Spherical "Aerobots" may one day swarm the caves of Titan — a moon of Saturn that NASA says is one of the most Earthlike in our solar system.
Titan is covered in rivers, lakes and seas of hydrocarbons, like methane and ethane, as well as a strange "karst" terrain including underground sinkholes and caves. No rover could easily traverse this surface, but flying vehicles may have more success.
So a new grant, under the early-stage NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, aims to create small, flying vehicles that could explore those caves. It's unclear if the aerobots — called SPARK, or Solid-state Propulsion for Autonomous Reconnaissance of Karst — would be ready in time for NASA's Dragonfly mission to Titan, project lead Daniel Drew, an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, told Space.com.
That's because SPARK is beginning a nine-month Phase 1 grant and would need to at least get through the up-to-two-year Phase 2 before things look "more realistic" for a liftoff, he noted. Dragonfly, meanwhile, is targeted for a 2028 launch but if the mission is delayed, that provides more possibilities for late-mission additions.
"Where does that line up with the current Titan mission timeline, assuming we've missed the window for Dragonfly? I don't know," Drew said of SPARK. But whenever the mission lifts off, Drew said SPARK has a good chance of doing well on Titan with its novel ion (electric) thrusters.
Drew said his design could "provide persistence, maneuverability, robustness to the challenging near-cryogenic [icy] conditions, and minimize downwash disturbance of scientifically-important hydrocarbon layering." He hopes that SPARK, he added, could be a cave-exploration forerunner at Titan similar to the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars that made 72 flights — more than tenfold what the Red Planet demo mission was supposed to do.
Drew has been working on a particular type of ion thrusters, called electrohydrodynamic (EHD) propulsion, since he did graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. Thanks in part to a National Science Foundation (NSF) fellowship, Drew explored several designs for flying and became interested in creating robots that flap their wings in a way similar to real-life creatures.
While exploring, he stumbled on the hobbyist "lifter" community "pretty much by chance," he said. "These [prototypes] are triangular balsa wood, magnet wire, and aluminum foil prototypes. You connect them to 40,000 volts from a flyback transformer that you rip out of a microwave or CRT monitor or whatever, and they can float above the table. There are plenty of examples of people making these on YouTube," he said.
More plumbing the archives revealed early experiments and studies at NASA and the Air Force similar to what the hobbyists were using. And by coincidence, NIAC awarded funding to another research group, led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, that was interested in using EHD propulsion for Earthborne aircraft. As such, Drew sensed a fruitful direction for research.
"Long story short, I ran with that idea," Drew said, "and wrote a bunch of papers where I created microfabricated centimeter-scale flying robots propelled by atmospheric ion thrusters." His accomplishments prior to the NIAC grant included what he says is the first demonstration of microfabricated EHD actuators (mechanical devices), and other firsts such as a centimeter-scale "ionocraft" taking off and subsequently, carrying a payload.
"We recently published the design and takeoff of the first ion-propelled micro-hovercraft," he added, referring to a paper on preprint server arXiv. "That may seem like a pretty decent list of significant milestones, but it's really not a crowded space of people working on this topic. I'm mostly racing against myself here."
Now with the NIAC support, Drew said he hopes to dive deeper into the benefits of EHD propulsion, such as its scalability, the fact that it's virtually silent, and its simplicity (being solid state, there are fewer parts to worry about).
A graphic depiction of the SPARK concept being developed by Daniel Drew of the University of Hawaii. (Image credit: Daniel Drew/University of Hawaii)
More applications could come outside of Titan, he noted: all-electric aircraft, indoor drones, and mini-flying swarms are just some ideas, but he said the utility will be limited. "The huge weakness is that it just isn't very efficient," he said of EHD propulsion. "Barring a major breakthrough, it will be impossible to really compete with more conventional propulsion techniques, like rotors and jet engines, for the vast majority of terrestrial applications."
As Phase 1 only encompasses about nine months, Drew and his collaborators—including Ethan Schaler and Jacob Izraelevitz from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as Michael Malaska from the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science—plan to quickly design experiments, perform a "trade study" of which subsystems are best to prioritize for aspects like power, and model matters like the thermal effects on the power system.
