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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
In Pictures: LightSail, Meet X-37B
United Launch Alliance has released photos showing the Air Force's X-37B spaceplane being stacked on its Atlas V at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
In Pictures: SpaceX Crew Dragon Takes Flight in Pad Abort Test
A SpaceX Crew Dragon rocketed into the sky under its own power this morning, completing a critical milestone necessary to certify the spacecraft for crewed flights in 2017.
Despite Rain Delays, NASA Prepares for Busy Year of SLS Engine Tests
Despite a rainy spring that has caused schedule delays, NASA is preparing for a busy year of Space Launch System engine testing.
ISS-bound Cargo Spacecraft Doomed to Atmospheric Reentry
The six crew members aboard the International Space Station will have to go without a scheduled delivery of food, supplies and fuel.
Russian Resupply Ship Spins Out Of Control after Reaching Orbit
An International Space Station-bound cargo craft is spinning out of control in Earth orbit following an afternoon launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
LightSail Readiness Tests Prepare Team for Mission Operations
The LightSail team continues to prepare for the spacecraft's May test flight with a series of readiness simulations that mimic on-orbit operations.
Dragon Launches to Station, but Falcon Doesn't Stick Landing
SpaceX's ISS-bound Dragon spacecraft is in orbit, but the drone ship landing of the company's Falcon 9 rocket was unsuccessful.
LightSail Launch Delayed until at least May 20
The Planetary Society’s LightSail spacecraft will have to wait at least two more weeks before setting sail on its maiden voyage.
United Launch Alliance Pulls Back Curtain on New Rocket
ULA revealed its new Vulcan rocket system today, an Atlas and Delta mashup the company says will increase power, lower costs and broaden mission capabilities.
To Recover First Stage, Just Read the Instructions
SpaceX is gearing up for a second attempt to land the spent first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Your First Timeline of Events for LightSail's Test Flight
The team behind The Planetary Society’s LightSail spacecraft is kicking off a series of simulations to ensure the spacecraft’s ground systems are ready for launch.
In Pictures: One-Year ISS Mission Begins
The one-year ISS mission of Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko began with an early morning launch from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
One-Year ISS Mission Preview: 28 Experiments, 4 Expeditions and 2 Crew Members
This Friday, astronaut Scott Kelly and cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko will embark for a one-year mission aboard the International Space Station.
Meet NASA's Winning Asteroid Redirect Spacecraft, and the Asteroid It May Visit
NASA has decided to pluck a small boulder off a large asteroid, instead of bagging an entire asteroid outright, the agency announced Wednesday.
Desert Moon, Narrated by Former Astronaut Mark Kelly, Now Available Online
Desert Moon, a 35-minute documentary that tells the story of Dr. Gerard Kuiper and the dawn of planetary science, is now available online.
Report: NASA May Be Hard-Pressed to Launch SLS by November 2018
A report released by NASA’s Office of Inspector General warns that the agency may be hard-pressed to have its Kennedy Space Center launch facilities ready by November 2018.
Launch Pad Animals, Ranked
A semi-authoritative ranking of creatures that co-inhabit rocket launch sites around the world.
LightSail Featured on CBS Evening News
The Planetary Society's LightSail spacecraft made an appearance on national television Monday night during a two-minute segment by CBS Evening News.
In Pictures: Expedition 42 Crew Returns to Earth
Three International Space Station crew members are back on Earth today following a morning Soyuz landing on the snowy steppes of Kazakhstan.
NASA and Orbital ATK Complete SLS Booster Test (Updated)
A blast of fire and smoke lit up the hills of Promontory, Utah this morning as NASA and Orbital ATK completed a test firing of a Space Launch System solid rocket booster.