Space

Space missions have long exemplified humankind's indomitable spirit and boundless ambition. Once the reserve of nations, space is fact opening up to commercial enterprises and could soon be the must-go destination for tourists – provided the accumulation of debris doesn't turn Earth's orbit into a no-go zone. All this comes as missions beyond the Moon provide greater insights into our solar system and more powerful telescopes give us a glimpse at exoplanets light years away. New Atlas keeps you up to date with the latest space news and fantastic images from all corners of the Universe.

Space

Experimental satellite successfully uses harpoon to skewer space junk

David Szondy February 17, 2019

Space has the prospect of one day getting a bit cleaner as a satellite harpooned a piece of simulated debris in low Earth orbit. The RemoveDEBRIS technology demonstrator deployed a target panel at the end of a boom, then skewered it with a metal harpoon traveling at 20 m/s (44.7 mph, 72 km/h).

The harpoon test was conducted by the RemoveDEBRIS satellite

Space

InSight deploys deep-digging drill on Mars

David Szondy February 13, 2019

NASA's InSight lander continues to ramp up for the science phase of its mission, having now dropped its the second instrument pack on the Martian surface. Images confirm that the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package had been placed within a meter of the previously deployed seismometer.

NASA's InSight lander set its Heat and Physical Properties Package (HP3) on the Martian surface

Space Audio available

NASA's newest mission to look for life's ingredients and probe the universe's deep past

Michael Irving February 13, 2019

NASA has selected the newest space mission for its Explorer program: the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx). The spacecraft will search for the ingredients of life in the Milky Way, and peer as far as 10 billion years back in time.

An artist's impression of SPHEREx, the mission NASA has just selected for its Explorers program

Space Audio available

Opportunity Mars rover mission ends as NASA abandons rescue effort

David Szondy February 13, 2019

After nearly 15 years, NASA's Opportunity Mars rover mission has come to an end as the space agency announced today that is has discontinued the eight-month recovery effort to revive the silent unmanned explorer and officially declared the Mars Exploration Rover's mission completed.

The Opportunity rover operated for nearly 15 years and covered 28 miles (45 km)

Space Audio available

Liquid lake on Mars might be evidence the Red Planet is still volcanically active

Michael Irving February 12, 2019

Last year a huge lake of liquid water was apparently found beneath the ice at the Martian south pole. A new study has now examined how it might have gotten there, and concluded that Mars must have had volcanic activity much more recently than is normally believed, and may even still be active today.

A visualization of the south pole of Mars, where a huge lake of liquid water is ...

Space

MAVEN Mars orbiter goes low to support 2020 rover mission

David Szondy February 12, 2019

NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter is taking on a new job as it shifts into a lower orbit to act as a communications relay for the Mars 2020 mission slated to launch next year.

Space Audio available

Nosedives would make for better landings on weighty Mars missions

David Szondy February 12, 2019

A new study examining the options for Mars missions in the five- to 20-ton payload range found that, paradoxically, having heavy spacecraft make hypersonic nosedives into the Martian atmosphere can allow them to be slowed down more efficiently with better control.

Future Mars missions will be more massive and will need new landing techniques

Space Audio available

Massive star may be the reason Earth isn't a waterworld

David Szondy February 11, 2019

Scientists have used computer models to show that our planet has a moderate climate and isn't an ocean world because there was a massive star in the vicinity of the primordial solar system that evaporated some of the water that otherwise would have been delivered to Earth as it formed.

Artist’s rendering of researchers’ simulations showing how planetary systems born in dense and massive star formation ...

Space

SpaceX's Mars Raptor engine claims rocketry record on path to lift-off levels of power

Nick Lavars February 11, 2019

How does one lift 100 metric tons of spacefaring gear into low-Earth orbit? For SpaceX and its ambitious CEO, that means strapping 31 advanced boosters to the bottom of a retro-styled rocket and shooting for the stars. Test-firing of this engine has now reached lift-off levels of power.

SpaceX's Raptor engine has now achieved lift-off levels of power in testing

Space Audio available

Mars One goes bankrupt, ending private colonization project

David Szondy February 11, 2019

On January 15, Mars One Ventures was ordered to go into liquidation in a Swiss court, putting paid to plans to set up a permanent outpost on Mars with volunteers willing to leave Earth on a one-way mission with no hope of return.

Mars One planned to colonize Mars with volunteers on a one-way mission