"I think the idea of 'standing on the shoulders of giants' is very much ingrained into the NIAC culture," Drew noted. "Our major contribution at the end of this process is a comprehensive, public report. Leveraging past related reports, and other open research in the field, is critical for doing a good job with this."
On Aug. 16, 1963, NASA's M2-F1 aircraft prototype made its first glide flight.
This wingless aircraft kind of looked like a flying bathtub. NASA made it to test a new concept called the lifting body, which was an unpowered glider that provided an alternative way to return piloted spacecraft to Earth. Instead of pummeling out of the sky in a ballistic reentry, the lifting body landed sort of like an airplane.
For its first test flight, the M2-F1 was towed 5,200 feet into the air by a C-47 Skytrain and then released. Test pilot Milt Thompson was in the cockpit, and he brought the glider in for a smooth landing in California after a two-minute descent.
On Aug. 16, 1963, NASA's M2-F1 aircraft prototype made its first glide flight. (Image credit: NASA)
Why it mattered
The success of M2-F1's first glide flight proved a wingless lifting-body aircraft could be controlled and landed safely. The introduction of a second potential method of returning astronauts from space was a crucial consideration during a time when NASA was racing against the Soviet Union for access to space and, ultimately, the moon.
Though NASA opted for the familiar capsule and heat shield design used during the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, the M2-F1 and its subsequent test flights paved the way for NASA's continued research into lifting-bodies, and led to the development of an entire family of lifting-body test vehicles like the M2-F2, M2-F3, HL-10, and the U.S. Air Force's X-24A and X-24B, which executed lifting-body flights at much higher speeds and altitudes.
Eventually, data from these programs was applied to the development of the space shuttle, and the real-life practice of landing a spacecraft back on Earth the same way you would an airplane.
MORRISON, Colorado - The Artemis II crew that circuited the moon earlier this year came full circle, dropping by a distinctive spot on Earth that's visually reminiscent of both the moon and Mars.
On Aug. 3, the vast and stunning Red Rocks Amphitheatre served as both an inoculation of near-term nostalgia and heart-felt congratulations to the crew for the impressive journey of Artemis II. The 10-day mission began on April 1 of this year, flew around the moon and back, and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10. It was the first crewed flight to saunter spaceward beyond low Earth orbit in 53 years.
Some 8,500 people packed the open-air venue at Red Rocks to make eye-contact with space travelers Reid Wiseman, commander, Victor Glover, pilot, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen as mission specialists – all of them clearly awestruck by the crowd reaction. The event was a broader post-flight campaign for the foursome, also spotlighting the region's contributions to the sojourn of Artemis II. A science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fest was also part of the early morning affair.
The Artemis II crew speaks at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on Aug. 3, 2026. (Image credit: Lockheed Martin)
Iconic location
"I can't imagine a more iconic location on Earth to hear about the trip to the moon," said Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space and a major aerospace contractor for the Artemis program. There were hundreds of suppliers across the rocky mountain region, over 10,000 employees, that supported the Artemis II mission, he told the gathered throng.
Leadership from industry prime contractors including Lockheed Martin, Amentum, Boeing, L3 Harris and Northrop Grumman took part in the salute to the Artemis II voyage.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis pointed out that "here in Colorado, we're a mile closer to space." As the best and biggest homecoming for the Artemis II crew, he added, "keep reaching for the stars."
Lori Glaze, NASA associate administrator for the Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate, said today "is a truly revolutionary and exciting time for NASA and America's space program. We are going to reach farther. We're going to dream bigger. And we're going to secure America's leadership in deep space exploration and discovery."
The Artemis II crew speaks to a crowd of 8,500 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on Aug. 3, 2026. (Image credit: Lockheed Martin)
What next?
In a pre-event press gaggle, Space.com asked the Artemis II crew members how their Orion spacecraft named Integrity performed and would help the upcoming Artemis III crewed flight in Earth orbit.
"It handled incredibly well," said Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander. "Just from habitability, I think that is where we learned the most, putting four humans in the spacecraft. We knew that the machine was technically competent and capable of getting to the moon … Artemis I taught us that," he told Space.com.
