Articles

Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.

Russia Moves to Support ISS through 2024, Create New Space Station

The future of the International Space Station is a little clearer this week, following a statement from Russia supporting an extension of the orbiting complex through 2024.

Spacewalk Timelapse Makes Cable Routing Look Fun

A timelapse video shows two NASA astronauts as they became typical neighborhood cable technicians—except for the fact that they were wearing space suits.

How LightSail Holds Its Place in Space

There are few systems aboard a spacecraft more important than attitude control. This infographic shows how LightSail holds its place in space.

In Pictures: DSCOVR Headed for Deep Space

On Wednesday evening, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocketed into orbit with DSCOVR, the Deep Space Climate Observatory. Here's a photo and video roundup.

Europe's Experimental Spaceplane Completes Successful Test Flight

The IXV spaceplane, designed to demonstrate reentry technologies, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean this morning after a successful, 100-minute test flight.

IXV, the Intermediate Experimental Vehicle

Two Days, Two Launches and Three Landings

Within a two-day span, two rocket launches and three ocean landings are scheduled—one of which involves an autonomous spaceport drone ship.

FOIA Request Sheds Light on NASA Mission Extension Process

A FOIA request offers insight into NASA's planetary science extended mission review process, which seems, at best, confusing, and at worst—with adjectival ratings like “Very Good/Good”—arbitrary.

NASA Budget Lists Timelines, Costs and Risks for First SLS Flight

NASA will set the Space Launch System's inaugural flight date at the end of this year, according to the agency's 2016 budget request, which was released on Monday.

Commercial Crew Rivalries: Fun to Watch, Everybody Wins

Now that Boeing and SpaceX have won the high-profile privilege of carrying astronauts to the ISS, they must start making public appearances as reluctant equals.

It's Official: LightSail Test Flight Scheduled for May 2015

This May, the first of The Planetary Society's two member-funded LightSail spacecraft is slated to hitch a ride to space for a test flight aboard an Atlas V rocket.

Watch the Incredible 'Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly' of SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has released four images of the company's Falcon 9 rocket impacting its drone ship landing pad in the Atlantic Ocean.

Reconstructing What Happened at Sea, as Dragon Arrives at Station

Following a routine two-day voyage, SpaceX's Dragon capsule pulled in to port at the International Space Station. Meanwhile, tweets from CEO Elon Musk give clues on what happened at sea.

Dragon Reaches Orbit, but Falcon Stage Crashes on Recovery Ship

SpaceX’s ambitious attempt to land the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket on an autonomous ocean platform was

NASA Completes First Test Firing of SLS Core Stage Engine (Updated)

NASA completed a 500-second test firing of the RS-25 engine, which will power the core stage of the Space Launch System.

SpaceX Set to Retry Cargo Run, Rocket Stage Landing (Updated)

SpaceX will attempt to launch a Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station and land a used Falcon 9 rocket stage on an uncrewed spaceport in the Atlantic Ocean.

Get an Up-Close Look at the Lunar Surface with These 3D Apollo Images

3D images generated by the Apollo Lunar Surface Closeup Camera give you an idea of how it would look to crouch on the lunar surface with your spacesuit faceplate to the soil.