Fifty years ago, the world watched in wonder as the Apollo 11 astronauts became the first humans to set foot on another world. To mark the anniversary of humanity’s first steps on the Moon, Encyclopaedia Britannica will start a yearlong journey to examine our past, present, and future in space.
We know that what we know may only be the tip of the iceberg. We know that there’s so much more to explore. What lies in space, and why are we so fascinated with it? What can it teach us? Who has the right to explore space? Will private money outspend public money? Will the nations of the world be able to coexist peacefully in space?
We explore subjects ranging from whether space tourism will become widespread to how spaceflight will be a part of the global economy in the mid-21st century. With the help of our readers, we’ll answer why space interests us so much. What is our fascination with space? Is space a global story of human frontiers? What potential does space hold? Is our future, and maybe even our survival, truly out there? These are some of the questions that will drive SpaceNext50 over the next year.
What propelled us to look to the Moon? What ignited the inspiration and the dream? What helped us to mobilize in the space race?
Space starts 62 miles (100 km) above Earth.
Countries planning to send missions to the Moon
People in space right now
Orbiters and rovers currently working around and on Mars
News from Space
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Three astronauts return from ISS
Soyuz MS-12 returned to Earth with a touchdown in Kazakhstan. US astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin had spent 203 days in space, and the first Emirati astronaut, Hazzaa Ali Almansoori had spent 8 days in space. View Article
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Elon Musk unveils Starship prototype
Elon Musk unveiled the Mark 1 Starship prototype and announced that the first suborbital flight would take place in months. The Mark 1 is the first in a planned series of Starships that Musk hopes will eventually fly through the solar system. View Article
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Three astronauts launch to ISS
Soyuz MS-15 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the ISS. Its crew consists of Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, American astronaut Jessica Meir, and Hazzaa Ali Almansoori, the first astronaut from the United Arab Emirates. View Article
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Japan launches cargo ship to ISS
Japan launched the H-II Transfer Vehicle-8 from Tanegashima Space Center to the International Space Station. The cargo craft will arrive at the ISS on September 28. View Article