Cassini

After 13 years in the Saturn system, the Cassini mission ended on September 15, 2017, when the probe plunged into Saturn itself.

The mission is responsible for most of what we now know of Saturn, its rings, and its moons.

Lunar Trip?

SpaceX was scheduled to fly a manned mission around the Moon in 2018.

So far, it has flown no manned flights.

EMP

Perhaps the most potentially consequential story touching space in 2017 involves the North Korean ICBM that could reach America.

The American media tends to couch that threat in terms of losing a city, but the bigger threat involves creating an electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, by detonating a thermonuclear bomb in space.  That could take down the U. S. power grid.

Bruce McCandless

Former astronaut Bruce McCandless, the first human to spacewalk untethered to his ship, died last week.

He was 80.

Gravitational Waves

The discovery pf gravitational waves in 2017 confirmed Einsteion's description of space.

It also meant astronomers can now use those waves as well as light to study the universe.

Vandenburg Launch

SpaceX launched satellites from Vandenburg in California yesterday.

UFO reports followed as the booster put on a show.

Falcon Heavy

SpaceX' Falcon Heavy rocket is now on the pad at Cape Canaveral.

It's scheduled to launch next month.

UFOs

A former UFO investigator for the Pentagon says we may not be alone in the universe.

He says more attention should be given to reports by military pilots who see vehicles in the sky that seem to be well beyond any aircraft they know.

Pulsar Life

A new study finds pulsars could possibly have life-bearing planets.

The worlds would likely be super Earths because their atmospheres would be a million times as thick as Earth's to block the pulsars' deadly radiation.

UFOs

The New York Times reports the Pentagon has been actively studying UFOs since 2007.

The Pentagon contends the project shut down in 2012, but there are indications it continued after that and may still be active.

Silk Road

Satellite imagery is revealing lost empires and outposts along the legendary Silk Road trading route in Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, the area is too dangerous at present for the sites to be studied from the ground.

Kepler 90

Astronomers have established the Kepler 90 star system has at least eight planets, the last two being found using artificial intelligence.

There may be even more planets in the system.

SpaceX Success

SpaceX successfully launched a Dragon cargo ship to ISS today.

It was done with a previously flown booster-- a step forward.

Ceres

A new study suggests the dwarf planet Ceres may still be active.

It also suggests the mysterious bright spots on Ceres could indicate the little world once had a global ocean.

Moving Out

Space industry experts have argued recently that humanity's expansion into deep space is inevitable.

They didn't say how or when, though..

New Space Policy

President Trump signed a new space policy order yesterday which says America will return to the Moon and go on to Mars.

The policy has broad support in industry and in Congress.

Intellectual Infrastructure

There are many challenges to overcome-- scientific, technological, financial, political-- before we colonize Mars.

Legal questions of sovereignty, jurisdiction, property rights, and commercial rights all have to be answered, as well.

Mullenberg

Boeing CEO Dennis Mullenberg responded to Elon Musk, saying he was confident the first person to set foot on Mars will fly there on a Boeing rocket.

We'll see.

Musk

 

Elon Musk is challenging Boeing to beat him in putting humans on Mars.

 

Musk plans to start colonizing Mars in 2024.

K2-18b

Researchers have found a world 111 light years away that could harbor life.  It's called K2-18b.

K2-18b is a super-Earth that orbits in the habitable zone of a red dwarf.

Big Bang Questioned

A new paper suggests the universe did not begin with the Big Bang, but has been expanding and contracting forever.

There is no physical evidence to choose either theory.

Europa

The conclusion of a new study strengthens the case for plate tectonics on Europa.

That, in turn, strengthens the case for life in Europa's subsurface ocean.

Truth

Thousands of people all over the world over decades have told stories of being abducted by aliens.  Most offer no proof, but the narratives are often consistent down to details.

Should these people, therefore, be believed, at least as far as investigating their claims?  So far, the mainstream media has largely ignored them.

