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From the dawn of man until very recently, humans have been Earthbound, unable to reach even the clouds—let alone space. It's only within the last hundred years or so that the advent of manned flight and rocket ships has made the heavens attainable. In that time, we've sent people to the moon, rovers to Mars, and space probes deep into the reaches of our solar system. And advanced telescopes that orbit Earth are bringing even the most remote edges of the universe closer to home. See where space travel started, and where it's going.
More About Space Exploration
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Early U.S. Spaceflight
The U.S. space program has had its share of successes and setbacks. See some unforgettable images from the early days of space exploration as America set its sights toward the sky.
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Hubble Images
Since it was placed into orbit in April 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has captured images and information that have transformed our understanding of the universe.
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Hubble Space Telescope
Since 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has given the world a bonanza of breathtaking images of the universe. See what it takes to keep this celebrity telescope running like a top.
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Moon Exploration
Over a brief three-year period, six U.S. astronaut crews landed on the moon, forging a new branch of space exploration. Follow in their famous footsteps.
Space Quizzes
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Phenomena: A Science Salon
National Geographic Magazine
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Longevity Pictures
Our genes harbor many secrets to a long and healthy life. And now scientists are beginning to uncover them
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Element Hunters Pictures
All the elements found in nature—the different kinds of atoms—were found long ago. To bag a new one these days, and push the frontiers of matter, you have to create it first.
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Good Gas, Bad Gas
Burn natural gas and it warms your house. But let it leak, from fracked wells or the melting Arctic, and it warms the whole planet.
Genographic
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Steady Hands and Fins
Photographer David Doubilet photographs stingrays, sharks, and more.
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Survival Guide: Dodging Locusts
Swarm behaviorist Iain Couzin has a toxic reaction to a locust at the same time his team runs out of food.
