![Brett Tingley](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wdc2pXR8n74SfTk8TfhFSe.jpg)
Brett Tingley
Brett is curious about emerging aerospace technologies, alternative launch concepts, military space developments and uncrewed aircraft systems. Brett's work has appeared on Scientific American, The War Zone, Popular Science, the History Channel, Science Discovery and more. Brett has English degrees from Clemson University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In his free time, Brett enjoys skywatching throughout the dark skies of the Appalachian mountains.
Latest articles by Brett Tingley
![a bright full moon rises behind a snow-covered mountain](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ynFzPZDi4TsrDmBEMNknYC-320-80.jpg)
February's Full Snow Moon rises tonight, the smallest full moon of 2024
By Brett Tingley published
The full moon will appear a bit smaller in the sky tonight as the smallest full moon of 2024 rises with February's Full Snow Moon.
![a cone-shaped capsule lies on the desert floor with a parachute billowing in the wind above it](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vWa8LQK3Lbh2kc8uNGHiBP-320-80.jpg)
See Varda Space's private in-space manufacturing capsule's historic return to Earth in photos
By Brett Tingley published
Varda Space's successful reentry and recovery of an in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing capsule on Wednesday (Feb. 21) led to some gorgeous photography.
![two bright flashes of light on the surface of the sun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yFv6JF3ayh6TPFwYuaT86c-320-80.jpg)
Powerful twin solar flares erupt from sun as cell phone outages spike across US (video)
By Brett Tingley published
Tens of thousands of outages were reported by major cellular carriers throughout the United States after a pair of powerful solar flares erupted from the sun on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22.
![an illustration of a rectangular spacecraft with H-shaped solar sails in orbit above Earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KyA2DJV2rCkEHVp2ZZKfn9-320-80.jpg)
Bus-sized European satellite crashes to Earth over Pacific Ocean
By Brett Tingley published
The European Space Agency's ERS-2 satellite fell to Earth on Wednesday (Feb. 21), bringing an end to its nearly 30-year life in space.
![two black and white images of an H-shaped satellite, which appears blurry against a background of a few dozen stars](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wkua5r788X3oF528ErNA3m-320-80.jpg)
Big, doomed satellite seen from space as it tumbles towards a fiery reentry on Feb. 21 (photos)
By Brett Tingley last updated
Non-Earth imaging company HEO Robotics captured breathtaking images of ESA's ERS-2 satellite as it tumbles towards an atmospheric reentry on Feb. 21.
![a person in a suit stands at a lectern under a sign reading "the white house"](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VRdFQfKLeFSDvPv2wLoFVk-320-80.jpg)
Russia's nuclear anti-satellite weapon poses 'no immediate threat' to Earth, White House says
By Brett Tingley published
The White House reassured the American public that a Russian nuclear space weapon, currently in development, poses no threat to people or property on Earth.
![a rocket launches from a launch pad in a snow-covered landscape](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UQhV5qKtp3Be9Jpu9mUDbn-320-80.jpg)
Russian plans for space-based nuclear weapon to target satellites spark concern in US Congress
By Brett Tingley published
Members of the United States Congress have raised warnings about Russia's plans to develop and deploy a space-based nuclear weapon designed to disable satellites in orbit.
![a split image — on the left, completely light blue, with a red outline encircling jupiter and the moon. On the right, some trees sit beneath a black starry sky, with blue-outlined constellations and jupiter and the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Md7CNzqQpxFuvXGQs4B2sP-320-80.jpg)
The moon and Jupiter go on a Valentine's Day date in the night sky tonight
By Brett Tingley published
The moon and Jupiter have a hot date for Valentine's Day tonight, appearing close together in the night sky for most of the evening.
![rows of metallic objects are folded up in a rack high above earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p77TQsHXLGUAn9Ks6yZAXD-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX deorbiting 100 older Starlink satellites to 'keep space safe and sustainable'
By Brett Tingley published
SpaceX announced it will deorbit 100 of its first-generation Starlink satellites in order to lower the number of spacecraft that might fail and become non-maneuverable.
![a cylindrical spacecraft with four triangular legs is surrounded by two clamshell-like halves of a rocket payload fairing in a hangar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c88mBLECUFNQQVMfCMLErb-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX to launch Intuitive Machines lander Feb. 15 on 2nd try for NASA's commercial moon program
By Brett Tingley published
SpaceX will launch Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lunar lander on Feb. 15, sending a series of experiments to the moon on behalf of NASA and commercial customers.
![a blue and white fighter jet with the NASA logo flies through open sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/79usDyn8ZpbxxtrrXeaLcZ-320-80.jpg)
NASA is 'learning to listen to the X-59' by simulating sonic thumps with fighter jets (photos)
By Brett Tingley published
Scientists recorded sonic booms created by NASA's F/A-18 and F-15D jets for use in the agency's flight test plan for the X-59 Quesst "quiet" supersonic jet.
![a brightly colored dragon-shaped lantern lit up at night surrounded by red spherical lanterns covered in Chinese characters](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5HkJ2HxSCZtCFWDYj2MqB-320-80.jpg)
Happy Lunar New Year 2024! Chinese astronauts welcome Year of the Dragon in space
By Brett Tingley published
Lunar New Year 2024 falls on Feb. 10, marking the beginning of the Year of the Dragon and a time to celebrate with family for billions of people worldwide.
