Earth From Orbit

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  India From Space: NASA Shares Stunning Night-Time Photos

  The image of India stands out for the display of city lights, showing the densely populated parts of the country.

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  First Future Type 1a Supernova Detected: White Dwarf Pair to Collide in 23 Billion Years

  Astronomers have discovered a pair of white dwarf stars located about 150 light-years from Earth that are on course to collide and produce a Type 1a supernova in approximately 23 billion years. This is the first such system identified near our region of the galaxy. With a combined mass of 1.56 solar masses, the stars are slowly spiralling toward ea...

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  "Pure White": SpaceX Astronaut Reveals What Antarctica Looks Like From Polar Orbit

  The captivating footage was taken through the Dragon's Cupola, a unique, all-glass dome on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, offering astronauts stunning 360-degree views of space and Earth.

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  SpaceX’s Fram2 Crew Captures First-Ever Views of Earth’s Polar Regions

  SpaceX’s Fram2 mission, launched on March 31, has made history as the first astronaut mission to orbit over both poles. The Crew Dragon spacecraft Resilience is carrying four first-time astronauts—Chun Wang, Jannicke Mikkelsen, Rabea Rogge, and Eric Phillips—on a research-driven journey. The crew has captured stunning images of Earth’s Arct...

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  SpaceX Shares First-Ever View Of Earth's Poles From Space, Elon Musk Reacts

  The crew is capturing breathtaking views of our planet's most remote regions on the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience.

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  First Orbital Rocket Launch from Europe Fails as Spectrum Explodes Midair

  The first-ever orbital rocket launch from European soil ended in failure as Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum crashed after liftoff from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport. The rocket experienced an anomaly 18 seconds into the flight, leading to a loss of control before it plummeted back to Earth and exploded. The test was conducted to gather data, and no payl...

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  SpaceX Fram2 Mission Lifts Off, First Private Flight Over Earth's Poles

  SpaceX's Fram2 mission has launched from Kennedy Space Center, marking a major milestone in private spaceflight. Led by billionaire Chun Wang, the crew of four will spend up to five days in orbit conducting 22 scientific experiments. Their research includes studying mushroom growth in microgravity and advanced X-ray imaging of the human body. The m...

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  Private SpaceX Crew Set For Launch To Novel Polar Orbit Around Earth

  Elon Musk's SpaceX on Monday was set to launch a crew of four private astronauts led by a crypto entrepreneur on a mission to orbit Earth from pole to pole, a novel trajectory in which no humans have traveled before.

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  Wolf-Rayet 104's Orbit Tilt Reduces Gamma-Ray Burst Threat, Study Finds

  New research using Keck Observatory’s instruments confirms that the orbit of Wolf-Rayet 104 is tilted 30-40 degrees away from Earth, lowering concerns about a possible gamma-ray burst. Previously, it was believed that the system’s alignment could pose a risk. However, spectroscopy data now challenges these assumptions, raising new questions abo...

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  After 9 Months In Space, Sunita Williams' Homecoming Few Minutes Away

  Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are now closer to home. They departed on Tuesday from the International Space Station on the Dragon spacecraft after being "stranded" for nine months on the orbital hub.

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  NASA’s EZIE Satellites Begin Mission to Study Auroral Electrojets and Space Weather

  NASA’s Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE) mission has been launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The trio of small satellites will map auroral electrojets, powerful currents in Earth’s atmosphere linked to solar storms. Their data will enhance space weather prediction models and help understand planetary mag...

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  SpaceX Successfully Deploys 21 Starlink Satellites, Loses Falcon 9 Booster

  SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral on March 2, expanding its satellite internet constellation. The Falcon 9 rocket successfully reached orbit, but its first-stage booster, designated B1086, was lost after landing due to a fire that damaged its landing leg. The incident occurred on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions,...

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  Blue Origin Prepares Second New Glenn Launch, Aims for Better Landing

  Blue Origin is targeting a late spring launch for the second flight of its New Glenn rocket, following a partially successful debut in January 2025. While the rocket deployed its payload, the booster failed to land due to fuel delivery issues. Engineers have identified key factors affecting the landing and are implementing upgrades to improve reusa...

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  Newly Confirmed Super-Earth HD 20794 d May Support Life in Habitable Zone

  A super-Earth, HD 20794 d, has been confirmed within a habitable zone 20 light years from Earth. The planet, first detected in 2022, has a mass six times that of Earth and orbits a sun-like star. Although its elliptical orbit affects temperature stability, its potential to sustain liquid water makes it a key target for upcoming space missions. Scie...

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  Increasing Space Debris Risks Aircraft Collisions, Experts Warn

  Uncontrolled space debris entering Earth's atmosphere is becoming a growing concern, with rising risks to aircraft safety. A study from the University of British Columbia reveals a 26% chance of debris collisions in high-traffic regions like the Northeastern US and Northern Europe. Recent incidents, such as falling debris from SpaceX’s Starship 7...