space – News Stories About space - Page 20

May 13, 2008 2:55 PM CDT

Microsoft Puts Universe on Your Desktop

Astronomers swoon over internet stargazing program

(Newser) - Stargazers got a new toy today, when Microsoft unveiled WorldWide Telescope, a free new program that gives armchair astronomers an unprecedented look at the stars. The program brings Internet space programs to new heights, rendering complete 3D models of thousands of galactic destinations, the New York Times reports.

Mars Photos Suggest
Ancient
Hot Springs

Apr 28, 2008 3:45 AM CDT

Mars Photos Suggest Ancient Hot Springs

Possible sign that life once existed on planet

(Newser) - Scientists have found what look like the remains of hot springs on Mars—a sign life could have existed there, reports the Washington Post. Sophisticated equipment returned images of “mounds” that appear remarkably similar to springs found in Australia, according to scientists. They appear to have dried up tens...

Yankee Stadium Gets Celestial First Pitch Tomorrow

Apr 15, 2008 6:59 PM CDT

Yankee Stadium Gets Celestial First Pitch Tomorrow

US astronaut will do honors via video from space station before meeting with rival Sox

(Newser) - The New York Yankees' final season at Yankee Stadium will see another first tomorrow night, the Daily News reports, with a US astronaut throwing out the first pitch—via video link from the International Space Station. Garrett Reisman, a 40-year-old New Jersey native and lifelong fan of the Bronx Bombers,...

Black Mini Still Has
Hole Lotta Power

Apr 2, 2008 10:10 AM CDT

Black Mini Still Has Hole Lotta Power

15-mile-wide black hole is smallest ever found

(Newser) - Astronomers have spotted the smallest black hole ever discovered, Reuters reports. It is just 15 miles across—the size of a city—but still has a pull strong enough to "stretch your body into a strand of spaghetti," said a NASA researcher. The relative pipsqueak weighs about as...

Saturn Moon Holds
Recipe for Life

Mar 27, 2008 9:27 AM CDT

Saturn Moon Holds Recipe for Life

Life's 'building blocks' found in massive geysers

(Newser) - Basic components of life like heat, organic chemicals, and water have been found on a Saturn moon, Reuters reports. A spacecraft flying over Enceladus this month spotted 500-mile-high geysers spouting off its surface, containing water vapor and the organic molecules found in living things. Though no one’s saying there’...

Endeavour Heads Home

Mar 25, 2008 3:39 AM CDT

Endeavour Heads Home

Crews say farewell as space shuttle undocks from ISS

(Newser) - The space shuttle Endeavour has begun its two-day trip back to Earth after successfully undocking yesterday from the international space station, reports the Houston Chronicle. The seven astronauts on board hailed an "awesome" mission and said fond farewells to their colleagues staying behind. A glitch unlatching a solar panel...

Scientists Find Planets Out of This World

Mar 24, 2008 9:30 AM CDT

Scientists Find Planets Out of This World

Discoveries of, info about new heavenly bodies pour into NASA

(Newser) - Humans took centuries to discover the other planets in the solar system, but in the 13 years since the first additional planet was identified, planetary scientists have found 277 more worlds orbiting other suns. And those extrasolar planets are just the confirmed ones—many more are suspected, and excitement among...

Hidden Ocean Found on
Saturn Moon

Mar 21, 2008 4:13 AM CDT

Hidden Ocean Found on Saturn Moon

Watery Titan and salty Mars could have evidence of life

(Newser) - NASA has unlocked two more of the solar system's secrets, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The Cassini orbiter discovered evidence of an underground ocean churning deep below the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, and the Mars Odyssey spacecraft has found ancient salt deposits on the red planet. Both discoveries have...

Methane Found on Far-off Planet

Mar 19, 2008 4:59 PM CDT

Methane Found on Far-off Planet

Compound, crucial ingredient in early-life chemistry, detected 63 light years away

(Newser) - Methane, one of the simplest compounds known to play a role in the chemical genesis of life, was discovered for the first time to exist on a planet outside Earth’s solar system, the BBC reports. The planet, designated HD 189733b, is 63 light years away and also contains water,...

Dextre Tooled Up, Good to Go

Mar 18, 2008 8:33 AM CDT

Dextre Tooled Up, Good to Go

Spacewalkers put finishing touches on giant space robot

(Newser) - Dextre, the colossal space robot, is ready to go and awaiting instructions after astronauts successfully fitted the 12-foot helper with a tool kit and cameras for "eyes" last night, Space.com reports. Dextre is set to take up residence outside the International Space Station's Destiny lab later today and...

