Space

Books
Arts

'Mercury Rising' Explores The U.S.'s Treacherous Attempts to Control Space

3:30pm June 09, 2021

by Dave Davies

In Mercury Rising, historian Jeff Shesol recalls the early days of the U.S. space program, when Cold War fears ruled, and no one was sure Glenn would survive America's first orbital flight.

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The moon appears to cover the sun during an annular eclipse of the sun in May 2012, as seen from Chaco Culture National Historical Park in Nageezi, N.M.

How To See The 'Ring Of Fire' On Thursday

2:47pm June 09, 2021

by Joe Hernandez

Early risers across the Northern Hemisphere will be able to see an eclipse Thursday morning when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun.

National

Jeff Bezos' Space Trek Could Usher In New Era Of Space Tourism

4:46pm June 07, 2021

by Geoff Brumfiel

Jeff Bezos announced that he will make a brief trip into space next month. The launch could herald a new era of space tourism.

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The solar system's largest moon, Ganymede, is pictured with Jupiter in a photo by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on Dec. 3, 2000. NASA's Juno mission got close to Ganymede on Monday.

Science

NASA Spacecraft Made A Flyby Visit To The Largest Moon In The Solar System

2:34pm June 07, 2021

by Joe Palca

NASA's Juno spacecraft traveled to 645 miles above the surface of the solar system's largest moon, Ganymede, on Monday.

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Astronomical text books in Latin are displayed at the Vatican Observatory.

The Vatican's Space Observatory Wants To See Stars And Faith Align

7:53am June 06, 2021

by Sylvia Poggioli

For a long time, the Catholic Church rejected scientific findings that conflicted with its doctrine, even persecuting Galileo. Now the Vatican looks to promote its observatory as a bridge to science.

A mural in Roswell, N.M., displays the town slogan. A mysterious aircraft crash in 1947 led to the local legend of visitors from another planet.

National

The Truth Is (Still) Out There In 'UFO Capital' Roswell, New Mexico

11:18am June 05, 2021

People in "the UFO capital of the world" are eagerly anticipating the release of a Defense Department report on its investigations into Unexplained Aerial Phenomena. As always, some see a cover-up.

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National

Alien Enthusiasts In Roswell, N.M., Eagerly Await The Release Of UFO Report

8:33pm June 04, 2021

by Kirk Siegler

People in "the UFO capitol of the world," Roswell, N.M., are eagerly anticipating the release of a Defense Department report on their investigations into UFOs.

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In an image from video footage from 2015, an unexplained object is seen at center as it soars among the clouds, traveling against the wind. "There's a whole fleet of them," a naval aviator tells another, though only one indistinct object is shown.

How UFO Sightings Went From Conspiracy Theory To A Serious Government Inquiry

5:40pm June 04, 2021

by Bill Chappell

Have alien spacecraft been buzzing across Earth's skies? Turns out it's not just people in tinfoil hats asking that question — it's the U.S. government.

Scientists will study whether microgravity has an impact on the relationship between newly hatched bobtail squid and their symbiotic bacterium.

Science

Why NASA Is Blasting Water Bears And Bobtail Squid Into Space

5:07pm June 03, 2021

by Joe Hernandez

The animals are being launched into the cosmos as NASA researchers attempt to learn more about how the conditions of spaceflight can affect biological organisms and, by extension, future astronauts.

An image of Venus taken by NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft as it sped past the planet in February 1974. NASA has decided to send two new probes to explore Venus.

National

NASA Picks Twin Missions To Visit Venus, Earth's 'Evil Twin'

7:00pm June 02, 2021

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

The two space probes will study Venus, a scorching hot world that may have once been like Earth. NASA chose the Venus missions over other candidates, such as trips to the moons of Jupiter and Neptune.