Pluto was discovered 86 years ago today

Pluto was discovered 86 years ago today

On this day in 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto. The existence of a planet beyond Neptune was first proposed by Percival Lowell, who posited that orbital perturbations in the outer planets were being caused by an undiscovered body. Using Lowell’s...
Today’s Deep Space Extra for Thursday, February 18, 2016

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Thursday, February 18, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA pursues Hall thruster development as part of a deep space propulsion strategy for future human exploration. Human Deep Space Exploration NASA taps Aerojet Rocketdyne to develop Hall electric propulsion system Spaceflight Insider...
NASA begins construction of SLS core stage mock-up

NASA begins construction of SLS core stage mock-up

NASA has begun the process of constructing a mock-up of the vast core section of its planned Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The simulated core will serve as a practice tool for NASA prior to the 2018 launch of the SLS, which the agency hopes will move mankind one...
Today’s Deep Space Extra for Thursday, February 18, 2016

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Wednesday, February 17, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA asks students for help with the design of eating utensils for astronauts on deep space missions. Human Deep Space Exploration Star Trek and NASA just issued a replicator challenge Popular Science (2/16): NASA has joined with the...
SLS Monthly Highlights for January

SLS Monthly Highlights for January

The January Highlights Report for SLS is out! In this issue: –The final welding for SLS’s launch vehicle stage adapter (LVSA) has begun at Marshall Space Flight Center. The LVSA will connect two major sections of the SLS — the core stage and the...
Today’s Deep Space Extra for Thursday, February 18, 2016

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Tuesday, February 16, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Human explorers: an important part of advancing scientific discovery on Mars Human Deep Space Exploration Why a Mars landing could be terrific for science The Space Review (2/15): Essayists Chris Carberry and Rich Zucker, of Explore...
NASA Prepares Orion Spacecraft for Its First Big Mission

NASA Prepares Orion Spacecraft for Its First Big Mission

The Orion space capsule is expected one day to carry astronauts to Mars, but for now, NASA is busy getting the vessel ready for its first big exploration mission to the moon. The conical-shaped Orion crew module pressure vessel arrived at Florida’s Kennedy Space...
Today’s Deep Space Extra for Thursday, February 18, 2016

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Friday, February 12, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA readies the next Orion crew capsule for a key 2018 deep space test, while exploration advocates raise concerns over proposed budgets for the spacecraft and its Space Launch System heavy lift rocket. Human Deep Space Exploration...
STS-82 rocketed to orbit 19 years ago today

STS-82 rocketed to orbit 19 years ago today

On this day in 1997, Shuttle Discovery launched STS-82 into space to rendezvous with the Hubble Space Telescope. Launching with seven crew members, Discovery’s mission was to repair and upgrade the telescope’s scientific instruments to increase its...
Today’s Deep Space Extra for Thursday, February 18, 2016

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Thursday, February 11, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The President’s 2017 budget proposal suggests plans for NASA’s asteroid mission may be changing. Human Deep Space Exploration NASA’s asteroid mission isn’t dead yet Ars Technica (2/10): President Obama’s...