Voyager 1

Voyager managers recently tried to ignite the backup thrusters of Voyager 1, which hadn't fired in 37 years.

Amazingly, they worked!

Mars Water

If Mars has salty water on its surface, it might come from underground aquifers, researchers say.

They cite ponds in Antarctica as analogies.

Oumuamua

Oumuamua has been identified by astronomers as the first known interstellar object in the Solar System.

Speed and orbital path are the pillars of the argument.  It's simply moving too fast to stay in the Solar System, and its trajectory confirms it came from outside.

North Korea

North Korea tested a new ICBM yesterday that could reach anywhere in America.

The real threat, however, could be the capability to deliver and explode a thermonuclear device directly over America, creating an electromagnetic pulse that could knock out the power grid for weeks or months.

Pulsars

Fifty years ago, Jocelyn Bell discovered pulsars, deepening our understanding of the universe.

At first, because of the extreme regularity of pulsar signals, some speculated they were sent by an alien race.

Red Blood Cells

A new study suggests astronauts do not lose red blood cells while in space as previously thought.

That would be one more small step on the way to Mars.

Mars City

A team from MIT has won an international competition to design a city to be built on Mars.

The city would support 10,000 people.

Apollo 12

Forty-eight years ago today, Apollo 12 came home.

Pete Conrad and Alan Bean had executed the second manned lunar landing on the mission.

InSight

NASA's next Mars lander, InSight, has passed its last big test.

Launch is scheduled for next spring.

Mars Streaks

A new study of the dark streaks seen on slopes on Mars are likely flows of sand.

It admits, however, the streaks could also be caused by flowing liquid water.

BFR

SpaceX expects the U. S. Government to help pay for the development of its BFR system.

That development, however, will go forward in any case.

Spacesuits

A new spacesuit is being developed privately in Canada.

Developers see it being used in commercial spaceflight.

Arecibo

Despite minor damage from Hurricane Maria, the Arecibo Observatory will remain open.

Funding, however, will have to change.

Zuma

SpaceX is set to launch the Zuma spacecraft for the U. S. Government.

What exactly Zuma will do, however, is secret.

Sending A Message

A group of scientists and artists sent a radio message to a red dwarf a dozen light years away last month.  A super Earth that might be capable of supporting life orbits the dwarf.

So much for building a consensus.

Ross 128b

Astronomers have found another near Earth mass world that might support life.

It orbits the red dwarf Ross 128, only 11 light years away.

Enceladus

Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, of Breakthrough fame, is considering a privately funded mission to Saturn's fascinating little moon, Enceladus.

The probe would fly through Enceladus' famed geyser plumes in search of evidence of life.

Perspective

Alibaba reported revenue of $25 billion on Singles Day.  One day.

That''s $6 billion more than NASA's current annual budget.

E-coli

NASA is launching E-coli bacteria to ISS to study the effects of antibiotics on microgravity.

Antibiotics are becoming less effective as bacteria evolve to resist them.

Four Hundred Years

On November 9,. 1620, the Mayflower landed in America.  In the less than 400 year period since, the most powerful nation in history has arisen in North America-- an eyeblink in time.

What will Earth's Moon and Mars be like in 400 years?

Ceres

Two new studies suggest the dwarf planet Ceres may once have had a global ocean of liquid water.

Most of the water, researchers think, is still there, bound in the rock.

Hawking

Stephen Hawking argues that if humanity is still confined to Earth in 600 years it may well go extinct.

He cites overpopulation as the cause.

Proxima Centauri

A new study has found a dust ring-- possibly two-- around Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Sun.

The ring, similar to the Kuiper Belt, suggests Proxima Centauri might have a multi-planet system.

Chinese Spaceplane

China plans to launch a reusable spaceplane by 2020 according to China's state-run news agency.

The vehicle, which could carry people or cargo, would take off and land horizontally.

