Life after the moon: Artemis II’s Christina Koch steps down from active astronaut duty
Life after the moon: Artemis II’s Christina Koch steps down from active astronaut duty

Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch will become NASA’s acting deputy chief engineer on Nov. 1. All four Artemis II crewmates have now stepped away from active spaceflight duties.

Cosmic ‘jellyfish’ wows skywatchers after SpaceX launch | Space photo of the day for Oct. 14, 2026
Cosmic ‘jellyfish’ wows skywatchers after SpaceX launch | Space photo of the day for Oct. 14, 2026

A “jellyfish” in the early-morning sky created by SpaceX’s launch of the CRS-35 cargo mission on Oct. 13, 2026.

The 1st SpaceX Starship to survive a launch to space just came home to its launch site
The 1st SpaceX Starship to survive a launch to space just came home to its launch site

After surviving its splashdown and a grueling journey at sea, SpaceX’s Ship 40 has returned to Starbase, where engineers will study the first recovered Starship upper stage for clues to future reusability.

Four years ago, NASA punched an asteroid. Europe’s Hera probe arrives this month to inspect the wreckage
Four years ago, NASA punched an asteroid. Europe’s Hera probe arrives this month to inspect the wreckage

NASA’s DART mission made a cosmic mess four years ago — and now a new spacecraft is ready to scout out exactly what the first-of-its-kind collision accomplished.

On this day in space! Oct. 13, 1773: Astronomer Charles Messier discovers the Whirlpool Galaxy before we ever knew it was a galaxy
On this day in space! Oct. 13, 1773: Astronomer Charles Messier discovers the Whirlpool Galaxy before we ever knew it was a galaxy

On Oct. 13, 1773, a French astronomer named Charles Messier discovered the “Whirlpool Galaxy,” also known as Messier 51, or M51. Here’s why it mattered.

SpaceX rocket launch creates incredible ‘space jellyfish’ visible throughout US East Coast (photos)
SpaceX rocket launch creates incredible ‘space jellyfish’ visible throughout US East Coast (photos)

The SpaceX cargo launch to the International Space Station on Tuesday morning (Oct. 13) created a dazzling display seen up and down the US East Coast.

2 spacecraft in orbit and 8 more coming soon: Varda has big plans for in-space manufacturing
2 spacecraft in orbit and 8 more coming soon: Varda has big plans for in-space manufacturing

Reentry provider Varda Space Industries is currently flying two spacecraft in Earth orbit and has eight more missions planned in the next year.

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover breaks interplanetary driving record — and it’s far from done

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has broken the record for the farthest distance driven on a world beyond Earth, passing its smaller cousin Opportunity.

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 Starlink mission for 1st time in more than 3 weeks (video)
SpaceX launches Falcon 9 Starlink mission for 1st time in more than 3 weeks (video)

SpaceX launched 27 of its Starlink broadband satellites to orbit today (Oct. 12), the first such mission for a Falcon 9 rocket since Sept. 19.

SpaceX successfully launches 6,300 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station
SpaceX successfully launches 6,300 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station

SpaceX successfully launched more than 3 tons of cargo toward the International Space Station on Tuesday morning (Oct. 13).