![Elizabeth Howell](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RU2kJRoTDQkePFeSZBNxHF.jpg)
Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace
Latest articles by Elizabeth Howell
![an astronaut is surrounded by people holding him in a life boat. behind him is an open spacecraft hatch. in far back is the ocean](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cqmrQ6uiUoSgUxzspXC9ce-320-80.jpg)
VR could help astronauts avoid seasickness during splashdown and recovery
By Elizabeth Howell published
Splashdowns are back in style as NASA and other space agencies reach for the moon. And VR might help returning astronauts from feeling queasy in the ocean, after space.
![two pictures of a big hill on the moon and rocks in front, in black and white](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wskfeVRnycaf6p5sGHh22L-320-80.jpg)
Japan's SLIM moon lander powers down as long lunar night falls (again)
By Elizabeth Howell published
JAPAN's SLIM moon lander entered its second lengthy period of dormancy after a dramatic touchdown in January. When the sun shines again on the moon, it might revive again.
![a solar eclipse in progress with the moon starting to cover part of the sun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oX8FuGWJhJF3hraukYc8t9-320-80.jpg)
Why ISS astronauts won't know where to look for next total solar eclipse for a while
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA can usually give precise directions to astronauts about ISS activities. But when it comes to the next total solar eclipse, a paradox may create some issues.
![a rocket standing up with a nasa logo half-painted. people on a crane wield spray paint. the rocket is in a warehouse. the door is visible at right and a large staircase visible at left](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CFUhF5yyQQurLzTpbzniwY-320-80.jpg)
NASA 'worm' logo crawls onto Artemis 2 moon rockets (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
The NASA worm logo is wriggling its way onto solid rocket boosters that will help launch the four-astronaut Artemis 2 moon mission in 2025.
![a blurry helicopter visible on the surface of mars. an inset image shows a blade on the sand](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JsnnSJo2Jsp3xU3pCMWTAS-320-80.jpg)
Perseverance rover spots Ingenuity helicopter's snapped-off rotor blade on Mars (photos)
By Elizabeth Howell published
Ingenuity's broken helicopter blade has been spotted on Mars. The little chopper made a hard landing on Jan. 18 and is grounded forever.
![northern lights appear as dancing ribbons of green in the sky above a snowy mountain top.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oSbdgWMsQqzQX2MEEUP8hd-320-80.jpg)
Where and when to see the northern lights in 2024
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Our northern lights 2024 guide tells you where and when to see aurora borealis throughout Europe and North America.
![Artist's illustration of SpaceX's Starship on the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DDv947PwPpyiEmft5fpY7W-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Starship docking system readies for moon missions in tests with NASA
By Elizabeth Howell published
Ahead of the Artemis 3 lunar landing mission, hardware from SpaceX's Starship was used to simulate dockings with NASA's Orion crew capsule. The two will rendezvous above the moon.
![a cone-shaped spacecraft in the ocean surrounded by divers, some on a life raft. in the sky above is a large helicopter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dkFeVEXmF5QrXeDGwoWgE4-320-80.jpg)
Get to the choppa! Artemis 2 moon astronauts practice splashdown with U.S. Navy (images, video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
The Artemis 2 moon astronauts went to the Pacific Ocean this month to practice splashdown operations alongside NASA and the U.S. Navy. The footage is incredible.
![woman smiling in a spacesuit with lab equipment far in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xowj3M6rqD3i6QeKCQgF2X-320-80.jpg)
Why NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps waited an extra 6 years for her ISS space mission
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps was supposed to fly to space in 2018, but it didn't happen. It took two more tries to get her assigned to SpaceX Crew-8, launching as soon as March 2.
![Four men stand with arms crossed, wearing dark blue jumpsuits with red accented shoulder wings. They look serious, except for the smiling man on the right. He is shorter than the rest.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t9R8YXhsQJMXC44nUcaZM5-320-80.png)
SpaceX's longest-ever astronaut cruise was a smooth ride, Ax-3 crewmembers say
By Elizabeth Howell published
Axiom Space astronaut Michael López-Alegría is the only person to fly twice on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. He'd love for more people to ride that spacecraft in orbit.
![two pictures side by side. at left is the space station with earth below, visible as a crescent on the left. at right is dana weigel smiling in front of an american flag and the nasa flag](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7vEosaAqjHKfWc758wyUu3-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Dana Weigel will be the 1st female ISS program manager
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA's Dana Weigel will helm the International Space Station program for NASA. She will succeed Joel Montalbano, who will take on an associate administrator position in April.
![four astronauts with white spacesuits and helmets giving a thumbs up while standing in a row](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rs8vQnuTKCd7zWNddDiZCQ-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts eager for launch to ISS on March 2: 'Things surprise you, but we're ready'
By Elizabeth Howell published
SpaceX Crew-8 is ready to launch to the International Space Station on March 2. The crew shared how their training is preparing them for space.