Laika

Sixty years ago today, the dog Laika was launched into space by the Soviet Union.

She was the first mammal in space.

Oceans On Jupiter?

A new study suggests that gas giants, like Jupiter, may start out as warm water worlds only slightly bigger than Earth.

The next step is to see if the theory fits the general gas giant population.

Astronauts' Brains

A new study documents how the brains of astronauts change during long duration spaceflights.

Of course, so far, many astronauts have remained physically vigorous and mentally active well into old age.

Odd Couple

Scientists have found a world the size of Jupiter orbiting a star only half as massive as the Sun.

How such a tiny star could have such a huge planet is unknown.

Booster Success

SpaceX successfully soft landed its 19th booster recently.

It has also re-flown three booster.

Future Storms

A new study by planetary scientists says Earth's climate is becoming more efficient in its energy usage.

Unfortunately, that will mean more storms and more powerful storms.

Interstellar Visitor?

Astronomers have found what seems to be an interstellar object flying through our solar system.

This would be the first such object discovered.

Bridenstine

Senate Democrats are opposing the nomination of Rep. Bridenstine to be NASA administrator.

Bridenstine, they say, has expressed skepticism about climate change, among other things.

Tabby's Star

NASA has 9 possible explanations for the strange dimmings of Tabby's Star.

In other words, NASA doesn't know what's going on.

Moonbase Hawaii

A conference in Hawaii earlier this month has helped lay the groundwork for a return to the Moon.

Among other initiatives adopted, a prototype moonbase will be built on the Big Island.

Paul Weitz

Former astronaut Paul Weitz, who served on the crew that saved  Skylab before commanding the maiden flight of space shuttle Challenger, died of cancer yesterday.

He was 85.

Phobos

A new NASA study finds the solar wind electrically charges certain areas of the Martian moon Phobos.

The charge could hamper future utilization of Phobos as a human base.

Lunar Lava Tube

Japanese and American researchers have found a lava tube on the Moon large enough to shelter a lunar colony from harmful radiation and the wild temperature swings at the surface.

The entrance to the tube is in the Marius Hills on the Ocean of Storms.

Mars Meltwater

A new study suggests meltwater from glaciers on ancient Mars may have cut some of the valleys we see today.

The computer model used assumes a cold Mars, but has afternoon temperatures just warm enough to melt water at the glaciers edges.

S. S. Gene Cernan

The next Cygnus ISS resupply ship has been named for former astronaut Eugene Cernam, who passed away earlier this year.

Cernan is the last Apollo astronaut to have stood on the Moon.

To The Moon

The United Launch Alliance and Bigelow Aerospace plan to team up to put a space station into lunar orbit by 2023.

The station will consist of at least one of BA's B330 inflatable modules.

Einstein Was Right

Astronomers  have observed the merger of two neutron stars, an extraordinary event.

The merger produced  gravitational waves and other effects predicted by Einstein.

Branson

The president of Virgin Galactic says his boss, Richard Branson, likely won't visit space in six months.

VG still plans to begin commercial flights by the end of 2018, however.

Ion Propulsion

NASA and the University of Michigan are developing an ion propulsion system that could take humans to Mars within 20 years.

The system would be more efficient and much faster than a chemical rocket.

NASA's Future

NASA envisions a behind-the-scenes role for itself as humans go to Mars.

The agency would set technical standards and own infrastructure, not lead.

Branson

Sir Richard Branson said on  CNBC this morning he'll be disappointed if he doesn't fly into space within six months.

Branson has pledged he and his family will be on Virgin Galactic's first passenger flight.

Mars Thermal Vents

A recent study finds thermal vents could have existed at the bottom of an ocean on early Mars.

Such places could be where life begins.

BEAM

NASA is extending the stay of Bigelow Aerospace's BEAM inflatable module at ISS.

BA sees BEAM as a step towards a private space station.

Pale Green Dot

Proxima Centauri b could look green if there's oxygen in its atmosphere, researchers say.

