Astronauts face a variety of perils as they head into outer space. But could time spent in zero-g possibly alter their genetic make-up?
NASA Probe Enters Lunar Orbit
As many of us were waiting for the ball to drop on New Years' Eve, NASA scientists were ringing in 2012 with a new lunar probe heading into orbit. After a 3½-month journey, a NASA spacecraft flew over the moon's south pole, fired its engine and dropped into orbit Saturday in the first of two [...]
Two Earth-Sized Planets Discovered
Astronomers with NASA's Kepler Spacecraft announced the discovery of two Earth-sized planets yesterday.
Private Mission to Space Station Approved
NASA has approved the first commercial space flight to the International Space Station.
SpaceX will launch its Dragon cargo capsule on February 7, 2012 for the first linkup of a private-sector craft with the ISS.
Scientists Find Evidence of Fifth Giant Planet
Our solar system has always had four giant planets--Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus. But millions of years ago, there may have been a fifth giant planet that was booted out of the solar system.
Giant Asteroid Passes Close To Earth
While our planet was in any immediate danger last night, a giant asteroid passed extremely close to us last evening. With a diameter estimated at 400 meters, or about a quarter of a mile, Asteroid 2005 YU 55 is the biggest asteroid to make a close pass by Earth since 1976. During its closest approach, [...]
Orbiter Will Get Close to the Sun
A new mission will take the Solar Orbiter closer to the Sun than any other human made object before.
NASA Offers TweetUps for Mars Rover Mission
One hundred and fifty lucky NASA Twitter followers are going to get the chance of a lifetime. The space agency is offering 150 followers the chance to witness the United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 take-off for the red planet of Mars. The latest Mars rover — the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover — will [...]
NASA Says Satellite Could Hurt Someone Friday
You may want to keep an eye on the sky this Friday. NASA says there is a chance a defunct satellite could enter the planet's atmosphere and potentially hit someone.
NASA Releases Photos of Apollo Landing Sites
Remember when we used to go the moon? It's been a while since a lunar trip but NASA wants to refresh your memory of those days and is releasing a new set of images depicting the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 landing sites. The images, snapped by the space agency's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), show [...]
NASA Teams Up With Tor
We've all heard stories about how many of NASA's scientists and astronauts were inspired by the worlds of science-fiction. Now, the space agency is teaming up with Tor books to create a new line of science-fiction novels that will highlight concepts relevant to current and future NASA missions and operations. "Ultimately this agreement will benefit [...]
Agency Looks To Send Humans Beyond the Solar System
The agency that helped develop the Internet is looking into ways to send humanity to the stars and beyond. DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) will award $500,000 to a group later this year to study what it would take to get humanity exploring the universe. The exploration plan would consider a variety of [...]
Rover Reaches Edge of Crater
The exploration of Mars by the Mars Opportunity rover continues. The rover reached Spirit Point yesterday. The rover is overlooking a 14-mile-wide crater where clay minerals might have formed during a warmer, wetter period.











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