Hanneke Weitering
Hanneke Weitering is a multimedia journalist in the Pacific Northwest reporting on the future of aviation at FutureFlight.aero and Aviation International News and was previously the Editor for Spaceflight and Astronomy news here at Space.com. As an editor with over 10 years of experience in science journalism she has previously written for Scholastic Classroom Magazines, MedPage Today and The Joint Institute for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After studying physics at the University of Tennessee in her hometown of Knoxville, she earned her graduate degree in Science, Health and Environmental Reporting (SHERP) from New York University. Hanneke joined the Space.com team in 2016 as a staff writer and producer, covering topics including spaceflight and astronomy. She currently lives in Seattle, home of the Space Needle, with her cat and two snakes. In her spare time, Hanneke enjoys exploring the Rocky Mountains, basking in nature and looking for dark skies to gaze at the cosmos.
Latest articles by Hanneke Weitering
![SpaceX's Dragon CRS-21 cargo spacecraft docks with the International Space Station, on Dec. 7, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4vFB8bpNtRgbTLtcwWMkEe-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX's 1st upgraded Dragon cargo ship docks itself at space station with science, goodies and new airlock
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
A SpaceX Dragon cargo ship arrived at the International Space Station today (Dec. 7) to deliver vital supplies for NASA and try something brand-new: park itself without the help of astronauts.
![Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev lays cable for the installation of the Icarus animal-tracking experiment on the Zvezda service module during a spacewalk on Aug. 15, 2018.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iZWNBqmVkznPoDHigyXT5n-320-80.jpg)
Two cosmonauts are taking a spacewalk outside the space station today. Here's how to watch.
By Hanneke Weitering published
Two Russian cosmonauts are taking a spacewalk outside the International Space Station Wednesday (Nov. 18), and you can watch their six-hour excursion live online.
![The Crew Dragon Resilience approaches the International Space Station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ReWSpvhiRcAtceapH6jRNn-320-80.jpeg)
SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule docks at space station with its 1st crew of 4
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule has successfully delivered a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew-1 spacecraft stands atop Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida ahead of a Nov. 14, 2020 astronaut launch to the International Space Station for NASA.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y4fwBtxDGQQJZJGRZVQcaD-320-80.jpg)
NASA urges COVID caution for spectators of SpaceX Crew-1 astronaut launch
By Hanneke Weitering published
SpaceX and NASA are gearing up for another historic astronaut launch from Florida this weekend, and officials are again asking spectators to take safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
![SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket are pictured in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, ahead of the planned launch of the Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JUmsQeRzUYJLFHkoYGiHP7-320-80.jpeg)
NASA certifies SpaceX's Crew Dragon for astronaut flights, gives 'go' for Nov. 14 launch
By Hanneke Weitering published
SpaceX's next astronaut flight for NASA is "go" for launch this weekend. The company has been certified for regular flights to and from the International Space Station.
![India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C49) lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on Nov. 7, 2020, carrying the EOS-1 Earth observation satellite and nine secondary payloads.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hXzA8wJVQyT5mHhyxXPZvN-320-80.jpg)
India's space agency breaks dry spell with its 1st rocket launch of 2020
By Hanneke Weitering published
After nearly 11 months without a rocket launch, ISRO is back in action. The space agency successfully launched 10 satellites to orbit Saturday (Nov. 7), including a new Earth observation satellite.
![NASA captured this view of Hurricane Zeta with one of the International Space Station's external cameras, on Oct. 28, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbidwJFRGcR3Na5fZqze9o-320-80.jpg)
Hurricane Zeta spotted from the International Space Station (video)
By Hanneke Weitering published
As Hurricane Zeta churned toward the northern Gulf Coast today (Oct. 28), the International Space Station captured some incredible views of the massive storm from orbit.
![The cover art for Foxanne's single, "Opportunity," released Oct. 9, 2020. On the right is an artist's impression of NASA's Opportunity rover on Mars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DjKy6sxj78dXfJtDjkMJ5M-320-80.jpg)
In 'Opportunity' music video, Foxanne imagines a dying Mars rover's cry for help
By Hanneke Weitering published
If NASA's long-silent Opportunity Mars rover could phone home one last time to sing a sweet, sentimental song to its Earthly overlords from its dusty grave, it might go a little something like this.
![NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi will fly on the Crew-1 mission, currently scheduled to launch on Nov. 14, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8oBJxTP5LKFTprhg9HAC77-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX now targeting Nov. 14 for next astronaut launch
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
SpaceX will launch four astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA on Nov. 14, the agency announced Monday (Oct. 26).
![SpaceX's Starship could launch on its first uncrewed flight to Mars in 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ksZaXDrJVhW95Nie79NeMK-320-80.jpg)
Elon Musk says SpaceX's 1st Starship trip to Mars could fly in 4 years
By Hanneke Weitering published
SpaceX is on track to launch its first Mars mission in as little as four years from now, SpaceX's founder and CEO Elon Musk said Friday (Oct. 16) at the International Mars Society Convention.
