Spaceflight

The countdown begins to send Elon Musk's most powerful rocket beyond Earth's atmosphere. Whether it will be a success is anybody's guess.

By John Donovan

In space, poop is often a problem. Maybe it will be part of the solution, thanks to a study showing waste can become protein and fat.

By Nathan Chandler

That's one small step for man ... one giant lie to mankind?

By Mark Mancini

When you think of NASA, you probably think of an all-around professional organization. And you're right. But, those astronauts like to have a lot of fun, too.

By Mark Mancini

The company behind this, Bake in Space, says "the smell of fresh bread evokes memories of general happiness." We agree.

By Alia Hoyt

NASA researchers say they may have made a breakthrough with electromagnetic drive propulsion, but other scientists have their doubts.

By Patrick J. Kiger

The British-born astronaut also landed himself a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon in space while he was at it.

By Jonathan Strickland

With all that zero-G simulation, astronauts have no reason to get sick during flight, right? Turns out space sickness affects even the most intrepid astronauts.

By Bambi Turner

You'd think so, wouldn't you? Journey into the past as the astronauts of the Apollo 7 mission tell us for sure.

By John Perritano

GPS is great, but it's kind of Earth-centric. If we have our hearts set on traveling to distant planets and faraway stars, then it's time to come up with a new navigation system. NASA, of course, has an idea.

By William Harris

From sporting goods to movie memorabilia, members of the space program have been inventive about what they take into space. Here are 10 offbeat items that have taken the ride.

By Laurie L. Dove

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?

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

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.

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

Why should space agencies and private companies get to have all the fun of making and launching true spacecraft, or those that cross the Karman line? Can't the rest of us seize a little cosmic glory, too?

By Robert Lamb

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?

By Jessika Toothman

It may sound like the stuff of science fiction thrillers, but military space stations were once very real. What seemed so tantalizing about a military presence in space?

By Stephanie Watson

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

Jeff Bezos made his fortune selling books online. So the next obvious step was to build rockets. Right? How does Blue Origin, Bezos' space travel company, stand up to the other commercial space racers?

A small aluminum ball that orbited the planet for three months in the 1950s had a profound influence over your life. If it hadn't, you wouldn't be reading this now.

By Jonathan Strickland

The space race between the United States and the former Soviet Union began in the early 1950s. What followed was an era of cooperation between the United States, and now Russian, space programs with the building and operation of the International Space Station.

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

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?

By John Fuller & Maria Trimarchi

Maybe Schwarzenegger had it right when he talked about the importance of pumping iron. Astronauts spend as long as four hours a day exercising. But why?

By John Fuller

There's no livestock in space farming, but growing plants in space could allow for long-term exploration and settlements. And with this farm, you don't need to watch where you step.

By Jessika Toothman

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?

By Maria Trimarchi

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