Articles

Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.

A ring of fire and Titan’s explosive volcanoes

All the latest space news, plus ways you can celebrate and advocate for space.

LightSail 2 Enters Extended Mission Phase

One year after launch, The Planetary Society’s solar sail spacecraft is embarking on an extended mission dedicated to further advancing solar sailing technology.

Pictures of Earth

During this singular moment in history as the entire world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, we thought it would be appropriate to share some of our favorite pictures of Earth from space.

Asteroid Bennu during OSIRIS-REx sample rehearsal

It's a banner year for sample return missions. In 2020, China, Japan, and the United States are all scheduled to have sample return missions in flight, seeking to retrieve material from near-Earth asteroids, the Moon, and eventually Mars.

Your Impact: June 2020 Solstice

We're celebrating a successful Day of Action in Washington D.C., remembering SETI@home, and looking forward to LightSail 2's extended mission.

Perseverance, optimism, and an undeniably cool poster

The week’s space news, plus action you can take to advance exploration.

Committed to doing the work

Our initial plans to proactively work against racism, along with the week’s space news.

Our Commitment to Work Against Racism

Many of us are having a hard time looking up right now. It’s a painful moment. We here at The Planetary Society recognize we must do more to support Black people, including Black people who love space.

Every Mars landing attempt as of June 2020

Two maps by The Planetary Society show all the places we've landed or crashed on Mars as of June 2020.

Weather scrubs a launch, forms Mars dunes, and inspires art

Get ready for the rescheduled Crew Dragon launch and catch up on the highlights of the week in space.

Martian mud and a milestone in human spaceflight

Get your space exploration news and see what happens when you leave paint on the launchpad.

Simulated Exoplanet Image by Solar Gravity Lens Telescope

The Bold Plan to See Continents and Oceans on Another Earth

A group of researchers, backed by NASA funding, wants to use solar sails and the Sun's gravity to capture an image of an exoplanet so sharp we can see continents, oceans, and clouds.

SpaceX Crew Dragon at Launch Complex 39A

Your Guide to Crew Dragon's First Astronaut Flight

Take a look back at the exciting first crewed flight of NASA's Commercial Crew program.

NASA's Commercial Crew Program is a Fantastic Deal

NASA's commercial crew program stands to be the agency's lowest-cost human spacecraft effort in nearly 60 years.

Sampling an asteroid and exploring alien oceans

Get the scoop on space news and try out a spaceship docking simulator.

Visiting Perseverance During Its Final Week at JPL

An undergraduate physics research student describes her visit to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to see the Perseverance rover before it shipped to Florida for launch.