A byproduct of aging nuclear weapons stockpiles could help power spacecraft on missions lasting decades. Americium-241, an ...

NASA should focus on the body and mind, not just engineering, for cosmic travel. Scott Solomon is a biologist and professor at Rice University and the author of “Becoming Martian: How Living in Space ...

Long-distance space travel presents enormous challenges, from life support demands to psychological strain. Cryogenic sleep, ...

Plasma propulsion transforms an inert propellant – often hydrogen – into plasma, a superheated mix of ions and electrons.

Deep space is far away. Really far away, and getting there quickly with conventional chemical rockets is like trying to cross an ocean in a rowing boat, technically possible but painfully slow and ...