(Update) New Venus Arrival! Japan’s AKATSUKI Orbiter

Japan is initiating a hoped for startΒ of a new eraΒ in Venusian exploration with the orbit insertion around the veiled planet on December 7 of its AKATSUKI spacecraft. However, the exact whereabouts of the orbiterΒ is not known due to loss of contact with the craft by...

Japan’s Hayabusa Probe Reportedly Contains Particles from Asteroid

A sample container from Japan’s Hayabusa spacecraft that returned from its seven year round-trip to asteroid Itokawa earlier this year reportedly does contain particles from the space rock. According to several press reports, an analysis of some 1,500 particles found...

Space Station to Achieve 10 Years of Continuous Human Presence on Nov. 2

Tuesday will mark an historic milestone, as the United States, Russia, the European Space Agency, Japan and Canada celebrate the 10th anniversary of a continuous human presence aboard the NASA-led International Space Station. Does a decade with at least two humans and...

Space Leaders Outline Issues, Challenges Ahead

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Here at the 61st International Astronautical Congress, some 3,000 experts from around the world are discussing every facet of 21st century space activity. The theme of the gathering taking place September 27 – October 1 is β€œSpace for human...

Space Station β€œBack to Business as Usual” following Cooling System Problems

Β  Activities aboard the International Space Station resumed normal operations on Thursday, following a near three week campaign to overcome an external pump motor failure that crippled half of the orbiting lab’s cooling system. Back to normal meant that all...

First Satellite Measurement of Water Volume in Amazon Floodplain

Β  The Amazon is the largest drainage basin in the world. And for the first time – thanks to satellites — scientists have been able to measure the amount of water that rises and falls annually in the Amazon River floodplain. An international squadron of...