Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), has formed a dedicated task force to ensure Ariane 6s first launch happens before the end of 2022.A Flexible and Competitive LauncherDeveloped by ArianeGroup for ESA, Ariane 6 is the next-generation medium-to-heavy lift rocket su

Astronomers have tracked the enormous comet 2014 UN271 for years, a space object now hurtling toward the Sun. It will reach perihelion—its closest solar approach—in 2031. Discovered in Dark Energy Survey data from 2014 to 2018, 2014 UN271 measures an estimated 100 to 370 km across, making it one of

Astronomers from Cornells Carl Sagan Institute have found that advanced civilizations on nearby exoplanets could detect Earth using transit methods like our own, spotting signs of life in our atmosphere. Missions like Kepler and TESS have revolutionized exoplanet discovery, but have you wondered if

Venus may remain geologically active today. A new study, drawing on NASAs Magellan mission data, reveals deformed crustal fragments suggestive of recent activity—offering insights into early Earth dynamics. After years in Mars shadow, Venus is reclaiming the spotlight. NASA recently selected the DAV

Recent research reveals that extreme space weather events, such as solar storms, follow more predictable patterns than previously believed. This raises concerns for NASAs Artemis program, targeting human Moon landings in the late 2020s. In 2017, the Trump administration directed NASA to return human

Two exciting NASA citizen science projects invite you to discover new planets from your couch using data from the TESS satellite—potentially revealing an Earth 2.0. Launched in 2018, NASAs Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) succeeded the renowned Kepler telescope, which identified over 4,0

Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, renowned for her spaceflight records, is set to return to the International Space Station (ISS) commanding Axiom Spaces private Ax-2 mission. The launch is slated for mid-2022 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.Peggy A. Whitson, a distinguished American astronau

Roscosmos, Russias state space corporation, is developing an ambitious mission to explore Jupiter. The nuclear-powered spacecraft will undertake a 50-month journey, featuring two strategic pit stops along the way.Exploring the Jovian SystemNASA holds the record for Jupiter exploration, starting with

Stanford researchers have unveiled a innovative robotic gripper designed to capture space debris—a growing concern for orbital safety. This advanced clamp uses a non-sticky adhesive inspired by nature.Grippy Performance Without StickinessAs noted by the European Space Agency (ESA) in December 2020,

As part of SpaceXs 22nd resupply mission, NASA is sending thousands of tardigrades and 128 juvenile squids to the International Space Station (ISS). These hardy organisms will reveal how space stressors affect biology, informing strategies for long-duration human missions.Astronauts on the ISS will

Space debris recently struck and damaged the Canadarm2 robotic arm on the International Space Station (ISS). Though still fully operational, this incident highlights the dangers posed by untrackable objects crowding low Earth orbit.Over 23,000 pieces of debris larger than a softball are tracked in l

South Korea has officially signed the Artemis Accords, establishing key principles for NASAs partners in lunar exploration. This move aligns with the nations ambitious plan to deploy a lander on the Moon before 2030. NASAs Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon as early as 2024, focusing

Named after the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian, Conan the Bacterium—scientifically known as Deinococcus radiodurans—ranks among the most radioresistant organisms on Earth. This extremophile withstands not just cosmic radiation but also vacuum, acids, UV rays, desiccation, starvation, and extreme temp

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will not launch on October 31, 2021, as previously scheduled. No new date is confirmed yet, but experts indicate it wont reach space before mid-November. This isnt the first delay for JWST. Originally slated for 2018, the mission has faced repeated setbacks from

NASA has announced two new missions to Venus this decade—a major return since the Magellan probe launched in 1989. For the first time in over three decades, NASA is heading back to Venus—and not once, but twice. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has selected DAVINCI+ and VERITAS as the next Discovery p

The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has partnered with Sony, Doshisha University, and toymaker Tomy to create a baseball-sized robot designed to analyze the lunar surface in preparation for upcoming manned missions. Weighing just 250 grams and measuring about eight centimeters in diamet

A recent US Air Force budget document reveals plans to harness SpaceXs Starship for delivering cargo anywhere on Earth in under an hour—offering unmatched military logistics speed no other nation can rival. The fiscal year 2022 justification book, comparing budget requests to prior years, details on

NASAs Juno spacecraft is gearing up for a close encounter with Ganymede, the solar systems largest moon. Marking the first such flyby in 20 years, this pass will deliver fresh data to refine analyses and pave the way for future Jupiter missions. A Long-Awaited Close-Up On Monday, June 7, Juno will z

By colliding lead ions at over 99.9% the speed of light, physicists at CERN recreated and studied the universes primordial matter, formed moments after the Big Bang. This substance showed less resistance to flow than any known material. The Big Bang marked the birth of space and time. Astronomers co

On Thursday, June 10, 2021, skywatchers in Canada, Greenland, the Arctic, and Russia will witness a spectacular annular solar eclipse. In France, expect a partial eclipse, with the clearest views from the northwest. What Is an Annular Eclipse? A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Eart