Science Experiments Conducted In Space
- All
- News
-
NASA’s Don Pettit Returns to Earth with Russian Crewmates After ISS Science Mission
Soyuz MS-26 safely landed in Kazakhstan on April 19, bringing NASA astronaut Don Pettit and two Russian cosmonauts back to Earth. The crew completed a months-long science mission aboard the ISS, conducting key experiments on 3D printing, water purification, fire behaviour, and plant biology, supporting future lunar and Mars exploration goals.
-
SpaceX’s Fram2 Crew Captures First-Ever Views of Earth’s Polar Regions
SpaceX’s Fram2 mission, launched on March 31, has made history as the first astronaut mission to orbit over both poles. The Crew Dragon spacecraft Resilience is carrying four first-time astronauts—Chun Wang, Jannicke Mikkelsen, Rabea Rogge, and Eric Phillips—on a research-driven journey. The crew has captured stunning images of Earth’s Arct...
-
SpaceX Fram2 Mission Lifts Off, First Private Flight Over Earth's Poles
SpaceX's Fram2 mission has launched from Kennedy Space Center, marking a major milestone in private spaceflight. Led by billionaire Chun Wang, the crew of four will spend up to five days in orbit conducting 22 scientific experiments. Their research includes studying mushroom growth in microgravity and advanced X-ray imaging of the human body. The m...
-
Laboratory Test Shows Ion-Molecule Collision Theory Fails to Produce Benzene in Space Conditions
A recent laboratory experiment conducted by researchers at JILA and NIST has disproved a long-held theory about how benzene forms in interstellar space. The study tested ion-molecule collisions at near-zero temperatures and extremely low pressure but failed to produce benzene. This challenges earlier theories linking benzene to the formation of car...
-
NASA to Launch Three Rockets in Alaska to Study Auroral Substorms’ Impact
NASA is conducting a rocket experiment from Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska. Three rockets will launch within a three-hour window to study how auroral substorms influence the Earth's upper atmosphere. Scientists will observe whether auroras drive vertical convection or if acoustic-buoyancy waves spread their energy over a wider region. Vapour t...
-
US Space Force Shares First X-37B Space Plane Image, Revealing Mission Insights
The US Space Force has released the first-ever image of its X-37B space plane in orbit. Captured while conducting experiments above the African continent, the image shows the spacecraft’s solar panel and open payload bay. The X-37B, launched on December 28, 2023, has been in orbit for over a year, testing new space domain awareness technologies a...
-
ISRO Dismisses Glitch Reports in SpaDeX Docking, Confirms Mission Progress
ISRO has confirmed that its maiden space docking mission, SpaDeX, was successfully completed without technical issues. While docking precision was achieved, orbit-raising efforts faced setbacks due to an oxidiser valve issue. The agency is working on solutions and plans to conduct further experiments. The mission, launched on December 30, 2024, dem...
-
Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-29 Conducts First Lunar Gravity Simulation
Blue Origin successfully launched its NS-29 mission, marking the first lunar gravity simulation on its New Shepard vehicle. The capsule rotated mid-flight to replicate Moon gravity for research payloads, including NASA-supported experiments on lunar dust behaviour and fire safety. Over half of the 30 payloads focused on Moon-related technologies. T...
-
Lunar Temperature Fluctuations: Understanding the Moon's Extreme Conditions
The Moon's surface undergoes extreme temperature shifts, ranging from over 100°C in daylight to minus 100°C in darkness. These fluctuations are due to the lack of atmosphere, which causes rapid temperature changes. The Moon's regolith, poor at conducting heat, leads to insulation at deeper levels. Shaded areas, particularly in lunar pits, maintai...
-
ISRO Cowpea Seeds Successfully Germinate in Space: Everything You Need to Know
ISRO marked a significant achievement with the successful germination of cowpea seeds in space, conducted as part of the CROPS experiment by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). Launched aboard the PSLV-C60 POEM-4 platform, the experiment aimed to study plant growth in microgravity, a key factor for future space missions. The seeds sprouted wit...
-
'Ballet In Space': How India Is Planning Historic Docking Experiment
India will conduct a space-docking experiment in space for the first time. This can also be referred to as "ISRO's Ballet in Space", or an "Antariksh jugalbandi".
-
NASA Rockets Create Artificial Clouds Under Northern Lights in Norway
On November 10, 2024, NASA conducted a rocket launch in Norway that resulted in swirling artificial clouds beneath the aurora borealis. The experiment aimed to study energy flow through Earth’s atmosphere and observe how gravity waves behave. The launch occurred from Andøya Space Center, located in the Arctic Circle, offering ideal conditions fo...
-
China's Shenzhou 18 Astronauts Return to Earth After Six-Month Space Mission
The crew of Shenzhou 18, including astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, has returned to Earth after a six-month mission on the Tiangong space station. They landed at the Dongfeng site in northern China on November 3, 2024. During their mission, they conducted various scientific experiments and set a national record for spacewalks. Ye Gua...
-
Flower Garden To Dancing Flames, NASA Shares Science Experiments Conducted In Space In 2023
From beautiful gardens filled with blooming flowers to dancing flames, NASA shared a video showcasing the experiments conducted on the ISS this year.
-
Moon Landing Done, India Now Aims For Sun. Launch Due In A Week
As the Chandrayaan-3 rover conducts experiments on the moon, scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have set their eyes on their next target - the Sun.
