Will Astronomers Know ‘Alien’ Life When They See It?
In the last decade we have discovered thousands of planets outside our solar system and have learned that rocky, temperate worlds are numerous in our…
Space Exploration News
NASA to Focus on Exploration of Moon, Mars and Worlds Beyond
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is taking a giant leap focusing the agency’s exploration of the Moon, Mars and our Solar System. Effective immediately, Steve…
Kilopower: A Gateway to Abundant Power for Space Exploration
NASA and the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have successfully demonstrated a new nuclear reactor power system that could enable long-duration crewed…
NASA’s Exploration Campaign: Back to the Moon and on to Mars
“The directive I am signing today will refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery. It marks a first step in returning American astronauts…
Cosmic Gorilla Effect Could Prevent the Detection of Aliens
A well-known experiment with young people bouncing a ball showed that when an observer focuses on counting the passes, he does not detect if someone…
NASA Explores Visionary Ideas That Could Transform the Future
NASA is investing in technology concepts that include meteoroid impact detection, space telescope swarms, and small orbital debris mapping technologies that may one day be used…
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite Ready to Search the Sky for New Worlds
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is undergoing final preparations in Florida for its April 16 launch to find undiscovered worlds around nearby stars, providing…
NASA’s Webb Observatory Requires More Time, New Launch Target of May 2020
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope currently is undergoing final integration and test phases that will require more time to ensure a successful mission. After an…
“Finding Life in Outer Space” – Travel Across Time and Space Exploring Why Life Exists
On Sunday, March 25, a new program called “Finding Life in Outer Space” will debut on the Smithsonian Channel. The scientific lead for this program…
Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway will Extend Human Presence in Deep Space
As NASA sets its sights on returning to the Moon, and preparing for Mars, the agency is developing new opportunities in lunar orbit to provide…
NASA Researchers Test Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC)
In deep space, accurate timekeeping is vital to navigation, but not all spacecraft have precise timepieces aboard. For 20 years, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)…
Scientists Discuss a New Power Source for Future Space Exploration
NASA and its partners will host a news conference at noon EST (9 a.m. PST) Thursday, January 18, at the National Atomic Testing Museum in…
NASA Explains Space Radiation and Its Effects on the Human Body
NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP) is investigating charged particles to solve one of its biggest challenges for a human journey to Mars: space radiation and…
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate Selects Proposals for Space Research Institutes
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate has selected proposals for the creation of two multi-disciplinary, university-led research institutes that will focus on the development of technologies…
NASA Space Launch System Completes Design Review, Ready to Meet the Challenges of the Journey to Mars
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) has completed all steps needed to clear a critical design review. It is the first vehicle designed to meet the…
Refueling at the Moon May Be the Best Option for a Piloted Mission to Mars
New research from MIT shows that stopping at the moon may be the best option for a piloted mission to Mars, revealing that fueling up…
NASA Reveals Details for the Next Steps in the Journey to Mars
NASA has released a detailed outline on the journey to Mars, “NASA’s Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration.” “NASA is closer to…
A ‘Habitability Index’ to Help Guide the Search for Life Beyond Earth
A team of astronomers from the University of Washington has created a “habitability index for transiting planets” to help guide the ongoing search for life…