"We had some heat shield things we needed to sort out on Artemis II. But putting the four of us in there, seeing how the life support system worked and how is it for habitability, to eat, live, work, and sleep in there, we definitely learned a lot that we've handed on to Artemis III," said Wiseman.
Sense of gratitude
The Red Rock Artemis II stage event had the four Artemis II crew members facing a huge gathering of supportive spectators. In excess of 1,300 questions were submitted by the attendees.
The Artemis II crew entrance was marked by roaring footage of the Artemis I launch scored by music from thunderous Metallica's "Fuel."
"The biggest thing that this mission has given us is an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I think we've got to figure out how to keep this going," Glover said.
For Christina Koch, the Red Rocks gathering spurred a call and response audience participation. "I say moon, you say joy," to which the throng promptly called back three times. She also asked the audience to put their thumb out in the air. From a distance, "you can cover the entire Earth with your thumb. That's how small it was to us," she said, "but what you knew was that was home."
Proximity operations
Victor Glover, the pilot of Artemis II, focused on a proximity operations demonstration during the flight. That entailed the crew guiding the spacecraft through a series of controlled approach and retreat maneuvers using the detached upper stage, the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, as a reference target.
"That is when we had a chance to fly the spacecraft by hand, not just using the computers," Glover told Space.com. "We actually got to fly. One of the most amazing aspects of that is looking out the window or through the cameras on the [cockpit] displays to determine how far we were from the upper stage," he explained.
That task made use of all four sets of eyes onboard Orion, Glover said. "We did not have radar, or some other type of digital ranging system between us and that vehicle. But the Artemis II team trusted us to fly like that. I'm still blown away by that trust," he said, "and it flew marvelously."
The Artemis II crew gives a thumbs-up to the crowd at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on Aug. 3, 2026. (Image credit: Lockheed Martin)
"We are going to demonstrate docking with one or both of our two landers, the Blue Origin and the SpaceX lander. They've got some demonstration versions that they are preparing right now. We're working on that mission to prove out, not just going back and forth at a target, but actually docking and doing that hard job," Glaze told Space.com.
Space.com pressed Glaze on the term "demonstration versions" of the Blue Origin and SpaceX lunar landers.
Would the fidelity of those demos be good enough to green-light an actual human moon landing on the Artemis IV mission?
"I do," Glaze responded. "We're working really hard with both of our lander providers on development of the demo pathfinder versions of their landers that we will dock with […] to assure that the docking systems are the same docking system we're going to work with when we are going for the landing mission," she said.
Glaze said that "this is one of the key risks. This allows us to buy down that risk and at least work through that part of the mission. So when we do the landed mission we've got that part out of the way.
"We've got our lessons learned from those docking demonstrations. And then we are really focused on all the risks associated with the landing on the moon … we can really focus our efforts there."
According to Space.com sources, however, there is active discussion of whether the lunar south pole is an advisable location for the first human landing of the Artemis Program. Indeed, Artemis II pilot Glover recently stated that he thinks there's a need to be realistic and progressively work our way to the south pole locale rather than land there first.
"We've had a lot of conversations with both of our lander vendors. The designs they have are for the south pole," responded Glaze. "We're working really closely with them on those designs. And we are very focused on landing at the south pole."
Over the moon
Canada's Artemis II mission specialist, Jeremy Hansen, told the audience that their space trek was a very human experience for the four crew members, "but we came to see and feel you. You shared the moon joy," he said.
Hansen underscored the international character of Artemis II. "It was one of those deliberate contributions to the planet," he said, because billions of us on Earth have to join forces. "We have to work together. We can no longer believe that our end-state is not working together. Not acceptable. We have to collaborate," he said.
Asked by a young audience member about items taken on their excursion around the moon, mission specialist Koch replied: "I took handwritten letters that I hadn't read before from my family, and also a very tall cow figurine. My dad had the idea of having a cow jump over the moon."
Chinese researchers have presented a new map of the moon, updating a previous edition based on new scientific findings and recalibrating the moon's ancient geologic eras.
The comprehensive map of the moon, with a scale of 1:5 million, was unveiled by the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (IGCAGS) on Aug. 6. The map is an update of a 2024 edition and puts forward new boundaries for the ancient Aitkenian, Nectarian and Imbrian lunar periods. (The researchers use the term Aitkenian, whereas the term pre-Nectarian is often used to describe the lunar geologic period from roughly around 4.5 billion to 3.9 billion years ago.)
