space exploration

Jupiter

Take a dazzling new peek at Jupiter

For scientists, data from the Juno probe is yielding surprises — and more questions.

Take a dazzling new peek at Jupiter
Explorers Tom and Tina Sjogren stand in front of a blackboard at a makers space.

Dreaming of a DIY mission to Mars

Dreaming of a DIY mission to Mars
AN-225

World's largest jet to be delivered to China

World's largest jet to be delivered to China
Mars

Mars brought them together. Now, they want to be the the first couple to live there.

Mars brought them together. Now, they want to be the the first couple to live there.
A vista from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity

That one-way ticket to Mars you were hoping for may not be such a good idea

That one-way ticket to Mars you were hoping for may not be such a good idea
A true-color image of Jupiter taken by the Cassini spacecraft. The Galilean moon Europa casts a shadow on the planet's cloud tops.

Exciting new ideas in space technology are getting short-changed by Congress

Scientists at NASA and universities across the US are developing promising new technologies for space exploration. But it's all happening way too slowly, one scientist says. The reason: Congress.

Exciting new ideas in space technology are getting short-changed by Congress
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and his wife, Jackie, watch as the Delta IV Heavy rocket with the Orion spacecraft lifts off on December 5, 2014.

One small step from Earth, one giant leap to Mars?

NASA says the first launch of the Orion spacecraft on Friday is “the dawn of the new era of space exploration" that will finally kick off the attempt to put humans on Mars.

One small step from Earth, one giant leap to Mars?
An artist's rendering of the Lunar Mission One probe.

Kickstarter is going to the Moon in a new crowdfunded space mission

You've always paid for space missions with your tax dollars, but now you can get even more involved thanks to a British team that's using Kickstarter to fund a new lunar probe. Donors will even get a chance to leave their hair on the Moon if they fork over enough cash.

Kickstarter is going to the Moon in a new crowdfunded space mission

NASA shares a family portrait of the inner solar system, starring Saturn

It's hard to fathom our place in the solar system, until you look at a picture of Earth taken from near Saturn. NASA just released this composite photo, snapped by the Cassini space probe in July. Earth, Venus and Mars are all visible, but just pinpricks of light.

NASA shares a family portrait of the inner solar system, starring Saturn
NASA simulation of Mars evolution

NASA video says this is how Mars might once have looked

NASA has taken data from recent explorations of Mars and turned it into a cool animation showing how Mars might have evolved over the last 4 billion years. The simulation starts by flying over a beautiful, Earth-like planet with huge lakes as the planet slowly becomes today's barren, red landscape.

NASA video says this is how Mars might once have looked