Leonard David
Leonard David is an award-winning space journalist who has been reporting on space activities for more than 50 years. Currently writing as Space.com's Space Insider Columnist among his other projects, Leonard has authored numerous books on space exploration, Mars missions and more, with his latest being "Moon Rush: The New Space Race" published in 2019 by National Geographic. He also wrote "Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet" released in 2016 by National Geographic. Leonard has served as a correspondent for SpaceNews, Scientific American and Aerospace America for the AIAA. He has received many awards, including the first Ordway Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History in 2015 at the AAS Wernher von Braun Memorial Symposium. You can find out Leonard's latest project at his website and on Twitter.
Latest articles by Leonard David
![China's next-generation spacecraft, which flew once to space in May 2020, is seen on display for the first time at the Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai City in the Guangdong province on Oct. 1, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gZnhwTCCYjnraCmeRS2YMG-320-80.png)
China just put its next-generation spaceship on display
By Leonard David published
Making its public debut is China's next-generation crewed spacecraft.
![Boeing's X-37B space plane.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TS8iattpUgaiVSUYLQPXfK-320-80.jpg)
Air Force's X-37B robotic space plane wings past 500 days in Earth orbit
By Leonard David published
That enigmatic U.S. military X-37B robotic space drone has now chalked up more than 500 days circling the Earth.
![Artist's illustration of the two EscaPADE spacecraft in orbit around Mars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9pfri6k6fn5ZKhFYbLY3nG-320-80.jpg)
Mars on the cheap: Scientists working to revolutionize access to the Red Planet
By Leonard David last updated
An increasing number of researchers are blueprinting low-cost and novel ways to further explore the Red Planet.
![Neither the United States government nor commercial spaceflight providers currently have plans in place to conduct a timely rescue of a crew from a distressed spacecraft in Earth orbit or anywhere else in space.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X7FnfRyG4afQV6XDtj8W2V-320-80.jpg)
Humanity needs a space-rescue capability, report stresses
By Leonard David last updated
As space tourism blossoms and other nations develop their own human spaceflight programs, it's time to think seriously about implementing a space rescue capability, some experts say.
![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/TgMLDtBF3gjTDNC2jUKXGn-320-80.jpg)
China's Tianwen-1 Mars mission is going offline for a while
By Leonard David published
China's Tianwen-1 Mars mission — both the orbiter and Zhurong rover — will suspend operations for about 50 days starting in mid-September.
![A still from a U.S. Navy video of a UFO sighting.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zMLLEUU9rsGVGHh5KhmaRA-320-80.jpg)
The new reality of UFOs: An interview with journalist Leslie Kean
By Leonard David published
Space.com recently caught up with author and journalist Leslie Kean to discuss UFOs and where research into the puzzling objects is heading.
![What could go wrong on the International Space Station, and how would an AI respond?](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ug86WWgFLfGjmwzvJxdLpK-320-80.jpeg)
Can the US and China Cooperate in Space?
By Leonard David published
China’s meteoric rise in space science and exploration—along with its new partnership with Russia—is spurring U.S. experts to reconsider a long-standing prohibition on bilateral collaborations
![NASA's Perseverance rover acquired this image of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter on the floor of Jezero Crater.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sS6bgmYmw99brsuJXxgyHX-320-80.jpg)
NASA is mapping out plans for bigger, more capable Mars helicopters
By Leonard David published
Given the highly successful and ongoing flights of NASA's Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, engineers are turning their attention to future aerial craft for the Red Planet.
![Russia's new Nauka module undergoes testing at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ihP7dTu9yhNSfBWCcmSx9g-320-80.jpg)
Russia's new Nauka module readied for launch to International Space Station
By Leonard David published
Russia's Nauka laboratory module is now slated to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 21.
![A UFO spotted by a U.S. Navy jet.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kTTf7SSpjpaqbaox7kzUkB-320-80.jpg)
Up in the air! US government's UFO report stirs range of reactions
By Leonard David published
The release of the U.S. government's highly anticipated UFO report has whipped up a blend of reactions, from UFO groups to individuals in military, academic and scientific circles.
![This still is from a U.S. Navy jet's video of a UFO sighting.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zMLLEUU9rsGVGHh5KhmaRA-320-80.jpg)
Skies alive with UFOs? Government report on mysterious sightings due soon
By Leonard David last updated
The U.S. government is set to release a UFO report soon, perhaps sometime this week. What will it say?
![The Apollo 11 crew smiles in quarantine after their mission. From left, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AeZcBHkdKVmWZ5a2d2Hvnb-320-80.jpg)
Petition to NASA: Name moon-orbiting space station after Apollo 11's Michael Collins
By Leonard David published
More than 13,700 people have signed a petition to NASA to name the space agency’s planned Lunar Gateway after Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins, who died last month at the age of 90.
