Space: The New Frontier
Space technology continues to grow despite the public eye being constantly drawn back down to ground level. New telescopes are allowing us to see further and more clearly than we ever have, and missions to Mars supply us with constant new information.
The Cryosphere
New satellites are being launched to continue detailed observations of Earth and its oceans and ice caps. They are finding that climate change is accelerating and they have the data to prove it.
Set Course for the Heart of the Sun
NASA's Parker Solar Probe Mission is on its way and will be shortly followed by Europe's Solar probe Mission. No spacecraft has traveled so fast or so close to a star before. The hope is to reveal the source of the solar winds that affect Earth.
Tickets Please
The commercial space flight companies are edging closer and closer to flight readiness. Paying customers will soon be launching into space; tourist revenue is projected to be a major stepping stone toward space exploration and colonization.
Mercury or Bust
The ESA-JAXA joint Bepi-Colombo Mission is moments away from launch. The target is Mercury which has been too long neglected; this mission will shed new light on this strange world of light and dark.
Hyabusa 2
The Japanese Asteroid Sample Return Mission has reached its target and is surveying the space rock, ready to dip down to acquire its sample. The return of asteroid material to Earth will aid scientists in the development of planetary defense systems.
Eyes to the Heavens
Two new space telescopes, Gaia and TESS, are in orbit with their primary missions coming to a close. They will be joined by the James Webb Telescope, and together they will open up a whole new vista into time and space.
Martian Attractions
This is the latest in Martian exploration, not just from orbit but also from rovers on the ground. New sources of water and planetary dust storms are a few of the stories unfolding on the Red Planet.
Cubes
Cubesats, miniature satellites that have been used exclusively in low Earth orbit for 15 years. Now, these tiny satellites are growing in mainstream popularity, and are being used for interplanetary missions as well. They have even been sent to Mars.
Proving Einstein
The evidence to prove some of Einstein's theories had long been elusive, beyond the capabilities of technology, until now. It appears that Einstein is once again triumphant as we discover the latest in deep space observations.
Where are all the Aliens?
We're looking hard, but the numbers aren't stacking up. Is life on other planets really that hard to find? Does it even exist? We have not discovered so much as a signal, so maybe we really are alone in our neck of the galaxy!
