Space Exploration
Explore Space Exploration
Latest about Space Exploration
![The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 18 mission were revealed on April 24, 2024, the day before their planned launch to the Tiangong space station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BB5Kos6iP5Ma6cPwdEFmj9-320-80.jpg)
China reveals Shenzhou 18 astronauts ahead of April 25 launch to Tiangong space station (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China has unveiled the three-person crew for its Shenzhou 18 mission, which is set to launch toward the Tiangong space station on Thursday (April 25).
![two images; the one on the left shows a small rectangle of glass covered in black dust; the one on the right shows a clear circle with no dust on the same glass rectangle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uDq92pG5L7TykoHrJFXenb-320-80.jpg)
Private moon mission to carry NASA electric moon dust shield in 2024
By Meredith Garofalo published
NASA is sending a technology demonstrator to the moon on the upcoming private Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1 in order to test how to repel and remove lunar dust using electricity.
![hubble space telescope of a spiral galaxy in deep space, with a dotted line near its top indicating the trail of an asteroid in our own solar system](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TTQ78vc6ssscGhgAKiCoKJ-320-80.jpg)
Citizen scientists spot more than 1,000 new asteroids in old Hubble Telescope photos
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Citizen scientists poring over old Hubble Telescope photos discovered a thousand previously unknown asteroids in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.
![full-disc view of earth against the blackness of space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A2zZsEd4niP9KVPJFpMyfH-320-80.jpg)
Mirrors in space could boost solar power production on Earth. Here's how.
By Tereza Pultarova published
Reflect Orbital plans to launch a constellation of orbiting mirrors to beam sunlight to solar power plants on Earth after dark.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6pgQXZzFGHBSCAjfVFbGXN-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites, aces 300th rocket landing (photos, video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sent 23 more of the company's Starlink internet satellites skyward today (April 23).
![a white, black and red rocket lab electron rocket launches into a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9rpf6pzjTJbZ4nnLqumMxY-320-80.jpg)
Rocket Lab launches new NASA solar sail tech to orbit (video, photos)
By Mike Wall last updated
Rocket Lab launched a South Korean Earth-observation satellite and new NASA solar-sailing tech this evening (April 23).
![illustration of a spacecraft in orbit around earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L5rUXa8BXVSKWsAxGywS9A-320-80.jpg)
NASA ends CloudSat Earth-observing mission after 18 years
By Mike Wall published
NASA's pioneering CloudSat weather and climate mission has come to an end after nearly 18 productive years in Earth orbit.
![two astronauts in spacesuits smiling and standing in front of a wall. the wall has a nasa logo on it surrounded by mission patches](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sgNkHjCZ9hjMyFFZRg2ZcE-320-80.jpg)
NASA astronauts enter quarantine for 1st crewed Boeing Starliner launch on May 6
By Elizabeth Howell published
Veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are in quarantine at agency facilities before the 1st Boeing Starliner launch. They are expected to fly on May 6.
![a white rocket launches into a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/emzwKqQP6CTkXdFrGYm4fD-320-80.jpg)
Building rockets and looking for life on Venus: Q&A with Rocket Lab's Peter Beck
By Leonard David published
Space.com caught up with Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck recently to talk about the company's ambitious plans for the future, which include a private life-hunting mission to Venus.
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!