Josh Dinner
Josh Dinner is Space.com's Content Manager. He is a writer and photographer with a passion for science and space exploration, and has been working the space beat since 2016. Josh has covered the evolution of NASA's commercial spaceflight partnerships, from early Dragon and Cygnus cargo missions to the ongoing development and launches of crewed missions from the Space Coast, as well as NASA science missions and more. He also enjoys building 1:144 scale models of rockets and human-flown spacecraft. Find some of Josh's launch photography on Instagram and his website, and follow him on Twitter, where he mostly posts in haiku.
Latest articles by Josh Dinner
![a photograph of the surface of the moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UDXzW2t5BecJhsqehyxTAg-320-80.jpg)
NASA squeezed oxygen from mock moon dust. It could help astronauts breathe easy one day.
By Josh Dinner published
Researchers at NASA's Johnson Space Center have successfully harvested oxygen from simulated lunar soil using a special high-temperature reactor.
![China's Zhurong Mars rover captured this panorama of the Red Planet. Visible in the foreground are the rover's solar panels and communications equipment.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VovrbZTgbusHQUba2SvZp5-320-80.jpg)
China just might add a helicopter and 6-legged robot to Mars sample-return mission
By Josh Dinner published
New details are emerging about China's upcoming Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission that include a possible helicopter drone and six-legged robotic rover.
![Illustration of NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) at work.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rqUmqyHVtd6upSh2wNbuE7-320-80.jpg)
NASA's TESS exoplanet-hunting satellite celebrates 5 years in space
By Josh Dinner published
NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, is now in its fifth year scanning the sky for new worlds.
![Rocket Lab is gearing up for two launches that will send four hurricane-watching satellites aloft for NASA's TROPICS constellation.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2KQuBQiFQfxDR4ryCraLCC-320-80.jpeg)
Rocket Lab to launch 2 missions for NASA hurricane-watching constellation
By Josh Dinner published
Rocket Lab is preparing to launch four tiny NASA hurricane-studying satellites across two missions from the company's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
![SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour capsule carrying the four astronauts of NASA's Crew-6 mission is seen with the blue Earth as it approaches the International Space Station on March 3, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9nK8sGp7HhTPSmXDGyHTPU-320-80.jpg)
NASA updates schedule for astronaut flights to space station through 2024
By Josh Dinner published
NASA is nailing down its calendar with Boeing and SpaceX, laying out who will fly astronauts to the International Space Station when.
![An artist's illustration of asteroids headed toward Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7FfT5Rxe7SaMQhkxN44H9Y-320-80.jpg)
US updates asteroid-defense strategy
By Josh Dinner published
The U.S. government has published an updated action plan for how to deal with potentially dangerous asteroids.
![an illustration of a small satellite orbiting the Earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/E42e3BPwgJqzHNZAqufsrC-320-80.png)
SpaceX launches world's 1st 5G satellite to bring global connectivity to Internet of Things
By Josh Dinner published
The Sateliot "GroundBreaker" is the first of a constellation of over 250 spacecraft designed to communicate with terrestrial 5G cell towers and fill gaps in data networks worldwide.
![Technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans move the engine section of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for Artemis 2.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zmegGitRuGgaxLcqwm4feJ-320-80.jpg)
Watch NASA assemble the massive Artemis 2 rocket that will take humans back to the moon (video)
By Josh Dinner published
In a video shared by NASA, the Space Launch System core stage rocket for Artemis 2 can be seen undergoing assembly at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
![Rapper Post Malone places an Earth Day call to NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg aboard the International Space Station in April 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zSXZjhSjRwr7im25PvjsJD-320-80.jpeg)
Space station astronauts get Earth Day call from Post Malone (video)
By Josh Dinner published
Rapper Post Malone asked NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg about they joys of seeing our beautiful but fragile planet from above.
![a massive cloud of dust is kicked up by a huge rocket on a launch pad](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QvFDfeU95r3mxDpLWwpj28-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX celebrated Starship's 1st launch. Some locals called it 'truly terrifying'
By Josh Dinner published
The launch of SpaceX's Starship sent dust and debris hurtling through the air, creating concerns for residents in the vicinity of the company's Starbase facility.
![SpaceX shared this photo of Falcon Heavy in the hangar on April 11, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vfsUE36DnfeatpCPbPV59N-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX, ULA could launch missions for Europe while it waits for its next-generation rocket: report
By Josh Dinner published
Delays in Europe's next-generation launch vehicle, the Ariane 6, are causing the European Commission to seek alternatives for the countries' access to orbit.
![an illustration of small satellites orbiting the moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WMtn9gBLgdVWiyhwRv38XU-320-80.jpg)
Next-generation satellite network could connect Earth with bases on moon's far side
By Josh Dinner published
Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin has launched a new subsidiary called Crescent Space Services after NASA issued a call for a commercial lunar communications network.
