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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
How LightSail and a NASA study helped pave the way for Mars-bound CubeSats
Two NASA CubeSats are approaching Mars — an impressive accomplishment for a concept many people regarded with derision just 15 years ago.
The day I caught rocket fever
On February 6, 2018, I found myself shoulder to shoulder with two of my heroes: Bill Nye on the left, Buzz Aldrin on the right. Our eyes were fixed on the first vertical Falcon Heavy rocket. Figuring the world's most powerful rocket might send me flying backwards once the countdown hit zero, I gripped the railing so tightly I started to lose the feeling in my fingertips.
Hayabusa2 prepares to collect samples, leave Planetary Society names on Ryugu
The names were collected by the Society in 2013, and are stored on target markers that will be dropped on the asteroid.
LightSail 2 updates: Launch date slips, environmental test complete, new video released
LightSail 2's ride to space won't happen until at least November 30, as SpaceX works through a list of other payloads in line to fly first.
Mastcam-Z Team Blog: A Special Team Photomosaic
Mastcam-Z will help the Mars 2020 rover explore the surface of Mars. Dozens of amazing scientists and engineers from across the globe contribute to the development of Mastcam-Z. This year, the team photo was taken with our very own Mastcam-Z testbed unit.
LightSail 2 team completes key mission review and dress rehearsal
The LightSail 2 team gathered in Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for a Mission Readiness Review (MRR) and Operational Readiness Test (ORT).
Planetary Society asteroid hunters help find rare type of double asteroid
A global team of astronomers has found a rare type of asteroid, where two equal-mass objects circle each other in a never-ending dance as they hurtle through the solar system.
Planetary Defense in the Moroccan Mountains
A little-known observatory is s helping usher an Arab astronomy renaissance.
Let's check in on The Planetary Society's asteroid hunters
The Shoemaker NEO Grant program funds advanced amateur astronomers who help determine if nearby asteroids will hit Earth. Here are some collected reports from our asteroid hunters.
Will an asteroid hit Earth? Your questions answered.
The Planetary Society presents a list of Frequent Asteroid Questions (FAQs).
New report explores threat from near-Earth asteroids
How dangerous are near-Earth asteroids, and what will we do if we find one headed toward Earth?
A Planetary Vacuum Successfully Takes a Rocket Ride
Rocket science met planetary science in the California desert when PlanetVac, a new planetary surface sampling technique, was successfully tested on a Xodiac rocket.
Mastcam-Z team blog: We've got flight hardware!
Right after the last Mastcam-Z team meeting a year ago (link here to last two blog posts), our team finalized the design of the cameras, and then the fantastic voyage of creating Martian panoramic zoom cameras began.
LightSail 2 launch slips to Fall
The second flight of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket is now scheduled for no earlier than October 30, 2018.
Pew pew! Lasers will help determine where LightSail 2 is
The International Laser Ranging Service, or ILRS, will lend its services to the LightSail 2 mission.
Space grade electronics: How NASA’s Juno survives near Jupiter
Take a look at how electronics of spacecraft are built to survive the harshness of space environments.
LightSail 2 doubles the fun with double integrations
LightSail 2 is integrated in Prox-1! It's another important step toward launch day.
The 2018 Gene Shoemaker NEO Grant Recipients
In 2018, The Planetary Society awarded $59,300 as part of its Gene Shoemaker Near Earth Object (NEO) Grant Program. The grants were made to a group of international researchers to find, track, and characterize potentially hazardous NEOs.
Announcing the 2018 Shoemaker NEO Grant Winners
Seven very advanced amateur astronomers will help find, track, and characterize near Earth asteroids.
LightSail 2 launch update
The Planetary Society's solar sailing CubeSat is scheduled to head to space during a 60-day period starting on June 13.