The map also uses reprocessed spectral data to update areas of KREEP terrane, which features crustal material enriched in potassium (K), rare-earth elements (REE), and phosphorus (P), and is found to be more continuous and abundant than previously estimated.
Chinese researchers released a super-detailed new map of the moon on Aug. 6, 2026. (Image credit: CCTV/IGCAGS)
"The lunar geologic history has indeed been rewritten — more precisely, refined and systematized," the state-run outlet Xinhua quoted Yang Zhiming, director of the IGCAGS, as saying.
Both the United States, through the Apollo missions, and the Soviet Union delivered lunar samples to Earth more than 50 years ago, greatly shaping research on and understanding of the moon. China's own robotic sample return missions, Chang'e 5 and Chang'e 6, launched in 2020 and 2024, respectively, have provided fresh materials and new insights.
Chang'e 6 was the first sample-return mission to the lunar far side. Chinese researchers say the returned material will provide a new starting point for scientific discussions on the nature of that hemisphere of the moon, which is hidden from view on Earth.
The map "introduces a proprietary cartographic standard," according to Xinhua, amid a wider, Chinese government-driven initiative to influence global standards. In terms of space, aspects of the map such as the color scheme, geologic logic and an aesthetic "lighter for younger, darker for older" principle will be applied more broadly as China looks to expand its exploration beyond the moon and into the outer solar system.
"This goes beyond showcasing technological soft power. This standard will be extended to future planetary geologic mapping, establishing an independent intellectual property framework for China's deep space exploration," Yang said.
Both China and the United States have interests in setting standards as humanity renews its interest in exploring the moon. While on Earth everyone agrees on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the two countries currently disagree about what time it is on the moon, where clocks run faster due to weaker gravity. This suggests that leadership in space will be contested not just through missions and firsts, but via whose technical standards are followed, with China's new map playing into these efforts.
When it comes to space exploration, rockets are probably one of the coolest things you'll learn about as a kid. Zooming off into space, traveling to new planets and searching for potential life are all things that feel like they should be impossible. For any age of space enthusiast, it's pretty darn cool. For kids, though, learning about rockets can mark an amazing introduction, sparking a lifelong love of space. But, while real rockets aren't really obtainable, kids can always start out with model rocketry.
One of the most child-friendly, affordable and safest ways to get into this hobby, though, is by trying out Stomp Rockets. These toy rockets can be propelled into the air by a simple stomp onto a launcher, hence the name. Attached with a flexible hose, when you compress the launcher, it releases the air into the rocket and makes it fly. A fairly simple concept, but one that can be a lot of fun for kids and very educational (without feeling like you're learning).
Best stomp rockets you can buy today
Stomp Rocket Ultra Rocket Launcher: $19.99 For slightly older kids, aged 5 and up, the Stomp Rocket Ultra can reach heights of up to 200 feet. This time, they lose the cone nose of usual rockets, adopting a foam-tipped rounded tip to make sure they don’t hurt anybody when flying back down to the ground.View Deal
Stomp Rocket Original Dueling Rocket Launcher: $29.99 If playing with Stomp Rockets with friends and family is on the agenda, then the Original Dueling Set comes with eight rockets ready to battle. You can launch two rockets at the same time and compete on who gets theirs the highest. And they can reach heights of up to 200 feet if you stomp them hard enough, which is almost 20 stories high.View Deal
Stomp Rocket NASA Space Collection Rocket Launcher: $29.99 If your kid is a big fan of NASA, then this Stomp Rocket Space Collection comes with three NASA rockets styled like the Saturn V Rocket, Space Shuttle Atlantis and SLS Rocket. Plus, the adjustable launch stand lets kids experiment with different trajectories and forces, creating their own experiments.View Deal
Stomp Rocket Super High-Performance X-Treme Rocket Launcher: $19.99 This set is recommended for ages 9-13 because of just how high it’s capable of going, which isn’t all that surprising to hear since it’s considered to be the ‘Super High-Performance X-Treme’ version. It even comes with its own special X-Treme rockets to reach heights of up to 400 feet.View Deal
Stomp Rocket Jr Glow Rocket Launcher: $17.99 Part of the Jr range, the Glow Rockets come in a pack of four, reaching up to 100 feet in the air. You can also pay an extra $2 to secure three more rockets in the next size up. Listed as the number one bestseller in Toy Foam Blaster Sets on Amazon, they’re a lot of fun and carry that same 100% kid-powered tagline.View Deal
Stomp Rocket Jr Multi-Color Rocket Launcher: $27.99 Part of the Original Stomp Rocket collection, these Jr Multi-Color Rockets are the best starter rockets for kids aged 3 and up. You get eight rockets in the pack and four different colors: Air Force blue, neon green, glow-in-the-dark yellow and fire engine red. A great introduction to experimenting with gravity and force without having to spend more than $30. View Deal
With such simple mechanics behind it and no need for batteries, electronics or even assembly, it's a lot of fun without having to put in too much effort. So, when it comes to kids getting into it, it's a pretty perfect combination.
