Space Archives

Delays to the next-generation Ariane 6 rocket launcher have left Europe without an indepedent way to blast its missions into space

World

Europe to decide its future in space at Seville summit

European ministers are meeting in the Spanish city of Seville on Monday and Tuesday to decide on the continent's future in space.

AFPNovember 6, 2023

Astronaut Thomas K. "TK" Mattingly -- who was removed from the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission but helped bring its crew back home safely thanks to his problem-solving efforts from ground control -- has died at the age of 87. Thomas K. "TK" Mattingly passed away on October 31, the space agency said in a statement on November2, 2023.

World

Apollo astronaut Thomas K. Mattingly dies aged 87

Thomas K. "TK" Mattingly passed away on October 31, the space agency said in a statement Thursday.

AFPNovember 2, 2023

How did the asteroid kill off the dinosaurs? By kicking up a huge amount of dust into the atmosphere, new research has suggested

World

Asteroid dust caused 15-year winter that killed dinosaurs: study

Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid bigger than Mount Everest smashed into Earth, killing off three quarters of all life on the planet...

AFPOctober 30, 2023

The mice embryos were thawed and grown on the International Space Station

World

Mouse embryos grown in space for first time: Japan researchers

Mouse embryos have been grown on the International Space Station and developed normally in the first study indicating it could be possible for humans...

AFPOctober 29, 2023

A Long March-2F carrier rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-17 spacecraft and a crew of three astronauts, lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre

World

China launches new mission to space station

China sent a fresh crew to its Tiangong space station on Thursday, in the latest mission for a growing space programme that plans to...

AFPOctober 26, 2023

Pakistani porters hike the Baltoro Glacier, July 14, 2023

World

UN report warns of catastrophic risks to Earth systems

Melting glaciers, unbearable heat and space junk: a month before crunch climate talks in the United Arab Emirates, a UN report published Wednesday warns...

AFPOctober 25, 2023

A trio of Chinese astronauts, led by Tang Hongbo, will head to the Tiangong space station

World

China to send youngest-ever crew to space station

China will send its youngest-ever crew of astronauts to the Tiangong space station this week, officials said Wednesday, as Beijing pursues plans for a...

AFPOctober 25, 2023

The Moon crosses in front of the Sun over Albuquerque, New Mexico, during an annular eclipse on October 14, 2023

World

Skygazers watch ‘Ring of Fire’ eclipse over Western Hemisphere

Skygazers across the Americas turned their faces upwards Saturday for a rare celestial event: an annular solar eclipse. A crowd of people wearing protective...

AFPOctober 14, 2023