The experiment also showed that tuning the light beam controlled the propulsion—the stronger the laser, the greater the acceleration. “The laser pulse triggers a sharp acceleration peak, after which the aerogels slow down,” Braibanti explained.

Returning to the moon and building a base will pale in comparison to what we will be capable of accomplishing in the years ahead,” Isaacman said.

Portal Space Systems has raised $50 million in funding to speed up development of the Seattle-area startup's highly maneuverable spacecraft.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I cover the future of astronautics and space technologies. That visibility naturally invites a follow-on question: what comes next? The systems flying today are the result of years (or ...

Spacecraft of the future may be able to detect and repair their own structural damage in orbit, a capability that could make long-duration missions and reusable launch vehicles more resilient. Self-healing materials for spacecraft have been studied for ...

NASA plans to launch a nuclear-powered spacecraft to Mars by 2028, a major step for deep space exploration and its planned moon base.

As NASA prepares for its next mission to the moon, one Atlanta university is drawing attention for its growing role in space exploration.