Archive | space.com

An artist’s rendition of the TRAPPIST-1 system (not to scale). A new study shows that three of the planets in the habitable zone do not appear to possess hydrogen, which means their atmospheres could be similar to those of rocky planets, although that doesn’t guarantee they are habitable. The TRAPPIST-1 star system is home to […]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — After the successful first launch of the Falcon Heavy megarocket yesterday (Feb. 6), which is propelling a Tesla electric car out into the solar system, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk still seemed surprised that the mission had succeeded. “I had this image of a giant explosion on the pad , with a […]

Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster and Starman passenger soar high above Earth after the successful first launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket on Feb. 6, 2018. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Starman is traveling through the solar system , riding in the driver’s seat of a midnight cherry Tesla Roadster with the top down. The improbable, if also […]

A long-exposure photo of the Falcon Heavy rocket’s first test launch on Feb. 6, 2018 shows the rocket’s curved trajectory as it lifts off from Kennedy Space Center and heads toward low-Earth orbit. “Exceeded Mars orbit and kept going to the asteroid belt,” SpaceX rock star CEO Elon Musk tweeted yesterday night (Feb. 6) after […]

It’s a beautiful day for a rocket launch from my favorite launchpad. #FalconHeavy pic.twitter.com/OXmkSmvyoB — Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) February 6, 2018 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Buzz Aldrin is in place to watch the Falcon Heavy rocket’s first test launch this afternoon (Feb. 6) from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the rocket will take flight […]

Give the gift of the entire solar system — including Pluto — with this gorgeous beaded bracelet. ($40 on Amazon) Why we love it: Made with assorted stones like pearl, hematite, and agate, these high-quality beads are beautiful and unique representations of all the planets (and one dwarf planet) in the solar system. And Saturn […]

A “Starman” in a red Roadster: SpaceX’s Tesla Roadster and spacesuited mannequin driver set to launch on the company’s first Falcon Heavy rocket. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX is poised to make history by launching the world’s fourth electric car into space. Years in the making, the commercial spaceflight company is preparing to launch its first […]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — When SpaceX launched its giant Falcon Heavy rocket Tuesday (Feb. 6), President Donald Trump was apparently watching. In a congratulatory Twitter post, Trump hailed SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk for the successful Falcon Heavy test flight from here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) as a pinnacle of American progress. […]

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket is set for its first test flight Feb. 6, 2017. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Elon Musk hopes the first test launch of his company’s Falcon Heavy megarocket will be a success — but the SpaceX CEO has provided a lot of details about how it could go wrong, from synchronized shaking to […]

On Tuesday, the world may witness a rocket launch more powerful than any that’s been seen in nearly half a century. Space Exploration Technologies, a private spaceflight company better known as SpaceX, is sending its new Falcon Heavy rocket on its first test launch. The enormous vessel will ignite its formidable Merlin engines on Tuesday […]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX’s giant new rocket, the Falcon Heavy, is set for its risky first test launch today (Feb. 6) from the historic Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch window stretches from 1:30 to 4 p.m. EDT (1830 to 2100 GMT). You can watch the launch live here  on Space.com, […]

For most of the world, no full moon will occur in February, because January got two . But this month, you may be able to witness a partial solar eclipse — that is, if you can make it to southern South America or Antarctica.  For skywatchers in many parts of the world, January featured a […]

Two space rocks will make close flybys past Earth this week, but they pose no threat to our planet’s safety. The two asteroids are called 2018 CB and 2018 CC, and they were both discovered Sunday (Feb. 4) through an automated telescope search called the Catalina Sky Survey , according to NASA’s Minor Planet Center. […]