The green would come from auroras, not vegetation.

The Next Giant Leap

Vice President Mike Pence has announced the U. S. Trump administration will return astronauts to the Moon as a stepping stone towards sending humans to Mars.

He also said America will work with international partners and commercial interests to build a space economy.

Perspective

Costco is reporting revenues of over $42 billion dollars in its latest quarter.

That's more than twice NASA's projected annual budget.

No Alien Megastructure

Astronomers have concluded there is no megastructure around Tabby's Star.

They say dust causes the odd dimming.

Sputnik

Today is the 60th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik.

Few events really change the world, but Sputnik did.

Mars Methane

New research suggests intermittent warm periods on Mars can be explained by explosions of methane into the atmosphere.

During such warm periods, lakes of water could exist on the surface.

Mars Water

Researchers going back over old data have found evidence suggesting there may be water near the equator of Mars.

That would be a boon to future manned Mars exploration.

Mars Base Camp

Elon Musk isn't the only businessman focused on Mars.  Lockheed Martin is also developing a mission architecture, called the Mars Base Camp, that would support thousand day manned missions.

The MBC itself would be an orbital outpost that would serve as a staging base for surface exploration excursions.

Musk

Elon Musk says he can begin colonizing Mars by 2022.

He also plans a rocket service that can deliver a person anywhere on Earth in an hour.

NASA-Russia Agreement

NASA and Russia have signed an agreement to build a small space station in lunar orbit.

They are also seeking other international and private industry partners.

Arecibo

The Arecibo Observatory seems to have come through Hurricane Maria fairly well.

Short term, it may serve as a FEMA emergency resource.

Aussie Space

Australia has announced it is creating a national space agency.

The idea has been around for decades, but the government feels Australia is now in a position to participate in the new era of space operations.

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY

The new STAR TREK television series premiered on CBS last night.

From now on, it will be on CBS AllAccess.

Arecibo Damaged

Early indications are that the giant Arecibo radio telescope was damaged by Hurricane Maria.

A large antenna was blown off; the resulting debris punched holes in the telescope's main dish.  A smaller dish was also damaged.

Iran

Iran says it is strengthening its missile capabilities, to include a missile that can carry multiple warheads.

Western analysts have often argued Iranian efforts in space were a cover for the development of ICBMs.

Areceibo

Puerto Rico is totally without power in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

The Areceibo radio telescope is down for an undetermined period.

Mars Lab

NASA supports a small lab at the University of Florida that simulates conditions on Mars to determine whether Earth microbes could live there.

So far, 31 possibles have been found.

Back To Saturn

NASA is already looking at ways to go back to Saturn.

Among the possible new missions are a Saturn atmospheric probe and missions focused on the moons Titan and Enceladus.

NG Buys OATK

Northrop Grumman has bought Orbital ATK in a deal worth $9.2 billion.

NG helped build the earliest American spacecraft, while OATK is a NewSpace company.

Vesta Ice

A new study suggests there may be significant amounts of water ice under the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta.

Water has now been established as a major component throughout the Solar System, which augurs well for human expansion into space.

Lunar Water

Researchers have produced the first map detailing the distribution of water on the Moon.

The map shows water is distributed widely across the surface with greater concentrations in the polar regions.

Cassini

Cassini will end its mission to Saturn tomorrow by plunging into the planet's atmosphere.

The point of the plunge is to prevent the probe from accidentally contaminating moons that may harbor life.

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic says it will begin powered test flights of SpaceShipTwo shortly.

Sir Richard Branson wants to begin commercial flights by the end of 2018.

Boron

Curiosity has found boron on Mars.

That's important because boron can be key in the development of life.

Whales

Solar flare activity might play a role in sperm whale beachings, new research suggests.

Flares can disrupt Earth's magnetic field, which in turn could throw off the whales' navigational sense.