Model rocketry as a hobby can range anywhere from building your very own rocket from scratch to wiring up an actual engine to make it fly. And, while there are plenty of the best model rocket sets, these may be too advanced for children. So, before you hit the more advanced stages of model rocketry, it's best to find a place to start that feels more beginner-friendly. And there's a variety of different Stomp Rockets you can buy, like the NASA collection Rocket Launcher for $29.99 and the Super High-Performance X-Treme Rocket Launcher for $26.99. We'll jump into exactly what's great about Stomp Rockets below.
They are easy to use
Stomp rockets are a great way to kindle your child's interest in STEM. (Image credit: Getty Images)
The first thing to talk about when it comes to Stomp Rockets is how easy they are to use. Each Stomp Rocket kit usually comes with the rocket, a launch stand, a flexible hose and a launcher — and that's about it. There's no need for batteries, cords or plugs, meaning using them outside is super streamlined and not at all technical. Plus, you'll be urging your kids to get outside to play because, depending on how hard you stomp, rockets can reach up pretty high into the air, sometimes up to 400 feet (depending on age suitability).
Stomp Rockets are also 100% kid-powered, which is a huge deal for little kids who want to practise independence and feel confident in what they're learning about. To help with this, each box comes with a selection of rockets to stomp with. If kids lose any of them, or if they just want to load them up and stomp them over and over again without having to run around picking them up first, then it's easy.
In comparison, other model rocketry can come with an abundance of intricate pieces that can feel overwhelming or too complicated, or there are ignition-based model rockets, like the ones found amongst the best model rocket sets, that can be very technical.
While that's great for model rocketry hobbyists as they get older, the Stomp Rockets are a great place to start for younger kids because of how truly simple they are. Plus, they also encourage a lot of activity from your kids, jumping and running about to blast off. And if there's one thing we know for sure about kids, they've got a lot of energy!
They're about as safe as it gets
Stomp rockets are completely kid-powered and don't require batteries, special fuel or anything that might need adult supervision. (Image credit: D&L Company)
One of the biggest draws to Stomp Rockets is how safe they are to use. As I already mentioned, they're so safe in fact that kids can power them all by themselves. As the Original Stomp Rocket Jr. Rocket Set for $27.99 puts it directly on the box: “100% Kid Powered”.
There's no assembly required; the rockets and accompanying accessories are often made from simple foam and plastic, and the height they travel tends to vary depending on the age on the box. All solid reasons that your kid can play and experiment with them without adults needing to get too involved. For the Jr. Rocket Set, for example, it's suitable for 3 years and up, traveling to heights of 100 feet. For something more advanced, but still accessible, the Stomp Rocket Original Dueling Rockets is for ages 5 and up, reaching up to 200 feet in the air.
You'll notice that the only safety concern with Stomp Rockets seems to relate to how high they launch up into the air. That's why the Super High-Performance X-Treme Rocket Launcher I mentioned earlier recommends use for ages 9-13 only, reaching up to 400 feet. But they also adopt a rounded-out nose, rather than a tip, to ensure safe landing.
