Articles

The Downlink

The Moon casts shadows on itself and on Earth, environmental concerns overshadow a test launch’s success, and exoplanets are awesome (beyond a shadow of a doubt).

The Downlink

Curiosity captures crepuscular rays on Mars, a new member community launches, and solar sailing takes exploration into the future.

Jason Davis

An exciting future for solar sailing is on the horizon.

The Downlink

Distant robots run into problems, and distant worlds hold onto secrets — for now.

Jatan Mehta

The array of space-simulating test facilities a spacecraft tours through before it can blast off of Earth.

The Downlink

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

The Downlink

Looking at planets and moons from near and far, and figuring out how to get all the way out there.

Casey Dreier

Spacecraft need power to reach the dark, dusty, distant locales of our solar system. Safe, non-weapons-grade plutonium-238 provides that power when solar energy can't cut it.

The Downlink

Take a look at distant worlds, far-out views of the cosmos, and even some remote possibilities with this week’s scoop on space news and solar system history.

The Downlink

Learn about The Planetary Society’s vision for the next decade of exploration and get up to speed on space news.

Richard Chute

LightSail 2’s launch window opens on June 22, and we are finalizing plans for our launch viewing celebrations. Once we have finished coordinating the details with the Air Force’s STP-2 mission team and the Kennedy Space Center, we will share them with all of our members and backers so that you can join us in person or remotely via the internet.

Jason Davis

The next time its solar sail is deployed, NEA Scout will be out near the Moon.

Anatoly Zak

A Canadian Space Agency proposal would install a solar sail on the outside of the Deep Space Gateway, a miniature space station in lunar orbit.

Casey Dreier

We provide you the gritty budget breakdown by program and mission for NASA's Planetary Science Division.

Jason Davis

When SLS launches Orion to the moon in 2018, a fleet of deep space CubeSats will come along for the ride, including a solar sailing spacecraft similar to LightSail.

Casey Dreier

The House Appropriations Committee released their vision for NASA's 2016 budget this week, which includes significant increases for the SLS and Planetary Science, but cuts Commercial Crew and Earth Science funds.

Tim Tinsley

With the shortage of plutonium-238 to power space missions, Europe has decided to focus on an accessible alternative material that could power future spacecraft: americium-241.

Van Kane

Van Kane rounds up some recent planetary mission concepts based on CubeSat technology.

Van Kane

With the release of the official Announcement of Opportunity (AO) early in November, NASA has officially begun the competition to select its next low cost ($450M) Discovery program planetary mission. Because planetary scientists are free to propose missions to any destination in the solar system other than the sun and Earth, these competitions bring out the creativity in the planetary science program.

Casey Dreier

Watch Planetary Society President Jim Bell testify before a congressional subcommittee on Wednesday, September 10th.