NASA’s Kepler spacecraft discovers over a thousand new exoplanets

NASA’s Kepler spacecraft discovers over a thousand new exoplanets

It was a big day for NASA’s Kepler Mission yesterday as the science team announced a momentous finding. They discovered a lot of new planets. How many planets? Fifty or one hundred? Maybe even 500? The mission actually verified 1,284 new planets, the largest...
Today’s Deep Space Extra for Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Wednesday, May 11, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA on track for uncrewed and first piloted Space Launch System/Orion test flights in 2018 and 2021. Human Deep Space Exploration NASA managers: SLS/Orion on track for Fall 2018 launch Spacepolicyonline.com (5/10): Managers for...
NASA’s Orion team celebrates its extended family

NASA’s Orion team celebrates its extended family

Small parts, big ambition. NASA’s Orion crew capsule will take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before. Among the highlights for Orion’s progress in April, special attention and appreciation was given to an important supplier of spacecraft...
Today’s Deep Space Extra for Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Tuesday, May 10, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Opening the door to space mining. Space Science Mining issues in space law Space Review (5/9): Deep Space Industries and the government of Luxembourg have teamed and will join an independent effort already underway by Planetary...
NASA’s next-generation robots will walk the surface of Mars

NASA’s next-generation robots will walk the surface of Mars

How do we get to Mars? Step by step. NASA has sent many robotic missions to Mars, some of which we’ve talked about in the past. Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter How will we continue this legacy of robot explorers on the red planet?...
Today’s Deep Space Extra for Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Monday, May 9, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The golden primary mirror, at the heart of the James Webb Space Telescope, is mesmerizing. Space Science Transit of Mercury coming Monday: What scientists hope to learn Los Angeles Times (5/8): Astronomers plan to give tiny Mercury a...
55 years between 15 minutes and 342 days

55 years between 15 minutes and 342 days

There’s a big difference between 15 minutes and 15 years, right? Not really. Alan Shepard’s flight only lasted 15 minutes, but it began the U.S. human presence in space. The U.S. continues to be involved in human spaceflight through the International Space Station...
Today’s Deep Space Extra for Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Friday, May 6, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA’s human exploration vision extends deep into the solar system. Human Deep Space Exploration Lunar shelter: Moon caves could protect astronauts Space.com (5/5): NASA’s successful GRAIL mission succeeded in mapping the...
The Origin of SLS

The Origin of SLS

So we know NASA’s new rocket is going to be huge. What else do we know about it? To get a better understanding of why the rocket is designed the way it is, let’s take a quick look at the history of SLS. About six years ago, Congress passed a law, called the National...
Today’s Deep Space Extra for Thursday, May 5, 2016

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Thursday, May 5, 2016

  In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Scottish engineers consult with NASA on possible Mars bound humanoid. Human Deep Space Exploration Mars-bound humanoid robot built by Edinburgh scientists and NASA Scotsman (5/4): Valkyrie, a NASA humanoid, has reached the...