Irene Klotz
Irene Klotz is a founding member and long-time contributor to Space.com. She concurrently spent 25 years as a wire service reporter and freelance writer, specializing in space exploration, planetary science, astronomy and the search for life beyond Earth. A graduate of Northwestern University, Irene currently serves as Space Editor for Aviation Week & Space Technology.
Latest articles by Irene Klotz
![Mars by Hubble in August 2003](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s9EDhSAxfmokRHaVsY9TEJ-320-80.jpg)
Boiling Blood and Radiation: 5 Ways Mars Can Kill
By Irene Klotz last updated
Radiation exposure is among the top health risks for Mars astronauts, but the Red Planet poses many other dangers as well. Here are the fastest ways Mars would kill an unprotected traveler.
![An artist's illustration of a satellite servicing spacecraft approaching its target. DARPA has selected Space Systems Loral as its commercial partner for the agency's Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites program.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xLHL3S2mJbUqnht255whjC-320-80.jpg)
Orbital Loses Bid to Stop DARPA Satellite-Servicing Project
By Irene Klotz published
Spaceflight provider Orbital ATK lost a bid to stop DARPA from partnering with a competing company to demonstrate in-space satellite-servicing technology.
![Mars Base Camp space station concept art](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/USUPKQrASvLjLfB9JGVoCD-320-80.jpg)
NASA Could Reach Mars Faster with Public-Private Partnerships, Companies Tell Congress
By Irene Klotz published
![Vice President Pence Visits KSC](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bJezzWSqhskpJtMMWaHGzf-320-80.jpg)
Pence Calls for Return to the Moon, Boots on Mars
By Irene Klotz published
The Trump administration will seek a heavier emphasis on human-spaceflight efforts, including crewed missions to the moon and Mars, Vice President Mike Pence said today (July 6).
![The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket shown here launched 10 communications satellites into space for Iridium Communications on June 25. SpaceX is preparing to launch another Falcon 9 on July 2.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oCnL2FgrnciW2bx6KXHKN7-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Rockets Through Backlog with 3rd Launch in 9 Days
By Irene Klotz published
![Deep Space Gateway art](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8yWHv33FWJ2Gm9XRuhZAt8-320-80.jpg)
Moon Station Could Use Tech from Scrapped Asteroid Mission, NASA Says
By Irene Klotz published
NASA is salvaging technology from a scrapped asteroid mission to help build a space station orbiting the moon.
![Nuclear power system art](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6ruQexJBwuyFjju3Z35zYB-320-80.jpg)
NASA to Test Fission Power for Future Mars Colony
By Irene Klotz published
NASA engineers are working on a nuclear fission system called Kilopower that would power a human colony on Mars.
![Total Solar Eclipse of March 2016 from Plane](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hiVXh6dNSWowCgBaHAg9Bk-320-80.jpg)
Solar Eclipse 2017: Alaska Airlines Flight Will Offer View Above the Clouds
By Irene Klotz published
A group of lucky astronomy buffs will get to watch the moon block the face of the sun on Aug. 21 from 35,000 feet (10,700 meters) in the air aboard a special charter Alaska Airlines eclipse flight.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ffUNzJqs4t6oQdvcPxbeV7-320-80.jpg)
Liftoff! SpaceX Nails Second Launch in Three Days
By Irene Klotz published
SpaceX nailed its second launch in three days today (June 25) with liftoff of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California carrying 10 satellites owned by Iridium Communications.
![Bulgaria Sat Mission](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t6agA4TYLRH2tDH9SgfZab-320-80.png)
SpaceX Set for Second Falcon 9 Launch in Three Days
By Irene Klotz published
One day after putting Bulgaria's first communications satellite into orbit, SpaceX is preparing for a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Sunday (June 25).
![SpaceX test fires a previously flown Falcon 9 rocket booster ahead of its planned launch on June 19, 2017 to send BulgariaSat-1, the first communications satellite for Bulgaria, into orbit from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Flo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kcX29sfG8x7QJi6oo4zDD4-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX to Launch 1st Satellite for Bulgaria (on a Used Rocket!) Monday
By Irene Klotz published
SpaceX is ramping up for its eighth flight of the year on Monday (June 19) with the launch of a communications satellite for Bulgaria aboard a previously flown Falcon 9 booster.
![KFC Zinger chicken sandwich](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SrbAFebNKfnkttxmHDSZFE-320-80.jpg)
KFC Flying Chicken Sandwich Bankrolling World View Balloon Test Flight
By Irene Klotz published
A KFC ad campaign that will place a chicken sandwich on a World View stratospheric balloon has covered a significant portion of the cost of the test flight.
![pulsar concept art](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8SwtVk8ojo6WhgmGspYJzk-320-80.jpg)
Pulsar-Based Navigation System to Get Test on Space Station
By Irene Klotz published
![SpaceX’s Dragon at the ISS, September 2014](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jDLUvLfYsn3gAxBs8PkdNT-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Dragon Cargo Ship Poised for Historic Relaunch to Space Station
By Irene Klotz published
![Orphan planet with disk](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C4VFXwuTBmXUwPsgwgV9PQ-320-80.jpg)
Orphan Planet's Huge Disk Shows That Planets Are More Like Stars Than We Know
By Irene Klotz published
The discovery of a vast star-like disk of gas and dust surrounding planet OTS44 challenges the notion of what differentiates a planet from a star, and of how their origins differ.
![Rocket Lab Launches First Electron Rocket](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wXYiscMxfM3VbMxPfnL5of-320-80.jpg)
Rocket Lab Electron Booster Falls Short in Debut Test Launch
By Irene Klotz published
![The private spaceflight company Rocket Lab's first Electron rocket launches into space from Mahia peninsula in New Zealand on May 25, 2017. The two-stage Electron is designed to launch small satellites into orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x8NAsUs38aVEComm4BpXGo-320-80.jpg)
Rocket Lab's Electron Mini Launcher Blasts Off in Debut Flight from New Zealand
By Irene Klotz published
![NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is pictured with an Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft (left) during a May 12, 2017 spacewalk outside the International Space Station. Whitson, the station's commander, and fellow NASA astronaut Jack Fischer will conduct a repair s](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/J6yikX68h7MtvVw7J3nVa3-320-80.jpg)
Space Station Astronauts to Take Surprise Spacewalk Tuesday to Replace Failed Computer Relay
By Irene Klotz published
![Rocket Lab's Electron Rocket](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/n69woc7WozFEcb37DQNnzX-320-80.jpg)
Maiden Flight for Rocket Lab's Mini Launcher Nears
By Irene Klotz published
When Rocket Lab's small satellite launcher blasts off from New Zealand next week on its debut test flight, it will be more than just the Electron rocket that is on trial.
![The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that will launch the Inmarsat 5-F4 communications satellite is test fired at Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida ahead of its May 15, 2017 launch.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4LGSbUCCsNCjs8omAnyYGa-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Will Launch Its 1st Flight for Inmarsat Tonight: Watch It Live
By Irene Klotz published
![SLS and Orion on the Pad: Artist Illustration](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7Egf8vrBZRmCb3YfD48k4M-320-80.jpg)
Test Tank for NASA Heavy-Lift Rocket Damaged in Louisiana
By Irene Klotz published
A Space Launch System (SLS) fuel tank needed for structural tests in advance of the debut flight of NASA's heavy-lift booster was damaged on May 3, the space agency said today (May 11).
![Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mnPE9PmFf64mkpbH8AET3H-320-80.jpg)
Dark Matter Probe on Space Station to Be Revitalized
By Irene Klotz published
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