Sarah Scoles

A battle royale called the Smart program has charged teams with a daunting first task: Identify construction sites on Earth using only data from orbiters.

Remote sensing systems can struggle to spot high waters, especially in stormy weather or at night. Synthetic aperture radar offers a shot in the dark.

The Sarsat satellite system is a kind of celestial lifeguard for explorers, boaters, and aviators who might be in need of search and rescue.

New space suits and muscle stimulators could keep spacefarers fit on long voyages.

The spacecraft will provide the first up-close look at these building blocks of the early solar system.

With the launch of a fifth new-generation satellite, the US finally has a constellation able to globally beam M-Code signals that are tough to spoof or jam.

Ten years after “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” a major general from the Space Force is leading a new inclusion initiative.

The science mission will launch the first drone to fly on another planet, attempt making oxygen in space, and search for signs of ancient life.

Fixing, refueling, and upgrading satellites in orbit is about to become more common. A group is pushing for international standards to keep these missions safe.

In theory, the particles could reveal whether a reactor is building up plutonium for weapons. US energy experts are starting to take the idea seriously.

Scientists found hints of alien life floating in Venus's atmosphere by focusing on a long-ignored, simple compound: phosphine.

Meet the hackers who, this weekend, will try to commandeer an actual orbiter as part of a Defcon contest hosted by the Air Force and the Defense Digital Service.

Astronomers at the Hubble Image Similarity Project are employing their out-of-work neighbors to help them train a neural net to recognize celestial objects.

Images taken from space are providing details to governments and relief efforts about how humanity is handling the Covid-19 crisis.

A new competition challenges scientists to innovate on how we map Earth's constantly shifting magnetic field—and make navigation safer and more accurate.

In 1947 a pilot spotted a fleet of “saucer-like” aircraft speeding across the sky. It was only a matter of time until paranoia set in.

Every 10 years, astronomers weigh in on the state of their field. For the first time, they're tackling Earth-centric issues like gender bias and diversity. 

The history of the search for extraterrestrial life sheds light on the consequences of dismissing fringe perspectives, in science and in other disciplines.

Space is getting closer, thanks to small, cheap “satlets” that network themselves to solve problems in flight.

Space entrepreneurs tend to share a fondness for libertarian principles. So before checking into your space hotel, be sure to read your Heinlein.