Articles

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

A long night, and “so long!” to InSight

Celebrate the December solstice, be thankful you’re not on Triton, and say goodbye to the InSight Mars lander.

Capturing the Cosmos

This week we have images snapped the old-fashioned and cutting-edge ways, creative ways of thinking about exploration, and artwork that expresses the beauty of it all.

Out-of-this-world astronauts (literally)

Celebrating 50 years of Apollo 17, the last crewed mission to the Moon.

Best space pictures of the month: November 2022

NASA's chief of exploration mission planning Nujoud Merancy walks us through a picture from the Orion spacecraft.

Artemis I launch guide: What to expect

NASA's Space Launch System rocket is sending the Orion crew capsule to the Moon and back.

Artemis 1 with NASA's Crawler-Transporter

Why we have the SLS

The SLS rests on a secure foundation of political support, a consequence of the U.S. framework of representative democracy and discretionary funding.

Mind-blowing space volcanoes

Taking a look at volcanic worlds in our solar system and exoplanets that might crack under pressure.

The best seat in the solar system

Look at some extraordinary views from space and imagine what you’d see if you had the best seat on SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.

Why NASA pays SpaceX and Boeing to fly astronauts to the International Space Station

Commercial crew is a partnership between NASA and private industry to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station and create a new market for humans in space.

Atmospheres that intrigue, protect, and obscure

Catch up on the week’s space news and consider planetary atmospheres from a few thought-provoking perspectives.

A dwarf planet, a rogue planet, and a glow-in-the-dark moon

All the wonders that the cosmos offered up this week, plus news about NASA’s leadership and an exciting launch.

Jupiter from near and far, and two humans return to Earth

This week, learn about the conditions of the early solar system and get ready for next week’s meteor shower, plus more.

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.

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.

The Most Important Space Policy Events of the 2010s

The end of the Space Shuttle, the rise of public-private partnerships, and the return to the Moon. As the 2010s come to a close, what were the most impactful events that shaped U.S. space policy?