![a rocket lifts off a launch pad at night above a bright plume of fire and smoke](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VuqyVCHi6mXty5MX6gEHXJ-320-80.jpg)
See SpaceX's breathtaking launch of NASA's PACE satellite (photos)
By Brett Tingley published
SpaceX's nighttime launch of NASA's ocean-watching PACE satellite provided a perfect opportunity for some gorgeous launch photography.
![Four Ax-3 astronauts wave inside the SpaceX Dragon capsule Freedom after splashdown on Feb. 9, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wjCXaYRe5tKZxWAHTDCkGQ-320-80.jpg)
Axiom Space Ax-3 private spaceflight with SpaceX: Mission updates
By Brett Tingley last updated
Follow along with Axiom Space's Ax-3 mission to the International Space Station, the third-ever all-private mission to the orbital lab.
![a cube-shaped spacecraft covered in gold foil with two large solar panels extending outward from it. stars can be seen behind it](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5TMHy4iiCiqgxaeQmMTSUG-320-80.jpg)
US Space Force wants satellite 'jetpacks' to keep old spacecraft alive in orbit
By Brett Tingley published
The U.S. Space Force is looking for new ways to extend the lives of satellites that run out of fuel, including small "backpacks" that can attach to existing spacecraft in orbit.
![Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane lights its rocket motor during the Galactic 06 suborbital mission, which launched on Jan. 26, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SEa7MkEdgghVtuk7Q69GL5-320-80.jpg)
Virgin Galactic mothership loses alignment pin during space plane launch, FAA investigating
By Brett Tingley published
Virgin Galactic informed the FAA that the mothership of its space plane VSS Unity lost a piece of hardware on its most recent suborbital flight.
![a small helicopter-like drone can be seen motionless on a reddish-orange sand dune](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yRd6C4iw5fHchxVSvyTVHQ-320-80.jpg)
NASA Ingenuity Mars helicopter, broken and alone, spotted by Perseverance rover on Martian dune (photo, video)
By Brett Tingley published
NASA's Perseverance Rover took a photo of its broken companion, the Ingenuity helicopter, as it sat motionless on a dune on Feb. 4.
![a small helicopter sits in red rocky dirt](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7EpH2dXMrnsxcYwqQy6xvP-320-80.jpg)
NASA to 'wiggle' broken Ingenuity Mars helicopter's blades to analyze damage
By Brett Tingley published
NASA isn't quite finished with its broken Ingenuity Mars helicopter yet, mission managers revealed in a livestream honoring the drone's legacy on Jan. 31.
![a large silver rocket on a launch pad fires its engines, creating a massive plume of fire and smoke](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tLEWLsu8kGruHKkfNunnzF-320-80.jpg)
US military eyes SpaceX Starship for 'sensitive and potentially dangerous missions': report
By Brett Tingley published
The U.S. Department of Defense has reached out to SpaceX to inquire about using Starship on its own, flying the massive rocket as a government-operated military vehicle.
![a rocket launches at night above a plume of fire and smoke](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G3eUp7cBnYYquzbbtNccJL-320-80.jpg)
Iran launches 3 satellites on Simorgh rocket's 1st successful orbital launch
By Brett Tingley published
Iran launched three satellites simultaneously amid regional conflicts that involve what Western governments say are Iranian-backed militia groups.
![a cylindrical, silver spacecraft upright in between two halves of a white egg-shaped payload fairing](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YKYg8DkjSeGScoRYDjYMSQ-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket modified for Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo launch on Jan. 30
By Brett Tingley published
Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for the first time on Jan. 30, sending food, supplies and science equipment to astronauts on the ISS.
![a small white dot on the surface of the moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EsntALPgnhS3QbZiUp2EEB-320-80.jpg)
NASA orbiter spies Japan's struggling SLIM moon lander on lunar surface (photo)
By Brett Tingley published
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured an image of Japan's SLIM moon lander as it rests upside down on the lunar surface.
![a bright full moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nWFuQCfMYfkLbo7qvLGCzd-320-80.jpg)
The 1st full moon of 2024 rises tonight with January's Full Wolf Moon
By Brett Tingley published
January's Full Wolf Moon rises on Thursday (Jan. 25), marking the first full moon of 2024 and shining between the claws of Cancer, the Crab.
![a white rocket blasts off during the day, leaving a streak of fire behind it](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RwZQGGyLFkpmsp5Hm3YbmD-320-80.jpg)
Pentagon moves to declassify some secret space programs and technologies
By Brett Tingley published
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) wants to declassify more space programs in order to boost the nation's military edge in space.
![the earth, a cube-shaped spacecraft with four legs, and the moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JnojQzV5nkDk4dUUecndn6-320-80.jpg)
As crippled Peregrine moon lander burns up in Earth's atmosphere, Astrobotic 'excited for the next adventure'
By Brett Tingley published
Despite the conclusion of the Peregrine lunar lander mission, Astrobotic is proud of how its spacecraft performed and is looking forward to its next flight.