NASA: News About the Space Exploration Agency - Page 48

Apr 30, 2009 8:35 PM CDT

Surprise: Mercury Has a Personality

(Newser) - Mercury's not such a dull planet after all. A new batch of papers in Science spells out evidence of a busy volcanic past and describes an unusual impact crater that would stretch from Boston to DC, reports Wired. The papers, which draw from the October flyby of NASA's Messenger craft,...

After 4 Decades,
Physicist Solves
Mystery of
Moon Dust

Apr 23, 2009 8:26 AM CDT

After 4 Decades, Physicist Solves Mystery of Moon Dust

After decades of wondering, Aussie explains its stickiness

(Newser) - Moon dust has been a “bloody nuisance” to NASA for decades, says a physicist: it sticks to spacesuits, clogs instruments, and could be a health risk for future colonists. Scientists believe the stickiness is due to a positive charge from the sun’s rays, NASA says. Now the physicist,...

NASA Names Treadmill
After Colbert

Apr 15, 2009 1:36 AM CDT

NASA Names Treadmill After Colbert

NASA declines to name new nodule after vote-winning Colbert Report host

(Newser) - Steven Colbert missed out on getting the new International Space Station node named after him despite winning a non-binding vote, Space.com reports. NASA decided to call the node Tranquility in honor of Apollo 11's touchdown site 40 years ago, and to console the TV host by naming an astronaut...

NASA to Reveal Module's Name on Colbert Tomorrow

Apr 13, 2009 2:28 PM CDT

NASA to Reveal Module's Name on Colbert Tomorrow

(Newser) - The name of the new life-support node for the International Space Station will be announced tomorrow night on The Colbert Report by a NASA astronaut, InformationWeek reports. At the host’s urging, Colbert fans stuffed online ballot boxes to name the unit, though NASA doesn’t have to comply. “...

NASA, Pols Cringe
at Space Station Costs

Apr 11, 2009 3:56 PM CDT

NASA, Pols Cringe at Space Station Costs

Washington standoff delays funding, key nomination

(Newser) - After years of wrangling, the US and other operators of the International Space Station have resolved to keep the facility operating through 2020, but the 5-year extension deal is creating new challenges, the Wall Street Journal reports. Washington will need to fork out at least $10 billion, which could cut...

Discovery Lands in Florida

updated

Mar 28, 2009 2:17 PM CDT

Discovery Lands in Florida

(Newser) - Shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven returned to Earth today and successfully wrapped up a construction mission that left the international space station with all its solar wings and extra electrical power. Discovery swooped through a cloudy sky and landed at NASA's spaceport in midafternoon, a little later than...

India Struggles to Create
Astronaut 'Space Curry'

Mar 26, 2009 5:31 PM CDT

India Struggles to Create Astronaut 'Space Curry'

(Newser) - One of the biggest challenges of India’s burgeoning space program is culinary, the London Times reports. Researchers at the country’s defense science lab are struggling to adapt the complex, spicy national cuisine into something that will work in space. “Curry tends to be spicy, high in fat...

'Colbert' Wins
Space Station
Name Contest

Mar 24, 2009 9:25 AM CDT

'Colbert' Wins Space Station Name Contest

NASA will have final say

(Newser) - The Colbert Nation did it: NASA’s contest to name a new room at the International Space Station is over, and the winner is “Colbert,” the AP reports. But don’t get too excited yet, Nation: The agency makes the final decision, and only promises to give top...

2 Teachers Make
Mission's Final Walk

Mar 23, 2009 4:58 PM CDT

2 Teachers Make Mission's Final Walk

(Newser) - Two astronauts who were teaching math and science to middle school students just 5 years ago went on a spacewalk together today, their path cleared of dangerous orbiting junk that had threatened the space station and shuttle. It's the first time two former schoolteachers have been on a spacewalk together,...

Astros Fire Up
Thrusters to
Dodge Trash

Mar 23, 2009 2:10 AM CDT

Astros Fire Up Thrusters to Dodge Trash

Space junk becomes increasing concern

(Newser) - Discovery's astronauts fired thrusters yesterday to maneuver the million-pound International Space Station out of the path of approaching space junk, the third such threat to the orbiting lab in two weeks, reports Space.com. The four-inch chunk of debris—from a Chinese rocket that broke apart in 2000—was heading...

