Space Missions

Space-Station Astronomy

Solar telescopes are set to be installed on the International Space Station today. A trio of instruments will be added to the new Columbus module.

Space Missions

China Reaches the Moon

A Chinese spacecraft named Chang'e 1 is preparing to study the Moon at close range after successfully settling into lunar orbit.

Space Missions

Life and Death of FUSE

One of NASA's spacecraft has been making great observations of the galaxy for the past 8 years. But there's one small problem: it can't point at its targets anymore.

Astronomy & Observing News

SOFIA Saved!

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, slated for cancellation in NASA's 2007 budget, has been spared.

Astronomy & Observing News

NASA Science in Free Fall

NASA's astronomy program is in a state of crisis as a growing number of space missions are falling to the budgetary ax.

Astronomy & Observing News

Pluto Bound

The New Horizons spacecraft has begun its decade-long voyage to Pluto and beyond.

Astronomy & Observing News

Stardust Comes Home

NASA's Stardust sample return capsule touched down at the US Air Force Utah Test and Training Range at 5:10 a.m. Eastern time on January 15th. Scientists quickly retrieved the craft in order to examine the cometary and interstellar dust grains it contains inside.Courtesy NASA. The Stardust probe landed successfully on…

Astronomy & Observing News

Japanese Space Observatory Suffers Loss

The Japanese/American Suzaku X-ray observatory has lost the use of its flagship instrument.

Astronomy & Observing News

Hubble Spectrograph Fails

A component failure leaves the Hubble Space Telescope unable to record cosmic spectra.

Astronomy & Observing News

Genesis Science Begins

The Genesis spacecraft, launched on August 8th, reached its destination 1.5 million kilometers from the Earth. For the next 29 months it will reside there, collecting solar material.Courtesy JPL/LMA. On November 16th the Genesis spacecraft reached its destination — Earth's L1 Lagrangian point, 1.5 million kilometers (930,000 miles) away —…

Astronomy & Observing News

MAP Hits Its Mark

The Microwave Anisotropy Probe took a convoluted path to reach its observing post at the L2 Lagrangian point, 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.Courtesy MAP/NASA. Three months ago NASA launched its newest astrophysics satellite, the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP), from Cape Canaveral, Florida. After circling Earth three times and getting a…

Astronomy & Observing News

FUSE in Safe Mode

The Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer has been in safe mode since December 10th due to a failing positioning system. Astronomers are currently engineering a fix to the problem.Courtesy FUSE/Orbital Sciences Corp. Just as it began its third year of observations, NASA's Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) went into safe mode…

Astronomy & Observing News

Gamma-Ray Satellite Launched

A new European spacecraft will scan the heavens for high-energy radiation.

Astronomy & Observing News

Launching a Comet Catcher

In the early morning of July 3rd, NASA's Comet Nucleus Tour launched from Cape Canaveral

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