Space
Explainer
Coronavirus pandemic
Why are so many nations blasting off to Mars?
International travel is largely grounded, yet interplanetary travel is taking off. Why are nations heading to the red planet? And when will humans follow?
- by Sherryn Groch
Latest
Science
Is there life on Mars? These Aussies are helping NASA find out
As NASA's Mars 2020 mission heads to the red planet, Australian scientists are poised to help analyse the potentially groundbreaking data.
- by Stuart Layt
NASA
NASA launches Mars rover Perseverance to look for signs of ancient life
The biggest, most sophisticated Mars rover ever built has blasted off as part of an ambitious, long-range project to bring the first Martian rock samples back to Earth.
- by Marcia Dunn
NASA
NASA's most elaborate life-hunting Mars rover ready for liftoff
The rover Perseverance will follow China’s rover-orbiter combo and a United Arab Emirates orbiter, both launched last week.
- by Marcia Dunn
Science
Australian scientists discover dying building block of Milky Way
The chance find offers a rare opportunity to study the evolution of the galaxy even as the cluster, known as the Phoenix stream, is torn apart.
- by Liam Mannix
Richard Branson
Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic unveils a spaceship cabin fit for the very rich
Virgin Galactic calls its spacecraft cabin the "centrepiece" of the experience it's selling for those able to afford tickets that cost upward of $US250,000.
- by Justin Bachman
Brisbane
Queensland plans 2022 liftoff for Whitsundays launch pad
The Queensland government has spent more than a year trying to find a potential new orbital rocket launch pad in the state.
- by Lydia Lynch
Updated
China
China launches bold attempt to land rover on Mars
The orbiter, according to four scientists involved in the mission, will study Mars and its atmosphere for about one Martian year.
- by Samuel McNeil and Aniruddha Ghosal
Obituaries
Architect who became top authority on mysterious crop circles
'Croppie' Michael Glickman believed the geometric patterns were so astounding they must have been made by extra-terrestrials.
Japan
In a first, UAE spacecraft blasts off to Mars from Japan
A United Arab Emirates spacecraft blasted off to Mars from Japan, starting the Arab world’s first interplanetary trip.
NASA
'Campfires' detected in close-up photos of the sun
Studying the sun is critical to plan for disruptive space weather events that could wipe out GPS systems, destroy electricity grids, and potentially cause food shortages.
- by Sarah Knapton