NASA: Floating 'junk' no threat to space station

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Nov 28, 2009 | 4.7 / 5 (3) | 0

(AP) -- NASA says a piece of old space junk that it's been tracking for a few days is no threat to the International Space Station.

NASA Buys Additional Space Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Motors

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 16, 2009 | 5 / 5 (2) | 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA has purchased two reusable solid rocket motors from ATK Launch Systems Inc. of Brigham City, Utah, to provide a "launch on need" rescue capability for the final planned space shuttle mission, targeted ...

Japan's 'space beer' sparkles among drinkers

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 07, 2009 | 3.2 / 5 (6) | 0

A Japanese brewer has come up with a beer that's truly out of this world -- one made with barley grown from a line of seeds that once orbited the Earth aboard the International Space Station.

Astronauts to taste 'space sushi'

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 03, 2009 | 5 / 5 (1) | 0

US astronaut Timothy Creamer said on Thursday he was impatient to taste "space sushi" courtesy of his Japanese crewmate after they arrive on the International Space Station (ISS) later this month.

Astronauts blast off for Christmas space mission

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 20, 2009 | 5 / 5 (2) | 0

(AP) -- A Russian rocket blasted off from a cosmodrome in Kazakhstan lighting up the frigid Central Asian steppe Monday, shuttling an American, a Russian and a Japanese to the International Space Station.

ISS astronauts land safely in Kazakhstan

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 01, 2009 | 5 / 5 (3) | 0

A space capsule carrying a Belgian, a Canadian and a Russian landed safely in the steppes of Kazakhstan on Tuesday after the trio spent half a year on the International Space Station (ISS).

Top US lawmaker skeptical of new space funding

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 17, 2009 | 4.2 / 5 (6) | 4

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was personally skeptical of manned space missions and warned that NASA's future funding could depend on whether it was likely to create jobs.

Herschel Space Telescope uncovers the sources of the Cosmic Infrared Background

Space & Earth / Astronomy

Dec 16, 2009 | 5 / 5 (12) | 4

(PhysOrg.com) -- Using first observations with the PACS Instrument on board ESA’s Herschel Space Telescope, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and other institutions have ...

Taiwan unveils super-tiny microchip

Technology / Semiconductors

Dec 16, 2009 | 4.3 / 5 (6) | 1

Taiwan has developed tiny microchips that could lead to lighter and cheaper laptops or mobile phones, researchers and observers said Wednesday.

NASA captures a visible image of Cleo's new eye

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

Dec 08, 2009 | not rated yet | 1

The Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies on NASA's Aqua satellite has amazing resolution from space, and captured Cleo's cloudless eye early this morning. Cleo has intensified ...

NRL Sensor Observes First Light

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 02, 2009 | not rated yet | 0

The Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager (SSULI) developed by NRL's Spacecraft Engineering Department and Space Science Division, launched October 18, 2009 on the U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite ...

Virgin Galactic readies maiden suborbital flight

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 06, 2009 | 5 / 5 (23) | 10

British billionaire Sir Richard Branson will unveil a craft on Monday that could soon carry tourists on an out-of-this-world trip into space -- for a mere 200,000 dollars. (Update: Virgin Galactic unveils commercial spaceship) ...

Calif. space tourism firm launches S. Korea deal

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 18, 2009 | 5 / 5 (2) | 0

(AP) -- A California company developing a rocket plane for space tourism announced Thursday that it has an agreement with a nonprofit group in South Korea to conduct launches in that nation.

People who 'see' numbers have better memories for dates

Medicine & Health / Neuroscience

Dec 15, 2009 | 5 / 5 (6) | 3

(PhysOrg.com) -- A new research project has shown that people who perceive numbers visually, and who see sequences of numbers as visual patterns, have better memories for dates and events in the past than ...

Astronauts to carry Christmas cheer to ISS

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 19, 2009 | 5 / 5 (3) | 0

Despite being separated from their families, astronauts heading to the International Space Station next week are excited to be spending Christmas in space, a crew member said Saturday.