Missions

The latest news from the spacecraft helping us explore the cosmos, and the historical missions that paved the way.

An image of 2MASS J17554042+6551277 captured by the James Webb Space Telescope as part of JWST’s mirror alignment process. Credit: NASA/STScl

James Webb Space Telescope’s tantalising first images

Space junk is the name given to spent satellites and other debris in orbit around Earth. Credit: janiecbros / Getty Images

What is space junk and why is it a big problem?

A replica ExoMars rover during a test drive around the Mars Terrain Simulator at ALTEC, Turin, Italy. Credit: ESA/Thales Alenia Space

Rosalind Franklin Rover launch suspended over war in Ukraine

Artist's impression showing NASA's Lunar Gateway and the Orion spacecraft at the Moon as part of the Artemis programme

How NASA’s Artemis programme will return humans to the Moon

Space law expert Chris Newman, Northumbria University

Radio Astronomy Podcast What happens if someone dies in space?

NASA's SOFIA flying observatory

How NASA’s SOFIA flying observatory views the Universe in infrared

Artist's impression of the NASA Capstone mission at the Moon

9 missions heading to the Moon in 2022

International space station in earth orbit

How the ISS is being retired, and what will happen to it

NASA’s Space Launch System with the Orion spacecraft atop, at Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center, in the early hours of 18 March 2022. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

NASA rolls out Artemis Space Launch System at Kennedy Space Center

Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Why go to Mars? Because it would be the trip of a lifetime

Beagle 2 lead scientist Colin Pillinger pictured with a model of Beagle 2 at the Lander Operations Planning Centre on 27 November 2003 in Milton Keynes, UK. Credit: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

What happened to Beagle 2?

A replica ExoMars rover during a test drive around the Mars Terrain Simulator at ALTEC, Turin, Italy. Credit: ESA/Thales Alenia Space

How the ExoMars rover will search for Martian meteorites

Prof Andrew Coates of University College London pictured with the ExoMars 2022 PanCam instrument. Credit: ESA

Interview How the ExoMars 2020 rover will search for signs of life on the Red Planet

Artist's impression of NASA's Space Launch System leaving Earth orbit on its way to the Moon. Credit: NASA

How NASA’s Space Launch System will take crew to the Moon and Mars

European Space Agency astrobiologist Dr Nicol Caplin

Radio Astronomy Podcast Interview with astrobiologist Nicol Caplin