![The U.S. Navy recently declassified several videos of alleged UFO sightings.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zMLLEUU9rsGVGHh5KhmaRA-320-80.jpg)
What does the Pentagon's new UFO task force mean? Experts weigh in.
By Leonard David last updated
The Pentagon just announced the creation of a task force to analyze and understand the "nature and origins" of UFOs. Here's what the much-hyped news means.
![Earth is a paranoid planet, one that has endured a history of land, air and ocean warfare. Is outer space next?](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k5GYgHwwSvZRfCepHxRTja-320-80.jpg)
Is war in space inevitable?
By Leonard David published
What conditions could lead to clashes in space? Is such a situation a given, or can conflicts be short-circuited ahead of time? Space.com asked experts for their thoughts.
![Even tiny pieces of space debris can have catastrophic effects. This image shows the result of a lab-test impact between a block of aluminum and a small aluminum sphere traveling at nearly 7 kilometers per second.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e4HCFtKcUnrs49AtWvg85S-320-80.png)
Space junk removal is not going smoothly
By Leonard David published
Despite promising technology demonstrations, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for the growing problem of taking out the orbital trash
![A Long March 5B rocket launches Tianhe, the core module of China's new space station, on April 28, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2LoN2ZdXDR6GAZizGdAdmY-320-80.jpg)
China's huge rocket booster falling from space highlights orbital debris problem
By Leonard David published
The upcoming atmospheric re-entry of a Chinese Long March 5B rocket body is a reminder of a much larger problem, experts say.
![An artist's illustration of China's space station in Earth orbit. The station is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oYhMrBH7wfUhmHWWKMLSje-320-80.jpg)
China's new space station will need 10 more launches to complete
By Leonard David published
The Wednesday (April 28) launch of the Tianhe core module will be followed by a series of cargo and crew liftoffs aimed at completing the construction of China's space station by the end of 2022.
![The U.S. Space Force's robotic X-37B space plane carries a power-beaming experiment on its latest mission to Earth orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kqL7hFq8Z3dPgfL2bbdfU9-320-80.jpg)
Space-based solar power getting key test aboard US military's mysterious X-37B space plane
By Leonard David published
The X-37B space plane is being used to flight-validate the best ways to gather the sun's energy for power beaming from Earth orbit.
![Virgin Galactic Spaceship Christens New Spaceport Runway](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G4ya6h7mJPRXBd8ZjnY3MG-320-80.jpg)
N.M. Spaceport Kicks Into High Gear for Commercial Spaceflight
By Leonard David last updated
Work on Spaceport America is in full-swing, with the state-of-the-art space launch facility near Truth or Consequences, N.M. expected to become fully operational in 2011.
![Explosion Kills Three at Mojave Air and Space Port](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jSohpARjDNWveGp7Z88raM-320-80.jpg)
Explosion Kills Three at Mojave Air and Space Port
By Leonard David last updated
An explosion at California's Mojave Air and Space Port killed three workers and injured others for private spaceflight firm Scaled Composites.
![SpaceShipOne, with Brian Binnie at the controls, flew the second suborbital flight in one week’s time in 2004 to capture the $10 million Ansari X Prize flight purse.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C7CXh9M4gS3RmhhhQPp47U-320-80.jpg)
Test pilot Brian Binnie recounts his historic flight on SpaceShipOne and the future of private space travel in new book
By Leonard David published
Binnie retells it all in "The Magic and Menace of SpaceShipOne."
![sky hub](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wJNkPTX2p8r5Q7hDK2DdsA-320-80.png)
Spotting UFOs: Do-it-yourself sky surveillance comes online
By Leonard David last updated
If you are perplexed by reports of unidentified aerial phenomena and possible visitations of alien spacecraft, you can take action with do-it-yourself sky-monitoring gear.
![An artist's illustration of China's Tianwen-1 mission in orbit around Mars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gzMKCKVZHukBSveiFsu95k-320-80.jpg)
China's Tianwen-1 Mars mission adjusts orbit to prepare for a Red Planet landing
By Leonard David published
China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft fired its engines Monday (Feb. 15) to place it in a polar orbit around the Red Planet.
![The Chinese Long March-5 rocket carrying China's Tianwen-1 Mars mission rolls out to the launch pad on July 17, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QaUHKUzcYd3z3YUJqMnoUg-320-80.jpg)
China's Tianwen-1 Mars mission rolls out to launch pad (photos, video)
By Leonard David last updated
China's first fully homegrown Mars mission, Tianwen-1, rolled out to its launch pad at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province today (July 17).
![The $100 million Breakthrough Listen project is scanning the heavens for possible signals from alien civilizations.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x6tZvQutqgGNC4xgu8i4vb-320-80.jpg)
E.T. signal from Proxima Centauri? A conversation with Breakthrough Initiatives' Pete Worden
By Leonard David published
Space.com recently talked with Breakthrough Initiatives executive director Pete Worden about a signal coming from the vicinity of Proxima Centauri, and about the search for alien life more generally.
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