Microbiologist Steve Pointing has searched for life in the world's most extreme deserts. His findings will help Nasa prove that life once existed on Mars.

Radiation sickness. Brittle bones. Alzheimers. None of these will deter explorers in their quest to establish a foothold on Mars, says Apollo 11 hero Buzz Aldrin.

A New Zealand-based researcher is investigating "moonquakes" - a curious lunar phenomenon first discovered by Nasa's Apollo missions.

Sarah Kessans spent the "best week of her life" at a Nasa training centre in Texas.

The New Glenn rocket is named for John Glenn, the first American to reach orbit. It should be ready to fly by the end of the decade.

Nasa launches first ever mission to take samples from an asteroid in the hope of preventing the space rock colliding with Earth later this century.

Canterbury University's Dr Sarah Kessans, who has made it to the final round of interviews for Nasa's astronaut programme, sits down for a quick Q&A.

This might just be one of the last things you ever read if you believe the doomsayers who believe the end of the world is nigh. No, really.

Dwarf planet Ceres should be riddled with craters, but Nasa's scientists were surprised to find it was relatively smooth.

Reporter Kurt Bayer takes to the skies to witness science in action, even if it makes his head hurt a little.

Questions about Jupiter are about to be answered as Juno prepares to enter the planet's atmostphere

One of the most remarkable feats of science is set to be achieved 588 million kilometres away, when a spacecraft tomorrow reaches Jupiter.

Nasa's scientific balloon flight which eventually launched in Wanaka nearly two months ago has come to an end.

The sun has gone completely "blank" for the second time this month.

The world's largest flying observatory has arrived in New Zealand for a series of cutting-edge night-flying missions to help unlock the mysteries of the universe.

Facebook is gearing up to live chat astronauts on the International Space Station tomorrow afternoon.

Nasa has successfully launched a super pressure balloon from Wanaka Airport to conduct near-space scientific investigations.

One solitary asteroid might be worth trillions of dollars in platinum and other metals. Exploiting these resources could lead to a global boom in wealth, which could raise living standards worldwide and potentially benefit all of humanity.

Exploration of the solar system over the past year has produced exciting finds, writes Alan Duffy.

A New Plymouth teen is one of two young Kiwis chosen to attend a prestigious American space school next year.

Nasa has released this stunning but incomplete image of Pluto's crescent, taken 15 minutes after the New Horizons spacecraft made its closest pass by Pluto in July this year.

Humans will be living and working on Mars in colonies independent of Earth by the 2030s, claims Nasa.

The night sky plays a starring role in United Nations World Space Week, writes Sarah Ell.

There is growing speculation that scientists will reveal water is flowing on the red planet.

A rare astrological event next week could herald the end of days, according to some Christian groups.

Boom! Nasa captures the moment supersonic jets pierce the sound barrier.

Amazon is creating a blueprint for an air-traffic system and the necessary technology is rapidly developing.

See the stunning photo shot by Aucklander Amit Kamble which was named Nasa Astronomy Picture of the Day earlier this week.

Nasa has found a twin Earth orbiting a star like the sun in the Milky Way which scientists say "would feel a lot like home".

Kepler 452b is so remarkable because it orbits its star at about the same distance that Earth orbits the sun.