Stories by Leonard David

As private launches increase dramatically, so will emissions of CO₂, particulates and other noxious substances

Observations by NASA’s SOFIA telescope and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal signs of water in sun-baked lunar soil, as well as in small, dark craters

Following a tantalizing discovery, these spacecraft could be headed to Earth’s twisted twin in search of the truth

The former front-runner in the lunar space race aims to rekindle its exploration after nearly half a century

The space agency’s plans for sustainable lunar outposts could hinge on finding—and using—what may be the moon’s most precious resource

The Artemis Accords could ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for lunar exploration—if everyone agrees to them

Proposed cuts could end decades of U.S. leadership in exploring that world

Without protection from radio interference, a giant observatory on the moon’s hidden hemisphere could prove unworkable

Regulations governing the responsible exploration of Mars and other worlds require regular, frequent updates, according to a new NASA review

Lava tubes on the moon could be crucial sites for human outposts

Lunar ice could be a crucial resource for future explorers. It could also be an astrobiological treasure trove. Can it be used as both?

Detonating over the Bering Sea, the blast was as powerful as a nuclear bomb

Scientists and policy makers in the U.S. and Europe are seeking new ways to work with China on its ambitious lunar exploration program

The Chang’e 4 mission could have major effects on earthbound science and politics

Airships or solar-powered airplanes may be next in line for a return to Earth’s “evil twin”

NASA’s Mars 2020 mission could visit two locations where microbial life may once have thrived

The proposed new military branch could protect the “space commons” in the vicinity of Earth

The planetary scientist was an outspoken advocate of lunar missions as the preferred next steps for human spaceflight

Deposited in perpetually dark craters around the poles, the ice could be a boon for future crewed lunar outposts

Lisa Pratt, the space agency’s new planetary protection officer, could soon oversee major shifts in regulations on public- and private-sector space missions

Wind turbines could produce significant amounts of electricity for robots exploring the Red Planet’s surface

The Queqiao orbiter will serve as a vital communications relay between the Earth and future lunar landers—and perform some science, too

Now might be the best time to study unexamined caches of lunar material from the Apollo missions

Despite decades of Red Planet exploration, the protocols for confirming evidence of life there are still quite hazy