Articles

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

The Artemis II crew gets a firsthand look at Launch Pad 39B

What's keeping the Artemis astronauts safe?

Though no spaceflight is without danger, Artemis II carries special risks.

Artemis II blasts off, sending humans back to the Moon

NASA's Artemis II mission has just launched people to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.

The Space Advocate Newsletter, March 2026

Artemis vis-a-vis Apollo.

Artemis II mission: What to expect (Live mission updates)

Artemis II will send humans back to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, with four astronauts on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back. Here’s what to expect.

Calendar of space events 2026

Space missions, rocket launches, and celestial events are coming our way in 2026.

Pete Conrad with Surveyor 3 during Apollo 12

Why send people back to the Moon?

What can an astronaut do on the Moon that a robot can’t?

Starship prior to first integrated test flight

How soon will Starship fly?

One rocket could decide how soon humanity returns to the Moon — and maybe one day sets foot on Mars.

What to look forward to in space in 2024

A total solar eclipse and the launch of Europa Clipper are on our list of cosmic events to get excited about this year.

To the moon together

An interview with Scott Pace about the Moon’s role in internationally cooperative human space exploration.

That’s a mare

An unusual lunar feature, Saturn’s shining rings, and Mars’ complex gullies.

Would you like some salty water with your space salad?

Two new grant-winning projects, a collection of awesome space imagery, a mighty plume, and much more this week in space.

Way out there

We’re always learning more about the worlds of the outer Solar System, and even those beyond.

A mission to pull back the shroud

VERITAS would peer through Venus’ clouds to study its surface like never before, but it needs your help.

Asteroids worth getting psyched about

New discoveries from Ryugu, material heading our way from Bennu, and anticipation for a mission to Psyche.

Volcanic Venus, myriad moons, and space sonification

Learn all about the possible volcanic activity found on Venus, the facts about a hyped-up near-Earth asteroid, Jupiter’s newest moons, and what space images sound like.