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NASA Almost Evacuated The ISS Because Russia Wanted To Drill The Hull And Use A Saw To Fix A Leak

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:25:00 +0000

The station is an elderly thing, and it needs to be put out to pasture soon.

Russia Might Have Space-Based GPS Jamming Capabilities

staff@jalopnik.com (Ryan Erik King) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:45:00 +0000

GPS is a pretty critical infrastructure system. Air travel, electricity grids and even cellular communications rely on GPS to some degree.

Here's Why Rocket Launch Trajectories Are Curved Like Bananas

staff@jalopnik.com (Brontë Wieland) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 01:25:00 +0000

Ever wonder why rockets don't shoot straight up into space? Discover the fascinating physics behind curved rocket launch trajectories and gravity turns.

Houston's Created Its Own Problem: The Unnecessary Fight To Snatch Up The Discovery Space Shuttle Continues

staff@jalopnik.com (Lalita Chemello) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:25:00 +0000

If there is a custody battle to be had, the Smithsonian has it locked down.

While Blue Origin Is Hopeful New Glenn Will Fly Again This Year, Its Exploded Launchpad Is A Problem

staff@jalopnik.com (Justin Hughes) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:25:00 +0000

In an interview with CNBC, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said that it would "take some serious time" to repair the damage at Launch Complex 36..."

Why Americans Land Spacecraft In The Ocean While The Russians Go For Solid Ground

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:24:29 +0000

As you may have heard, rocket science is complicated.

The Subaru Telescope On Mauna Kea Shares Its Name With Your Car For A Reason

staff@jalopnik.com (Brontë Wieland) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 01:25:00 +0000

What does a research telescope in Hawaii have in common with the dog-friendly car brand? The answer lies in an ancient, globe-spanning myth.

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Dramatically Explodes During Engine Test Firing

staff@jalopnik.com (Justin Hughes) — Fri, 29 May 2026 18:56:51 +0000

The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, but the Space Force says it will not delay upcoming flights by other companies on nearby launch pads.

NASA Unveils Next Generation Of Moon Cars As Plans For A Permanent Lunar Base Take Shape

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:25:00 +0000

The return to the Moon isn't just a far-fetched fantasy anymore, but a tangible near future.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Initiates Largest Change In 70 Years, Solicits Bids To Replace Caltech As Its Manager

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Tue, 26 May 2026 18:25:00 +0000

A booming industry is proving that private enterprise can make serious strides in space, and JPL is looking to find cheaper ways to do what it's always done.

Could NASA's Lithium-Plasma Engine Be The Key To Getting Humans To Mars?

staff@jalopnik.com (Nico DeMattia) — Sat, 23 May 2026 15:25:00 +0000

NASA is working on a lithium-plasma electric thruster that uses roughly 90% less fuel than chemical rockets. Can this new technology help us colonize Mars?

This Is The Massive Barge NASA Uses To Transport Space Rockets

staff@jalopnik.com (Erik Sherman) — Tue, 19 May 2026 00:25:00 +0000

The components used to launch the Artemis II astronauts into space are truly massive. Here's how NASA moves those parts around the country.

Texas Homeowners Sue SpaceX For Damage From Rocket Launches

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Sun, 10 May 2026 22:25:00 +0000

SpaceX likely will quietly settle it for non-trivial (though not mind-blowing) sum and then just keep on doing what it's doing: going fast and breaking stuff.

James Webb Space Telescope Brings Details Of Nearby 'Super-Earth' Into Focus

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Thu, 07 May 2026 19:25:00 +0000

This one telescope is enabling us to deduce not just the chemical and mineral compositions of distant worlds, but their terrain and features as well.

Artemis Astronauts Explain Why Nutella Tastes Different In Space (And So Does Everything Else)

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Wed, 06 May 2026 14:25:00 +0000

It's a brave new world for spread science.

FAA Will Begin Making Space Rockets Pay Tolls

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Mon, 04 May 2026 20:05:00 +0000

One can only hope that he will build a giant toll barrier in the sky, at which the rocket will have to stop and deposit some change before heading to the stars.

We're Launching So Much Stuff At The Moon That We're Littering It With Space Junk Now

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Sun, 03 May 2026 22:25:00 +0000

The upper stage of a rocket used to launch a lunar lander mission now heading towards the moon, and it's going to crash there at 5,400 miles per hour.

Meta Will Harvest Sunlight With Satellites To Keep Its AI Data Centers On Earth Going At Night

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Sat, 02 May 2026 03:25:00 +0000

Meta has partnered with Overview Energy, with the claim that 1 GW of energy could be sent to existing solar farms on earth by 2030, even when it's dark out.

NASA Completes The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Ahead Of Schedule And Under-Budget

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:25:00 +0000

Our understanding of our universe will grow in bounds and, very likely, change forever.

Is Somebody Hunting America's Aerospace Engineers And Scientists?

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:07:19 +0000

It's hard to see how all of these cohere into some sort of grand design, or what the purpose of that design might be.