Space exploration

The docked Soyuz 14 and Progress 26 resupply vehicle at the International Space Station in 2007. The view of a blue and white Earth looms in the background.

Space: The Final Frontier—or the Last Battlespace? Space: The Final Frontier—or the Last Battlespace?

America’s pursuit of military dominance risks damaging the peaceful—and scientifically and economically enriching—exploration taking place today.

Aug 8, 2022 / Mark Hannah

Blue Origin Launch

Billionaires in Space Billionaires in Space

For the world’s richest men, the stars are up for sale.

Jul 23, 2021 / A.M. Gittlitz

Don’t Stop Thinking About (Tom) Tomorrow

Don’t Stop Thinking About (Tom) Tomorrow Don’t Stop Thinking About (Tom) Tomorrow

Cartoonist Dan Perkins increasingly turns to the iconography of science fiction to keep pace with the absurdity of the moment.

Mar 5, 2021 / Jeet Heer

Is Spaceflight Colonialism?

Is Spaceflight Colonialism? Is Spaceflight Colonialism?

Fifty years after Apollo 11, it’s time to revisit the laws of space. 

Jul 19, 2019 / Haris Durrani

Elon Musk SpaceX

The Case for Staying on Earth—With or Without Musk and Bezos The Case for Staying on Earth—With or Without Musk and Bezos

Why should we listen to zillionaires who want to abandon ship?

Jun 17, 2019 / Column / Katha Pollitt

Trump National Space Council

Trump’s Space Force Is Putting Us All in Danger Trump’s Space Force Is Putting Us All in Danger

Putting weapons in space is a phenomenal money waster and a threat to global security.

Sep 25, 2018 / William D. Hartung

Tom Tomorrow cartoon

Trump’s Brain Is the Black Hole of the Universe Trump’s Brain Is the Black Hole of the Universe

We are all trapped in a dense, Trump-centered vortex.

Mar 27, 2018 / Tom Tomorrow

Mars

Seeing Mars, Seeing Red Seeing Mars, Seeing Red

As the climate warms and this planet of ours continues sprinting toward extinction, we’re seeing the cultural fixation with Mars take center stage.

Nov 19, 2016 / Sam Sax

Tom Tomorrow cartoon

The Pundits Are Always Right The Pundits Are Always Right

There’s no place for ambition in American politics.

May 18, 2016 / Tom Tomorrow

July 20, 1969: Neil Armstrong Becomes the First Human Being to Walk on the Moon

July 20, 1969: Neil Armstrong Becomes the First Human Being to Walk on the Moon July 20, 1969: Neil Armstrong Becomes the First Human Being to Walk on the Moon

“Much has been quite rightly said about the irony of spending billions getting to the moon while the mass of humanity at home lives in a stew of exploding population, poverty and p...

Jul 20, 2015 / Richard Kreitner

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