Articles by Chelsey Ballarte

Covers the space beat along with Alan Boyle and helps with video and other multimedia. She has a passion for all things science and recently graduated from Arizona State University.

From 1979 to 2017: How we’ve changed since the Northwest’s last total solar eclipse

As solar eclipse approaches, Seattle’s Space Sisters prepare for their most ambitious launch yet
How to watch August’s total solar eclipse without actually going outside
‘Space sisters’ plan stratospheric eclipse balloon mission: Which Lego lady should they fly?

Latest from Chelsey Ballarte

Video

Code.org gears up to get 30,000 students psyched up about computer science

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 at 8:50 am

Code.org is giving low-income students a chance to learn how to code through a free course called “Computer Science Discoveries.” The yearlong course, unveiled this week at Code.org’s TeacherCon conference… Read More

Robotic telepresence could be the best way for humans to explore Mars, scientists say

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 22, 2017June 22, 2017 at 5:10 pm

Robotic telepresence could save future Mars explorers from the perils that faced fictional astronaut Mark Watney in “The Martian” — and serve as the most efficient way to study the… Read More

Video

NASA enlists citizen scientists to widen its view of totality during solar eclipse

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 21, 2017June 21, 2017 at 2:52 pm

Scientists are gearing up to gather data from the solar eclipse on Aug. 21, but the most crucial observations can be made during only two minutes of totality — unless… Read More

It’s T-minus-2 months to solar eclipse: Officials brace for totality traffic jams

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 21, 2017June 21, 2017 at 1:05 pm

The all-American total solar eclipse is still two months away, but federal and state agencies are already getting the word out about how eclipse-chasers can keep safe and sane. It’s… Read More

Sunset adds a Seattle spin to tonight’s solstice and the scientific start of summer

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 20, 2017June 20, 2017 at 1:30 pm

Tonight marks the summer solstice, which means Seattleites and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere are saying farewell to spring and ringing in the first day of the summer as… Read More

Video

NASA’s Kepler space telescope points to 10 new planets in the habitable zone

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 19, 2017June 20, 2017 at 2:27 pm

Astronomers say they’ve used NASA’s Kepler space telescope to discover 10 Earth-sized planet candidates where life could lurk. The 10 prospects are a part of a larger pool of 219… Read More

Jeff Bezos accepts top aerospace award and Father’s Day pancakes in one weekend

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 19, 2017June 19, 2017 at 2:10 pm

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and the Blue Origin team has accepted one of the aerospace community’s most prestigious awards, the Robert J. Collier Trophy, for developing a reusable spaceship that… Read More

Video

Author lays out all you need to know about August’s all-American total solar eclipse

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 17, 2017June 19, 2017 at 9:11 am

If you’re planning to witness the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, don’t forget the bubbly. That’s one piece of advice from Seattle’s Bryan Brewer, who’s had five encounters with… Read More

2020 or bust: Planetary Resources is getting more bullish about asteroid mining

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 15, 2017June 15, 2017 at 5:14 pm

Planetary Resources CEO Chris Lewicki wants to let Mars-bound rockets carry five times more cargo than what’s possible today — but he doesn’t plan on simply making bigger rockets. The… Read More

Photos

What it’s like to fly in the 77-year-old Breitling DC-3 as it circles the globe

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 14, 2017June 15, 2017 at 2:56 pm

The Breitling DC-3 airplane is on track to make history as the oldest plane to fly around the world — and after taking a ride, I can report that it… Read More

Amazon patents delivery drone designs with adjustable arms and a winch

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 13, 2017June 13, 2017 at 1:12 pm

Two of Amazon’s newly published patents cover some unorthodox features for delivery drones, including rotor arms that extend and bend as well as a winch for lowering packages to the… Read More

From drugs to fruit flies: What SpaceX took to the International Space Station

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 9, 2017June 10, 2017 at 5:32 pm

SpaceX impressed the world yet again last week with a flawless ground landing of the Falcon 9 rocket and the fact that it became the first commercial space company to… Read More

100 years later, researchers prove Einstein right about starlight

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 9, 2017June 9, 2017 at 12:36 pm

Albert Einstein predicted that starlight could bend and brighten when a faraway star crossed paths with a closer space body, but he never lived to see the day where it… Read More

Video

In first temporary exhibition, Gates Foundation fights gender inequality with stories of hope

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 9, 2017June 9, 2017 at 9:08 am

Edna Adan Ismail wanted to prevent women from dying during childbirth in her home country of Somaliland. It’s not easy for women in her region to get a higher education,… Read More

Video

NASA introduces a dozen new astronauts with Vice President Mike Pence’s blessing

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 7, 2017June 7, 2017 at 1:42 pm