Bat Hitched
Short Ride on Shuttle

Mar 18, 2009 3:56 AM CDT

Bat Hitched Short Ride on Shuttle

Stowaway clung to Discovery's fuel tank through blastoff

(Newser) - A small bat clung to the space shuttle Discovery's fuel tank throughout its launch Sunday, Space.com reports. Observation teams had hoped it would fly away before liftoff, but images reveal it stayed with the shuttle as it blasted off from Kennedy Space Center. NASA officials, who judged the bat...

Shuttle Docks at Space Station

Mar 17, 2009 4:41 PM CDT

Shuttle Docks at Space Station

(Newser) - Space shuttle Discovery has arrived at the International Space Station. The shuttle docked with the orbiting outpost late this afternoon, carrying the station's final set of solar wings. Before arriving, Discovery did a 360-degree backflip so station astronauts could photograph its belly. NASA will examine the photos as a precaution...

NASA: Debris Will
Miss Space Station

UPDATED

Mar 16, 2009 8:25 PM CDT

NASA: Debris Will Miss Space Station

(Newser) - NASA gave the all-clear to the international space station tonight, telling its astronauts they would not need to steer away from an orbiting piece of satellite junk. Experts had been keeping close tabs on the debris all day, at one point believing it might pass within a half-mile of the...

Erratic Debris a Concern for
Space Station, Discovery

Mar 16, 2009 2:56 PM CDT

Erratic Debris a Concern for Space Station, Discovery

(Newser) - NASA kept close tabs today on an old piece of space junk that threatened to come too close to the international space station as the shuttle Discovery raced toward the outpost for a 220-mile-high linkup. Experts initially warned that the debris from a Soviet satellite that broke up in 1981...

Discovery Blasts Off
With Crew of 7

Mar 15, 2009 7:00 PM CDT

Discovery Blasts Off With Crew of 7

(Newser) - Space shuttle Discovery is rocketing toward the international space station after more than a month of delays, the AP reports. The space shuttle and its crew of seven blasted off today just as the sun was setting. The shuttle is carrying a final set of solar wings for the space...

Discovery Launch Postponed

Mar 11, 2009 2:53 PM CDT

Discovery Launch Postponed

Fuel valve concerns cause further delays to mission

(Newser) - The Space Shuttle Discovery’s mission to deliver the final piece of a solar power array to the International Space Station was delayed again today, only hours before scheduled launch, CNN reports. The mission had already been postponed a month so technicians could determine whether three valves that control fuel...

Colbert Vies to Be Namesake of NASA Module

Mar 6, 2009 4:24 PM CST

Colbert Vies to Be Namesake of NASA Module

But Joss Whedon's devoted nerd army may spoil comedian's plans

(Newser) - Again proving that his love for self-promotion knows no bounds, Stephen Colbert is urging fans to vote for his write-in suggestion for the name of the new observation deck attachment to the International Space Station, Space.com reports. In two days, Colbert nation has pushed his name to the top...

Climate Research
Faces Years
Without
Satellites

Mar 6, 2009 3:24 AM CST

Climate Research Faces Years Without Satellites

Scientists warn that death of aging satellites will leave dangerous gaps in knowledge

(Newser) - Scientists studying climate change are going to lose their eyes in the sky just when satellite data is most needed to make vital decisions, NPR reports. Years of underinvestment and squabbling between government agencies mean the climate satellites now in orbit will fail long before new ones can replace them,...

NASA Begins Hunt
for Earth-Like Planets

Mar 5, 2009 7:20 PM CST

NASA Begins Hunt for Earth-Like Planets

(Newser) - NASA will launch its Kepler space telescope tomorrow on a 3-year mission to look for planets as habitable to life as Earth, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Kepler will use a sophisticated digital camera, 10 times more sensitive than consumer models, to survey distant stars for orbiting planets with just...

NASA to Reboot Mars Orbiter

Mar 5, 2009 1:59 PM CST