Karl Tate
Karl's association with Space.com goes back to 2000, when he was hired to produce interactive Flash graphics. From 2010 to 2016, Karl worked as an infographics specialist across all editorial properties of Purch (formerly known as TechMediaNetwork). Before joining Space.com, Karl spent 11 years at the New York headquarters of The Associated Press, creating news graphics for use around the world in newspapers and on the web. He has a degree in graphic design from Louisiana State University and now works as a freelance graphic designer in New York City.
Latest articles by Karl Tate
![Diagrams show alien solar system around the star Beta Pictoris.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/69B2BzBNcDRPkZFqndijFo-320-80.jpg)
Alien Comets of Star Beta Pictoris Explained (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
Astronomers have detected the signatures of hundreds of comets disintegrating in a distant, chaotic solar system 63 light-years away.
![Diagrams show how comet will approach Mars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a84f8iQcpVZQcfdzsCkaRc-320-80.jpg)
Comet's Close Encounter with Mars Explained (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
In a rare celestial event, a comet will pass closer to Mars than the moon is from Earth on Oct. 19, 2014. See how the Comet Siding Spring flyby of Mars works in this Space.com infographic.
![Chart shows a few items of cargo aboard SpaceX-4.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yzJPT6PKfUBCDgReDLVaRc-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Dragon Flying Mice in Space & More for NASA (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
SpaceX's fourth cargo mission to the International Space Station includes some mice, the first 3D printer in space and other weird science. See our take on the cargo in this Space.com infographic.
![Diagram of the proton-proton fusion reaction.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6XktU6pJkfsNiXiNy8Vod9-320-80.jpg)
Proton Fusion, the Sun's Power Source, Explained (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
Stars are giant fusion reactors, smashing protons together to produce energy.
![Details of SpaceX's Dragon V2 manned spacecraft.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AwVtxph9Yi44EHVxKNfBjP-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX's Dragon V2 Manned Spacecraft: How it Works (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
SpaceX's Dragon Version 2 capsule is designed to carry seven astronauts to the International Space Station. See how it works in this Space.com infographic.
![Details of the science instruments on Mars 2020](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/77JEHtLe6oCdHq6gRoqH9F-320-80.jpg)
How NASA's Mars 2020 Rover Will Work (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
NASA's Mars 2020 mission will send a car-size rover to the Red Planet to collect samples. See how the Mars 2020 rover will work in this Space.com infographic.
![Diagram shows inside of the European Space Agency's ATV cargo ship.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/K2ULEH4TwQ4aJEKgLQBBYF-320-80.jpg)
How Europe's ATV Space Cargo Ship Works (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
The European Space Agency's ATV cargo vehicle delivers 8.3 tons of solid and liquid cargo to the International Space Station. See how the unmanned spacecraft work in this Space.com infographic.
![Diagrams and NASA artwork show how Apollo astronauts flew to the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QaofWZdVEA6Ydfn5w3hupM-320-80.jpg)
The Apollo Moon Landings: How They Worked (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
Diagrams and NASA artwork show how Apollo astronauts flew to the moon.
![Listing of plans for human flights to the moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yVndBfE2LqFd4gVtb9txEg-320-80.jpg)
Future Moon Exploration: How Humans Will Visit Luna (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
Plans that have been announced in recent years for crewed space flights to the moon.
![Diagram of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cmQz8tyB9sbRu3A2r6QUFb-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX's Huge Falcon Heavy Rocket: How It Works (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
SpaceX's three-core Falcon Heavy rocket is a mega-booster that would be the largest, most powerful launch vehicle since NASA's Saturn V moon rocket. Here's how SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket works.
![Diagrams of NASA's new Z-2 spacesuit design.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w6PBwG2HCxV4tj3eCHhyCe-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Futuristic Z-2 Spacesuit: How It Works (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
NASA's next-generation Z-2 spacesuit prototype is an evolution ahead of its predecessor, the Z-1. See how NASA's futuristic Z-2 spacesuit works in this Space.com infographic.
