Space

Fiery endWATCH: Musk’s Starship explodes after test flight

SEE THE VIDEO: Space Exploration Technologies’s newest and biggest rocket pulled off its first successful landing, then exploded a brief time later and was engulfed by fire.

Justin Bachman

First lookNASA shows video of rover’s Mars landing

NASA has unveiled a video of the Mars Perseverance rover captured as it touched down on the red planet, and released the first audio recorded on the surface of Mars. LISTEN.

Touch down!NASA rover makes historic Mars landing

NASA's rover Perseverance has landed safely on the floor of a Mars crater, its first stop on a search for traces of ancient microbial life on the red planet. SEE THE PHOTOS.

Marcia Dunn

Under the starsAstrotourism a draw card for the region

Astrophotographers dedicate their time to exposing the night sky in a level of detail that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Kellie Balaam

West LiveWA gets its very own International Space Station

Perth’s new International Space Centre was launched today at the University of WA, with the State uniquely positioned to capitalise on the multi-billion-dollar global space industry.

Ben O'Shea

Dark artAstrophotographer reveals how he captures the stars

With a telescope and camera in tow, Luke Hetherington sets off on night adventures to capture a side of some of the region’s most photogenic places some have never seen before.

Kellie Balaam

Star warsIs space big enough for world’s two richest men?

A dispute that would normally be confined to regulatory filings is spilling into public view, in a spat that showcases the large personalities involved as Musk and Bezos chase dreams in the sky.

Todd Shields

Planetary actionThousands turn out to see ‘Christmas star’

Scarborough beach was last night packed with people keen to catch a glimpse of the Great Conjunction, also known as the ‘Christmas Star’ — a planetary event last witnessed by Galileo.

Look up!Spectacular meteor shower to light up Australian skies

Australian stargazers are set to be over the moon with joy as planets align and shooting stars light up the night sky through the next week.

Aaron Bunch

Crash-landingSpaceX rocket test ends in massive fireball

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s private space company SpaceX has launched a Starship from a remote corner of Texas, but the 6.5-minute test flight ended in an explosive fireball at touchdown.

Joey Roulette

Bears in ‘Goldilocks zone’UWA’s Zadko Telescope discovery narrows search for life

A groundbreaking observation by the University of Western Australia’s Zadko telescope has caused a major rethink in the hunt for life existing elsewhere in the universe.

Ben O'Shea

Robot technologyMissing link between mining and space

The strength of WA’s remote mining operations has positioned the State to tap the global space tech sector, but experts warn communication between the two industries needs to improve.

Kate Purnell

2021 and beyondUWA grad rockets into Australian Space Agency’s top job

Engineer and WA local Enrico Palermo has been chosen to head up the Australian Space Agency from 2021 as the Federal Government aims to triple the size of the space sector.

Sarah Ison

exclusive
exclusive
Out of this world
exclusive
Feds over the moon with massive telescope project in WA

WA is a step closer to helping launch the world’s biggest radio telescope, allowing further exploration of the universe while generating hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity.

Sarah Ison

SPACE RACEChina’s Australian space operations secured for further 10 years

A plan to turn the lights off on China’s space exploration race efforts has backfired for a Swedish company, and landed Australia in the middle of the growing geopolitical tensions.

Charles Miranda

Lift offFrom the outback to the edge of space, SA about to make history

A rocket is about to be launched from the South Australian outback to the edge of space, in a historic first for the state’s space sector.

Claire Bickers

BLACK HOLESAdelaide Uni shares thrill of ‘impossible’ discovery

Researchers in SA are basking in the “thrill of discovery” after joining a global effort to witness a massive intergalactic collision which could help us understand how galaxies are born.

Clare Peddie

Blast offPiece of the Pilbara is on its way to Mars

A joke from two researchers in Marble Bar has become reality thanks to NASA

Caitlyn Rintoul

On a missionPerth-born rover to fetch water from the Moon

Perth company Space Industries is putting WA on the map with its world-first device designed to mine water on the Moon.

Kate Purnell

SpaceXNASA crew make first splashdown in 45 years

Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk’s company.

SpaceXNASA astronauts aim for Florida to end SpaceX flight

The first astronauts launched by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company departed the International Space Station for the most important part of their test flight: returning to Earth with a rare splashdown.

opinion
opinion
Reach for the stars
opinion
How WA will play a vital role in Australian space plans

Space is truly the new frontier of global competition and co-operation. With the Morrison Government’s investment and commitment to new technology, WA stands ready to play a vital role.

Linda Reynolds

Up closeThe closest pics ever taken of the sun

A European and NASA spacecraft has snapped the incredible images, which reveal “campfires” flaring everywhere.

Space diplomacySA allies with Japan in new space race

Our burgeoning space industry will make a deal this week with JAXA - one of the world’s biggest space programs. Also at least one conference, Space Fest 2020, has escaped COVID-19 restrictions to be held here.

Claire Bickers