqKpGcP4Y7-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8vtZyW9J45SKiqKpGcP4Y7-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8vtZyW9J45SKiqKpGcP4Y7-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8vtZyW9J45SKiqKpGcP4Y7-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8vtZyW9J45SKiqKpGcP4Y7-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8vtZyW9J45SKiqKpGcP4Y7-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8vtZyW9J45SKiqKpGcP4Y7-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
New Chinese space telescope will 'outdo Hubble', researchers claim
By Leonard David published
China's Xuntian space telescope is scheduled to launch in 2024 and was designed to outdo NASA's Hubble.
![An illustration of a satellite in geosynchronous orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xgLH93vv2kARwJp7p3xNy6-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xgLH93vv2kARwJp7p3xNy6-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xgLH93vv2kARwJp7p3xNy6-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xgLH93vv2kARwJp7p3xNy6-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xgLH93vv2kARwJp7p3xNy6-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xgLH93vv2kARwJp7p3xNy6-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xgLH93vv2kARwJp7p3xNy6-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xgLH93vv2kARwJp7p3xNy6-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
US government issues 1st-ever space junk fine, charging satellite TV company whopping $150k
By Brett Tingley published
The FCC issued its first-ever fine for a space debris violation, slapping the DISH satellite TV company with a $150,000 penalty.
![Astronauts Gui Haichao and Zhu Yangzhu light a candle aboard the Tiangong Space Station during a live lecture on Sept. 21, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Watch Chinese astronauts light a spherical fire in risky open-flame experiment on Tiangong space station
By Andrew Jones published
Chinese astronauts lit a match while filming a lecture aboard the Tiangong Space Station, creating a spherical open flame that would be forbidden aboard the ISS.
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