Florence

Florence, the asteroid that had a close approach to Earth last week, has two small moons.

It also has a ridge and at least one large crater.

Tough Time

Harvey hammered Houston, and now Irma is threatening all of Florida.

It's a tough time for NASA.

Venus Rover

NASA is looking at a Venus rover that would operate mechanically as well as electronically.

The heat and pressure at the surface of Venus would destroy the usual electrical system within minutes.

Voyager 1

Voyager 1 launched 40 years ago yesterday, on its way to the gas giants and beyond.

Today it's in interstellar space and still functioning, a remarkable achievement.

EMP

A nuclear blast correctly placed just above the atmosphere-- or a particularly powerful solar outburst aimed at Earth-- could take down an electric grid and disable defense system.  Such an event is called an electromagnetic pulse, or EMP.

North Korea could be close to being able to deliver such a punch.  Since the bomb would not re-enter the atmosphere, there is no heat shield problem.

Whitson

Peggy Whitson is safely home after 288 days on ISS.

All told, she now has 665 days in orbit, an American record.

It's Bridenstine

Oklahoma Representative Jim Bridenstine will be nominated to be the next NASA administrator, according to the White House.

Bridenstine has been active in space policy throughout his three terms in the House.

TRAPPIST-1

A new study holds the seven Earth-like planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system could have water.

Three of those planets are in that star's habitable zone.

Flashes

The Breakthrough Listen project has found 15 sources of flashes in a dwarf galaxy 3 billion light years away.

The flashes could be natural phenomena, but as yet they remain unexplained.

Harvey

NASA's Johnson Space Center closed during Hurricane Harvey.

The area around JSC got 42 inches of rain.

North Korea

North Korea launched a missile over Japan yesterday. 

The missile seemed to have the range to reach Guam.

Proxima b

A new study suggests Proxima b's atmosphere may have been stripped away by high energy blasts from its red dwarf parent, thus making the world uninhabitable.

Red dwarfs are extremely active, especially early on, so life around them may be rare.

Space Leadership

NASA is still operating under an acting administrator.  President Trump has yet to nominate a new one.

Mr. Trump has established a new National Space Council, however.

Florence

The asteroid Florence, at almost 3 miles across, will come within 4.4 million miles of Earth on September 1.

This will be its closest approach until after 2500.

Titan Mission

NASA is looking at a mission to Titan to study that world's interior.

There's a possibility that Titan has an ocean of liquid water under its surface.

Martian Snowstorms

A new study suggests there could be snowstorms on Mars-- but only at night.

The study sees the Martian atmosphere as much more dynamic than thought.

AI In Space

NASA is planning to rely increasingly on artificial intelligence on missions so far away that constant communication with Earth is impossible.

Developing AI for such missions will no doubt hasten its adoption in society generally.

Eclipse

Today a total eclipse runs coast-to-coast across the United States.

Total solar eclipses are among the most awe-inspiring spectacles in nature, and the most benign.

Powering Mars

According to the engineering firm Siemens, powering a Mars colony could involve a combination of solar power, with solar panels deployed on the surface, wind farms, and batteries.

It would be a decentralized system, not dependent on any one factor.

TRAPPIST-1

TRAPPIST-1 and its planets may be twice as old as the Sun, a new study suggests.

That would give life plenty of time to evolve.

Perspective

Wal-Mart has announced quarterly revenues of over $123 billion.

That's more than six times NASA's annual budget.

For All Mankind

A group called For All Mankind is working to protect the six Apollo landing sites on the Moon as heritage areas.

It intends to present its plan to the United Nations shortly.

WOW!

Forty years ago today, Ohio State's Big Ear radio telescope picked up the famous WOW! signal, the best known presumed false alarm in SETI history.

The signal has never been acquired again, and it remains unexplained.

Voyagers

Both Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977, are still functioning today.

It's a remarkable tribute to the engineers who designed and built them.