Dextre Stretches His Limbs

Mar 17, 2008 10:30 AM CDT

Dextre Stretches His Limbs

Astronauts test space robot, find minor hiccup

(Newser) - Dextre, the International Space Station’s own gigantic space robot, flexed its mighty arms for the first time last night, the Houston Chronicle reports. Astronauts put the bot through its paces, moving and stopping each of its 14 arm joints. Dextre mostly passed the test; every joint moved perfectly save...

Russian Rocket Fails to Put US Satellite in Orbit

Mar 16, 2008 3:15 PM CDT

Russian Rocket Fails to Put US Satellite in Orbit

Booster failure leaves it short of the altitude telecom device needed

(Newser) - A Russian rocket was unable to launch a US telecommunications satellite into its designated orbit yesterday, the AP reports. The rocket fell 5,000 miles short of its goal of 22,400 miles when the rocket's second booster turned off too early. The satellite could have reached its destination on...

Endeavour Docks After
New Damage Check

Mar 13, 2008 3:45 AM CDT

Endeavour Docks After New Damage Check

Shuttle docks without hitch but launch video shows possible bird hit

(Newser) - The Endeavour docked with the international space station without a glitch yesterday just after the shuttle was again examined for damage, AP reports. The craft did a full backflip before docking so every inch of it could be inspected. Launch videos first revealed that something may have hit the...

Endeavour Blasts Into Space

Mar 11, 2008 6:30 AM CDT

Endeavour Blasts Into Space

Shuttle will dock with space station tomorrow

(Newser) - The shuttle Endeavour thundered off its launch pad early this morning, carrying seven astronauts and two major pieces of hardware to the International Space Station. On board is a $1 billion science module that contains research gear for the station's lab, the first Japanese contribution to the orbital base, reports...

Shuttle to Launch
Giant Robot
Into Space

Mar 10, 2008 2:05 PM CDT

Shuttle to Launch Giant Robot Into Space

It's 12 feet tall, and its name is Dextre

(Newser) - When the shuttle Endeavour launches at 2:28am tomorrow, it will carry what has been pure sci-fi until now: a giant space robot. After astronauts assemble it, Canada’s Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, known as “Dextre,” will roam the outside of the International Space Station completing repairs considered...

Europe to Launch Space Truck

Mar 8, 2008 3:20 PM CST

Europe to Launch Space Truck

Automated vehicle can haul tons of supplies to space station

(Newser) - Europe is about to launch its most sophisticated spacecraft ever, the BBC reports. The “Jules Verne,” set to take off tomorrow, will deliver supplies to the International Space Station while nudging the station higher into its orbit to prevent it from falling to Earth. The freighter is fully...

Japan Launches Super Speed Internet Satellite

Feb 23, 2008 1:33 PM CST

Japan Launches Super Speed Internet Satellite

Technology could lead to fast access across Asia

(Newser) - Japan today launched a satellite that, if successful, will be able to sling information across Japan and remote parts of Southeast Asia at high speeds and low cost, the AP reports. The satellite, dubbed “Kizuna,” won’t be used commercially–instead, scientists will run about 100 experiments on...

Sky's the Limit in Powerful
New Searches for Alien Life

Feb 21, 2008 4:27 AM CST

Sky's the Limit in Powerful New Searches for Alien Life

Pioneering technology rachets up ET hunt

(Newser) - Powerful new instruments will help scientists in their search for extra-terrestrial life, the Christian Science Monitor writes. New telescopes will make it possible for the SETI Institute to scan millions of star systems for alien radio signals. Only a thousand have been analyzed in detail so far, but the institute...

Space Shuttle Heads for Earth

Feb 18, 2008 7:58 AM CST

Space Shuttle Heads for Earth

Atlantis returns as March 11 flight rolls onto launch pad

(Newser) - The space shuttle Atlantis parted ways with the International Space Station this morning and headed back towards the confines of Earth, even as NASA was rolling another shuttle onto the launch pad, preparing for its March 11th mission. In its 9-day stay, Atlantis attached Europe’s first permanent laboratory to...

Satellite
Shootdown
May Cost $60M

Feb 16, 2008 11:51 AM CST

Satellite Shootdown May Cost $60M

Navy likely to take aim next week, after shuttle Atlantis returns

(Newser) - The Navy's attempt to shoot down a malfunctioning spy satellite will cost up to $60 million, CNN reports. Three Navy ships are preparing for the mission, which could take place next week, but only after the space shuttle Atlantis returns. The Navy hopes to destroy the satellite, which has half...