Are We There Yet?

Congress is moving forward with an appropriation that would only cut about 1% of NASA’s current budget. Plus, a look at a mission that will search for signs of life on distant planets.

It was a busy year for space news last year, and 2026 is shaping up to be another exciting year on the space beat. Plus, NASA and partners are trying to rescue a telescope before it burns up in Earth's atmosphere.

Plus, just like pirates roam the seas, the idea of pirates or criminals in space could be more of a reality than science fiction.

Astronauts find creative ways to celebrate the holidays in space. Plus, a new telescope will scan our skies for things like exoplanets and dark matter.

The Outer Space Treaty was negotiated during the Cold War, as space suddenly became a strategic war frontier. The treaty, signed by over 100 signatories, is the backbone of current space law and polity. Ely Sandler, a fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, believes the treaty doesn't keep up with the times.

Starship will soon be launching from Florida, bringing the giant vehicle to Cape Canaveral. Plus, the Perseverance rover accidental discovered lightning on Mars.

Boeing’s Starliner could fly as early as next year, but without a crew. NASA has revised its original commercial crew contract with Boeing. Plus, the book “Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, The Untold Story,” highlights the idea that the Gemini program was crucial to bringing the Apollo moon landings to fruition.

Washington Post’s Christian Davenport explores how Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are shaping a new commercial space industry

The politics behind NASA and space exploration, plus a look at what you can see in the skies this fall.

Jared Isaacman has once again been nominated to be NASA's administrator. Plus, analog missions, or environments that mimic places like the moon and mars, are helping prepare humans for future missions in space.

Blue Origin will launch its massive rocket, New Glenn, from Florida for the second time. The mission will also take two twin spacecraft to orbit Mars and study the planet’s magnetosphere.

A critics favorite science fiction and horror films plus a look at the factual haunts of the cosmos.

The future of the Juno mission is uncertain after the probe's extension ended on Sept. 30, right before the government shutdown. Plus, the OSIRIS-APEX mission continues on after almost being cancelled. The mission will study the asteroid Apophis as it flies close to Earth in 2029.

With over a 100 million pieces of space junk around our planet, scientists researchers, and the public are concerned over how we treat our world and the repercussions of leaving trash in space. Plus, we can learn a lot from plants on how space impacts biological life, like people.

With the government shutdown, the majority of NASA and its projects have been put on pause. Plus, scientists are studying a sample that could be a sign of life on Mars and looking at how space weather could impact people.

Emily Calandrelli, also known online as The Space Gal, is encouraging kids to make their own rockets for the second annual Baking Soda Rocket Day. Plus, scientists are looking at how to grow plants off our planet.

NASA has found over 6,000 exoplanets, or planets that orbit other stars. Plus, we take a look at space junk, or human made objects that are left in orbit around our planet.

The James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Telescope are exploring our universe, finding spiral galaxies, comets and where stars are born. Plus, a look at SpaceX’s fandom and how space enthusiasts feel about Elon Musk.

The U.S. Space Command is moving to Huntsville, Alabama. The unit is tasked overseeing the nation's military operations in outer space. Plus, NASA is partnering with Google to create an AI medical assistant that can help the on-board medical officer diagnose any medical issues mid-flight.

SpaceX's Starship successfully launched, and safety landed in the Indian Ocean. Plus, scientists have found an interesting object near Neptune.

Scientists are on the hunt for signs of life on Mars and the icy moons of Saturn and Venus.

Under the Trump administration the space agency has been undergoing policy changes as it prepares for future missions and goals, like putting a nuclear power plant on the moon. The new budget proposed may be problematic. Plus, a new executive order lifts some launch and flight regulations for commercial space companies.

Veteran NASA Astronaut Winston Scott fields questions from curious kids. Plus, a look at how food plays a crucial role in space in the book Space Bites.

From making artificial moon dirt to painting with real moon dust, there are several ways that scientists and space explorers bring the moon to Earth. Plus, Firefly Aerospace is preparing to send several payloads to the moon.

Co-hosts, Regina Barber and Emily Kwong, explore Earth's oceans in a special series running this summer from NPR’s science podcast, Short Wave: Sea Camp. Plus, a look at the commercial space company sector.