Cellphone Home

A startup company plans to demonstrate cellphone technology can work on the lunar surface next year.

It also plans to send two rovers to the Apollo 17 landing site.

Proxima b

The James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled for launch next year, could give us our first detailed look at Proxima b, an Earth-sized world in the Alpha Centauri system.

JWST could look at the planet's atmosphere to determine if it might support life.

Magnetic Moon

A new study suggests the Moon had a magnetic field a billion years longer than previously thought.

That might suggest other worlds kept their magnetic fields long enough to protect early life.

North Korea

North Korea seems to be able to build nuclear warheads that fit atop their ICBM, U. S. intelligence says.

If true, it's a dangerous development.

Limiting Life

A new study suggests some worlds may go from icy cold to hellishly hot without ever going through a habitable phase.

That would cut down on the number of habitable worlds in the galaxy.

Laser SETI

SETI researchers are expanding their toolkit.  In addition to listening for radio signals, they're going to start looking for laser flashes, since lasers do not occur naturally.

The SETI Institute is trying to raise $100,000 by August 18 to start the program.

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic is successfully continuing its series of test flights of SpaceShipTwo.

The company has not yet said when commercial flights will begin.

Deep Space Gateway

NASA's Deep Space Gateway, a small space station in lunar orbit, will probably run science experiments on its own when astronauts aren't present.

DSG might launch in 2020.

Exoplanet Stratosphere

Astronomers using Hubble have detected water molecules high in the atmosphere of a hot Jupiter 880 light years away.

It marks the first establishment of a stratosphere around an exoplanet.

NASA PPO

NASA is looking for a planetary protection officer.

The job is to protect Earth from alien microbes, and to protect other worlds from Earthly contamination.

Testing Tracking

A tiny asteroid could come within 4200 miles of Earth October 12.

Astronomers will use the event to test their tracking system.

Moon Buggy

Forty-six years ago today, Apollo 15 astronauts Dave Scott and Jim Irwin drove the moon buggy for the first time.

Over three days they covered 17 miles.

Vinyl Cyanide

Researchers have found large amounts of vinyl cyanide on Saturn's huge moon, Titan.

That's important because vinyl cyanide could form cell membranes in Titan's methane seas, the same role lipids play on Earth.

North Korea

U. S. intelligence is now saying North Korea could have an ICBM capable of hitting America as early as next year.

Previous estimates were two years or more.

Astrobotics

Astrobotics is set to send its first lunar lander on its way in 2019.

It will be launched atop an Atlas V.

Big Comets

A new study suggests comets at least a kilometer wide are much more numerous than previously thought.

It's another argument for a planetary defense system.

Lunar Water

A new study suggests there may be substantial amounts of water in the Moon's interior.

That would have a major impact on future lunar operations.

Ross 128 Explained?

Astronomers are now saying the radio signals associated with Ross 128 likely did come from advanced civilization-- ours.

Geostationary satellites seem to be the source.

Hawaii Civil Defense

A report says that Hawaii is activating its civil defense program in response to the North Korean missile threat.

North Korea is testing an ICBM that could potentially reach Alaska, Hawaii, and the western part of the Lower 48.

Last Shurrle

Six years ago today, the last space shuttle mission landed.

NASA still has no internal way to put astronauts in space.

Apollo 11

Today is the 48th anniversary of the first manned landing on the Moon.

Hundreds of years from now, that will be remembered as the defining event of the twentieth century.

Perspective

IBM's revenue has dropped for 21 straight quarters.  Current estimates put the company's revenues for the most recent quarter at roughly $19.2 billion.

That's about the size of the current proposed NASA annual budget.

Ross 128

Researchers have picked up strange radio signals from Ross 128, a red dwarf 11 light years away.

They haven't found the cause yet, but they don't believe aliens are involved.

Teleportation

Chinese scientists have set a new record for the long-distance teleportation of a packet of information at 870 miles.

