Andrea Leinfelder
@andrealeinfelder.bsky.social
Space and science reporter @HoustonChronicle.com. Foodie, adventure seeker, mom of two kids and one dog. Send tips and favorite sci-fi references to Andrea.leinfelder@houstonchronicle.com.
Update: Another coronal mass ejection has reached Earth, causing a geomagnetic storm. But so far, this storm is less intense than last night and likely won’t create northern lights that could be seen from Texas. But that could change. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Texans saw the northern lights on Tuesday. Could they be visible again tonight?
The northern lights were spotted in Texas on Tuesday night as an especially strong geomagnetic storm hit the Earth.
www.houstonchronicle.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Update: Another coronal mass ejection has reached Earth, causing a geomagnetic storm. But so far, this storm is less intense than last night and likely won’t create northern lights that could be seen from Texas. But that could change. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
The northern lights danced deep in the heart of Texas as a geomagnetic storm swept the globe Tuesday night. Another storm was expected to hit on Wednesday, though its strength and timing might not create such spectacular views.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Texans saw the northern lights on Tuesday. Could they be visible again tonight?
The northern lights were spotted in Texas on Tuesday night as an especially strong geomagnetic storm hit the Earth.
www.houstonchronicle.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The northern lights danced deep in the heart of Texas as a geomagnetic storm swept the globe Tuesday night. Another storm was expected to hit on Wednesday, though its strength and timing might not create such spectacular views.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Did you see the Northern Lights last night in Texas? Please send me your pictures (and your name/where the photo was taken) for an article in the Houston Chronicle!
November 12, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Did you see the Northern Lights last night in Texas? Please send me your pictures (and your name/where the photo was taken) for an article in the Houston Chronicle!
Intuitive Machines has announced two acquisitions within the past three months as the company pushes beyond moon landers to become a one-stop shop for building, delivering and operating spacecraft.
More on the company's vision:
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
More on the company's vision:
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
How Houston’s moon lander company is hoping to become a ‘new space prime’
Houston’s Intuitive Machines will buy Lanteris Space Systems for $800 million and recently acquired KinetX to accelerate its growth.
www.houstonchronicle.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Intuitive Machines has announced two acquisitions within the past three months as the company pushes beyond moon landers to become a one-stop shop for building, delivering and operating spacecraft.
More on the company's vision:
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
More on the company's vision:
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
A food bank visited NASA’s Gilruth Center on Wednesday.
NASA’s federal employees have been without pay for more than a month, causing a ripple through the Clear Lake community as businesses report slowdowns and seek to support the workers.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
NASA’s federal employees have been without pay for more than a month, causing a ripple through the Clear Lake community as businesses report slowdowns and seek to support the workers.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
NASA employees get assistance from Galveston County Food Bank
NASA employees received milk and fresh produce from the Galveston County Food Bank as the government shutdown became the longest in U.S. history.
www.houstonchronicle.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:18 PM
A food bank visited NASA’s Gilruth Center on Wednesday.
NASA’s federal employees have been without pay for more than a month, causing a ripple through the Clear Lake community as businesses report slowdowns and seek to support the workers.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
NASA’s federal employees have been without pay for more than a month, causing a ripple through the Clear Lake community as businesses report slowdowns and seek to support the workers.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Civil engineers could monitor aging bridges — and make timely repairs — by using satellites that can detect cracks as thin as a credit card.
A UH scientist helped analyze how the Sentinel and NISAR satellites could observe long-span bridges.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
A UH scientist helped analyze how the Sentinel and NISAR satellites could observe long-span bridges.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
How satellites could make the world’s bridges safer
A University of Houston scientist was part of an international research team that found satellite monitoring can help make the world’s bridges safer.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Civil engineers could monitor aging bridges — and make timely repairs — by using satellites that can detect cracks as thin as a credit card.
A UH scientist helped analyze how the Sentinel and NISAR satellites could observe long-span bridges.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
A UH scientist helped analyze how the Sentinel and NISAR satellites could observe long-span bridges.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is asking the Department of Justice to investigate the Smithsonian Institution for “potential violations of the Anti-Lobbying Act,” escalating prior claims as he works to move space shuttle Discovery to Houston.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Cornyn escalates space shuttle saga by requesting a DOJ investigation
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is asking the Department of Justice to investigate the Smithsonian Institution for potential lobbying violations in the battle for space shuttle Discovery.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is asking the Department of Justice to investigate the Smithsonian Institution for “potential violations of the Anti-Lobbying Act,” escalating prior claims as he works to move space shuttle Discovery to Houston.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Texas needs ‘space cowboys’ and statewide talent pipeline to become a hub for space companies
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Not a rocket scientist? Texas is looking for ‘space cowboys’
Texas ranks second among states with the most open commercial space jobs, according to a new report from the Space Workforce Incubator for Texas.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Texas needs ‘space cowboys’ and statewide talent pipeline to become a hub for space companies
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
UH scientists find NASA clean room bacterium ‘plays dead.’ Could other dormant germs be in hospitals?
