Space

Science

Probe Gets Close To The Sun — Finds Rogue Plasma Waves And Flipping Magnetic Fields

6:01pm December 04, 2019

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

The initial results from an ambitious mission to get a spacecraft close to the Sun are shedding new light on some old mysteries about our closest star.

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Part of the Perseid meteor shower, seen in Salgotarjan, Hungary, on Aug. 13. Two astronomers predict the Alpha Monocerotids showers will be a more intense showing.

A Rare Meteor Shower May Grace The Skies Tonight

5:51pm November 21, 2019

by Paolo Zialcita

Some scientists predict the Alpha Monocerotids meteor shower will be visible at 11:50 p.m. ET. However, one NASA expert is skeptical of the forecast.

It's Been 50 Years Since Apollo 12 Landed On The Moon

5:03am November 19, 2019

by Geoff Brumfiel

On this date in 1969, Apollo 12 landed on the surface of the moon. But it seems this moon mission is overshadowed by the more famous Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 landings. But why?

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North American Skywatchers Prepare For Transit Of Mercury

6:24am November 11, 2019

Don't look at it with the naked eye, but there's a rare celestial event happening Monday morning. Mercury' is gliding between Earth and the Sun.

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The planet Mercury is seen in silhouette, lower left, as it transits across the face of the sun on May 9, 2016. Another transit of Mercury — the last one for 30 years — will take place Monday.

Science

Skywatchers In North America Hope For Clear Skies To See Transit Of Mercury

7:00am November 10, 2019

by Scott Neuman

Monday morning, the solar system's innermost planet will begin a 5.5-hour march across the disc of the sun. All you need to see it are clear skies and access to a telescope with a sun filter.

Space Station Astronaut Casts Absentee Ballot From Space

5:52am November 06, 2019

Election officials in Pennsylvania set up a secure PDF so that Andrew Morgan could vote from the comfort of the International Space Station. No word on whether he got an "I voted" sticker.

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The U.S. Air Force's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Mission 5 is seen after landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida on Sunday.

National

Secret Air Force Space Plane Lands After More Than 2 Years In Orbit

8:19am October 28, 2019

by Scott Neuman

The X-37B, launched in September 2017, has returned to Earth. It was the fifth acknowledged mission for the vehicle since 2010, but details of its mission are being kept under wraps.

Engineer Joel Steinkraus tests solar panels on one of two CubeSats that made up NASA's Mars Cube One mission. The MarCO CubeSats — the first to be sent into deep space — flew to Mars and relayed telemetry from NASA's InSight lander.

Science

Itty-Bitty Satellites Take On Big-Time Science Missions

1:47pm October 23, 2019

by Joe Palca

CubeSats are only about twice the size of a Rubik's Cube. Once dismissed as tools for students learning the principles of aerospace engineering, they're now being used for more sophisticated missions.

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Instrument Deployment Camera on Mars InSight lander showing scoop "pinning" thermal instrument called the mole.

NASA Scientists Have A New Way To Try And Free InSight Lander That's Stuck On Mars

8:23am October 18, 2019

by Joe Palca

A sophisticated thermometer on NASA's Mars InSight lander has been stuck for months. It was supposed to drive down 16 feet into the Martian soil but stopped. So scientists used a novel way to free it.

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All-Female Space Walk Friday

5:12am October 18, 2019

by Brendan Byrne

Friday marks the first time a space walk has comprised only female astronauts. Women have walked in space before but the walk scheduled for Friday reflects a real change in the astronaut corps.

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