They Build Rockets Here
Astra aims to be a courier service for space, offering daily launches and delivering small payloads to orbit. Will Hearst in conversation with Chris Kemp
The Sounds of Space (Movies)
By Tim Greiving
Think Different
Space travel is just the beginning. We’ll soon do anything there we can do on Earth—and more. By Robert C. Jacobson • Illustrations by James Ransome
Have Space Agent, Will Travel
By Ajay Orona
Get Ready for a 10,000-Hour Round Trip
Traveling beyond Earth’s orbit is highly toxic to humans, yet we’re likely to do it anyway. How scientists are preparing for this cosmic guinea pig experiment—and how it might turn out. By David Ewing Duncan • Photos by Annie Mulligan
What to Read on Mars
By Ajay Orona
Poetry: ‘Lady Stardust’
By Ishmael Reed
Space Invaders
Life on Earth takes second stage as Elon Musk’s quest for Mars moves forward on the South Texas coast. By Kate Greene • Photos by Jason Henry
Songs of the Stars
By Ajay Orona
Getting Away from It All
By Ajay Orona
The Ultimate Solar Power Plant
Forget photovoltaic cells on rooftops. A bold project aims to capture the sun’s energy in space and beam it to Earth. By Sarah Scoles • Photo by Gregg Segal
The Startup That Is Looking Up
By Nasim Ghasemiyeh
Design That Is Out of This World
Why space fashion may be an unlikely beneficiary of the rocket boom. By Monica Corcoran Harel • Illustration by Tim O’Brien
The Asteroid Hit and Miss List
By Nasim Ghasemiyeh
Alta Picks: How to Experience Space Without Leaving Earth
While billionaires seem to be having all the fun when it comes to this new age of space travel, there are plenty of ways for the rest of us to be more than just armchair astronauts. Here are five activities to enjoy a sense of what lies ahead—and above. By Jessica Blough, Nasim Ghasemiyeh, and Ajay Orona
How I Bought a Russian Space Suit
A tale involving the owner of a Silicon Valley diner, his chance meeting with a Russian army general, a visit to Moscow—and $12,000. By Jamis MacNiven • Photo by Chris Hardy
A Salon for Space Lovers
Led by Bill Nye the Science Guy, the Planetary Society promotes exploration across generations—and platforms. By Robert Ito • Photos by Gregg Segal
Painting the Heavens
By Jessica Blough
Evel Knievel, Astronaut
The strange but true Truax story of the world’s first private space program. By Adam Fisher • Illustrations by Mark Smith
The Moon Is Cool Again
By Jessica Blough
Blaze of Glory: The Fate of the International Space Station
By Ajay Orona