As kids get older, they might want to experiment with more advanced model rockets, including those with a launch pad and ignition switch. This is where safety protocol and adult supervision are essential, as they're considered a lot more dangerous. As NASA advises in their Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics: “At NASA, we take safety very seriously in everything that we do. Safety is the first mission in flying, whether it is flying the Space Shuttle, an experimental aircraft, or a model rocket. You must always be aware of the people and things around you that can be harmed by your rocket, or which can harm you or your rocket.”
Stomp rockets are relatively inexpensive
A simple design means stomp rockets are inexpensive and make a great gifts for kids. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Amongst the selection of Stomp Rockets we've researched online, they tend to range between $15-$30 and that's incredibly affordable when it comes to model rocketry. But why are they a lot cheaper? Well, they're a lot simpler and require far fewer parts, especially considering they come fully assembled. If you run out of rockets, you can also purchase refills that'll only cost you around $10-$20, depending on the model and how many you buy.
With more expensive model rockets, the price can jump up when you're buying kits that need to be built. Additionally, you'll be spending more on acquiring extra parts or upgrades to existing model rocket kits. A pack of model rocket engines can cost you as much as a whole kit of Stomp Rockets. Engine starters, igniter plugs, launch pads, and controllers are all things that can cost you money.
When you're just getting started, model rocket kits will also require you to have your own tools to build them. And tools are unlikely to be something you'd have your kids own when they're just learning, and they're only little. So, you can save yourself money there, too (for now).
Don't be surprised by their limitations
Want to extra educational value to the' stomp rocket experience? NASA has instructions on how to build your own. (Image credit: NASA JPL)
Of course, if you're not spending the money on all these additional extras, you're also not getting them. With Stomp Rockets, they're pretty basic kits that don't come with a lot of additional extras and that is one of their limitations. They won't reach incredible heights, they won't deploy parachutes to float safely to the ground, and they certainly won't let out any exhaust when they fly skyward. But they're also incredibly safe and that's why they're better suited for younger children.
If you are missing out on the building perspective of Stomp Rockets, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory does offer an online lesson for teachers to practice in class, creating the nose cone, fuselage and fins while powering it with a simple empty water bottle. However, this is targeted at grades 4 and up.
They might not always fly as high as you want and they might be susceptible to breaking given their foam construction, but it can't be doubted that they're easy for younger kids to use and a great introduction to model rocketry without stressing about safety, price or fun.
Stomp Rocket Jr Multi-Color Rocket Launcher: $27.99 Part of the Original Stomp Rocket collection, these Jr Multi-Color Rockets are the best starter rockets for kids aged 3 and up. You get eight rockets in the pack and four different colors: Air Force blue, neon green, glow-in-the-dark yellow and fire engine red. A great introduction to experimenting with gravity and force without having to spend more than $30. View Deal
Stomp Rocket Jr Glow Rocket Launcher: $17.99 Part of the Jr range, the Glow Rockets come in a pack of four, reaching up to 100 feet in the air. You can also pay an extra $2 to secure three more rockets in the next size up. Listed as the number one bestseller in Toy Foam Blaster Sets on Amazon, they’re a lot of fun and carry that same 100% kid-powered tagline.View Deal
Stomp Rocket Ultra Rocket Launcher: $19.99 For slightly older kids, aged 5 and up, the Stomp Rocket Ultra can reach heights of up to 200 feet. This time, they lose the cone nose of usual rockets, adopting a foam-tipped rounded tip to make sure they don’t hurt anybody when flying back down to the ground.View Deal
Stomp Rocket Original Dueling Rocket Launcher: $29.99 If playing with Stomp Rockets with friends and family is on the agenda, then the Original Dueling Set comes with eight rockets ready to battle. You can launch two rockets at the same time and compete on who gets theirs the highest. And they can reach heights of up to 200 feet if you stomp them hard enough, which is almost 20 stories high.View Deal
Stomp Rocket NASA Space Collection Rocket Launcher: $29.99 If your kid is a big fan of NASA, then this Stomp Rocket Space Collection comes with three NASA rockets styled like the Saturn V Rocket, Space Shuttle Atlantis and SLS Rocket. Plus, the adjustable launch stand lets kids experiment with different trajectories and forces, creating their own experiments.View Deal
Stomp Rocket Super High-Performance X-Treme Rocket Launcher: $19.99 This set is recommended for ages 9-13 because of just how high it’s capable of going, which isn’t all that surprising to hear since it’s considered to be the ‘Super High-Performance X-Treme’ version. It even comes with its own special X-Treme rockets to reach heights of up to 400 feet.View Deal
Elon Musk's company launches far more frequently than any other outfit, and it operates the largest satellite constellation ever assembled — the Starlink broadband network, which consists of nearly 11,000 satellites (and counting).
