2013: An incredible year in space

26 December 2013

From an inspired cover version to one probe’s giant step for humanity, we look back at 2013’s most important space moments.

More amazing image galleries of the year:

The year in weather

The year in amazing design

The year in wildlife

Want more space galleries...

Best space images of October

Best space images of November

Best space images of December

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Space

Mars

Planet

International Space Station

Universe

Watch: Russian cosmonaut captures stunning aurora from space

Cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov captured the lights over Earth during one of the largest solar storms in more than 20 years.

23 hrs ago

7 days ago

International Space Station (ISS) in orbit (Credit: Nasa)

The life-or-death plan to evacuate a space station

Astronauts orbiting the Earth are drilled to deal with the worst possible scenarios. That includes having to leave a doomed space station – quickly.

7 days ago

BBC journalist split screen with two astronauts.

What happens in space during a medical emergency?

BBC science correspondent Pallab Ghosh explains what happens if an astronaut gets ill in space.

7 days ago

8 days ago

An astronaut in white space suit steps out of spacecraft surrounded by people to help them

Astronauts splash down to Earth after medical evacuation from space station

The four members of Crew-11 beamed as they stepped out of their spacecraft after a safe landing.

8 days ago

NASA astronaut Zena Cardman being helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft . She is smiling at the camera

Watch: Astronauts return to Earth after medical evacuation

Four astronauts who left the International Space Station (ISS) a month early due to one of the crew members falling ill have returned to Earth on Thursday.

8 days ago

2013: An incredible year in space

Listen to the Sun like never before

Astronaut Peggy Whitson: How space changed my body

See Nasa's spectacular new images of Jupiter

The science behind the 'mini moon' entering Earth's orbit

New Nasa sonifications: Listen to the sound of the Universe

Are inflatable habitats the future of life in space?

We're about to witness a once-in-a-lifetime star explosion

This is why Venus is bone dry

Why space isn't as colourful as photos make it seem

Eclipse 2024: What makes it so special?

The eclipse that proved Einstein right

Three unsolved mysteries of the Moon

The age of the Universe might be drastically wrong

Fermi Paradox: Are we alone in the Universe?

Vladimir Komarov: The cosmonaut who fell to Earth

The 'Great Moon Hoax' that fooled the world

Why Mars-bound astronauts may go to Iceland first

Three women who changed the way we see the Universe

The man who 'killed' Pluto

The objects that show physics we don't understand

Watch: Russian cosmonaut captures stunning aurora from space

The life-or-death plan to evacuate a space station

What happens in space during a medical emergency?

Astronauts splash down to Earth after medical evacuation from space station

Watch: Astronauts return to Earth after medical evacuation