Space
Learn about the latest astronomy news and discoveries around humanity’s endeavor beyond the final frontier.
The first ever all-female spacewalk just took place in space this week
Seven months ago, we published a story about how the first all-female spacewalk was about to take place. That historic event wound up getting canceled, however, because the International Space Station (ISS) had only one medium-sized spacesuit on board. Flash forward to last Friday, and that Read More...
These 50 photos brilliantly captured humanity’s deep space fantasies
They say all of us humans are essentially made up of stardust. Perhaps that explains why us Earthlings are so fascinated by space travel. Its traces can be found in all areas of culture, from urban design and art to music and movies. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, Read More...
How a bra-maker wound up designing the Apollo spacesuits
If there’s anything to take away from Space Week, it’s an appreciation for the dizzying complexity that comes with sending humans into outer space. Exact precision must be taken every step of the way, from the endless calculations that are needed to design flight trajectory to the spacesuits Read More...
20 everyday inventions that wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for space travel
For those who might think space travel is an unnecessary expense, you might want to reconsider. The fact of the matter is that many of the tools and appliances we use on a daily basis are the result of new technologies developed for the purpose of space travel. Take camera phones, for example. In Read More...
Researchers say they have found a way to make parts of Mars habitable once more
If you’re like most of us here at the Optimist Daily, then you probably think it’s wiser to spend money creating solutions down here on Earth rather than dedicating billions towards attempting to inhabit Mars. But before we can even think about settling on the big red planet, the question is: Read More...
Meet the indispensable female mathematicians that sent us to the moon
On the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11, it’s too simple to just celebrate the men who got the chance to step on the moon. The fact of the matter is that without the work of female mathematicians, space travel would have never been possible. Long before NASA was created, groups of female Read More...
Want to go to space? Here’s what you need to know
Most of us would have never imagined traveling to outer space in our lives, but these days, it’s looking ever more possible for the average Joe to go into orbit—or at least, an average Joe with bags of money. This month, Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic announced it is going public and is Read More...
Creating the Apollo lunar module changed the way we work down on Earth
Something absolutely crazy about Apollo lunar module was that it couldn’t be flight-tested before use. The first time each lunar module got a shakedown flight was the moment it was being used in space. It also meant that the astronauts flying the lunar module could only ever learn to fly it using Read More...
Space week: Celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing
If you really think about it, the fact that humans managed to step foot on the moon in 1969 is absolutely mind-boggling. It remains one of humanity’s greatest feats and continues to capture the hearts and minds of people all over the world. That’s why in honor of the Apollo missions' 50th year Read More...
How science fiction continues to shape real technology today
If you ever watch Star Trek, you’ll notice something very interesting: the wristwatch they used in the show has many remarkable similarities to today’s smartphones and smart watches. This isn’t the only instance where science fiction later became science fact. In 1945, long before the first Read More...