The experiment is a big step towards quantum communications, which, in theory, would be totally secure.

Mars Together

Private firms are telling Congress that a public-private partnership could get humans to Mars quicker and cheaper than a strictly NASA effort will.

They also argue a commercially oriented space station needs to be in place before ISS is deorbited.

Killing Cancer

Research on ISS is yielding more insight into curing cancer by giving us a new perspective on cell growth.

In microgravity, tumors grow more like they do within the body than they do in Earthly labs, giving researchers a better idea of what's going on.

Great Red Spot

NASA's Juno spacecraft passed directly over Jupiter's Great Red Spot on July 10.

It was only 5,600 miles from the legendary storm.

Moon Express

Moon Express plans to open lunar exploration to the general public by drastically lowering the cost of flying missions.

It plans to do the same for other worlds.

Skylab

Skylab fell to Earth 38 years ago today.

NASA had wanted to visit the station with the space shuttle, but Skylab was gone before the shuttles began flying.

Titan's Tiny Waves

A new study of Titan's liquid hydrocarbon lake suggests waves in the lakes are only about a centimeter high, implying calm surface winds.

That's good news for future missions exploring the lakes.

Brown Dwarfs

New research suggests there may be a minimum 25 to 100 billion brown dwarfs in our galaxy.

In fact, the researchers say, the number could be much higher.

Pence On Space

Vice President Pence, in a speech at Cape Kennedy, said Americans would return to the Moon and go on to Mars.

He also said partnership with the commercial sector will be key.

Lysithea

On this date in 1938, Lysithea, at about 11 miles across, became the 10th moon of Jupiter to be discovered.

So far, the Jupiter moon count stands at 69.

ICBN

North Korea test flew an ICBM yesterday with the range to reach Alaska.

North Korea said the rocket can deliver a nuclear warhead.

NASA Budget

Congress is debating increasing NASA's proposed budget.

Increases currently being discussed are as much as $800 million.

National Space Council

President Trump re-established the National Space Council last Friday.

He still has not nominated a NASA administrator, however.

Kilopower

NASA is testing small nuclear fission reactors that could power the human exploration of Mars.

The program is called Kilopower.

Cassini

Cassini arrived at Saturn 13 years ago today.  Since then it has revolutionized our understanding of the Saturn system, including giving us two worlds, Titan and Enceladus, that might support life.

The mission ends September 15, when the probe plunges into Saturn.

AEGIS

NASA updated Curiosity's software in 2015 to include an artificial intelligence program called AEGIS which allows the rover to operate independently.

AEGIS has worked well, increasing the rover's productivity.

No NASA ETs

NASA is not about to announce the discovery of alien life, online reports to the contrary notwithstanding.

The reports are another example of the loose media culture of today.

Space Rider

The European Space Agency plans to privatize its Space Rider unmanned spaceplane by 2025.

Space Rider's first flight is scheduled for 2020.

SpaceX Doubles Up

SpaceX successfully launched satellites into orbit for the second time in three days yesterday.

The booster, outfitted with new, virtually indestructible titanium guiding fins, made a successful soft landing.

SpaceX Reboost

SpaceX successfully launched a satellite using a previously used booster yesterday.

The booster was also successfully soft-landed, so it could be used yet again.

Planet 10?

Researchers are postulating yet another large object exists beyond Neptune.

The evidence for the body is the perturbed orbits of a population of Kuiper Belt Objects.

Hawking

Stephen Hawking has once again argued for space colonization, advocating nuclear fusion rockets to reach ten percent of the speed of light.

That could bring Alpha Centaurii within range of human colonists.

Feet To The Fire

UFO researcher Linda Moulton Howe boldly predicted last year that 2017 would see major news regarding aliens.

So far, nothing.

Kepler

According to NASA, Kepler discovered 4,034 exoplanets in its first four years of operation.

Fifty of those are roughly Earth-sized and in their star's habitable zone.

