Private Space Flight

What it means for private citizens to leave Earth, from SpaceX shuttling people and supplies to the ISS to space tourists to vomit comets.

Latest in Private Space Flight

Image of ice falling away from Falcon 9 rocket shortly before explosion

Private Space Flight

SpaceX’s historic Falcon 9 success streak met a fiery end SpaceX’s historic Falcon 9 success streak met a fiery end

Image of the planet Mars

Mars

Elon Musk’s Martian dreams include modded Cybertrucks and bioengineered animals Elon Musk’s Martian dreams include modded Cybertrucks and bioengineered animals

Starship test launch in 2021

NASA

SpaceX’s Starship may mess up the lunar surface SpaceX’s Starship may mess up the lunar surface

SpaceX will attempt the first commercial spacewalk

Private Space Flight

SpaceX will attempt the first commercial spacewalk SpaceX will attempt the first commercial spacewalk

By Briley Lewis

NASA's Orion Capsule is drawn into the well deck of the USS Portland during recovery operations after it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, on December 11, 2022. - Orion was launched November 16 on the Artemis rocket for a 25-day mission to the Moon. The main goal of this mission was to test Orion's heat shield -- for the day when it is humans and not test mannequins riding inside. (Photo by Mario Tama / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MARIO TAMA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

NASA

How NASA and SpaceX get spacecraft safely back on Earth How NASA and SpaceX get spacecraft safely back on Earth

By Marcos Fernandez Tous / The Conversation

International Space Station orbiting above Earth

International Space Station

NASA is paying SpaceX to destroy the International Space Station NASA is paying SpaceX to destroy the International Space Station

In the era of private spaceflight, who gets to be an astronaut?

International Space Station

In the era of private spaceflight, who gets to be an astronaut? In the era of private spaceflight, who gets to be an astronaut?

By Briley Lewis

Starship fourth liftoff

Engineering

SpaceX’s fourth Starship launches SpaceX’s fourth Starship launches

Boeing Starliner launch

International Space Station

Boeing Starliner launches first crewed mission for NASA Boeing Starliner launches first crewed mission for NASA

NASA and Boeing’s Starliner delays expose the challenges of space travel

International Space Station

NASA and Boeing’s Starliner delays expose the challenges of space travel NASA and Boeing’s Starliner delays expose the challenges of space travel

By Briley Lewis

Riding atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, spacecraft sets off to collide with an asteroid in the world’s first full-scale planetary defense test mission in November 2021.

Private Space Flight

A rare risk of asteroid fastballs turns scientists into sluggers A rare risk of asteroid fastballs turns scientists into sluggers

By Theo Nicitopoulos / Undark

In the race for space metals, companies hope to cash in

Private Space Flight

In the race for space metals, companies hope to cash in In the race for space metals, companies hope to cash in

By Sarah Scoles/Undark

SpaceX EVA suit helmet close up

Private Space Flight

SpaceX reveals new sleek spacesuits ahead of upcoming historic mission SpaceX reveals new sleek spacesuits ahead of upcoming historic mission

NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission has a shaky future

Private Space Flight

NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission has a shaky future NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission has a shaky future

By Chris Impey / The Conversation

Private Space Flight

FAA now requires reentry license to prevent spacecraft getting stuck up there FAA now requires reentry license to prevent spacecraft getting stuck up there

SpaceHopper robot in midair during parabolic flight test

AI

Watch a tripod robot test its asteroid leaping skills Watch a tripod robot test its asteroid leaping skills

NASA Lunar Terrain Vehicle concept art

Engineering

It’s on! Three finalists will design a lunar rover for Artemis It’s on! Three finalists will design a lunar rover for Artemis

SpaceVIP SpaceBalloon above Earth concept art

Private Space Flight

For nearly $500,000, you too can have dinner in the ‘SpaceBalloon’ above Earth For nearly $500,000, you too can have dinner in the ‘SpaceBalloon’ above Earth

Starship rocket launching during third test

AI

Crypto scammers flooded YouTube with sham SpaceX Starship livestreams Crypto scammers flooded YouTube with sham SpaceX Starship livestreams

Varda W-1 capsule reentry video screenshot

Diseases

Watch the plasma fly in space capsule’s dramatic fall to Earth Watch the plasma fly in space capsule’s dramatic fall to Earth