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Leonard David is an award-winning space journalist who has been reporting on space activities for more than 50 years. Currently writing as Space.com's Space Insider Columnist among his other projects, Leonard has authored numerous books on space exploration, Mars missions and more, with his latest being "Moon Rush: The New Space Race" published in 2019 by National Geographic. He also wrote "Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet" released in 2016 by National Geographic. Leonard has served as a correspondent for SpaceNews, Scientific American and Aerospace America for the AIAA. He has received many awards, including the first Ordway Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History in 2015 at the AAS Wernher von Braun Memorial Symposium. You can find out Leonard's latest project at his website and on Twitter.
Latest articles by Leonard David

Space junk strike on China's astronaut capsule highlights need for a space rescue service, experts say
ByLeonard Davidpublished
The space-debris strike on China's Shenzhou 20 spacecraft is a wake-up call, say advocates of a space rescue capability — and also a call for an organization to shape that capacity.

Space rescue services needed? 2 'stranded' astronaut incidents are a 'massive wake-up call,' experts say
ByLeonard Davidpublished
China's decision to delay the return of its Shenzhou 20 astronauts due to a possible space debris impact has led to discussion of space rescue planning — or lack of it.

Can we find water ice on the moon? Only if we know where to look, scientists say
ByLeonard Davidpublished
Space agencies around the world are planning moon missions that will depend on water ice for resources, but much remains unknown about its availability of water ice on the lunar surface.

Mysterious smoldering wreckage in Australian Outback is likely part of a Chinese rocket
ByLeonard Davidpublished
A piece of smoldering wreckage found in Western Australia is likely part of a Chinese rocket that crashed to Earth on Saturday (Oct. 18), experts say.

Are we already witnessing space warfare in action? 'This is not just posturing'
ByLeonard Davidpublished
"The Russians and the Chinese are demonstrating more sophisticated orbital maneuvering abilities. There's no denying that."

New space debris shield? Satellites and astronauts could suit up in novel 'Space Armor'
ByLeonard Davidpublished
Humanity has a new tool in the fight against space junk — "Space Armor," a multi-functional composite that could protect both spacecraft and astronauts.

New DARPA 'field guide' looks for ways to jump-start a moon economy
ByLeonard Davidpublished
A recent DARPA study laid out a step-by-step process that could enable an economic link between Earth and the moon. But how real is the promise of giving the moon an industrial makeover?

Mining the moon: Can you make money harvesting helium-3?
ByLeonard Davidpublished
Mining the moon for helium-3: How real is the prospect, and is there a business case for such an undertaking?

Russian 'Noah's Ark' satellite carrying 75 mice and 1,500 flies lands back on Earth
ByLeonard Davidpublished
A Russian biological research satellite toting more than 30 experiments landed on Sept. 19 in the steppes of the Orenburg region after spending 30 days in Earth orbit.

'We are ready to drive': Take a look inside Lunar Outpost's moon rover mission control (photos)
ByLeonard Davidpublished
The rover's design is "a mix between a dune buggy and a heavy-duty truck."

UAP witnesses criticize Pentagon UFO office in Congressional hearing for 'using science and coming up with answers'
ByLeonard Davidpublished
Witnesses and whistleblowers testified that the U.S. government knows more than it is letting on about encounters with UAP during a U.S. congressional hearing on Sept. 9.

'Artificial super astronauts': How AI and robotics could help humanity settle Mars
ByLeonard Davidpublished
In the not-too-distant future, "artificial astronauts" could fly as actual crew members on human missions to Mars, and elsewhere in space.

China is going full throttle in its quest to land astronauts on the moon by 2030, notching several important milestones over the past few months.
ByLeonard Davidpublished
China is going full throttle in its quest to land astronauts on the moon by 2030, notching several important milestones over the past few months.

That mysterious 'Wow! signal' from space? Scientists may finally know where it came from — and it's probably not aliens
ByLeonard Davidpublished
Scientists studying the famous 'Wow! signal' think they've finally pinpointed a possible origin for the baffling radio transmission detected in 1977.

Russia to launch 75 mice, 1,000 fruit flies on Aug. 20 to study spaceflight effects
ByLeonard Davidpublished
Russia is readying its Bion-M No. 2 biosatellite for a planned Aug. 20 launch. The mission will send 75 mice and other specimens on a monthlong mission to Earth orbit.

New lunar surface simulator in Colorado puts moon machinery to the test
ByLeonard Davidpublished
A large simulated moonscape built by the Colorado School of Mines is open for business, allowing researchers and companies to test their ideas for lunar rovers, landing pads, mining gear and more.

Virgin Galactic's new Delta class space plane could fly as soon as fall 2026
ByLeonard Davidpublished
The company is also looking at using its mothership aircraft that releases spacecraft at high altitude as a carrier platform for other customers.

China's lunar lander aces touchdown and takeoff tests ahead of planned 2030 crewed moon mission (video)
ByLeonard Davidpublished
China conducted takeoff and touchdown tests with its "Lanyue" moon lander on Aug. 6, 2025, as it prepares to launch a crewed lunar mission by 2030.

China wants to return samples from Mars, but will it allow other nations to inspect its containment methods?
ByLeonard Davidpublished
International oversight would reduce risks, but could be "a politically sensitive and contentious matter."

NASA or the Space Force: Who should protect Earth from dangerous asteroids?
ByLeonard Davidpublished
NASA currently leads the nation's planetary defense efforts, but some are calling for the Space Force to take control.

Wild new 'Skyfall' Mars mission would drop 6 scout helicopters onto the Red Planet from the air
ByLeonard Davidpublished
"With six helicopters, Skyfall offers a low-cost solution that multiplies the range we would cover, the data we would collect, and the scientific research we would conduct."

Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' gives US Space Force $1 billion for secretive X-37B space plane
ByLeonard Davidpublished
U.S. President Trump's "One, Big Beautiful Bill Act," H.R. 1 includes $1 billion for the U.S. Space Force (USSF) X-37B military spacecraft program.

Could asteroid mining actually work? Maybe if we start with impact sites on the moon
ByLeonard Davidpublished
"Can humanity enjoy the benefits of both asteroid and lunar mining without compromise, or do we have to choose one at the expense of the other?"

Private lunar landing: How Blue Ghost measured the moon's electric and magnetic fields
ByLeonard Davidpublished
Private lunar landing: How Blue Ghost measured the moon's electric and magnetic fields

Is the US forfeiting its Red Planet leadership to China's Mars Sample Return plan?
ByLeonard Davidpublished
"Returning the scientifically selected samples that await us on Mars, as part of a balanced portfolio, will help to ensure the US does not cede leadership in deep space to other nations, such as China."
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