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
This bacterium 'plays dead' to survive — even inside a NASA clean room
Microbiologists at the University of Houston confirmed that a bacterium found in NASA spacecraft assembly rooms, called Tersicoccus phoenicis, will go dormant when it runs out of food.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
UH scientists find NASA clean room bacterium ‘plays dead.’ Could other dormant germs be in hospitals?
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Updated:
SpaceX and Blue Origin will have "the opportunity to present acceleration approaches by Oct. 29." The agency is also requesting plans from the commercial space industry more broadly for how NASA can "increase the cadence of our mission."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
SpaceX and Blue Origin will have "the opportunity to present acceleration approaches by Oct. 29." The agency is also requesting plans from the commercial space industry more broadly for how NASA can "increase the cadence of our mission."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Could Blue Origin develop Artemis III moon lander? NASA reopens bidding.
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced Monday that he would allow other companies to compete for the Artemis III landing contract that was awarded to the SpaceX Starship spacecraft.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Updated:
SpaceX and Blue Origin will have "the opportunity to present acceleration approaches by Oct. 29." The agency is also requesting plans from the commercial space industry more broadly for how NASA can "increase the cadence of our mission."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
SpaceX and Blue Origin will have "the opportunity to present acceleration approaches by Oct. 29." The agency is also requesting plans from the commercial space industry more broadly for how NASA can "increase the cadence of our mission."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Historically, SpaceX has offset its wetlands destruction by donating land to the state. But now, SpaceX is hoping to preserve one piece of land that can be tapped again — and again — as it develops the world’s most powerful rocket outside of Brownsville.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
SpaceX seeks wetlands mitigation bank to grow Starship launch site
SpaceX wants to create the Rockhands Mitigation Bank to offset a proposed launch pad expansion that would destroy 18 acres of wetlands in South Texas.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Historically, SpaceX has offset its wetlands destruction by donating land to the state. But now, SpaceX is hoping to preserve one piece of land that can be tapped again — and again — as it develops the world’s most powerful rocket outside of Brownsville.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
NASA will allow other companies to vie for its Artemis III human landing system as Starship falls behind schedule in Texas.
Artemis III is now set to launch no later than 2028, suggesting a slip from its launch target of 2027.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Artemis III is now set to launch no later than 2028, suggesting a slip from its launch target of 2027.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Could Blue Origin develop Artemis III moon lander? NASA reopens bidding.
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced Monday that he would allow other companies to compete for the Artemis III landing contract that was awarded to the SpaceX Starship spacecraft.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
NASA will allow other companies to vie for its Artemis III human landing system as Starship falls behind schedule in Texas.
Artemis III is now set to launch no later than 2028, suggesting a slip from its launch target of 2027.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Artemis III is now set to launch no later than 2028, suggesting a slip from its launch target of 2027.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
‘Fiddler on the Moon’ examines if Judaism can be adapted to spaceflight.
“The specifics are Jewish, but the themes are universal. They allow us to explore this intersection of religion and science, which are commonly viewed as polar opposites."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
“The specifics are Jewish, but the themes are universal. They allow us to explore this intersection of religion and science, which are commonly viewed as polar opposites."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
‘Fiddler on the Moon’ examines how Judaism can be adapted to spaceflight
“Fiddler on the Moon: Judaism in Space” is a short documentary on this religion during the Apollo moon landing, space shuttle and International Space Station.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:30 PM
‘Fiddler on the Moon’ examines if Judaism can be adapted to spaceflight.
“The specifics are Jewish, but the themes are universal. They allow us to explore this intersection of religion and science, which are commonly viewed as polar opposites."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
“The specifics are Jewish, but the themes are universal. They allow us to explore this intersection of religion and science, which are commonly viewed as polar opposites."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Using a first-of-its-kind data tool, the Houston Chronicle has mapped out every property that Musk’s companies own in Texas.
We found more than 500 properties across 6,000 acres. Our maps show Musk's sprawling, ambitious and ever-changing empire.
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/art...
We found more than 500 properties across 6,000 acres. Our maps show Musk's sprawling, ambitious and ever-changing empire.
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/art...
Search our maps of Elon Musk’s expanding Texas empire across 500 properties
From rockets to Cybertrucks, Elon Musk’s Texas footprint spans 6,000 acres and 500+ properties. See every site on our interactive maps.
www.houstonchronicle.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Using a first-of-its-kind data tool, the Houston Chronicle has mapped out every property that Musk’s companies own in Texas.
We found more than 500 properties across 6,000 acres. Our maps show Musk's sprawling, ambitious and ever-changing empire.
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/art...
We found more than 500 properties across 6,000 acres. Our maps show Musk's sprawling, ambitious and ever-changing empire.
www.houstonchronicle.com/business/art...
