Space
New Atlas keeps you up to date with the latest space news and fantastic images from all corners of the Universe.
Latest News
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DARPA and NASA plan orbital nuclear rocket test
January 26, 2023NASA and DARPA have agreed to develop and test a nuclear rocket engine in space as soon as 2027. Using a nuclear reactor as its power source, it would outperform chemical rockets and greatly reduce the time for the first crewed Mars mission. -
Feel tiny in this gigantic, zoomable galaxy map charting 3 billion stars
January 23, 2023Astronomers have released one of the biggest data dumps of the Milky Way ever, cataloging an incredible 3.32 billion cosmic objects in detail. The end result is a gigantic image that can be zoomed in and out for a stunning sense of scale. -
Miniature nuclear generators could power deep-space CubeSats
January 17, 2023In a move that could see a new generation of deep-space CubeSats, NASA has greenlighted a project by the Rochester Institute of Technology to develop a nuclear power source that is a tenth the size of those in current use for planetary missions. -
Long-lost invisible stellar graveyard revealed by radio telescope duo
January 16, 2023Models of the universe predict that supernova remnants should be far more common than they are. Now, a new image from sensitive radio telescopes reveal that the missing remnants are hiding in plain sight. -
James Webb confirms its first exoplanet – a nearby Earth-sized world
January 15, 2023The James Webb Space Telescope has been used to confirm the existence of an exoplanet for the first time. Known as LHS 475 b, this Earth-sized world is a cosmic stone’s-throw away and is likely the first of many planet discoveries by Webb. -
Second stage engine malfunction blamed for UK space launch failure
January 12, 2023The mystery of why the first orbital mission launched from the UK fell into the sea on January 9 had some light shed on it today as Virgin Orbital announced that telemetry indicated that the second stage engine shut down prematurely. -
A year in a day: Ultracool dwarf star system breaks record
January 11, 2023What was once thought to be just one star is actually two. What's more, the two stars are so close that they've broken a record for being the tightest ultracool binary system ever observed, revolving around each other in less than an Earth day. -
Astronomers spot giant neutron star that existed for mere milliseconds
January 10, 2023The universe is full of bizarre objects, and now astronomers have discovered a doozy – superheavy neutron stars that existed for only fractions of a second, before they collapsed into black holes. -
Fast radio burst reveals the Milky Way is emptier than we thought
January 09, 2023The intriguing cosmic mystery of fast radio bursts (FRBs) has now shed light (pun intended) on another mystery. By studying the signature of an FRB from a nearby galaxy, astronomers have found that the Milky Way has far less matter than expected. -
First space mission launched from British soil fails to reach orbit
January 09, 2023Britain's attempt to launch its first orbital rocket in over half a century and the first from UK soil failed today as the second stage of the mission's Virgin Orbit rocket malfunctioned due to an undisclosed problem. -
James Webb spots Milky-Way-like galaxies earlier than thought possible
January 05, 2023The James Webb Space Telescope is probing greater depths of space and time than other observatories. Now it's discovered galaxies with a structure like our own Milky Way 11 billion light-years away, challenging our understanding of galaxy formation. -
Curiosity finds opal on Mars – a possible water source for astronauts
January 03, 2023NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered opal on Mars. The deposits may prove to be valuable to future Martian explorers not as jewelry but as a potential source of water. -
Gallery: Incredible images from James Webb's first year in space
December 30, 2022In 2022, decades of work finally came to fruition as the James Webb Space Telescope focused its powerful eyes on the universe. From distant galaxies to our nearby neighbors, let’s look back at some of the most impressive images captured so far. -
News near and far: The year in space 2022
December 27, 2022With beginnings, endings, and new discoveries, space was a busy place in 2022. New Atlas looks back at the best space stories of the past 12 months, from those set relatively close to home, to others much, much farther afield. -
Ultra-light electric motor to feed Australia's first home-grown rocket
December 21, 2022Equipmake says it's got the lightest and most power-dense electric motor on the market, and if there's one place where weight is critical, it's on a launch pad. The company has developed an ultra-lightweight motor for Australia's first rocket launch.
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