Scientists studying the terrifying meteor that exploded without warning over a Russian city last winter say the threat of space rocks smashing into Earth is bigger than they thought.

The Curse of Mars also applies to Asian countries, writes Gwynne Dyer. About two-thirds of the attempted missions to Mars have failed, many of them even before leaving Earth's orbit.

India has launched its first spacecraft bound for Mars, a complex mission that it hopes will demonstrate and advance technologies for space travel.

The Milky Way galaxy is teeming with Earth-like planets that are not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist at their surface - and so be capable of supporting life.

Space is vast, but it may not be so lonely after all: A study finds the Milky Way is teeming with billions of planets that are about the size of Earth, orbit stars just like our sun, and exist in the Goldilocks zone.

India is aiming to join the world's deep-space pioneers with a journey to Mars that it hopes will showcase its technological ability to explore the solar system while seeking solutions for everyday problems on Earth.

An Iranian newspaper is reporting that the Islamic Republic plans to send another monkey into space within a month.

Astronomers say they have found a lonely planet outside the solar system floating alone in space and not orbiting a star.

Some prominent American astronomers are boycotting a meeting on exoplanets because Nasa has banned Chinese scientists from attending.

A Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russians and an American lifted off today from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, soaring into the night sky for a six-hour trip to the International Space Station.

Japan successfully launched a new rocket Saturday that it hopes will be a cheaper and more efficient way of sending satellites into space.

NASA's Voyager 1 probe has left the solar system, boldly going where no machine has gone before.

More than 200,000 people from 140 countries have applied to be the first human settlers on Mars, the group behind the project to colonise the red planet has said.

An Italian astronaut aboard the International Space Station has captured glimpses of New Zealand in images posted on social media this week.

The Saturn moons Mimas and Pandora remind us of how different they are when they appear together, as in this image taken by Nasa's Cassini spacecraft.

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and American colleague Thomas Marshburn who are avid users of Twitter aboard the International Space Station have taken several stunning photos of New Zealand as they orbit 370km above the Earth.

Sarah Brightman, the soprano who first lost her heart to a Starship trooper, is going to ridiculous lengths to find it again — by booking a trip to the International Space Station. Julia Llewellyn Smith meets her.

We are not alone. Scientists have discovered a second blue planet in the Universe, although this one is decidedly inhospitable and unlikely to support life.

Astronomers say they have found another blue planet a long, long way from Earth - no water world, but a scorching, hostile place where it rains glass sideways.

Paul Charman salutes Voyager 1's famous gold record.

Police say a bright light was reported speeding across New Zealand skies on Monday. Did you see it?

The biggest full moon of 2013, a 'supermoon,' lit up the night sky Sunday.