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Space industry pollution above could have serious consequences for the environment below

Feb 5, 2024
Damage to the ozone layer could raise the risk of skin cancer, cataracts and immune disorders, says science reporter Shannon Hall.
Decommissioned satellites are designed to burn up in Earth's atmosphere, but they leave behind pollutants in their wake.
Chadan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

It may not have a cantina, but this Virginia spaceport is firing up its local economy

Jul 13, 2023
Last year, the world set a Space Age record by launching more than 180 rockets into orbit. And every launch pumps money into local coffers.
The control room in NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. About 2,000 people work at the center.
Kimberly Adams/Marketplace

How the "new guys" of NASA's Group 8 opened up space travel to the rest of us

Feb 7, 2023
In the 1970s, NASA welcomed women and minority astronauts for the first time. Meredith Bagby's new book explores the impact that they made in the world of space travel.
As the first women and minorities in America's space program, NASA's Group 8 — some of whom are seen here — were a whole new face for space travel.
NASA/AFP via Getty Images

Will private funds fuel the next space race?

Oct 22, 2019
Indian space entrepreneur Susmita Mohanty talks about the future of private space exploration ahead of 70th annual International Astronautical Conference.
iStock/Getty Images

NASA partners with commercial companies to return to the moon

Jul 19, 2019
NASA is looking to commercial partners to figure out crew transports, use of lunar resources and surviving extreme environments.
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin has plans to send people to the moon.
Blue Origin

Who knew a space agency could go viral?

Apr 10, 2019
By using social media, NASA discovered what the public was looking for.
Employees at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, watch the landing of InSight on Mars on Nov. 26, 2018.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

To live in space, we have to build things in space

Dec 3, 2018
Some companies are trying to move manufacturing to space.
NASA/Newsmakers/Getty Images

Private enterprise will help NASA return to the moon

Nov 30, 2018
NASA is partnering with nine private aerospace companies to begin missions back to the earth's only natural, permanent satellite.
A NASA picture taken by U.S. crew commander Eugene A. Cernan on Dec. 13, 1972, shows astronaut and geologist Harrison H. Schmitt seated in the Lunar Roving Vehicle. The last manned U.S. spacecraft to touch down on the moon was Apollo 17.
Eugene A. Cernan/AFP/Getty Images

Pence outlines plan for new Space Force by 2020

Aug 9, 2018
The White House envisions the force as a separate military branch, which would require levels of infrastructure and various kinds of military and civilian leadership.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images