Orbital Spacecraft
Satellites, shuttles and space stations
Summer at the Smithsonian
Planning a visit to the Museum? We provide some helpful hints.
July 2012 |
By Rebecca Maksel
Hurry-Up Satellites
These Pentagon mavericks want to launch spacecraft within a week of taking the order. Wish them luck.
July 2012 |
By Todd Neff
The Inquisitive Astronaut
Don Pettit turns his curiosity—and his camera—loose on board the International Space Station.
May 23, 2012 |
By The Editors
Ghosts of Gemini
Forgotten photos show the human face of NASA's early astronaut program.
March 20, 2012 |
By Tony Reichhardt
Is SpaceX changing the rocket equation?
1 visionary + 3 launchers + 1,500 employees = ?
January 2012 |
By Andrew Chaikin
SETI Plugs the Phone Back In
The Allen Telescope Array is back online.
December 08, 2011 |
By Heather Goss
Where Were You?
In this 50th anniversary year of human spaceflight, we ask you to remember your own space milestones, and record where you were, and how you felt.
November 22, 2011 |
By Rebecca Maksel
Certified Safe
Planning to operate a taxi service for NASA astronauts? Here’s what’s required.
November 16, 2011 |
By Andrew Chaikin
Flights & Fancy: What Would You Send to Orbit?
Mementoes in an astronaut's luggage.
November 2011 |
By Terry Dunn
On the Orbiting of Species
NASA animal research practices have come a long way since the days of Able and Baker.
October 2011 |
By Mark Betancourt
Europe to Launch First Soyuz from South America
When a Soyuz lifts off from French Guiana on Thursday, it will be the first one to launch outside of Russia or Kazakhstan in the rocket's 44-year history, and the first step in assembling Europe's new GPS system.
October 19, 2011 |
By Heather Goss
Free Shuttle Artifacts!
The four orbiters are already taken, but thousands more shuttle-related items are still available—at no cost.
August 29, 2011 |
By Mark Betancourt
Storm Coming
These days, with so many satellite sensors looking down constantly from orbit, and so many ways to slice their data, it’s hard to remember that hurricanes used to arrive without much warning. Hurricane Irene is currently bearing down on the Turks and Caicos Islands, and may hit the east coast of the United States by [...]
August 23, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
One Small Step for Boeing
The next pilots to fly a U.S. spacecraft may work for a private company.
August 05, 2011 |
By Paul Hoversten
In the Museum: My Vostok Is Bigger Than Your Mercury
Launching two very different capsules—and a space race.
August 2011 |
By Rebecca Maksel
Loser X-Planes
Every research aircraft poses a question. Sometimes the answer is "forget it."
August 2011 |
By The Editors
The Next 10 Americans in Space
The shuttle has retired, but the astronauts haven’t.
July 26, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
Top Ten Shuttle Memories
Highlights from America's longest-lived space program.
July 08, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
A & S Interview: Charles Bolden
NASA's 12th Administrator talks about commercial space, flying fast, and the shuttle's legacy.
July 2011 |
By Linda Shiner
Circling the Moon
In a new autobiography, an Apollo 15 pilot tells what it was like to fly solo.
July 2011 |
By Al Worden With Francis French
