February
Texas firm hitches ride with SpaceX to send drone to the moon
Intuitive Machines’ lander, named Athena, is taking a fast track to the moon while hoping to avoid the fate of its predecessor, which tipped over at touchdown.
December 2024
Inside the program putting people back on the moon
One-armed robots are being trained in lunar construction as earthlings prepare to return to our satellite for the first time in 50 years – and not for days this time, but months.
February 2024
First private spacecraft lands on the moon
A successful touchdown by Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander heralds a more commercial era for space exploration.
August 2023
How humans will colonise the moon – and when it will happen
While the world was distracted by Putin and Trump, India pulled off a lunar landing. But with six nations and two billionaires eyeing up the opportunities, what will our first off-world settlement look like?
April 2023
Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit files for bankruptcy
The rocket company spun off from the billionaire’s spaceflight company has already sacked most of its staff after failing to raise money from investors.
March 2021
NASA sent a secret message to Mars
Engineers hinted they had hidden a code in the parachute that landed the Perseverance rover. Within hours, puzzle enthusiasts cracked it.
December 2019
The bold master plan of Jeff Bezos
The take-no-prisoners Amazon founder may have 'won capitalism' – but for one of the world's wealthiest men, space has always been the final frontier.
August 2019
Space investing faces obstacle in China-Taiwan stoush
Investors focused on the potential riches of moon exploration shouldn't underestimate the ramifications of a 1967 treaty and its signatories.