Subscribe now
Shooting stars and Starlink stellites leaving streaks in photographs of the night sky

SpaceX's efforts to make satellites less bright aren't working well

22 April 2023

Megaconstellations of satellites are a problem for astronomy, and while SpaceX has made several attempts to dim its Starlink satellites, they don't seem to be having the desired effect


Ariane 64 rocket

What does Amazon's attempt to dominate space mean for everyone else?

6 April 2022

Amazon has placed the largest ever order for commercial rocket launches, booking up much of the global capacity for the next five years as part of its Project Kuiper plan for satellite broadband


Anti-satellite weapons: Will further tests make space more dangerous?

Anti-satellite weapons: Will further tests make space more dangerous?

17 November 2021

After the Russian military smashed a defunct satellite, creating a cloud of dangerous debris, other powers may wish to prove they have similar capabilities


Blue Origin space station

Can Blue Origin help replace the International Space Station?

28 October 2021

Blue Origin is one of a number of firms hoping to build a commercial space station, but it isn't clear any will be ready before the International Space Station reaches the end of its life


Space debris around planet Earth; Shutterstock ID 1943915647; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Should we ban space weapons to stop the huge space junk problem?

2 September 2021

A group of experts are calling for a ban on anti-satellite weapons tests because the debris they could create may threaten other satellites or even make parts of Earth’s orbit unusable


Jared Isaacman

More people are going to space, but diversity is still grounded

20 May 2021

Auctions and competitions are set to open access to space more than ever before, but civilians in orbit will generally have to be rich, young and physically fit


Lunar lander

NASA's Artemis Accords aim to lay down the law of the land on the moon

20 May 2020

The US has announced the Artemis Accords, a set of agreements that aim to facilitate diplomacy and cooperation on the moon while encouraging mining and exploration


Asteroid over Earth

Have we really found an alien protein inside a meteorite?

3 March 2020

A team of researchers say they have discovered a protein molecule inside a meteorite, the first extraterrestrial example ever found, but others are sceptical


Women are finally getting equal access to the Hubble Space Telescope

Women are finally getting equal access to the Hubble Space Telescope

21 December 2018

For years, women were not receiving a fair share of access to the Hubble Space Telescope, but making requests anonymous has led to parity with men for the first time


Space art could be so much more than a shiny satellite in the sky

Space art could be so much more than a shiny satellite in the sky

30 November 2018

Orbital Reflector, a giant balloon that will inflate in Earth’s orbit and reflect the sun’s light, is the latest attempt at large-scale art in space. But space art should do more than mimic the stars


Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop