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Solar Orbiter Will Take Mankind’s First Images of the Sun’s Poles

The Parker Solar Probe and the Solar Orbiter are working hand-in-hand to paint a bigger picture of what’s happening on the Sun.

Published on 2/7/2020 at 7:04 AM

Countdown to Launch takes a deep dive into upcoming space missions from around the world. We interview the people involved and explore the science, innovation and technology that makes them possible.

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The Race to Launch Small Satellites Is On For Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace is getting ready for the first launch of their Alpha rocket.

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This Asteroid Dust Could Reveal Mysteries of Solar System’s Evolution

Japan’s breakthrough asteroid mission is finally returning home — here's what we know.

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China’s Chang'e 5 Will Collect the First Moon Rocks in Nearly 40 Years

China's Chang’e 5 is getting ready for its launch to an unexplored region of the moon, where it will collect the first lunar sample in nearly 40 years.

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How This Next Generation Satellite Will 3D Print Itself in Space

Made In Space is building a satellite that can 3D print itself in space.

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SpaceX and NASA Prepare For the Historic Launch of Crew-1

SpaceX is preparing for its first operational crewed mission to the ISS — here's how Crew-1 could launch a new era of commercial fleet missions.

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This Satellite Will Bring the Most Accurate Climate Data We’ve Ever Had

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will soon take a historic satellite into orbit, bringing back the most accurate climate data to date.

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How 3D Printing in Space Could Revolutionize Manufacturing

This 3D printer creates near-perfect ceramic pieces in microgravity.

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This New Martian Moon Mission Could Explain How Life Began

Japan is aiming to complete the first round-trip mission to Mars and its moons in 2024 — here’s how JAXA is preparing for a mission others have failed.

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This Upcoming NASA Mission Could Discover How Our Solar System Began

NASA's latest mission is heading to the Trojan asteroids to discover the origin of our solar system.

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What You Still Don’t Know About NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission

NASA is targeting Thursday, July 30 at 7:50 a.m. EDT for the launch of its Perseverance rover — here’s what you still don’t know about the mission.

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China’s First Mission to Mars Could Be a Gamechanger

China hopes to be the third country to land on Mars with its latest mission, Tianwen-1.

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The UAE’s Hope Probe Will Make History As It Heads to Mars

The UAE is preparing to send its first interplanetary spacecraft to Mars, with sights set to make history in multiple ways.

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If An Asteroid Was Heading For Earth, How Could We Stop it?

NASA and ESA are planning to slam a spacecraft into an asteroid — here's why.

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Virgin Orbit Will Soon Launch a Rocket From Mid-Air

Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne is about to embark on its first-ever launch demo with a payload onboard.

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The Hunt to Find Life on Jupiter's Icy Moons

ESA's JUICE mission is heading to Jupiter to hunt for signs of life on its icy moons.

Countdown to Launch

S2 E1

Solar Orbiter Will Take Mankind’s First Images of the Sun’s Poles

The Parker Solar Probe and the Solar Orbiter are working hand-in-hand to paint a bigger picture of what’s happening on the Sun.