Space Exploration
Ongoing coverage on Space Exploration.
Latest coverage
Artemis II commander shares a remarkable video of Earth vanishing behind the Moon
Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman shared a video captured on an iPhone 17 Pro Max showing the Earth setting behind the Moon. This marks the first time humans have witnessed an Earthset in 54 years, since the Apollo 17 mission. The crew traveled further from Earth than any humans in history during their mission.
Hideo Kojima flexes on NASA, shows Death Stranding 2 players traveled further than the Artemis 2 mission in the same…
Hideo Kojima shared a graphic comparing the cumulative in-game travel distance of players in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach to the distance covered by NASA's Artemis 2 mission. Over a 10-day period after the PC version's launch, Death Stranding 2 players collectively traveled further than the Artemis 2 spacecraft did during its 10-day lunar flyby. Kojima Productions is highlighted as the developer behind the game.
Blue Origin landed its recycled New Glenn booster but failed to put payload in orbit
Blue Origin successfully landed and reused its New Glenn rocket booster for the second time on its third mission. However, the mission failed to place the AST SpaceMobile communications satellite into orbit due to an "off-nominal orbit" at too low an altitude. Despite the payload failure, the successful booster reuse marks a significant step for the company's reusability program.
Space-obsessed Pragmata actor was so wary of breaking embargo that he refused to post about Artemis 2: 'I know so…
Actor David Menkin, who plays the protagonist in Capcom's upcoming game Pragmata, discussed his passion for space and the challenges of adhering to embargoes. Menkin, who has a history of playing space-themed characters, revealed he avoided posting about the Artemis 2 mission to prevent accidentally revealing sensitive information about Pragmata due to his self-described inability to lie effectively.
Review – Starfield (PlayStation 5)
This review of Starfield on PlayStation 5 notes that while the game offers a decent story and RPG elements reminiscent of other Bethesda titles like Skyrim and Fallout, it falls short as a deep space exploration experience. The controls and menus can be clunky, and while combat is fun, enemy variety is lacking. Despite its vast universe, many planets feel repetitive, and the novelty of exploration wears off, making the main quest and faction quests the primary drivers.
The PBS Artemis II documentary is streaming on YouTube
PBS's documentary 'Return to the Moon,' detailing NASA's Artemis II mission, is now available to stream on YouTube. The hour-long film covers the history of the Artemis program and the specific preparations for the mission, which saw astronauts orbit the Moon and travel further from Earth than ever before.
NASA restarts work to support Europe's uncrewed trip to Mars after years of setbacks
NASA has resumed work to support the European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin rover mission to Mars, with a planned launch no earlier than 2028 via a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. This partnership involves NASA providing launch assistance and specific hardware, while ESA supplies the rover and lander. The mission, aimed at searching for signs of ancient life, has faced numerous delays since its conception in 2001 due to budget constraints, technical issues, and geopolitical events.
Starfield PS5 Review – Same stars, new vessel
This review examines Starfield on PlayStation 5, noting that significant updates and expansions have improved its standing since its initial launch. While still bearing similarities to Fallout, the game offers a vast spacefaring experience with deep ship customization and an interesting New Game+ integration, despite some dated technology and narrative delivery.
How to watch Artemis: to the Moon and Back documentary for free around the world
The documentary 'Artemis: To the Moon and Back' is now available on BBC iPlayer, detailing the development and missions of NASA's Artemis program, including Artemis I and II. The film features insights from project engineers and NASA personnel. Viewers outside the UK can access the content using a VPN.
Artemis II hype sees Kerbal Space Program beat all-time Steam player record 11 years after launch
Kerbal Space Program has achieved a new all-time Steam player record with over 20,875 concurrent players, driven by renewed interest in space exploration following NASA's Artemis II mission. A timely discount on PC also contributed to the surge in players for the original spaceflight simulator, while its sequel, Kerbal Space Program 2, continues to struggle with low player counts and negative reviews.
Cosminers Preview at PAX East 2026
Cosminers, an upcoming survival and building game from indie developer Gravity Rifters, was showcased at PAX East 2026. The preview focused on core mechanics like ore collection, base building for survival, and defending against alien creatures. The game features a distinct retro-futuristic visual style inspired by 1950s sci-fi and is planned for release on Windows PC via Steam later this year.
Sunday Tech Bits
NASA has open-sourced the original Apollo 11 code, making the Command Module and Lunar Module code public domain resources. This move by NASA provides valuable historical and technical data for public access.
Out of the Blue
The Artemis II astronauts successfully splashed down, marking an exciting moment for space exploration. Further analysis will be required on the heat shield data to understand its performance during re-entry.
The Artemis II astronauts are back after a 10-day journey around the moon
The Artemis II astronauts have successfully returned to Earth after a 10-day mission around the Moon, splashing down off the coast of San Diego. This test flight, carrying NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen, paves the way for future lunar surface missions like Artemis III, which will involve landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Into the Black
The Artemis II astronauts successfully splashed down off the coast of California, marking their safe return. This event signifies a major milestone in the Artemis program's exploration of space.
Wartales developer Shiro Games is publishing Frostrail & SpaceCraft in early releases
Shiro Games, the developer of Wartales, will be publishing FakeFish's co-op horror shooter Frostrail and their own space exploration sandbox, SpaceCraft. Frostrail is scheduled for a playtest this month, while SpaceCraft will enter early access in May.
Review Film: Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary is a compelling science fiction film that successfully blends a strong storyline, scientific narrative, emotional depth, and impressive visuals. The film, adapted from Andy Weir's novel by Drew Goddard and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is praised for its complete package and Ryan Gosling's performance as an unlikely astronaut.
Out of the Blue
The Artemis II mission is scheduled to conclude with a splashdown at 8:07 pm EDT tonight. The event will be broadcast live on NASA's YouTube channel and other platforms.
Everything new added with the Starfield Free Lanes update
The Starfield Free Lanes update overhauls space exploration with a new Cruise Mode, allowing players to travel between systems while managing their ship and crew. The update also introduces X-Tech for weapon and gear customization, a new hub called Anchorpoint Station, shared outpost containers, and new ways to upgrade Starborn abilities using Quantum Essence.
How to watch the Artemis II landing
NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego today at approximately 8:07 PM ET, concluding a nine-day trip around the Moon. The Orion spacecraft, carrying astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen, will undergo a critical re-entry phase, facing extreme temperatures. NASA will stream the landing on YouTube and NASA+, with broadcasts also available on Netflix and HBO Max starting at 6:30 PM ET.