Science
The latest news and reporting on robotics, space exploration and scientific research.
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Moon mining startup Interlune wants to start digging for helium-3 by 2030
A startup called Interlune — the founders of which include former Blue Origin top employees and an Apollo 17 astronaut — plan to send a harvester to the moon to collect material for the surface and extract helium-3 for use on Earth.
SpaceX's third Starship test launch takes off successfully
SpaceX is set to conduct the third test launch of its Starship spacecraft. You can watch the attempt here.
Japan's Space One rocket launch attempt ends in a fiery explosion
Space One launched a rocket earlier in hopes of becoming the first private entity in Japan to put a satellite in orbit, but its rocket (named Kairos) exploded seconds after lift off.
This luxury handbag is made from the material NASA uses to collect comet dust
Luxury brand Coperni has created a small bag made of nanomaterial silica aerogel — previously used by NASA to collect comet dust.
This is what it looks like to reenter Earth’s atmosphere from a space capsule’s POV
Varda Space Industries has shared incredible footage captured by a camera on its W-1 capsule during its reentry through Earth's atmosphere on February 21.
Two toppled moon landers go dormant for a lunar night they may not survive
Japan's SLIM lander and Intuitive Machines' Odysseus have both gone into a dormant state for the onset of lunar night. The teams will attempt to resume operations after the two-week period of darkness.
Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lander tipped over at touchdown, but it’s still kicking
Intuitive Machines revealed in a press conference Friday evening that the lander tipped over upon reaching the moon. It's on its side, but is able to communicate and sunlight is reaching its solar panels.
The Odysseus has become the first US spacecraft to land on the moon in 50 years
The Odysseus spacecraft made by Houston-based Intuitive Machines has successfully landed on the surface of the moon.
A satellite designed to inspect space junk just made it to orbit
Astroscale's ADRAS-J satellite will attempt to demonstrate the safe approach and characterization of a space junk target. It launched from New Zealand on Sunday atop an Electron rocket from Rocket Lab.
Intuitive Machines’ moon lander sent home its first images and they’re breathtaking
Intuitive Machines has shared the first images transmitted by its lander, Odyseus, from space as it makes its way toward the moon. The pictures show a look at Earth and the Falcon 9 second stage falling away after separation.
NASA is looking for volunteers to live in its Mars simulation for a year
NASA put out an open call on Friday for volunteers to participate in its yearlong Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA 2) mission. The space agency will select four people for a crew that will be housed in its 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed habitat in Houston.
Intuitive Machines' lunar lander begins its multi-day journey to the moon
Intuitive Machines' Odysseus has started making its way to the moon and could make history as the first privately built lander to touch down on the lunar surface.
SpaceX moves its legal home to Texas from Delaware
Elon Musk has started moving his businesses away from Delaware, following a judge's decision in the state to invalidate his $56 billion Tesla pay package.
Intuitive Machines is taking its shot at nailing the first commercial moon landing
Intuitive Machines is set to embark on its moon mission this week, with a launch window that opens on February 14. It's the second mission contracted under NASA's CLPS program, and could be the first private lander to make it to the moon.
Japan’s moon lander took this eerie photo before being enveloped by lunar night
JAXA has confirmed its SLIM lander has gone dormant for the two-week-long lunar night, after it sent a final image taken before dusk. The ill-fated lander managed to turn on after landing upside down, but may not survive the cold, dark stretch.
The European Space Agency will test 3D printing metal on the ISS
A metal 3D printer will soon be used on the International Space Station. All going well, 3D-printed metal parts could eventually help with the construction of a base on the Moon.
Scientists discover weird virus-like 'obelisks' in the human gut and mouth
Scientists have discovered mysterious virus-like ‘obelisks’ in the human gut and mouth. These tiny structures fall into the viroid class and seem to hang out inside of certain strains of bacteria, though not always.
NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter has flown on Mars for the final time
NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter is no longer able to fly on Mars. The history-making machine suffered rotor blade damage on its 72nd flight.
Japan’s SLIM lunar spacecraft landed upside down on the moon
Japan's SLIM spacecraft landed on the moon upside down.
Take a look at the full asteroid Bennu sample in all its glory
NASA has shared a high-resolution image of the asteroid Bennu sample inside the Touch-and-Go-Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM), which remained closed because of stuck fasteners until last week. The mission obtained an abundance of material.