Recent articles
August 8, 2026
The first self-driving vehicle on Mars has proven to be a smashing success
About 90 percent of the distance driven by Perseverance has been autonomous.
arstechnica.com
August 6, 2026
Blue Origin narrowing in on root cause of catastrophic rocket accident
"The anomaly originated at the main oxygen valve on one of the BE-4 engines."
arstechnica.com
August 5, 2026
This Atlantic hurricane season is looking like a dud, but there will be a price to pay
"The models are forecasting something outside the envelope of anything we have ever observed."
arstechnica.com
August 3, 2026
SpaceX is set to acquire 130,000 acres of marshland in southern Louisiana
A Louisiana launch site would offer several significant advantages.
arstechnica.com
July 31, 2026
Rocket Report: New launch rule may limit environmental regulations, Falcon 9 to hit Moon
"America won the first Space Race, and we can do it again."
arstechnica.com
July 29, 2026
Actually, Starliner might fly into space this year
"We're feeling pretty good about that," Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said.
arstechnica.com
July 27, 2026
Experts warn current Starship heat shield tech is a "dead end" for rapid reuse
NASA has not made substantial investments in thermal protection research for decades.
arstechnica.com
July 17, 2026
Will Russia's answer to the Falcon 9 rocket ever take flight?
Grasshopper-like tests could begin in 2028.
arstechnica.com
July 17, 2026
Rocket Report: India's Vikram-1 nears debut flight; AST to become rocket company?
"We have done everything that could be done to test Vikram-1 on ground."
arstechnica.com
July 15, 2026
A most improbable astronaut just went to space
"I pretty much, at that point in time, gave up on being an astronaut."
arstechnica.com
July 15, 2026
How hard is it to build orbital data centers, actually?
"The ISS radiators are expensive and heavy. We're focused on making them cheap and light."
arstechnica.com
July 13, 2026
A "disaster waiting to happen"? Industry officials worry about Crew Dragon availability.
"It's very clear that in the United States there is a big need for an additional crew vehicle."
arstechnica.com
July 10, 2026
NASA sure seems to be asking an awful lot of private space stations
"Industry finally knows what NASA is asking of them."
arstechnica.com
July 10, 2026
Rocket Report: "Panic" over Transporter availability; Isar to launch from Canada
"We are delighted to actively help shape the ramp-up of the Ariane 6."
arstechnica.com
July 9, 2026
The newest entrant in the military’s launch competition isn't actually a launch company
"I think it's fair to say that Phase 3 did not contemplate this."
arstechnica.com
July 8, 2026
Blue Origin, for the first time, is expected to raise private capital
The company is raising $10 billion, leading to a valuation of $130 billion.
arstechnica.com
July 6, 2026
There were not one, but two asteroid encounters this weekend
The Torifune asteroid turns out to be shaped like a peanut.
arstechnica.com
July 3, 2026
Despite the darkness, I still see signs of hope in America
It's difficult to pinpoint the moment in my life where America started to lose the plot.
arstechnica.com
July 2, 2026
Ars Live recap: When are the big rockets NASA desperately needs going to be ready?
I have not seen anyone put out a date for a new rocket, and actually hit it.
arstechnica.com
July 1, 2026
NASA chief praises progress Blue Origin is making after launch failure
"We've got time into 2027 before we're getting nervous."
arstechnica.com
June 30, 2026
NASA may send a backup, nuclear-powered Mars rover to the Moon
"That would be an awesome capability."
arstechnica.com
June 29, 2026
In a bold move, Rocket Lab acquires Iridium Communications
"We believe this will be one of the most transformative deals in the space industry."
arstechnica.com
June 26, 2026
Ars Live: What's the latest in the aftermath of the New Glenn catastrophe?
Join us on the livestream at 1 pm ET and ask questions about the aftermath of New Glenn
arstechnica.com
June 26, 2026
Rocket Report: China may soon attempt booster landing; Rocket Lab does rapid response
Is SpaceX planning to end its Transporter program?
arstechnica.com
June 24, 2026
13 years and $500 million for a stage adapter? Report justifies NASA cancellations.
"Contract values for these efforts ballooned from nearly $2.8 billion to $5.9 billion."
arstechnica.com
June 22, 2026
Report: Kennedy Space Center not ready for era of super heavy rockets
SpaceX has told NASA it plans to launch Starship every eight days from Kennedy.
arstechnica.com
June 22, 2026
This former hacker saw the light—and now wants to collect all of it
"I don’t know of a bigger question we can answer as humans."
arstechnica.com
June 18, 2026
NASA asks Northrop Grumman to stop working on lunar HALO module
"We are reassigning most affected employees across existing opportunities and programs."
arstechnica.com
June 16, 2026
Among the large new rockets Amazon was counting on, only Europe has delivered
"As for Arianespace, they have definitely stepped up."
arstechnica.com
June 15, 2026
Russia appears set to finally address long-term, serious space station cracks
This has been a persistent, behind-the-scenes dispute between NASA and Roscosmos.
arstechnica.com