![SpaceX's first orbital Starship rocket stands atop its Super Heavy booster at the company's Starbase test site near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MRdVjWT3mzDDf29ThGw28W-320-80.jpg)
Watch SpaceX Starship evolve and explode on the way to its 1st space launch (video)
By Josh Dinner published
SpaceX shared a video that charts the journey its massive Starship rocket has taken to get to the launch pad ahead of its first orbital flight test.
![a bright meteorite streaks over a lake](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VsdMednmyvgpf3vjaxdude-320-80.jpg)
Meteorite hunt! Museum offers $25k reward for fragment of Maine space rock
By Josh Dinner published
The Maine Mineral and Gem Museum in Bethel is offering a hefty reward for anyone who can produce a significant fragment of a fallen meteorite.
![U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris chats with the Artemis 2 astronauts.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xu5YrHsBQPFSKSv9K24tqg-320-80.jpeg)
Vice President Harris congratulates Artemis 2 astronauts (video)
By Josh Dinner published
The newly selected Artemis 2 astronauts have been in the spotlight over the past week — and that now includes a call with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.
![The Artemis 2 crew, including Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (at left) and NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, pose together in an Orion spacecraft simulator at Johnson Space Center.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5zenHizcswetxJZc7gCaHc-320-80.jpg)
What's next for the newly named Artemis 2 moon crew?
By Josh Dinner published
Now that the astronauts for NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission have been chosen, the serious launch training can begin.
![two people in space suits drive a lunar rover through the california desert](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8pu5otJCykLYfJFfei6wK4-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Starship will launch this new private moon rover in 2026 (video)
By Josh Dinner published
A new lunar rover built by Astrolab will launch on an upcoming SpaceX Starship mission to the moon as early as 2026.
![A Shavit rocket launches the Ofek 13 radar spy satellite to orbit on March 29, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cGtBR5sqQSw43oDNWiAKFW-320-80.jpeg)
Israel launches 'most advanced of its kind' radar spy satellite
By Josh Dinner published
Israel launched the newest addition to its Ofek series of spy satellites early Wednesday (March 29), an advanced radar craft called Ofek 13.
![An artist's depiction of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collecting a sample from asteroid Bennu.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HMhmp5BJHbVansgkAt9eEB-320-80.png)
NASA prepping for September arrival of OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample
By Josh Dinner published
As OSIRIS-REx flies its return trajectory through space, teams on Earth are preparing for the sample's Sept. 24 landing in the Utah desert.
![A SpaceX rocket lifts off in the background behind the sign for Cape Canaveral Space Force Station](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8acAAem7uCmWtdVPuMf5n-320-80.jpg)
US Space Force seeks $60 million for 'tactically responsive space' program
By Josh Dinner published
The Space Force is laying the groundwork to place payloads in orbit with relatively little notice through its 'tactically responsive space' program.
![NASA human spaceflight chief Kathy Lueders will retire at the end of April 2023 after 31 years with the agency.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e3rwEhapfkefEcDZ7syWQS-320-80.jpg)
NASA human spaceflight chief Kathy Lueders to retire at end of April
By Josh Dinner published
Kathy Lueders will step down as associate administrator of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate at the end of April, the agency announced on Monday (March 27).
![a small uncrewed helicopter flies above a sandy planet's surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dwbiBe96MECY6eBGUV8M8M-320-80.jpg)
Saturn moon Titan could hold the clues to life's origin. This NASA drone could find them
By Josh Dinner published
The Dragonfly rotorcraft-lander will be one of NASA's most diversely capable planetary exploration craft that will be used to search for signs of life on Saturn's moon Titan.
![StarCrete, a material made of potato starch, salt and simulated Mars or moon dirt, is twice as strong as conventional concrete, its creators say.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TkXqGQ3gMvTQweUQ3TtgWn-320-80.jpg)
Potatoes are better than human blood for making space bricks, scientists say
By Josh Dinner published
Engineers have created a superstrong concrete alternative using simulated Martian or lunar soil, potato starch and salt.
![An artist's depiction of an asteroid hitting Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/T5rSPL7y5wyJCvuYPoHmF3-320-80.jpeg)
Space dust could carry alien life across the galaxy, study suggests
By Josh Dinner published
Astrobiologists should examine space dust and other exoplanetary debris to search for the existence of life beyond Earth, a new study suggests.
![a module on the exterior of the international space station](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tdvGMXkca3Liba2oHBWE8k-320-80.jpg)
This mysterious streak of light over California is actually an old space station antenna meeting its doom (video)
By Josh Dinner published
St. Patrick's Day revelers in Sacramento, California witnessed an old piece of the space station burn up in the atmosphere on March 17.
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