![Computer simulation of the universe.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Cj2YAo2cx9yusGx4W32qn6-320-80.jpg)
How Computers Simulate the Universe (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
A new computer simulation produces a chunk of the universe that closely resembles the real thing.
![Diagram of day length on various planets.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x9pYzXi9mEDYsD65nYsseh-320-80.jpg)
Whirling Dervish: Fastest-Spinning Exoplanet Beta Pictoris b Explained (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
On Beta Pictoris b, a planet still forming nearly 64 light-years away, a day lasts only 8.1 hours.
![Various means of landing on the planet Mars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooAqJCj5DhccSrQMWKx2LQ-320-80.jpg)
How to Land on Mars: Martian Tech Explained (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
Spacecraft use multiple methods to slow down enough for a safe landing on Mars. See how Mars landings work in this Space.com infographic.
![Facts about planet Kepler-186f.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FdyDTPtULWKMfVGa54uxMP-320-80.jpg)
Exoplanet Kepler-186f: Earth-Size World Could Support Oceans and Life (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
A rocky planet that could have liquid water at its surface orbits a star 490 light-years away.
![The geography and interior of Enceladus.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/87JGtMpCZp7m9m4AubYTpW-320-80.jpg)
Inside Enceladus, Icy Moon of Saturn (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
Enceladus has an extensive water ocean under its icy crust, feeding water jets that emerge from near the south pole.
![Conceptual illustrations of the birth of the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JVTNzrRF5PKYbvXAZwoEb5-320-80.jpg)
How the Moon Was Made: Lunar Evolution Explained (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
The moon is Earth's nearest neighbor, but its origins date back to a violent birth billions of years ago. See how the moon was made in this Space.com infographic.
![Details of the cold objects that orbit far from the sun.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/azfsrFfUw2uVhAnaKmmbsW-320-80.jpg)
Trans-Neptunian Objects in the Extreme Outer Solar System (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
In the distant inner Oort Cloud, a largely unexplored region that likely hosts millions of icy objects, astronomers are finding surprises and possibly a ninth solar system planet.
![Infographic: How the cosmic force of inflation enlarged the early universe.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xBSivcZxdMYQtBBcu73snR-320-80.jpg)
Cosmic Inflation: How It Gave the Universe the Ultimate Kickstart (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
Inflation is the mysterious force that blew up the scale of the infant universe from sub-microscopic to gargantuan in a fraction of a second.
![Diagram shows how close certain asteroids have passed by the Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WAH5CEEmcSGbaGECLG36Wk-320-80.jpg)
Near-Earth Asteroids: Famous Space Rock Flybys and Close Calls (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
Several of the asteroids that have been spotted passing with the orbits of the moon and even Earth's communications satellites.
![Infographic: Space tourist Dennis Tito's daring proposal to send a man and a woman on a 501-day space flight around the planet Mars explained.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZDaxDq5cLuFvSSjWHTBNre-320-80.jpg)
Dennis Tito's 2021 Human Mars Flyby Mission Explained (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
Space tourist Dennis Tito's daring proposal to send a married couple on a 501-day space flight around the planet Mars and back.
![The Global Precipitation Measurement satellite explained.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mG6KAdoKx94HqxwT4AWRZ-320-80.jpg)
Mapping Rain & Snow: How the Global Precipitation Measurement Satellite Works (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
The GPM Core Observatory scans the weather with microwaves and two bands of radar. See how the Global Precipitation Measurement Satellite by NASA and JAXA will map rain and snow like never before.
![Explanation of new exoplanets found by Kepler Space Telescope.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DhNvKxZ5bSDV3vbAgVP4y4-320-80.jpg)
Kepler Space Telescope's Alien Planet Bonanza Explained (Infographic)
By Karl Tate published
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