Spaceflight
Spaceflight covers topics related to human presence in outer space. Learn about weightlessness, astronauts and space tourism in this section.
The Zoo Hypothesis: Are Aliens Watching Us Like Animals in a Zoo?
Communicating With Aliens Is Hard. Communicating With Alien AI Could Be Harder
UFOs and the Government
The Largest Star in the Universe Is 1,700x Bigger Than Our Sun
What Is a Harvest Moon?
The Mysteries of Mercury Retrograde Unveiled: A Cosmic Phenomenon
10 Best Ideas for Interplanetary Communication
How can the moon generate electricity?
How Terraforming Mars Will Work
Quiz: Apollo 11, the First Moon Landing
Who was James Webb?
10 Space Landmarks We'd Like to Visit
The Fastest Fictional Spaceships
10 Fictional Spacecraft We Wish Were Real
How Lunar Rovers Work
Learn More
He stood just 5 feet, 2 inches. But Gagarin cast an enormously long shadow in space exploration, both for his achievements and his mysterious death.
We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic journey to the moon.
When there are 16 sunsets every day, getting some shut-eye becomes a bit of an issue. Do astronauts get through it with some warm milk as they float?
Advertisement
In the 1960s, space food was either cubed or tubed, and it wasn't very appetizing. Today's astronauts have a more palatable array from which to choose. Where is it developed?
Some people don't believe a man walked on the moon. Others still think the Earth is flat. Are the Illuminati preparing the Earth to become an alien colony?
Would you be able to hear the Starship Enterprise if it zipped past you in space? Would the destruction of the Death Star be completely silent?
Almost everyone dreams of floating effortlessly like astronauts in space. The Zero Gravity Corporation offers this experience to the public. Go inside G-FORCE-ONE to find out what it's like to somersault in zero gravity and how simulating weightlessness works.
Advertisement
We know who won – top-runner SpaceShipOne. We know what the team receives for that accomplishment: $10 million and an obscenely gigantic trophy. But what about the story behind the contest? Learn about the rules, restrictions, red tape, test crashes, successful launches and the technological innovations that may get you into sub-orbit sooner than you think.
By Lacy Perry
On Earth, we have a constant supply of fresh air. But what happens in the tiny, confined cabins of spacecraft, like the space shuttle or space stations? How is oxygen supplied to the people on board?
In the confined cabins of spacecraft, like the space shuttle or space stations, carbon dioxide, which is toxic, poses a problem for astronauts. Keep reading to see how that CO2 is eliminated.
When you think about space travel, you probably don't take the time to wonder how astronauts go to the bathroom. However, the annals of aeronautic history abound with space bathroom tales. Here are 10 of our favorites.
Advertisement
Humans in space may age just a bit more slowly than the rest of us, but they also experience rapid muscle and bone mass loss. Why does this happen, and do astronauts recover?
A new space race is on -- who will be the first to build a space hotel? One company has gathered 3 billion dollars to do just that. Find out what life in a luxury space hotel might be like.
On September 18, 2006, Anousheh Ansari, a telecommunications entrepreneur, became the first female space tourist and the fourth space tourist overall. Could you be next? Find out what's in the works to get you to space.
By Kevin Bonsor
Like a firefighter or a rock star, an astronaut is one of those jobs kids say they want to have when they grow up. If you're still serious, we can tell you what it takes.
By William Harris & Sascha Bos
Advertisement
How long can a human survive in outer space? In science fiction movies, this seems to be an area of much creative license, with some people exploding instantly, and others surviving for nearly a minute without long-term ill effect. I read once that one's blood would boil, but I read elsewhere that this isn't true. So what is it?
We are seeing a lot more space suits now that the international space station is occupied. Learn how space suits work and why they cost $12 million each!
The not-so-distant future, regular people will be able to take flights into space. So how do you score a spot on a Virgin Galactic flight?
Internet king turned rocketman? After making his fortune on the Web, Elon Musk entered the commercial space race. Will this businessman and his SpaceX company make space tourism affordable?
By Jane McGrath
Advertisement
When most people think of NASA, they probably think of astronauts and the Kennedy Space Center. But there's a whole lot more to this 60-year-old organization.
Blasting a spacecraft into space is one thing. Bringing it back in one piece is another. Spacecraft are likely to burn up into bits if they aren't specially insulated and designed for the ride.
By Jane McGrath
Believe it or not, to get to space and back, NASA relies on a piece of technology that's been around for centuries. Just what is a gimbal, anyway?
These outer space abodes will have to protect inhabitants from extreme temperatures, radiation and flying moon dust. One man is actually selling deeds for lunar property at $20 a pop. Seriously?
Advertisement
This passive-aggressive peacetime contest between the USSR and the U.S. unofficially ended with the U.S. moon landing. But the Soviets also touted a long list of space race accomplishments. Who won?
Kids from around the world flock to Huntsville, Ala., to attend Space Camp. What's so appealing about science class in the summer, and can a 40-year-old go to camp?
By Julia Layton