Human Spaceflight

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NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio is pictured inside the Cupola, the International Space Station's "window to the world," as the orbiting lab flew 263 miles above southeastern England on Oct. 1, 2022.
The future of spacecraft windows: 'We can't just live in a box'

By Leonard David Published

Windows are key to astronauts' comfort and mental health, but they pose risks to a spacecraft's structural integrity. Here's a look at how engineers make them work.

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Human Spaceflight
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft launches NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station on March 14, 2025.
NASA awards SpaceX $946 million for 3 more astronaut missions to the ISS

By Mike Wall Published

SpaceX just got nearly a billion dollars from NASA to fly three more astronaut missions to the International Space Station, bringing the company's total commercial crew haul to $5.92 billion.

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Human Spaceflight
The members of NASA’s 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class pose with rock samples collected during their geology training at the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, New Mexico, in May 2026.
Astronauts go to 'summer camp' to train for space | Space photo of the day for Sept. 18, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

NASA's 2025 astronaut candidate class is in the midst of important outdoor training.

Human Spaceflight
The aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trace Center in New York City, as seen by the astronauts onboard the International Space Station on Sept. 11, 2001.
25 years ago, a NASA astronaut witnessed the tragic 9/11 attacks from space. Here's what he saw.

By Mike Wall Published

NASA astronaut Frank Culbertson saw the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks from the International Space Station in 2001. His view and his reaction were captured on video.

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Human Spaceflight
a man smiles and waves to a camera in a crowded laboratory full of wires and computer monitors
Astronaut Jonny Kim leaves NASA, will return to active military duty

By Mike Wall Published

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim is leaving the space agency to continue his military career. Kim, who's also a medical doctor, completed one spaceflight during his NASA career.

Human Spaceflight
two astronauts in bulky white space suits maneuver on the outside of a large facility covered in solar panels and machinery
Astronauts make history repairing the ISS | Space photo of the day for Aug. 25, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and NASA astronaut Anil Menon complete a spacewalk on Aug. 18, 2026.

Human Spaceflight
A dark colored plane glides above the clouds
On this day in space! Aug. 22, 1963: X-15 sets world altitude record

By Hanneke Weitering Published

On this day in space! Aug. 22, 1963: U.S. Air Force Captain Joe Walker flew an X-15 rocket plane higher than any pilot had ever flown before.

Human Spaceflight
Scientists create 'laundry gun' for astronauts to clean their clothes by shooting out plasma

By Rahul Rao Published

A pen-sized apparatus called a "laundry gun" could sterilize astronauts' clothes in space.

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Human Spaceflight
It's harder to poop in space. Scientists may finally know why

By Samantha Mathewson Published

Spaceflight can do strange things to the human body — including making it harder for astronauts to poop.

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Human Spaceflight
a small white aircraft with a pilot aboard is towed in flight by line extending to the dry lake bed below.
On this day in space! Aug. 16, 1963: Wingless M2-F1 completes 1st glide flight

By Hanneke Weitering Published

On this day in space Aug. 16, 1963: NASA's M2-F1 aircraft prototype makes its first glide flight.

Human Spaceflight
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