A tiny ‘plutino’ world beyond Neptune has grown a mysterious atmosphere, and we don’t know how

A trans-Neptunian object was found to possess a surprising thin atmosphere after astronomers witnessed the object occult a distant star.

NASA is making a powerful new ion engine to send astronauts to Mars — and it just passed its 1st test

A prototype ion engine that uses lithium metal vapor as a propellant has aced its first tests, achieving 25 times more power than the ion engine on the Psyche mission.

Drone radar could help spacecraft pinpoint where to drill for water on Mars, scientists say

Drone-mounted radar flown over glaciers on Earth show how the technology can map buried ice in detail, helping future Mars spacecraft choose exactly where to drill.

Is it cake? No, it’s a parachute! | Space photo of the day for May 1, 2026

In this donut-shaped bag is a massive parachute. Next stop? Mars.

NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers capture sweeping Mars panoramas (video)

New panoramic views from NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers reveal dramatically different Martian terrains shaped by ancient water and billions of years of geological change.

Is Venus volcanically active? Big Hawaiian eruption in 2022 could help scientists find out

Evidence suggests that Venus is still volcanically active, and new data about a big eruption in Hawaii a few years ago could help scientists find out for sure.

An Amazon rainforest river from space | Space photo of the day for April 30, 2026

The Ucayali River snakes across the rainforest in this image captured by NASA astronaut Jessica Meir from the International Space Station.

NASA chief Jared Isaacman says he’s fighting for Pluto: ‘I am very much in the camp of ‘make Pluto a planet again’

Should Pluto be a bona fide planet again? NASA is working to “revisit the discussion” on Pluto’s planethood status, according to agency chief Jared Isaacman.

Could the moon ever be blockaded? Experts predict cislunar space could be the next Strait of Hormuz

The ongoing military conflict regarding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz may well mirror a future situation off-Earth — the use of cislunar space, the region between the moon and our planet.

NASA wants to use a fleet of MoonFall drones to scout the lunar south pole: ‘We believe we can do it’

NASA is exploring ways to use a fleet of drones to explore the lunar south pole with an ambitious new MoonFall project.