Are We There Yet?

Johns Hopkings Researcher Mark Shelhamer explores the challenges that come with sending a human mission to Mars in his new book “Are We Ready for Mars?”.

A critics favorite science fiction and horror films plus a look at UAPs.

The company Astroscale is working on a spacecraft that will grab a piece of rocket debris in obit and remove it. Then, for the third installment of Space on Tap, a special “Are We There Yet?’ live event series, we talked about the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

A resupply mission is on its way to the International Space Station after launching Tuesday. What science is in store for the crew? Plus, a look at Margaret Hamilton’s career at NASA, a woman whose contributions helped land the first astronauts on the moon.

Scientists will soon be using NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to study galaxies, and how the universe became the way it is. Plus, a new discovery could help NASA better understand how life could exist on other planets in extreme environments.

: SpaceX’s massive Starship vehicle went into orbit for the first time. Plus, scientists are on the search for habitable worlds.

For the first time, the U.S. military has confirmed it has deployed a space weapon in Earth’s orbit. Plus, “When We Find Them” is a new podcast series with Central Florida Public media that explores people have searched for life in our universe.

NASA and the EU’s Sentinel-6 satellites track ocean temperatures and can help predict how storms move and intensify. Plus, a team of researchers have made some recent discoveries from X-ray tails from the Chandra X-Ray observatory.

It’s been a busy summer for space with things like SpaceX's new plans in Louisiana, Blue Origin is repairing its launch pad after an explosion earlier this year, the announcement of a space academy and more.

SpaceX is looking to expand into Louisiana to build a new launch facility with multiple launch pads for its Starship spacecraft. Then, to walk on the moon, NASA needs new suits. So how do you test them?

We hear from NASA astronaut Mike Fincke who is retiring after 30 years. Plus, we’ll speak with UCF’s Dr. Manny Urquieta about the efforts to solve medical problems in space, from low-Earth orbit, the moon and Mars.

Scientists and engineers are celebrating Curiosity’s 14th landing anniversary on Mars. Plus, we’ll look at the ethics behind human space exploration and how NASA, space agencies and the public view morals and ethics when it comes to human missions to space.

From meteors streaming across the night sky to a solar eclipse, there’s a lot happening in our skies this week. Plus, a look at how the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope hopes to study cosmic mysteries like dark matter and dark energy.

A mission to save a falling spacecraft is now in need of its own rescue. Katalyst Space’s LINK satellite launched to raise the Swift observatory’s altitude, but now the spacecraft is out of control.

When NASA astronauts return to the moon, they’ll be wearing a new spacesuit from Axiom Space. Plus, SpaceX and the U.S. are facing concerns after a land swap deal in Texas brings up environmental concerns.

NASA Administrator Jared Issacman is donating $500,000 of his own money to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping STEM college students. Plus, one public exhibit brings space down to Earth.

For the second installment of Space on Tap, a special “Are We There Yet?” live event series, we asked what scientists and their robotic coworkers are really looking for on Mars. Plus, the crew of the final shuttle mission, STS-135, reunited for the mission’s 15th anniversary.

A recent NASA audit says Boeing's Starliner is once again delayed from being certified. Plus, after acquiring the satellite company Iridium, Rocket Lab has its own constellation: 66 satellites and 14 spares.

NASA’s Quantum Lab is about the size of a mini fridge, but it allows NASA and international partners to study some of the biggest physics principles. By studying these atoms at these freezing temperatures, scientists can better understand how subatomic particles work and behave throughout the universe. Plus, human missions to the Mars could soon be a reality.

Data, it runs the world, and now one company is creating data centers in space. Plus, a rescue mission to save the falling Swift Observatory is launching later this month.

SpaceX’s launched its initial public offering. It’s a big move for SpaceX, not only to continue to develop some of its current projects like Starship, but it also brings a new wave of people hoping to invest in the company’s future. Plus, NASA lost contact with Maven, a satellite studying Mars. After efforts to contact Maven failed, the space agency officially declared the mission unrecoverable.

NASA has named the crew of the Artemis III mission that the agency is calling “one of the most highly complex missions NASA has undertaken.”

Blue Origin says it expects to fly its New Glenn rocket by the end of this year. That’s after an explosion last week destroyed a rocket and damaged the company’s launch facility at Cape Canaveral.

NPR's Geoff Brumfiel brings us up to speed on SpaceX's latest Starship test. Plus, the Roman space telescope is closer to launch. What might it find?

Some things in the universe we just can’t see through visible light, so instead, astronomers rely on radio waves and radio astronomy. Plus, from trips to the International Space Station to flybys around the moon, there’s a lot that goes into meal prepping for crews that leave the planet, including taste and dietary needs.