![two pictures side by side. at left is a fish-eye view of a moon lander above the moon. at right is an astronaut smiling in a spacesuit helmet](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pynm5LZSezyZeqHgGrLSBZ-320-80.jpg)
Intuitive Machines' historic moon landing builds momentum for Artemis, astronaut Tracy C. Dyson says (exclusive)
By Elizabeth Howell published
Intuitive Machines just made the first U.S. landing on the moon in 52 years. NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson says the daring mission will help Artemis lunar crews later in the 2020s.
![two pictures of a big hill on the moon and rocks in front, in black and white](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wskfeVRnycaf6p5sGHh22L-320-80.jpg)
It's alive! JAXA's SLIM moon lander sends home new photos after surviving frigid lunar night
By Elizabeth Howell published
Japan's SLIM moon lander started working again on the lunar surface despite extreme heat conditions, the team announced Monday (Feb. 26). It even sent home new imagery.
![an aurora reaching into space from earth. a robot arm and a module are in the front, in shadow](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AdgjzREnaFpG6QciYDLRPZ-320-80.jpg)
ISS astronauts witness 'spectacular' auroras from space (photos)
By Elizabeth Howell published
ISS astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli caught some stunning auroras on camera on Feb. 15. From orbit, she shared with Space.com what it's like to watch the Earth changing below, every day.
![a cookie floating in front of a crowded space station module](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2r3zZ9mLqFyKUxhcfubdUn-320-80.jpg)
Artemis 2 moon astronauts will enjoy maple cream cookies and smoked salmon thanks to Canada
By Elizabeth Howell published
The Canadian Space Agency has five menu items planned for the Artemis 2 moon mission that will lift off no earlier than September 2025.
![a rocket on the launch pad in darkness](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7ovNwD4Fowq3rrizMRbZMR-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket rises on launch pad ahead of debut liftoff (photo)
By Elizabeth Howell published
Blue Origin's first New Glenn rocket has gone vertical at its Florida launch pad ahead of a planned debut liftoff later this year.
![This mosaic depicts the International Space Station pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a fly around of the orbiting lab that took place following its undocking from the Harmony module’s space-facing port on Nov. 8, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/85zyvFzEYLMuCahcsNXS6m-320-80.jpg)
International Space Station: Everything you need to know about the orbital laboratory
By Elizabeth Howell last updated
Reference The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest single structure humans ever put into space. Explore the orbital laboratory in more detail here.
![a person wearing a headset inside a very crowded international space station module with experiments covering every surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pZBtC5XUj9vzUyBHVRPm3Q-320-80.jpg)
Why a VR headset on the ISS 'really makes a difference' for astronaut exercise
By Elizabeth Howell published
Fancy biking the streets of Denmark while off Earth? A new VR headset on the International Space Station lets an astronaut do just that, to expand on mental health studies in orbit.
![a close-up of the lunar surface showing a crater](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RcARoDz6jMX5thuzh6M3n7-320-80.jpg)
Intuitive Machines moon lander sends home a haunting crater picture ahead of touch down today
By Elizabeth Howell published
The Intuitive Machines Odysseus lander imaged a crater on the moon ahead of its expected landing today. It may soon become the first private lander to touch down on the moon.
![two men in front of a screen. one operates a robot that is cutting rubber bands, visible on the screen in front of him. the other stands beside the screen, watching](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jE2M2Rw2pHTU5vk8QGH9EM-320-80.jpg)
Astronauts celebrate success of 1st surgery robot on ISS: 'It's a real game-changer'
By Elizabeth Howell published
Space delays during surgery? No sweat. A team of surgeons showed a robot can safely slice through rubber bands in space, in research that could one day help faraway astronauts.
![two views of a person on a crane painting the letters of 'nasa' on the side of a rocket, inside a warehouse](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ee2ZrLfUFTjSFNFPro2ywh-320-80.jpg)
NASA brings back retro 'worm' logo for upcoming Artemis 2 moon mission (photos)
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA's worm logo is adorning the rockets and spacecraft of the Artemis 2 moon mission. The astronaut mission will fly to the moon in 2025 or so.
![a spacecraft deploys from a rocket's upper stage, with the curve of earth and the blackness of space in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rZDHdv39fm8G3LrNRMf39D-320-80.jpg)
Intuitive Machines' private Odysseus moon lander on track for Feb. 22 lunar landing
By Elizabeth Howell published
The Intuitive Machines moon landing machine is on course to the moon after 2 crucial engine burns in deep space. Lunar orbit insertion will happen on Feb. 21.
![rows of starlink satellites in the lower left portion of the image with Earth in the background and a slither of black space in the lower right side of the image.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sEoeyvUbZCESaRbMwNXGPi-320-80.jpg)
Starlink satellites: Facts, tracking and impact on astronomy
By Tereza Pultarova, Elizabeth Howell last updated
Reference Starlink satellites have been developed by SpaceX to provide internet to remote locations. Here we explore the controversial megaconstellation in more detail.
![a silver cylindrical spacecraft inside a factory room](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fajzk4BzMVY3hDmtRxBrdN-320-80.jpg)
Get a sneak peek inside the Artemis 2 spacecraft that will fly astronauts to the moon for the 1st time in 50 years (photos)
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA just released photos of the Orion spacecraft that will send four astronauts around the moon on the Artemis 2 mission, which will lift off no earlier than September 2025.