Articles

Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.

The future of solar sailing

An exciting future for solar sailing is on the horizon.

Crowd watching the launch of LightSail 2

Harnessing the power of the crowd

The Planetary Society has a long history of helping the public make progress in space exploration.

I spy with my technologically enhanced eye

Seeing more with infrared cameras, radar telescopes, and good old-fashioned artistic instincts.

LightSail 2 image of Florida and the Bahamas

Here are some of our favorite LightSail 2 pictures

LightSail 2 captured numerous images to help the mission team monitor the sail and showcase the beauty of solar sailing.

Worthy goals for a lifelong love of space

Our new list of Space Life Goals will help inspire your passion for space. Catch up on this week’s space news, and tick off a few goals while you’re at it.

Launching and descending

Artemis I is on its way to the Moon, Planetary Academy is here to inspire your kids, and LightSail 2 has come down.

LightSail 2 completes mission with atmospheric reentry

The three-and-a-half-year solar sailing mission showed LightSail 2 could change its orbit with sunlight alone.

LightSail 2 image of Gulf of Aden and Red Sea

LightSail 2 is about to burn up

After 3.5 years, 18,000 orbits of the Earth, and 8 million kilometers (5 million miles) traveled, The Planetary Society’s successful LightSail 2 solar sail spacecraft will burn up as it reenters the Earth’s atmosphere in the next few days.

Best space pictures of the month: October 2022

Stunning views of Europa and the Eagle Nebula headline our roundup of space images released last month.

Sights beyond the visible

See images your eyes wouldn’t normally be able to see, and learn about what these images can teach you.

LightSail 2 image of Madagascar and Mozambique

LightSail 2 getting lower as it completes third year in space

An update on The Planetary Society's LightSail 2 mission, which launched in 2015.

The value of knowledge

Space exploration comes at a cost, but the investment is always worthwhile.

Optimism, ethics and pride

The values that have driven space exploration since its beginnings are still going strong today.

Craters are great but we’ve had enough, thank you

Take a look at some of Earth’s epic impact craters, and learn what we’re doing to ensure they’re our last.

LightSail 2 sails into Smithsonian

The prestigious Washington, D.C. institution will display two models of LightSail 2, which is continuing to demonstrate flight by light in Earth orbit.