Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace
Latest articles by Elizabeth Howell
What is a blood moon?
By Elizabeth Howell, Scott Dutfield last updated
Reference It may look spooky, but a blood moon is just a trick of the light. Here we explain this phenomenon and tell you how and where to see the next one.
Supermoon: What is it and when does it occur?
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Reference A supermoon occurs when the full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth in its orbit. 2024 will experience four supermoons in a row.
Taurid meteor shower 2024: When, where & how to see it
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Reference The Taurid meteor shower is composed of two streams known as the Southern Taurids and the Northern Taurids. We explore this impressive shower in more detail here.
A spacecraft at Mars watched a dust storm lift tons of grains in a short time
By Elizabeth Howell published
The United Arab Emirates' Hope spacecraft spotted a lot of dust moving around on Mars after a regional storm in January 2022.
NASA and Russia will keep launching each other's astronauts to ISS until 2025: report
By Elizabeth Howell published
The International Space Station will continue to see launching crews mixed with American and Russian astronauts, according to media reports based on a Roscosmos press release.
Artemis 2 moon astronaut says his 1st space launch will feel epic
By Elizabeth Howell published
Canadian Space Agency Artemis 2 astronaut Jeremy Hansen has never been in space before. But he is getting ready for his 1st launch on NASA's Space Launch System in 2024.
Japan's ispace shows off a tiny moon lander for its 2nd moon mission in 2024
By Elizabeth Howell published
The Resilience lander for ispace's 2nd moon mission is under construction, as it aims to send a mini-rover to the lunar surface after a winter 2024 launch.
Will Artemis 2 launch to the moon in 2024? NASA has a lot of work ahead
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission took some important strides toward launch this year, but it's unclear if the ambitious effort will get off the ground as planned in late 2024.
Artemis 2 moon crew invited to visit SpaceX to talk Starship (exclusive)
By Elizabeth Howell published
"This is an amazing time to be a part of this program."
55 years after Apollo 8's Christmas at the moon, a new Artemis crew readies for launch (exclusive)
By Elizabeth Howell published
Apollo 8 flew three astronauts around the moon in 1968. Artemis 2 plans to run a similar mission in 2024 or so, and the mission commander said the astronauts do see parallels in the two missions.
Cygnus cargo craft departs the ISS Dec. 22 for fiery re-entry in new year (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
A Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft departed the International Space Station on Dec. 22, and will make a re-entry into Earth's atmosphere in January.
Private moon lander's SpaceX launch delayed a month, to February
By Elizabeth Howell published
Intuitive Machines will wait an extra month, until mid-February 2024, to send a private moon lander into space atop a SpaceX rocket.
SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule returns to Earth from ISS
By Elizabeth Howell last updated
SpaceX's robotic Dragon cargo ship left the International Space Station on Thursday (Dec. 21) and splashed down a day later.
Virgin Galactic to launch 6th commercial spaceflight on Jan. 26
By Elizabeth Howell published
Virgin Galactic plans to launch its sixth operational spaceflight on Jan. 26, 2024 with four passengers, who are yet to be named.
Artemis 2 moon astronauts discuss 21st-century 'moonshots' with President Biden
By Elizabeth Howell published
New details about the Artemis 2 astronauts' White House meetings last week were released Dec. 19, on the eve of the new National Space Council meeting chaired by Vice-President Kamala Harris.
NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission: Live updates
By Tariq Malik, Elizabeth Howell published
NASA's Artemis 2 mission is returning astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972. See live mission updates here.
What's it like to buzz an Artemis SLS moon rocket with a supersonic jet? NASA's Artemis 2 commander tells all (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
When Artemis 1's moon rocket arrived on the launch pad in 2022, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman spent months gathering a group to fly over it.
Watch Artemis 2 moon crew take a slide for NASA training (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
The next moon astronauts practiced sliding out of their Orion spacecraft during a simulated emergency splashdown. Artemis 2 aims to fly the four astronauts in 2024.
Blue Origin calls off 1st New Shepard rocket launch since 2022 failure due to 'ground system issue'
By Elizabeth Howell published
Blue Origin scrubbed its first mission since Sept. 2022 this morning (Dec. 18), with no new launch date announced. It could attempt flying again as early as this week, however.
'Apollo 13' moon disaster movie hits a new high for film fans
By Elizabeth Howell published
"Apollo 13" showcased a real-life moon mission's troubles in space in 1970. Now, the 1995 film has a new honor: getting preserved in the Library of Congress for future generations.
Artemis 2 astronauts meet President Biden to talk America's next trip to the moon
By Elizabeth Howell published
The Artemis 2 moon astronauts met Dec. 14 with U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris to discuss science and other goals of the round-the-moon mission in 2024.
NASA reveals what 2 tomatoes look like after being lost in space for 8 months (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
NASA showed off two lost tomatoes that astronaut Frank Rubio misplaced nearly a year ago, on the International Space Station. The photo shows remarkable preservation in space.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield would love to fly SpaceX's Starship around the moon (exclusive)
By Elizabeth Howell published
Astronaut Chris Hadfield, former commander of the International Space Station, spoke with Space.com about SpaceX Starship, Starfield and how much Canada's astronaut program has grown in 2023.
See the Geminid meteor shower 2023 light up the sky in these amazing photos
By Elizabeth Howell published
The Geminid meteor shower, one of the best of the year, put on a brilliant show Dec. 13 amid a near-moonless sky. More shooting stars are expected tonight.
SpaceX to launch 3rd private astronaut mission to the ISS for Axiom Space on Jan. 9
By Elizabeth Howell published
One month before SpaceX launches the Ax-3 astronaut mission toward the ISS, Axiom Space's president said he hopes similar missions will become less expensive in the future.