Diamant A Rocket
Discover the Diamant A rocket, France’s first orbital launch vehicle. Learn about its design, missions, and its role during the Cold War.
CNES: The French National Space Agency
CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales) is the French National Space Agency, responsible for carrying out France’s space policy.
AGILE Satellite
AGILE (Astro-Rivelatore Gamma a Immagini LEggero) was an Italian X-ray and gamma-ray astronomical satellite launched in 2007.
BeppoSAX Satellite
BeppoSAX was an Italian–Dutch satellite dedicated to X-ray astronomy, particularly gamma-ray bursts (GRBs).
San Marco 1 Satellite
San Marco 1 was Italy’s first satellite and marked a historic milestone in its space exploration efforts. It was launched in 1964.
The San Marco Program
The San Marco Program was Italy’s pioneering satellite launch initiative, running from the early 1960s to the late 1980s.
ASI: The Italian Space Agency
The Italian Space Agency is the national authority in charge of funding, managing, and overseeing Italy’s space exploration efforts.
Chang’e 5 Lunar Sample Return
Chang’e 5 was a Chinese lunar sample return mission launched on November 23, 2020. It had an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a returner.
Chang’e 2 Lunar Probe
Chang’e 2 was China’s second lunar probe, launched on October 1, 2010, as part of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.
Chang’e 1 Lunar Orbiter
Chang’e 1 was China’s first spacecraft to explore the Moon, launched in 2007 to study its surface, environment, and composition.
The Chang’e Program
The Chang’e program is China’s ambitious series of lunar exploration missions, named after the moon goddess from Chinese mythology.
Haolong Space Shuttle
China recently unveiled the Haolong space cargo shuttle, a reusable spacecraft designed to transport cargo to and from the Tiangong station.
Vanguard 1
Vanguard 1, launched by the United States on March 17, 1958, was the fourth artificial Earth-orbiting satellite to ever be launched.
Space Shuttle Endeavour
The Space Shuttle Endeavour (OV-105) was NASA’s fifth and final operational space shuttle orbiter, constructed to replace Challenger.
Space Shuttle Atlantis
The Space Shuttle Atlantis was NASA’s fourth operational orbiter. Atlantis was lighter than its predecessors.
Space Shuttle Discovery
Constructed by Rockwell International, Space Shuttle Discovery was delivered to Kennedy Space Center in November 1983.
Space Shuttle Challenger
Initially, the Challenger was built as a Structural Test Article to undergo ground-based stress tests but was converted into an orbiter.
Space Shuttle Columbia
The Space Shuttle Columbia was NASA’s first operational orbiter. It launched on April 12, 1981 and returned safely to Earth.
Space Shuttle Enterprise
The Space Shuttle Enterprise was NASA’s first space shuttle orbiter, built in the 1970s. It actually never flew in space.
All About The Orlan Space Suit: The Russian EVA
The Orlan space suit is a series of Russian-made extravehicular activity (EVA) suits first introduced in the 1970s for spacewalks.
What Is The Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU)?
Explore the EMU, NASA’s state-of-the-art spacesuit designed for extravehicular activities (EVAs) in microgravity environments.
All the ISS Modules and How They Are Used
The ISS is built from interconnected modules contributed by various countries. Learn more about each of them and their purpose.
The Nedelin Catastrophe: One Of The Worst Disasters in Space Exploration
The Nedelin Catastrophe from 1960 resulted in the deaths of over 100 military personnel, engineers, and technicians. What caused it?
The Vostok 1-6 Crewed Missions (1961-63)
The Vostok program pioneered the first crewed missions in orbit. Each mission pushed the boundaries of endurance and capability.
The Vostok 3KA Missions (1961)
The Vostok 3KA series represented the final steps toward the first human spaceflight, with two critical uncrewed missions testing the design.
The Vostok 1K Missions (1960)
The Vostok 1K series from 1960 tested life-support systems and spacecraft recovery capabilities. Learn more about its different missions.
The Korabl-Sputnik 1 (Vostok 1KP) Mission (May 1960)
Korabl-Sputnik 1, also known as Vostok 1KP (or 1P), was the first prototype of the Vostok spacecraft, not intended to be recovered.
The Vostok 1 Mission (April 1961)
The first human spaceflight, carrying Yuri Gagarin into orbit on April 12, 1961, making him the first human in space.
R-7 Semyorka Rocket
The R-7 Semyorka was a Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed during the Cold War. It launched Sputnik 1.
How Big Is The Starship? A Look Into SpaceX’s Sizes
SpaceX’s Starship stands out as a behemoth in the realm of space exploration. But how big is it? And how does it compare to other rockets?
But Is It Reusable? All Rockets And Their Capabilities
For decades, rockets were used once and then left to burn up or crash. Not anymore! But which of the ones we use today are actually reusable?
Long March 3 Rocket
This variant specializes in high-energy missions such as geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite launches and interplanetary exploration.
Long March 2 Rocket
This variant of the Long March series is notable for launching China’s first crewed spaceflight in 2003, carrying astronaut Yang Liwei.
Chinese Rockets at a Glance: All The Long March
The Long March 1 initiated China’s orbital launch capabilities in 1970. Let’s take a look at all the memebrs of this famous rocket family.
Long March 1 Rocket
The Long March 1 initiated China’s orbital launch capabilities in 1970, successfully placing the country’s first satellite into space.
Rocket Lab Ātea
The neutron is a new medium-lift, two-stage launch vehicle which will be human-rated and designed for reusability.
Rocket Lab Neutron
The neutron is a new medium-lift, two-stage launch vehicle which will be human-rated and designed for reusability.
Rocket Lab Electron
The Electron is a two-stage, partially reusable orbital launch vehicle developed by Rocket Lab. Learn about its Rutherford engines.
Space Agencies & Companies: Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider. Learn more about it and its spacecraft.
A Quick Guide to Rocket Propellant (Liquid Fuel, Solid, and Others)
Rocket propellant is the fuel and oxidizer that powers rockets into space. Let’s take a look at the three main types.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) vs Geostationary Orbit (GEO)
Explore the difference between Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO), their purposes, altitudes, and shapes.
Vulcan Centaur Launch Vehicle
The Vulcan Centaur is an advanced heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by ULA and designed to succeed the Atlas V and Delta IV.
Space Agencies & Companies: Blue Origin
Blue Origin is a private aerospace company founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. Learn more about its spacecraft.
What You Need to Know About Spacecraft Docking Mechanisms
Docking mechanisms might not sound glamorous, but they’re absolutely critical to modern space exploration. Let’s learn about them.
The OSIRIS-REx Mission
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission collected samples from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. The material was returned in 2023.
The Mars Sample Return Mission
NASA and the European Space Agency are collaborating on an ambitious project to bring samples from Mars to Earth in the 2030s.
The Stardust Mission (1999–2006)
Stardust collected particles from the coma of comet Wild 2 and interstellar dust. Its return marked the first capture of cometary material.
Genesis Probe Spacecraft
The Genesis spacecraft was a NASA sample-return mission designed to collect solar wind particles and return them to Earth for analysis.
The Genesis Mission (2001–2004)
NASA’s Genesis mission collected solar wind particles to study the composition of the Sun. It crashed but some samples were salvaged.
Axiom Space Station
Axiom Space is developing the world’s first commercial space station, known as Axiom Station. Learn more about this private enterprise.