An independent encyclopedia of spaceflight
Space exploration, explained.
From Sputnik to Starship: the agencies, rockets, missions, and people taking humanity off Earth. Factual, sourced, and kept current.
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Apollo 11
Apollo 11 was the first crewed Moon landing. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked at Tranquility Base on July 20, 1969, while Michael Collins orbited above.
Artemis program
Artemis is NASA's program to return astronauts to the Moon. Artemis II flew a crewed lunar flyby in April 2026; Artemis IV targets a south pole landing in 2028.
SpaceX
SpaceX is an American spacecraft manufacturer and launch provider that builds Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Dragon, Starlink, and Starship, the largest rocket ever flown.
Starship
Starship is SpaceX's fully reusable super heavy-lift rocket and the largest ever flown, with twelve test flights since 2023 and a Version 3 debut in May 2026.
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Agencies & Companies
The organizations flying humanity's spacecraft, from national space agencies to commercial launch companies.
Rockets & Vehicles
Launch vehicles past and present: how they work, what they carry, and their flight records.
Missions & Programs
Crewed programs, robotic explorers, telescopes, and the stations that keep people living in orbit.
People
Astronauts, cosmonauts, engineers, and the figures who shaped spaceflight.
Concepts & Technology
The ideas behind spaceflight: orbital mechanics, reusable rockets, space debris, and more.
Destinations
The places we explore: the Moon, Mars, ocean moons, and the rest of the solar system.
2026 in space
- Jan 15Crew-11 returns early in the first US medical evacuation from orbit
- Feb 12Ariane 64 debuts with 32 Amazon Leo satellites
- Apr 1-10Artemis II flies the first crewed lunar flyby since 1972
- May 22Starship V3 debuts on Flight 12 with Raptor 3 engines
- Jun 9NASA names the Artemis III crew for 2027 docking tests
- Late 2026Chang'e 7 targets water ice at the lunar south pole
From the timeline
- Second half of 2026 (planned)
- June 9, 2026
- May 22, 2026
- April 1-10, 2026