Space

National

Space Force Members Will Be Called 'Guardians'

3:32pm December 19, 2020

by Matthew S. Schwartz

The official moniker, announced by Vice President Pence at a White House ceremony, comes one year after the creation of the newest military branch. The name drew raised eyebrows online.

China's Chang'e-5 probe returned to Earth this week after collecting samples of the lunar surface to Earth for the first time in almost 45 years.

China Promises To Share Findings From Its Returned Lunar Probe

8:28am December 18, 2020

by Jaclyn Diaz

The successful completion of the Chang'e-5 mission makes China only the third country to have returned soil and rock samples from the surface of the moon.

On The Winter Solstice, Jupiter And Saturn Will Be Together Again

6:22am December 10, 2020

On Dec. 21, Jupiter and Saturn will appear on top of each other in the night sky to form a bright "Christmas star" — something that hasn't happened in nearly 800 years.

Queue Listen Now

Chuck Yeager, standing next to the "Glamorous Glennis," the Bell X-1 experimental plane in which he first broke the sound barrier.

National

Pilot Chuck Yeager Dies At 97, Had 'The Right Stuff' And Then Some

11:28pm December 07, 2020

by Russell Lewis

Chuck Yeager has died: Fighter ace, test pilot, breaker of the sound barrier, coolest of the cool — he was the man even astronauts looked up to. NPR's Russell D. Lewis has this remembrance.

Capsule Containing Bits Of An Asteroid Returns To Earth

6:19am December 07, 2020

The sample of the asteroid collected by the Japanese space program caps a six-year mission. Researchers hope it will offer clues to the secrets of the birth of the solar system and the start of life.

Queue Listen Now

A simulated image of the Chang'e-5 spacecraft blasting off from the moon. The Chinese National Space Administration placed China's first real flag on the lunar surface Thursday.

World News

Chinese Chang'e-5 Is Returning From Moon With Rocks, Left A Flag To Celebrate

6:27pm December 04, 2020

by Dustin Jones

The craft has been collecting rock and soil samples. China is only the second country to plant its national banner on the lunar surface.

The Arecibo Observatory's mammoth telescope collapsed overnight. It's seen here in November, after a cable damaged its dish.

Video: Arecibo Observatory Telescope Collapses, Ending Era Of World-Class Research

11:34am December 04, 2020

by Bill Chappell

Astronomers compare losing the observatory in Puerto Rico to losing a big brother. It was once the world's largest single-dish radio telescope.

World News

Chinese Moon Probe To Return Lunar Samples Back To Earth

5:01am December 04, 2020

by Geoff Brumfiel

A Chinese probe has blasted off from the surface of the moon, carrying the first moon rock samples collected in over 40 years.

National

Star Of 'Contact' And 'GoldenEye,' Arecibo Telescope Collapses In Puerto Rico

3:51pm December 01, 2020

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

A historic telescope collapsed in Puerto Rico. The enormous Arecibo telescope made scientific discoveries and has been featured in movies. Its collapse is an emotional blow for many Puerto Ricans.

Planetary Scientists Say It's Time To Explore Venus

3:59pm November 26, 2020

by Geoff Brumfiel

Three missions from Earth are currently headed to Mars. But some scientists are saying it's time to go to Venus, despite all the challenges in heading to Earth's toxic, volcanic planetary neighbor.