Stream Now
Shows
Meet The Expedition Members on Expedition From Hell: The Lost Tapes
The Best Moments of Puppy Bowl XX
Puppy Bowl XX Partners
Baltimore Ravens Hang With Rescue Puppies for Puppy Bowl XX!
Shop Puppy Bowl Apparel
Meet the Players of Puppy Bowl XX
Get Ready for Puppy Bowl XX on Animal Planet!
Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing Survivalist's Weekly PSR Ratings
Cast Headshot
Who Will Be the Last One Standing?
Meet the Puppy Bowl XIX Starting Line Up
See All Shows
DNews
A Rare Glimpse of Disappearing Snowy Owls
Peak Inside the Scales with Reptile X-Rays
Meet The Champions of Fat Bear Week 2022
Channel Islands: A Tale of Two Worlds
Close up of Galapagos giant tortoise in San Cristobal, Galapagos Island.
Galápagos Giant Tortoises Are Mysteriously Turning Up Dead in Ecuador
3D low poly green plant HUD UI display. Future polygonal triangle point line ecology problems solution abstract biology genome engineering vector illustration future business technology.
Supertrees That Suck Up More Carbon Could Be Forest Climate Fix
A young coastal brown bear cub lays on a beach waiting for mom to catch fish in Alaska
Baby Bear Takes a Trip on Hallucinogenic ‘Mad Honey’
Hero Rats Are Being Trained to Rescue Earthquake Survivors
Further upstream the river becomes more trout friendly. This is an example of what a restored LA River might look like, with trees and pools for fish to hide in as they migrate up and downstream.
Can the Los Angeles River be Restored?
The LA River where it meets the Pacific Ocean in Long Beach, California. This is the entry point for migrating steelhead salmon that would hope to return to their spawning grounds in the mountains above Los Angeles. This marks the start of a nearly 40 mile journey upstream, though barriers above prevent a successful migration.
Helping the Los Angeles River Change Course
See All DNews
Nature
A Rare Glimpse of Disappearing Snowy Owls
This is the ultimate test to compare iPhone camera with my DSLR. It's amazing how well this came out, but still some limitations balancing the shadows of the bush on the rocks with the highlights on the mountain. I even tried to adjust this one a bit afterward, but the contrast range just wasn't there, even considering that I was shooting in RAW mode.
Year in Review: Nature in Focus Adventures
A captive Snowy Owl in winter quarters at the Raptor Center, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey. They, too, migrate. No matter where you are in North America, there are different opportunities to see different species.
Nature in Focus: Look Back at 2022
Snow geese are some of my favorite birds. They are beautiful to photograph, fun to watch, and their large congregations make for dramatic imagery.
Great Migrations
The Tipple Family Goes Behind the Scenes at Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Fall in Love with the Marine Animals of Georgia Aquarium
The Oldest Complete Fish Fossil was Discovered Thanks to Kung Fu
Peak Inside the Scales with Reptile X-Rays
While hiking in Sequoia National Park, California, on the mountain trail known as the Lakes Trail, I limited myself to only the most basic set-up, the camera on my iPhone Pro Max 13.
Giant Sequoia Trees Through a Tiny Lens
While hiking in Sequoia National Park, California, on the mountain trail known as the Lakes Trail, I limited myself to only the most basic set-up, the camera on my iPhone Pro Max 13. Glare was sometimes an issue, but I sort of like the effect.
Photographing Sequoia National Park with a Smartphone
See All Nature
Exploration
Pinnacles National Park, California California Condors, one of the rarest birds in the world.
Caves to Condors: Uncovering Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles National Park, California
Photos from Pinnacles National Park
Chaco Cultural HIstoric Park, New Mexico. Chaco Culture National Historic Park, New Mexico. One of the most enigmatic archaeological sites of the ancestral Puebloans, found in one of the most remote and rugged parts of the American Southwest.
Explore the Rugged, Remote Chaco Canyon in New Mexico
Chaco Cultural HIstoric Park, New Mexico. Chaco Culture National Historic Park, New Mexico. One of the most enigmatic archaeological sites of the ancestral Puebloans, found in one of the most remote and rugged parts of the American Southwest.
Photos from New Mexico's Remote Chaco Canyon
The Hunt for Outlaw Jesse James’ Treasure
Thoth, Ibis-headed god leads the deceased to the Underworld, Mummy-case of Pensenhor, c900BC. Coffin of Pensenhor, 22nd Dynasty, Thebes, Egypt. At British Museum. Artist Unknown. (Photo by CM Dixon/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
Meet the Ancient Egyptian Gods Who Empower DC Comic's Black Adam
Giza Egypt Pyramids in Sunset Scene, Wonders of the World.
What's Inside the Secret Chambers in the Pyramids of Giza
Spain, Murcia region, Caravaca de la Cruz, cityscape (Photo by: Hermes Images/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Women May Have Been Powerful Rulers of the Ancient World
Temple One shot from Temple 2 at Tikal Mayan Ruins in Guatemala.
A Canadian Teen Once Discovered an Ancient Temple – Using Google Maps
Photo taken in Colombia, Colombia
A Spanish Sunken Galleon Has a $17B Bounty Onboard - and Now You Can See It
See All Exploration
Space
Iâ m dreaming about dinosaurus concept with cute little boy in an empty room
How to Save Humanity from Extinction
Asteroid rock on green starry background
Asteroid Ryugu Has Dust Grains Older Than the Sun. How?
