Articles

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

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.

Venus’ watery past, and listening to Mars

The latest in space exploration, from new Europa images to a movie filmed in space, plus some inspiration for at-home space art.

The Red Sea and Nile River from LightSail 2

Ten New Pictures from LightSail 2

Images from around the globe, plus some night pictures and the spacecraft's solar panels.

A comet breakup and a planet defined

From space news to vintage tees, here’s everything you need to stay connected to planetary exploration.

A puffy planet and a cat on Titan

News from the forefront of exploration, plus a collection to help you keep your cosmic calm.

A new exoplanet and a Martian helicopter

Learn all about what’s happening in space exploration, and check out some great space art.

A fractured comet and a deep dive into planetary science funding

Everything you need to know about space science and exploration, including an Apollo anniversary, a gravity slingshot, and a global celebration of space.

Dive deep into the history of planetary exploration funding

This unique, comprehensive dataset includes the full budget history, by year, of every NASA planetary science mission and related activities.

A voyage to Mercury, and the latest in space policy

Plus space backgrounds for your work-at-home meetings

Video Chat From Outer Space With These Custom Wallpapers

Since some services like Zoom allow you to create virtual backgrounds, The Planetary Society offers you the opportunity to take your home office to Mars, or the Moon, or other fun places in space.