Space Exploration

Latest about Space Exploration

NASA astronauts Suni Williams (left) and Butch Wilmore talk about voting from the International Space Station.

Trump asks Elon Musk to return 2 Starliner astronauts from the ISS for NASA — but they already have a SpaceX ride home

By Mike Wall last updated

President Trump just asked Elon Musk to retrieve two NASA astronauts from the International Space Station. But the duo are already slated to come home with SpaceX this spring.

Space Exploration
a triple-core rocket blasts off under a sunny, partly cloudy blue sky. smoke expands below next to an obscured launch tower, near a long white hanger with SPACEX written on the side. To the left, a bird flies away.

Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?

By Tariq Malik last updated

Follow Space.com's rocket launch blog for the latest on when the next rocket launch will be and how to follow it live.

Launches & Spacecraft
Graphic illustration with 'space calendar' in large blue neon letters and 2025 below it in smaller white letters. Below the title are four neon images depicting a meteor or comet, a telescope, a rocket launch and an astronaut's helmet. There is a starry background to the entire image.

Space calendar 2025: Rocket launches, skywatching events, missions & more!

By Space.com last updated

Reference Keep up with all the rocket launches, astronomical events and mission milestones for 2025 with our space calendar.

Reference
the top of a white rocket is seen with the arms of its transporter-erector extended out from behind.

Watch a SpaceX rocket launch the next-gen SpainSat NG 1 satellite into orbit tonight

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

SpaceX is set to launch a Spanish communications satellite on Wednesday (Jan. 29) and you can watch live.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white building with a round blue NASA logo takes up the foreground, while a storm clouds can be seen in the distance above a mountain range in the background

Trump administration's funding freeze attempt could have stalled $1.2 billion in NASA spending

By Brett Tingley published

A memo issued by the Trump administration has frozen $1.2 billion in funding for NASA programs ranging from science to space operations.

Missions
a Black male and caucasian female astronaut in white spacesuits are seen in portraits taken on the ground

Astronaut Hall of Fame to honor Bernard Harris and Peggy Whitson in May

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame will honor its 2025 class of inductees, record-setting space travelers Peggy Whitson and Bernard Harris, at a public ceremony in Florida this spring.

Human Spaceflight
Artist's illustration of Planet's Pelican-2 Earth-observing satellite in orbit.

Earth-observing company Planet signs $230 million deal for fleet of new Pelican satellites

By Mike Wall published

The Earth-observation company Planet just inked its largest deal to date, a $230 million contract to deliver a fleet of its new Pelican satellites.

Satellites
An artist's illustration of the Phobos 2 mission to the Mars moon Phobos launched by the former Soviet Union. It arrived in orbit around Mars on Jan. 29, 1989.

On this day in space! Jan. 24, 2004: NASA's Opportunity Rover lands on Mars

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

On January 29, 1989, a Soviet space probe named Phobos 2 arrived in orbit around Mars.

Space Shuttle
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope in its deployed form as seen in an artist's illustration.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope mission — Live updates

By Robert Lea last updated

Read the latest news about NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.

James Webb Space Telescope
a large white rocket launches into a dark night sky

India launches navigation satellite into orbit on nation's 1st mission of 2025

By Mike Wall last updated

India launched the NVS-02 regional navigation satellite to orbit this evening (Jan. 28), the 100th liftoff from the nation's Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

Launches & Spacecraft
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