moon, lunar, planet, landing, surface, earth, rock, night, astronomy, light, astrology, abstract, grey, crater, illustration, ornamental, apollo, system, solar, decorative, backdrop, texture, grungy, design, science, orbit, satellite, exploration, holes, background, grunge, space, peak, meteor, nature, detail, cosmos, landscape, universe
Scientists in China Discover Rare Moon Crystal that Could Power Earth
When We’ll Know if NASA’s Asteroid Impact Test was a Success
One Day Man Will Return To The Moon , & Will Set Up Bases & Colonies AS We Expanding Out Into The Solar System & The Depths Of Space.
What Comes After the Moon and Mars?
Blackhole concept
What Screaming Black Holes are Telling Us
The four members of the SpaceX Crew-5 mission pose for a portrait in their Crew Dragon flight suits at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. From left are, Mission Specialist Anna Kikina from Roscosmos; Pilot Josh Cassada and Commander Nicole Aunapu Mann, both from NASA; and Mission Specialist Koichi Wakata from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The First Native American Woman Travels into Space with NASA's Crew-5 Mission
The sun rises on Rigel IV, a rocky planetoid in the Neutral Zone, on the Outer Rim of the Galaxy.
Want to Name a Planet? Now’s Your Chance
Highly detailed "Supermoon" Pink Moon image with a star field background
What We Learn from the Lunar Surface
Solar system planets set. The Sun and planets in a row on universe stars and lines of gravity background. Elements of this image furnished by NASA. /urls: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/suns-magnetic-field-portrayed https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/545/artists-concept-our-solar-system/ https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2016/hubble-spins-a-web-into-a-giant-red-spider-nebula
Six Planets are Retrograde, What Does that Mean for You?
See All Space
Science
Iâ m dreaming about dinosaurus concept with cute little boy in an empty room
How to Save Humanity from Extinction
Lightning Strike On A House
Extreme Weather Tests the Durability of Solar and Wind Power
Close-up of architectural model in desk while female architects working on background
How 3D Print Building is Changing the Future
moon, lunar, planet, landing, surface, earth, rock, night, astronomy, light, astrology, abstract, grey, crater, illustration, ornamental, apollo, system, solar, decorative, backdrop, texture, grungy, design, science, orbit, satellite, exploration, holes, background, grunge, space, peak, meteor, nature, detail, cosmos, landscape, universe
Scientists in China Discover Rare Moon Crystal that Could Power Earth
The Berlin-Tegel airport "Otto Lilienthal" (IATA code: TXL, ICAO code: EDDT) is one of the two international airports in the german capital Berlin.
This Country is Transforming an Abandoned Airport into a Green Oasis
BEDFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: The as yet unnamed second Asian elephant calf to be born in the last 7 months stands at a photocall with its mother Azizah at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park on September 29, 2004 in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. Azizah is one of the three Asian elephants moved from London Zoo to Whipsnade in December 2001, and her new calf joins her sister Kaylee's, born earlier this year.
Saving Baby Elephants from a Deadly Herpes Virus
blue glowing futuristic city
Digital Twin Cities Can Shrink the Impact of Planet’s Largest Polluters
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Building Atlantropa: One Man’s Plan To Drain the Mediterranean Sea
Frontal close-up of an yellow-fever mosquito sucking blood, known vector of zika virus, chikungunya, yellow fever and dengue.
Why You Can’t Escape a Mosquito
Climate change idea. Soft focus on bunch of micro plastic that cannot be recycled.
Microplastics in Blood Spotlight Health Emergency from Plastic Pollution
See All Science
Motor
"Street sign, isolated"
California Proposes Ban on New Gas-Fueled Cars by 2035
Modern electric car chassis design battery modular platform skateboard module pack board with green recycling symbol sign. Recycle vehicle components battery cell pack, motor powertrain, controller.
How Lithium Batteries Will Improve EV Range and Rapid Charging
Flying on turbines taxicab illustrate the great speed of delivery the client in spite of the traffic jams
Air Taxis Bring Electric Flight Hype to Life in Busy Cities
Colorful silhouttes of different Electric Car or automobile types
Recycled Lithium-Ion Batteries are Outlasting Brand New Ones
A photograph of an American Classic car, as seen through the side window, showing the steering wheel, dash board and blue interior, Image taken in August 2018 on a sunny day at Goodwood Motor Circuit, in the UK, at a classic car meeting (breakfast club), open to the general public.
Retrofitting Older Cars with Electric Motors Could Transform Transport
Environmentally Friendly Alternative Energy Concept With Hydrogen Refuelling Station.
Hydrogen Ready to Ignite as Transport Network and Technology Takes Off
Aerial photo of a large oil tanker floating in calm seas.
Catch-22: How the Clean Energy Industry is Perpetuating Deep-Sea Mining
In March 2018 Siemens Mobility was commissioned by the Research and Development Center of the University Kiel to build a five-kilometer eHighway on the A1 autobahn between the Reinfeld and Lübeck interchanges
Are Electric Highways the Way of the Future?
Solid State Batteries Promise Long Life and Rapid Refuel Electric Vehicles
Electric vs. Hydrogen: The Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation
See All Motor
Schedule
More

