From roughly 60 miles above the Earth's surface to farther than light has traveled during the entire age of the universe, space has captured human imagination for millennia. Explore the final frontier with the best resources curated from across the internet.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
In 2006, the International Astronomical Union formally defined a planet as an object in orbit around the sun with a nearly spherical shape and an orbital path clear of significant debris. Because Pluto shares its neighborhood with comets from the Kuiper Belt, it was reclassified as a dwarf planet.
On January 28, 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart just 73 seconds after liftoff. This live CNN broadcast captures the tragedy as it happened—second by second—showing the shock and confusion of one of NASA’s darkest moments.
This interactive project lets you experience Apollo 11 in real time—listening to exchanges between the astronauts and NASA’s Mission Control as they guided humanity’s first journey to the lunar surface and safely home.
Established in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has taken humanity from the Moon to deep space. This article marks 60 years of exploration with a tour through NASA’s most consequential and awe-inducing moments.
While NASA states that no known asteroid currently threatens Earth, past impacts demonstrate that the risk is real. The agency has tested deflection technology to alter an asteroid’s path, as this visualization imagines a worst-case collision scenario.
After NASA’s Voyager 1 captured Earth as a single pixel as it left the solar system in 1990, Carl Sagan used the image to reflect on humanity’s fragility and the responsibility to protect "the only world we’ve ever known."
On Feb. 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during reentry, killing all seven astronauts aboard. The tragedy revealed long-ignored safety warnings, leading NASA to ground the shuttle fleet and overhaul its safety culture.
Created by Congress under the National Aeronautics and Space Act, NASA officially began in 1958, building on earlier aviation research and positioning the US to compete in the Space Race and lead global space exploration.
Since 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has led humanity’s exploration of space—from the Moon landings to space telescopes—driving scientific discovery and inspiring generations. Watch 1440’s breakdown of the world’s leading space agency.
Planned for a 2027 launch, NASA Gateway is a lunar-orbiting space station meant to support Artemis lunar missions and future Mars travel. This resource includes an interactive 3D model of the proposed station’s modules and layout.