On Saturday evening (Aug. 15), SpaceX set another mark, for the shortest time between orbital flights: It launched two Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart, besting its old mark — set on Aug. 31, 2024 with two Starlink missions — by 27 minutes.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches eight satellites for the telecom company Globalstar from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Aug. 15, 2026. (Image credit: SpaceX)
The first liftoff, from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, occurred Saturday at 9:12 p.m. EDT (0112 GMT on Aug. 16) and carried eight satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO) for Louisiana-based telecom company Globalstar.
All eight spacecraft were deployed successfully, separating over a six-minute span beginning 56.5 minutes after liftoff, SpaceX announced via social media.
While that Falcon 9 was powering its way to LEO, another one launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, on California's central coast. That liftoff, at 9:50 p.m. EDT (6:50 p.m. local time; 0150 GMT on Aug. 16), kicked off a mission for the U.S. Space Force called USSF-366.
A Globalstar satellite deploys from the upper stage of its Falcon 9 rocket on Aug. 15, 2026. (Image credit: SpaceX)
We know very little about USSF-366, which isn't surprising given its classified status. However, rocket watchers have made a few inferences from the limited available information.
"It is possibly a batch of classified LEO satellites for a U.S. government entity based on SpaceX's Starshield satellite bus, based on locations of rocket stage drop zones being exact fits with previous Starlink Group 15 launches," NextSpaceflight.com wrote in its mission description. (Starshield is a SpaceX project that uses modified versions of Starlink craft to fly national security missions for the U.S. government.)
It's unclear when and where the rocket's upper stage will deploy the USSF-366 payload(s); SpaceX's mission description doesn't reveal that information. And the company ended its livestream shortly after the first-stage landing, as is typical for national security flights.
Both of Saturday's missions featured successful rocket landings. The Falcon 9 first stage that launched the Globalstar mission came back for a touchdown at Cape Canaveral about eight minutes after launch. It was the 14th flight for that particular booster.
The USSF-366 Falcon 9 first stage, meanwhile, came back to Earth about 8.5 minutes after its launch, touching down in the Pacific Ocean on the SpaceX droneship "Of Course I Still Love You." That booster now has 18 missions under its belt.
Saturday's doubleheader brought the tally of Falcon 9 launches in 2026 to 96. The vast majority of those — about 75% — have been Starlink missions.
On Aug. 15, 1977, astronomers using Ohio State University's Big Ear radio telescope detected the famous "Wow!" signal, which to this day is one of the strongest pieces of evidence that we are not alone in the universe.
Astronomer Jerry Ehman was using the telescope to scan a region in the constellation Sagittarius when it detected a weird, 72-second-long radio burst. The signal was too strong to be explained by background noise, and researchers determined that it was very unlikely that this signal came from anything on Earth.
Despite their best efforts, astronomers have not been able to detect any other signals like it.
The now-famous "Wow!" signal. (Image credit: Public domain)
Why it mattered
For as long as humans have existed, we have looked up and wondered, "Are we alone?" This question remains one of the biggest mysteries across not just science but for humanity as a whole. The "Wow" signal remains an iconic and important finding in the search for life out in the cosmos.
Nearly 50 years since the "Wow!" signal, scientists have made incredible progress in the search for alien life. We have landed rovers on Mars that have found possible signs of life on the Red Planet, for example, and discovered thousands of exoplanets, or planets outside of our solar system.
The "Wow!" signal was detected nearly two decades before scientists first confirmed the existence of exoplanets. Today, we have found more than 6,000 of them and are using cutting-edge technologies to explore further and see if any of these far-off planets might contain signs of life.