Photo by: Virgin Galactic/Twitter

Virgin Galactic/Twitter

It’s the Edge of Space for Virgin Galactic

By: Alexia Rosenfield

On May 22, Virgin Galactic’s first human spaceflight successfully launched into space from Spaceport America, New Mexico. Mothership, VMS Eve, the carrier and launch platform for the VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo spacecraft, carried VSS Unity to 44,000 feet in the air and then released it as the spaceship began a rocket powered flight to the edge of space.

May 24, 2021

It took about an hour for the VMS Eve with the VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo to reach its destined altitude. Kelly Latimer and Michael Masucci piloted the mothership while CJ Sturckow and Dave Mackay handled the spaceship.

According to Virgin Galactic’s twitter feed, approximately ten minutes from release, VSS Unity switched to its own battery power and performed all required checks. It waited in launch configuration as the pilots readied its motor system and clearance was sent from Mission Control. VSS Unity then separated from VMS Eve and the rocket motor ignited. It reached space at an altitude of 55.45 miles before descending and landing back at Spaceport America. Sturckow and Mackay viewed the bright blue curvature of Earth against the blackness of space.

The historic flight carried technology experiments for NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program.

Congratulations Virgin Galactic! The company is now one step closer in sending privately paying customers to suborbital space for some out-of-this-world views.

More About Virgin Galactic

Out of This World! Inside Virgin Galactic's Spacecraft

Buckle up! On July 28, Virgin Galactic is showing the world what the inside of their SpaceShipTwo Unity spacecraft looks like via a livestream on their YouTube channel.

Virgin Galactic Failed to Launch because Space is Hard

This is the first test launch from Branson’s Virgin Galactic company since February of 2019, and follows a string of delays, cancellations, and aborts. What’s going on?

Next Up

Quiz: Test Your Space Exploration Knowledge

Ahead of the historic May 27th NASA and SpaceX crewed space launch, test your space exploration knowledge!

Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic Successfully Travels to Space

On Sunday, July 11, around 11:30A ET, Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, soared to the edge of space as a passenger aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity. The space plane then landed safely at Spaceport America in New Mexico, making Branson's space tourism dream come true.

Why We Know Nothing about Dark Matter and Dark Energy

Welcome to the era of precision cosmology…where we’ve managed to very precisely measure everything we don't know about the universe.

Asteroid Ryugu Has Dust Grains Older Than the Sun. How?

In 2018 the Japanese space agency sent the Hayabusa2 mission to the asteroid Ryugu, As a part of that mission, the spacecraft blasted material off the surface of the asteroid, put it in a bottle, and sent it back to Earth. Two years later that sample landed in the western deserts of Australia.

Expedition 64 to Return Home on April 17

After 185 days in space aboard the ISS, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov are coming home. They are scheduled to land back on Earth in their Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft at 12:56A EDT on Saturday, April 17.

Liftoff of NASA and SpaceX Crew-2!

The NASA and SpaceX Crew-2 mission launched on Friday, April 23 at 5:49A ET from the NASA Launch Complex 39A. This historic milestone marks the second operational mission of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. Onboard was NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide. After a 23-hour journey, Crew-2 successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on April 24 at 5:08A ET. Here's everything that happened from launch day to the Crew-2's arrival at the ISS. (Updated April 24, 2021)

What You Need to Know About Blue Origin’s Launch into Space with Billionaire Jeff Bezos

The countdown has begun for Blue Origin’s first crewed spaceflight. On Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at 9:00A ET, Jeff Bezos and three crewmates are lifting off into space from Blue Origin’s Launch Site near Van Horn, Texas. Watch SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: BLUE ORIGIN & JEFF BEZOS GO TO SPACE on Discovery and Science Channels at 8:00A ET or at washingtonpost.com.

Expedition 65 to Launch on April 9

On April 9 at 3:42A ET, Expedition 65 will launch with three space travelers aboard a Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station.

Countdown to Launch: NASA and SpaceX Crew-2 Mission

Liftoff set for Friday, April 23, at 5:49A EDT marks the second operational flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. Four space explorers are heading to the International Space Station for a six-month stay. It will take them 23 hours to reach their destination.

Liftoff of Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-14 Scheduled for January 14

Blue Origin will attempt its next test flight of New Shepard on January 14 at 10:45A ET from Launch Site One in West Texas. Let’s learn more about Mission NS-14.

Related To:

Space