Europe's mini-space shuttle splashes down Europe's prototype space plane has splashed down in the Pacific on schedule after a 100-minute flight to test key re-entry technologies. News • 11 Feb 15
Missing Beagle Mars probe found after 11 years The British Beagle-2 spacecraft, which disappeared while attempting to land on Mars in December 2003, landed successfully on the planet's surface, it has been confirmed. News • 16 Jan 15
European nations approve funding for space rocket European nations have approved funding for a new Ariane 6 space rocket pooling their resources in a single, simplified version to tackle growing international competition. News • 03 Dec 14
ESA probe not anchored, but transmitting data The European Space Agency has landed a probe on a comet, a first in space exploration and the climax of a decade-long mission, but the … News • 12 Nov 14
Inquiry after satellites launched into wrong orbit An international inquiry is under way into an embarassing error which has left two multi-million euro European satellites that were launched on Friday from French … News • 25 Aug 14
Astronauts install new ISS cooling pump Two NASA astronauts have spent more than seven hours working outside the International Space Station and successfully repaired a critical cooling system. News • 24 Dec 13
China launches first lunar probe for soft landing China has launched its first extraterrestrial landing craft into orbit en route for the moon, a major milestone for its space programme. News • 02 Dec 13
Russia launches Olympic torch into space Russia has sent the Olympic torch into space with a three-man crew ahead of the Winter Games in Sochi. News • 07 Nov 13
Voyager 1 leaves solar system NASA has confirmed that its Voyager 1 spacecraft has become the first human-made object ever to leave the solar system. News • 12 Sep 13
200,000 apply for Mars settlement programme More than 200,000 people around the world have applied to become astronauts on a programme which hopes to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars. News • 09 Sep 13
China steps up space programme with lunar probe China hopes to land its first probe on the moon at the end of this year, the next step in an ambitious space programme that … News • 28 Aug 13
South Korea launches first space rocket South Korea launched its first space rocket carrying a science satellite amid heightened regional tensions, caused in part, by North Korea's successful launch of its … News • 30 Jan 13
Iran launches live monkey into space Iran's defence ministry has announced the successful launch of a live monkey into space. News • 29 Jan 13
North Korea holds rally to celebrate rocket launch Tens of thousands of North Korean soldiers and citizens have held a mass parade in Pyongyang to celebrate this week’s successful rocket launch. News • 14 Dec 12
China plans manned space mission next year China plans to launch its Shenzhou 10 spacecraft in early June 2013, one of the senior officials in charge of the manned space programme has … News • 12 Nov 12
Astronomers discover 'diamond planet' twice the size of earth Astronomers have discovered a planet twice the size of Earth made largely out of diamond which is orbiting a star that is visible with the … Special Reports • 11 Oct 12
NASA plans Mars rover's first moves NASA has unveiled plans for its Mars rover Curiosity's first road trip, part of a two-year quest to determine if the planet most like Earth … News • 18 Aug 12
Chinese astronauts complete delicate space docking A Chinese spacecraft has successfully completed the country's first manual docking in orbit, a milestone in an ambitious programme to build a space station by … News • 25 Jun 12
China sends its first woman astronaut into space China launched its most ambitious space mission to date, sending its first female astronaut into orbit and bidding to achieve the country's first manual space … News • 16 Jun 12
Venus passes by sun in rare astronomical event The planet Venus made a slow transit across the face of the sun this morning, the last such passing that will be visible from Earth … News • 07 Jun 12
SpaceX Dragon reaches International Space Station SpaceX has successfully attached its unmanned Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station. News • 28 May 12
US firm aborts space capsule launch at last second US private firm SpaceX has aborted its launch of the Dragon capsule toward the ISS at the last second. News • 21 May 12