Meet Anna Menon -- a Houston native, private astronaut, mom of two and now one of NASA's newest astronaut candidates.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Meet the Houston mom of two who’s on track to fly to the moon or even Mars
Houston native Anna Menon, who was inspired by a fourth-grade NASA field trip and has already flown to space on a SpaceX mission, has been selected as one of NASA’s newest astronaut candidates.
www.houstonchronicle.com
September 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Meet Anna Menon -- a Houston native, private astronaut, mom of two and now one of NASA's newest astronaut candidates.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Texas A&M researcher helped NASA discover potential signs of past life on Mars
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Texas A&M researcher helped NASA discover potential signs of past life on Mars
Texas A&M University geologist Mike Tice was on the international team of scientists that analyzed data from NASA's Perseverance rover that found a potential sign of past microbial life on Mars.
www.houstonchronicle.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Texas A&M researcher helped NASA discover potential signs of past life on Mars
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
"This finding, by our incredible Perseverance rover, is the closest we've actually come to discovering ancient life on Mars."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
A rock on Mars could suggest tiny life once existed on the Red Planet, NASA says
NASA's Perseverance rover found a rock with "leopard spots" on the Red Planet that could have been created by ancient microbial life.
www.houstonchronicle.com
September 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
"This finding, by our incredible Perseverance rover, is the closest we've actually come to discovering ancient life on Mars."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
From astronauts to algorithms: Houston companies are betting big on space data.
They’re developing artificial intelligence for satellites, data centers that will circle the Earth and a communications network for the moon.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
They’re developing artificial intelligence for satellites, data centers that will circle the Earth and a communications network for the moon.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
From astronauts to algorithms: Houston companies are betting big on space data
Houston's Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines, Cognitive Space and Little Place Labs are focused on the growing market of harnessing data collected in space.
www.houstonchronicle.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:31 PM
From astronauts to algorithms: Houston companies are betting big on space data.
They’re developing artificial intelligence for satellites, data centers that will circle the Earth and a communications network for the moon.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
They’re developing artificial intelligence for satellites, data centers that will circle the Earth and a communications network for the moon.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
SpaceX successfully launches 10th Starship test as Trump eyes looser environmental reviews
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
SpaceX launches 10th Starship test as Trump eyes looser environmental reviews
The SpaceX Starship rocket, the world’s most powerful rocket, took its 10th flight test from Starbase, Texas, on Tuesday.
www.houstonchronicle.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:58 AM
SpaceX successfully launches 10th Starship test as Trump eyes looser environmental reviews
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Volunteers and private landowners clearing debris from last month’s deadly flood in Central Texas have made an unexpected discovery: dinosaur footprints.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Dinosaur footprints spotted while clearing debris from Central Texas floods
Volunteers and private landowners clearing debris from last month’s deadly flood in Central Texas have made an unexpected discovery: dinosaur footprints.
www.houstonchronicle.com
August 8, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Volunteers and private landowners clearing debris from last month’s deadly flood in Central Texas have made an unexpected discovery: dinosaur footprints.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
NASA tells Sen. John Cornyn it’s moving a shuttle to Houston, but nobody is saying which one
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
NASA tells John Cornyn Houston is getting a space shuttle. But which one?
The future of space shuttle Discovery and its possible move to Houston remains murky after officials put out a series of vague statements Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.
www.houstonchronicle.com
August 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
NASA tells Sen. John Cornyn it’s moving a shuttle to Houston, but nobody is saying which one
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
NASA has until Sunday to identify a space vehicle to rehome. The Big Beautiful Bill was written with the intention of moving space shuttle Discovery to Houston, but the Smithsonian is fighting back:
“The Smithsonian Institution owns the Discovery."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
“The Smithsonian Institution owns the Discovery."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Space Shuttle Discovery's move to Houston in limbo as deadline looms
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act gave NASA Administrator Sean Duffy until Sunday to identify a space vehicle to rehome. Will space shuttle Discovery come to Houston?
www.houstonchronicle.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:16 PM
NASA has until Sunday to identify a space vehicle to rehome. The Big Beautiful Bill was written with the intention of moving space shuttle Discovery to Houston, but the Smithsonian is fighting back:
“The Smithsonian Institution owns the Discovery."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
“The Smithsonian Institution owns the Discovery."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Three astronauts and a cosmonaut launched toward the International Space Station Friday, beginning a mission that will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the platform sheltering humans in space.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
SpaceX Crew-11 launches to ISS for 25th anniversary mission
Members of the Crew-11 mission – NASA's Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov – launched from Florida in a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
www.houstonchronicle.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Three astronauts and a cosmonaut launched toward the International Space Station Friday, beginning a mission that will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the platform sheltering humans in space.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
NASA is watching the weather, but Crew-11 is preparing for liftoff in 2 minutes:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0IL...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0IL...
NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 Launch
YouTube video by NASA
www.youtube.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:42 PM
NASA is watching the weather, but Crew-11 is preparing for liftoff in 2 minutes:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0IL...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0IL...