More than 18,300 people applied to be part of NASA’s astronaut corps, and today NASA unveiled this year’s class of seven men and five women. The Class of 2017’s astronaut… Read More

How a huge fire and a competitor nearly took down Modumetal — and why the company’s still standing

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 7, 2017June 7, 2017 at 8:54 am

Modumetal CEO Christina Lomasney took to the stage last month to reflect on her time as an up-and-coming entrepreneur, and tell a roomful of University of Washington Business Plan Competition… Read More

Stealthy startup Alitheon raises $2.8M for digital fingerprinting technology

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 6, 2017June 6, 2017 at 4:04 pm

A startup called Alitheon wants to teach computers to recognize objects, and it’s attracted $2.8 million in funding to do it, according to a report filed today with the Securities and… Read More

Video

President Trump lays out controversial plan to privatize air traffic control system

by Chelsey Ballarte on June 5, 2017June 5, 2017 at 4:18 pm

President Donald Trump is calling on Congress to turn the nation’s air traffic control system over to a private, non-profit organization in an effort to modernize air travel and lower… Read More

Molecule filter maker Membrion wins top prize at University of Washington Business Plan Competition

by Chelsey Ballarte on May 26, 2017May 31, 2017 at 10:33 am

A team of chemical engineering and business students from the University of Washington earned the top prize at the 20th annual UW Business Plan Competition hosted by the Foster School’s Buerk… Read More

Tankfest NW puts military lore on the front lines at Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Museum

by Chelsey Ballarte on May 26, 2017May 29, 2017 at 6:25 pm

This weekend’s Tankfest Northwest serves as the coming-out party for the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum, the recently rebranded showcase supported by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Flying Heritage is… Read More

Proposed bill reportedly could let the government take over and search drones

by Chelsey Ballarte on May 25, 2017May 25, 2017 at 3:13 pm

In a dystopian episode of “Black Mirror,” a hacker tracked and seized control of robotic bees, and the Trump administration is reportedly looking into ways to do that with drones. But instead of… Read More

Christine Gregoire, Lee Huntsman added to Washington Life Science Hall of Fame

by Chelsey Ballarte on May 24, 2017May 24, 2017 at 4:32 pm

The Washington Life Science Hall of Fame welcomed four new inductees into its ranks today. The honor was awarded to a quartet of Washingtonians who have made an impact in research and discovery as pioneers in… Read More

NASA astronaut Anne McClain at Nerd Night Seattle

Nerd Nite meets NASA, sparking memories for an astronaut with deep Northwest roots

by Chelsey Ballarte on May 24, 2017May 24, 2017 at 1:37 pm

The High Dive is known for drawing crowds into the local music scene, but this week, music wasn’t what drew nearly 200 people to the venue – it was NASA.… Read More

President Trump’s budget plan gets a bad review from the science community

by Chelsey Ballarte on May 23, 2017May 23, 2017 at 5:36 pm

President Donald Trump sent his budget request for the next fiscal year to Congress today, giving the science community a glimpse of what may be to come – and many don’t like what… Read More

Video

How Jeff Bezos’ passion for space is inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs and explorers

by Chelsey Ballarte & Alan Boyle on May 21, 2017May 21, 2017 at 5:37 pm

When Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos visited the Museum of Flight this weekend to answer questions from students, the kids did not hold back. “That’s one of the great things about… Read More

Hobbyist defeats FAA in battle over drone registration, but says the fight’s not over

by Chelsey Ballarte on May 19, 2017May 19, 2017 at 4:30 pm

Recreational drone users no longer have to register their flying machines with the Federal Aviation Administration, thanks to a federal court ruling handed down today, but the hobbyist who filed the… Read More

Elysium Space and Seattle’s Spaceflight plan to spread loved ones’ ashes in orbit

by Chelsey Ballarte on May 16, 2017May 17, 2017 at 5:15 am

Elysium Space has struck a deal to give people an out-of-this-world memorial by sending their cremated remains into orbit. The startup, headquartered in San Francisco, announced today that its Elysium Star II… Read More

Video

SkyMapper Sighting signs up citizen scientists to hunt for supernovae

by Chelsey Ballarte on May 16, 2017May 16, 2017 at 3:09 pm

Calling all citizen scientists: The Australian National University wants you to join the search for supernovae. Brad Tucker from the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics says it’s not… Read More

Video

Video: How Made In Space plans to 3-D print huge structures in orbit

by Chelsey Ballarte on May 15, 2017May 16, 2017 at 7:51 am

Made In Space, best known for building the first 3-D printer for outer space, has laid out its plan for building large structures in orbit in two new videos. Archinaut is… Read More

Top Stories from Chelsey Ballarte

Latest from Chelsey Ballarte