From 10-day moon missions like Artemis II, to months-long stays on the International Space Station, there’s a lot that goes into thinking about what foods to pack for those astronauts. Plus, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, founded by some of the original members of Mercury Seven astronauts, awards merit-based scholarships for STEM education.

Former NASA astronaut Eileen Collins speaks on Christina Koch’s journey to becoming the first woman to fly to the moon. Plus, one professor is cooking space food with his students.

From metals to rare elements, there are a lot of materials that can come from mining objects in space.

The Curiosity rover on Mars has found possible signs of life on the red planet. Plus, a closer look at samples from the asteroid Bennu surprises scientists.

Now that Artemis II is back on Earth, we'll take a look at how educators are inspiring the next generation of space enthusiasts. Plus, we'll speak with Veteran NASA astronaut Winston Scott about the mission and take a look at what's ahead for Artemis III.

Artemis II successfully flew around our moon, taking thousands of pictures and making observations about our moon for the future of lunar exploration. Plus, we'll take a look at a proposed budget for NASA for the next fiscal year.

Artemis II is set to launch from Florida's Kennedy Space Center this week, sending a crew of four on a flyby around the moon. Plus, how NASA satellite data is helping bring tortoises back to one of the Galapagos islands.

This is the first event as part of Central Florida Public Medias special Space on Tap event series. We'll speak with UCF scientists about the moon and what's ahead for some lunar missions. Then, Veteran NASA astronaut Winston Scott will answer questions from curious kids and audience members.

Humans are getting closer to landing on the moon once again, and understanding the environment is crucial as humanity prepares to spend time on the lunar surface. That's why technicians are making artificial moon dirt and why scientists are using that synthetic lunar soil to grow plants.

The Perseverance and Curiosity Rovers are exploring Mars, looking at things like boxwork formations and using new technology to navigate around the planet. Plus, a new project aims to look at how gravity waves are impacting things like GPS, radio, satellites and more.

NASA has released the anomaly report for the Lunar Trailblazer mission, highlighting what went wrong. Plus, we will look at how scientists are learning about reproduction health from mice.

NASA's EMIT mission uses a spectrometer to detect dusts and minerals from space, and it now can detect plastics from land. Plus, the Mars rovers can move around the red planet and do science, without human help.

The science the Artemis crew II will participate in on their flyby around the moon, and the new toilet joining the mission.

Europa, one of Jupiter’s icy moons could harbor life, but maybe not in the same way that Earth has life. Plus, we will take a look at radiation on our own moon, and why studying its impacts is important for future missions.

The crew of Artemis II is on the latest cover of TIME Magazine. In the issue, editor at large Jeffrey Kluger chronicles the mission. Plus, a new spacecraft is taking a closer look at exoplanets and their atmospheres.

The second Artemis mission is preparing for launch. The Space Launch Systems rocket is now on the launch pad with the Orion spacecraft, waiting to take a crew of four on a flyby around the moon. Plus, for Canada, this will be the first time a one of their astronauts will flyby around the moon.

NASA rolled out its Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket, preparing to launch the second Artemis mission. Plus, scientists are studying microscopic organisms called Tardigrades to see how resilient they are when it comes to extreme environments, like space.

Congress is moving forward with an appropriation that would only cut about 1% of NASA’s current budget. Plus, a look at a mission that will search for signs of life on distant planets.

It was a busy year for space news last year, and 2026 is shaping up to be another exciting year on the space beat. Plus, NASA and partners are trying to rescue a telescope before it burns up in Earth's atmosphere.

Plus, just like pirates roam the seas, the idea of pirates or criminals in space could be more of a reality than science fiction.

Astronauts find creative ways to celebrate the holidays in space. Plus, a new telescope will scan our skies for things like exoplanets and dark matter.

The Outer Space Treaty was negotiated during the Cold War, as space suddenly became a strategic war frontier. The treaty, signed by over 100 signatories, is the backbone of current space law and polity. Ely Sandler, a fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, believes the treaty doesn't keep up with the times.

Starship will soon be launching from Florida, bringing the giant vehicle to Cape Canaveral. Plus, the Perseverance rover accidental discovered lightning on Mars.

Boeing’s Starliner could fly as early as next year, but without a crew. NASA has revised its original commercial crew contract with Boeing. Plus, the book “Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, The Untold Story,” highlights the idea that the Gemini program was crucial to bringing the Apollo moon landings to fruition.

Washington Post’s Christian Davenport explores how Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are shaping a new commercial space industry