![The Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov is seen as it approaches the International Space Station during a 3-hour flight on Oct. 14, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CAsSHRqsMdMsGBXSno2jUZ-320-80.jpg)
A Soyuz capsule just made a record-breaking 3-hour flight to the International Space Station
By Hanneke Weitering published
Three new crewmembers arrived at the International Space Station today (Oct. 14) after a record-breaking speedy flight to the orbiting lab.
![Blue Origin's New Shepard vehicle made its 13th flight on Oct. 13, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iKQzPhADmen3xSJe3W52oT-320-80.png)
Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket aces record 7th launch, landing in test flight
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
Blue Origin successfully launched its New Shepard rocket for space tourism on an uncrewed test flight over West Texas on Tuesday (Oct. 13).
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket suffered an abort just two seconds before the planned launch of the GPS III SV04 navigation satellite for the U.S. Space Force from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on Oct. 2, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g3DxisDHyvzhfYAPdm22BX-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX aborts launch of advanced GPS satellite for the US Space Force
By Hanneke Weitering published
SpaceX aborted the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket that was scheduled to deliver an upgraded global positioning satellite (GPS) into orbit for the U.S. Space Force on Friday (Oct. 2).
![Blue Origin's New Shepard space capsule and rocket on the pad at the company's West Texas Launch Site in January 2019. The same rocket will launch the NS-13 mission in September 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KZeoS5MwTwKS48fkNvETqV-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin scrubs New Shepard rocket launch due to power glitch
By Hanneke Weitering published
Blue Origin has delayed the planned launch of its New Shepard rocket from West Texas today (Sept. 24), citing a power glitch.
![This series of images of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was captured by the Rosetta spacecraft's OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on Aug. 12, 2015, a few hours before the comet reached perihelion, or the closest point to the sun along its 6.5-year orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nhJeuVAKSbK2ExgQdHbbEn-320-80.gif)
Rosetta's 'rubber ducky' comet has ultraviolet auroras
By Hanneke Weitering published
Planets aren't the only things in the solar system with auroras. Comets can have them too, data from the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission has revealed.
![Caturn](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FuGAqmwbVGi9pPsZxGgzxc-320-80.jpg)
Cosmic Kittens: Saturn Features Get Feline Names
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
If you know anything about Saturn, you probably know that it's a planet surrounded by rings. But did you know that it's also surrounded by cats?
![A satellite image taken by one of Planet's SkySat satellites shows the damaged radio dish at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. The image was captured at 10:50 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT) on Aug. 10, 2020, about eight hours after a support cable broke and smashed into the dish.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iqtRWVtXGx3t7KbYkohv27-320-80.jpg)
The investigation into why a cable mysteriously broke on the Arecibo Observatory has begun
By Hanneke Weitering last updated
Arecibo is investigating the cause of a mysterious accident that damaged its iconic radio telescope.
![Asteroid 2011 ES4 will fly by Earth (orbit shown in blue) on Sept. 1, 2020, at 12:12 p.m. EDT (1612 GMT).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dw9hnL4pkaovLVRPaV3Xzj-320-80.jpg)
An airplane-size asteroid gives Earth a close shave
By Hanneke Weitering published
An asteroid the size of a jumbo jet will have a close encounter with Earth today (Sept. 1), zooming past our planet at about one-third the average distance to the moon.
![The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is pictured at the company’s Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility in Florida, undergoing inspection after its Orbital Flight Test.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q7puYPmxjiCyAeq5a7ysAM-320-80.jpg)
Boeing's Starliner could launch to the space station in December
By Hanneke Weitering published
Boeing is now planning to launch the second uncrewed test flight of its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft no earlier than December, the company announced Friday (Aug. 28).
![NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy shared this photo of Hurricane Laura from the International Space Station on Aug. 26, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wrtjW3KdL7xrrnSgFoFZog-320-80.jpeg)
NASA Mission Control braces for Hurricane Laura as astronauts watch from space
By Hanneke Weitering published
To prepare for the potentially catastrophic storm, NASA has temporarily closed Johnson Space Center, sending space station flight controllers to backup hubs in Texas and Alabama.
![A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above a group of campers at the Negev Desert near the city of Mitzpe Ramon, Israel, on Aug. 11, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vbmTfQYL5vntQ9YY6aJxrP-320-80.jpg)
Perseid meteor shower 2020 brings celestial fireworks to the night sky (photos)
By Hanneke Weitering published
The Perseid meteor shower, one of the most famous annual "shooting star" displays, reached its peak activity this week, putting on a spectacular show for skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere.
![Catch the Perseid meteor shower in a Slooh webcast on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7d4b8Z9AG8avt23uME3ffm-320-80.jpg)
You can see the 2020 Perseid meteor shower in a free Slooh webcast tonight
By Hanneke Weitering published
The annual Perseid meteor shower has just peaked, but it's not too late to spot one of the famed "shooting stars" in the night sky — or in a live webcast.
![SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demo-2 spacecraft departs the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, on Aug. 1, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PSwcd6rz55FdeaPkDt24h-320-80.png)
SpaceX Crew Dragon undocks from space station to bring NASA astronauts home for 1st time
By Hanneke Weitering published
The first astronauts to fly in SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft are on their way back to Earth from the International Space Station.
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