Satellites
Space Junk Orbiting Our Planet Has Become a Big Mess
NASA estimates that more than 100 million man-made objects the size of a grain of salt and larger are circling the planet, risking damage to the International Space Station and other objects in orbit.
Space-Grown Mouse Embryos Are a Step Toward Human Colonization
Chinese scientists report embryos developing from two-cell to blastocyst stage while onboard satellite SJ-10.
Space Becomes Affordable If Your Spacecraft Is 3 Centimetres Small
Arizona State University’s “SunCubes” are under 100g, making a launch affordable even for hobbyists.
Satellite Imagery Reveals that Tiger Populations Could Double by 2022
It’s never been easier to monitor the health of wild tiger habitats online.
Growing Up With the Space Race
Roger Easton Jr. reflects on the legacy of his father, Roger Lee Easton, who led Project Vanguard, America’s answer to Sputnik.
Europe Is Launching Sentinel-3A, the Latest in Its All-Seeing Satellite Network
The Earth observation satellite will focus its gaze on the oceans.
The Pentagon Is Betting Big on Space Warfare — Against China and Russia
The US Defense Department is pouring money into an extraterrestrial arms race at a time when China and Russia are increasingly asserting themselves in space.
North Korea’s Satellite Launch Is 'Deeply Deplorable,' Says UN
“The more tests they do, the more they learn, and they’re beavering away trying to improve their technology.”
Europe Is Building a ‘Space Data Highway’ With Lasers
It'll transmit data back to Earth about 90 times faster than your typical earthly internet connection.
The Man Who Turned Night Into Day
In the 90s, a team of Russian scientists tried to use a giant space mirror to turn night into day. For a second, they succeeded.
Watch the Spectacular Inferno of America’s First Satellite Attempt
The story of ‘Kaputnik,’ the failed American answer to Sputnik.
This Satellite Has Been Staring at the Sun for 20 Years
And it's still warning us about Earth-bound coronal mass ejections.