-
NASA’s Don Pettit Returns to Earth with Russian Crewmates After ISS Science Mission
Soyuz MS-26 safely landed in Kazakhstan on April 19, bringing NASA astronaut Don Pettit and two Russian cosmonauts back to Earth. The crew completed a months-long science mission aboard the ISS, conducting key experiments on 3D printing, water purification, fire behaviour, and plant biology, supporting future lunar and Mars exploration goals.
-
SpaceX’s Fram2 Crew Captures First-Ever Views of Earth’s Polar Regions
SpaceX’s Fram2 mission, launched on March 31, has made history as the first astronaut mission to orbit over both poles. The Crew Dragon spacecraft Resilience is carrying four first-time astronauts—Chun Wang, Jannicke Mikkelsen, Rabea Rogge, and Eric Phillips—on a research-driven journey. The crew has captured stunning images of Earth’s Arct...
-
SpaceX Fram2 Mission Lifts Off, First Private Flight Over Earth's Poles
SpaceX's Fram2 mission has launched from Kennedy Space Center, marking a major milestone in private spaceflight. Led by billionaire Chun Wang, the crew of four will spend up to five days in orbit conducting 22 scientific experiments. Their research includes studying mushroom growth in microgravity and advanced X-ray imaging of the human body. The m...
-
Laboratory Test Shows Ion-Molecule Collision Theory Fails to Produce Benzene in Space Conditions
A recent laboratory experiment conducted by researchers at JILA and NIST has disproved a long-held theory about how benzene forms in interstellar space. The study tested ion-molecule collisions at near-zero temperatures and extremely low pressure but failed to produce benzene. This challenges earlier theories linking benzene to the formation of car...
-
NASA to Launch Three Rockets in Alaska to Study Auroral Substorms’ Impact
NASA is conducting a rocket experiment from Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska. Three rockets will launch within a three-hour window to study how auroral substorms influence the Earth's upper atmosphere. Scientists will observe whether auroras drive vertical convection or if acoustic-buoyancy waves spread their energy over a wider region. Vapour t...
-
US Space Force Shares First X-37B Space Plane Image, Revealing Mission Insights
The US Space Force has released the first-ever image of its X-37B space plane in orbit. Captured while conducting experiments above the African continent, the image shows the spacecraft’s solar panel and open payload bay. The X-37B, launched on December 28, 2023, has been in orbit for over a year, testing new space domain awareness technologies a...
-
ISRO Dismisses Glitch Reports in SpaDeX Docking, Confirms Mission Progress
ISRO has confirmed that its maiden space docking mission, SpaDeX, was successfully completed without technical issues. While docking precision was achieved, orbit-raising efforts faced setbacks due to an oxidiser valve issue. The agency is working on solutions and plans to conduct further experiments. The mission, launched on December 30, 2024, dem...
-
Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-29 Conducts First Lunar Gravity Simulation
Blue Origin successfully launched its NS-29 mission, marking the first lunar gravity simulation on its New Shepard vehicle. The capsule rotated mid-flight to replicate Moon gravity for research payloads, including NASA-supported experiments on lunar dust behaviour and fire safety. Over half of the 30 payloads focused on Moon-related technologies. T...
-
Lunar Temperature Fluctuations: Understanding the Moon's Extreme Conditions
The Moon's surface undergoes extreme temperature shifts, ranging from over 100°C in daylight to minus 100°C in darkness. These fluctuations are due to the lack of atmosphere, which causes rapid temperature changes. The Moon's regolith, poor at conducting heat, leads to insulation at deeper levels. Shaded areas, particularly in lunar pits, maintai...
-
ISRO Cowpea Seeds Successfully Germinate in Space: Everything You Need to Know
ISRO marked a significant achievement with the successful germination of cowpea seeds in space, conducted as part of the CROPS experiment by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). Launched aboard the PSLV-C60 POEM-4 platform, the experiment aimed to study plant growth in microgravity, a key factor for future space missions. The seeds sprouted wit...
-
'Ballet In Space': How India Is Planning Historic Docking Experiment
India will conduct a space-docking experiment in space for the first time. This can also be referred to as "ISRO's Ballet in Space", or an "Antariksh jugalbandi".
-
NASA Rockets Create Artificial Clouds Under Northern Lights in Norway
On November 10, 2024, NASA conducted a rocket launch in Norway that resulted in swirling artificial clouds beneath the aurora borealis. The experiment aimed to study energy flow through Earth’s atmosphere and observe how gravity waves behave. The launch occurred from Andøya Space Center, located in the Arctic Circle, offering ideal conditions fo...
-
China's Shenzhou 18 Astronauts Return to Earth After Six-Month Space Mission
The crew of Shenzhou 18, including astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, has returned to Earth after a six-month mission on the Tiangong space station. They landed at the Dongfeng site in northern China on November 3, 2024. During their mission, they conducted various scientific experiments and set a national record for spacewalks. Ye Gua...
-
Flower Garden To Dancing Flames, NASA Shares Science Experiments Conducted In Space In 2023
From beautiful gardens filled with blooming flowers to dancing flames, NASA shared a video showcasing the experiments conducted on the ISS this year.
-
Moon Landing Done, India Now Aims For Sun. Launch Due In A Week
As the Chandrayaan-3 rover conducts experiments on the moon, scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have set their eyes on their next target - the Sun.
