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Thursday

SpaceX Readies For Key Test Of Capsule Built To Carry Astronauts Into Space

In this illustration, SpaceX's Crew Dragon approaches the International Space Station for docking. The capsule has room to carry seven astronauts. SpaceX/NASA hide caption

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SpaceX/NASA

Space

SpaceX Readies For Key Test Of Capsule Built To Carry Astronauts Into Space

For years, NASA has had to rely on Russian vehicles to get astronauts to the International Space Station. That could soon change if the flight test of SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule succeeds.

SpaceX Readies For Key Test Of Capsule Built To Carry Astronauts Into Space

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Sunday

'Every Day Is A Good Day When You're Floating': Anne McClain Talks Life In Space

NASA astronaut Anne McClain, attends her final exam at the Gagarin Cosmonauts' Training Centre outside Moscow on Nov. 14, 2018. STR/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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STR/AFP/Getty Images

Space

'Every Day Is A Good Day When You're Floating': Anne McClain Talks Life In Space

Kindergartners from Georgetown Day School in Washington D.C., help NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro field questions to McClain, who's an astronaut serving on the International Space Station.

'Every Day Is A Good Day When You're Floating': Anne McClain Talks Life In Space

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Friday

Wednesday

Monday

Soyuz Rocket Launches, Docks Successfully To Relief Of NASA, Russia Space Agency

NASA astronaut Anne McClain (from left), Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency successfully blasted into space on Monday morning. It is the first mission since an aborted launch in October. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

Space

Soyuz Rocket Launches, Docks Successfully To Relief Of NASA, Russia Space Agency

A Russian, an American and a Canadian were aboard the spacecraft when it lifted off from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazkahstan. It's the first launch since a failed mission in October.

Thursday

Rocket Headed For International Space Station Fails, Makes Emergency Landing

Smoke rises as first-stage boosters separate from a Soyuz rocket with a Soyuz MS-10 spacecraft carrying a NASA astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut. The mission was aborted shortly after launch, and the pair returned to Earth safely in an emergency landing. Dmitri Lovetsky/AP hide caption

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Dmitri Lovetsky/AP

Space

Rocket Headed For International Space Station Fails, Makes Emergency Landing

Astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin were on board when their Soyuz MS-10's booster malfunctioned. The two made it out safely.

Wednesday

A 2-millimeter hole was found last week in a Russian Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft (left) that is docked to the International Space Station.

A 2-millimeter hole was found last week in a Russian Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft (left) that is docked to the International Space Station. NASA/AP hide caption

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NASA/AP

Space

Who Caused The Mysterious Leak At The International Space Station?

"We don't reject any theories," said Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russia's space agency. That includes sabotage, though he suspects it was more likely a "technological error."

Who Caused The Mysterious Leak At The International Space Station?

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Thursday

Tuesday

Sunday

A NASA Astronaut Stays In Orbit With SpaceX And Boeing

Sunita Williams conducts routine maintenance during a stint aboard the International Space Station. Nowadays, the astronaut helps Boeing and SpaceX develop private spacecraft. NASA hide caption

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NASA

Brave New Workers

A NASA Astronaut Stays In Orbit With SpaceX And Boeing

Sunita Williams was the second female commander of the International Space Station. Now, she says her new job working with private companies to develop space technologies feels like a new frontier.

A NASA Astronaut Stays In Orbit With SpaceX And Boeing

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Wednesday

Astronomical Growth Turns Out To Be 'Fake News,' Says Japanese Astronaut

Norishige Kanai prior the launch of the Soyuz-FG rocket in Kazakhstan on Dec. 17. As is the norm, the Japanese astronaut grew in outer space, just not by as much as he initially thought. Dmitri Lovetsky/AP hide caption

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Dmitri Lovetsky/AP

The Two-Way

Astronomical Growth Turns Out To Be 'Fake News,' Says Japanese Astronaut

Norishige Kanai said he had grown up to 3 1/2 inches since arriving in space, sparking worry about whether he'd fit in the spacecraft home. Turns out, Kanai did grow, just not that much.

Sunday

Astronaut Trio Heads For Space Station To Continue Scientific Research

Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, (bottom); Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai, middle; and U.S. astronaut Scott Tingle, above; wave prior to the launch of the Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sunday. Shamil Zhumatov/AP hide caption

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Shamil Zhumatov/AP

The Two-Way

Astronaut Trio Heads For Space Station To Continue Scientific Research

The astronauts from the U.S., Russia and Japan blasted off early Sunday and are scheduled to arrive on Tuesday.

Sunday

3-Plus Tons Of Supplies Headed To International Space Station After Virginia Liftoff

The unmanned Antares rocket launched from Wallops Island, Va., on Sunday, carrying with it a Cygnus capsule containing some 7,400 pounds of supplies for astronauts at the International Space Station. Bill Ingalls/NASA/NASA via Getty Images hide caption

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Bill Ingalls/NASA/NASA via Getty Images

The Two-Way

3-Plus Tons Of Supplies Headed To International Space Station After Virginia Liftoff

The Sunday launch of an Antares rocket from Wallop Islands has some 7,400 pounds aboard. The rocket was developed by private firm Orbital ATK, which conducts supply missions for NASA.

Wednesday

The Best Item In An Astronaut's Care Package? Definitely The Ice Cream

In this photo taken by Russian cosmonaut Sergey Ryazanskiy, the SpaceX Dragon capsule arrives at the International Space Station on Wednesday, stocked with scientific equipment, supplies — and ice cream. NASA via AP hide caption

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NASA via AP

The Two-Way

The Best Item In An Astronaut's Care Package? Definitely The Ice Cream

Unlike other cargo vehicles, the SpaceX spacecraft can return to Earth without burning up. So it's equipped with freezers for transporting medical samples — and the occasional frozen treat.

The Best Item In An Astronaut's Care Package? Definitely The Ice Cream

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Wednesday

3, 2, 1 ... Bake Off! The Mission To Make Bread In Space

"It's not just about making one German astronaut happy with fresh bread," Marcu explains. "There's really a deeper meaning to bread in space." Above, a photo illustration of bread in space. NASA/ Bake in Space GmbH hide caption

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NASA/ Bake in Space GmbH

The Salt

3, 2, 1 ... Bake Off! The Mission To Make Bread In Space

WHYY

On Earth, crumbs are harmless, but in orbit they can be perilous. But bread is a big deal in Germany, so scientists and engineers there are teaming up to create an oven and dough fit for microgravity.