Bezos

Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin, is looking for ideas to guide his philanthropic donations.

He can be reached via Twitter.

Bullseye

Elon Musk plans to land his huge Mars rockets right back on the launch pad, the better to quickly prepare them for their next flight.

He plans for each launcher to fly 1,000 times.

Space Tugs

A new paper argues space tugs with electric propulsion could help develop the Earth-Moon system.

Tugs could move cargo more efficiently than could chemical rockets.

Musk Mars Plan

Elon Musk has written an article putting more detail into his plan to build a city of a million people on Mars within the next 50-100 years.

The first launches of the project could come in as few as 10 years.

Sex In Space

During a recent panel discussion on colonizing space, sex was brought up.

It was pointed out that we still don't know if humans will develop properly away from Earth.  That's obviously key to permanently settling space.

WOW

An astronomer is saying a passing comet could have been responsible for the WOW radio signal in 1977, which is probably still the closest we've come to an alien signal.

Other astronomers reject the comet hypothesis.

Lunar Gateway

NASA envisions returning samples from around the Solar System to a gateway outpost in lunar orbit.

Samples would be collected there before being sent to Earth.

Fusion Rockets

Researchers are working to develop small fusion rockets that could revolutionize spaceflight.

For example, a manned Mars mission that would take two years using current technology could be flown in 310 days.

Talking To ET

A SETI theorist has developed a language based in math that will hopefully allow us to communicate with aliens.

Going from discussing math and physics to politics and culture would be a big challenge, however.

New Astronauts

NASA introduced its new astronaut class yesterday.  It has seven men and five women.

One of those people could become the first human to set foot on Mars.

Assteroid Dangerr

Astronomers seem to have found a new branch of an asteroid family that could threaten Earth.

Some of the objects in the branch are large enough to cause regional or continental damage if they hit.

KELT-9b

Astronomers have found a gas giant exoplanet that has a surface temperature of 7,800 degrees F.

KELT-9b is the hottest world found so far.

Axiom Space

Axiom Space plans to make most its money by manufacturing products in space beginning in 2027.

Some of the objects will not be brought to Earth.  Satellites will be built on orbit, drastically reducing costs.

Bigelow On Aliens

Robert Bigelow, founder of Bigelow Aerospace, not only believes aliens have visited Earth-- he believes they're still here.

Bigelow, just to note, was raised in Las Vegas, not far from Area 51.

Tiger Stripes

A new study suggests Saturn's moon Enceladus might have been struck by something big long ago.

The impact may have caused the moon's distinctive tiger stripe terrain.

Life On Mars

A new study using data from Curiosity suggests Mars might have been habitable for much longer than previously thought.

The study suggests Galen Crater could have supported life for hundreds of millions of years.

Defending Against Missiles

The Pentagon successfully tested an anti-missile defense system yesterday.

The test came after a series of North Korean test missile launches.

84 Lumber

The company 84 Lumber is running a television commercial about astronauts applying to go to Mars.  Honest.

It suggests how deeply going to Mars has penetrated into popular culture.

Jupiter's Core

NASA's Juno probe has gathered data suggesting Jupiter's core may be much larger than thought.

It may also be more complicated and completely different than Earth's.

LRO Hit

NASA is now reporting that on October 13, 2014, a tiny rock traveling faster than a bullet struck one camera on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The incident wasn't reported previously because no harm was done.

Space Aggressora

The U. S. Air Force has created units preparing to fight wars in space.

The projected adversaries are not from the Tau Ceti system, but from Russia and China, both of which are developing offensive space capabilities.

Kennedy's Challenge

President Kennedy told Congress America should put a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth within a decade 56 years ago.

At that time, America had a grand total of 15 minutes experience in human spaceflight.

Procreation

A new study using mice sperm sent into space and returned to Earth suggests it might be possible for babies to develop normally on orbit.

It's a start.

TRAPPIST-1

Astronomers have determined the outermost Earth-sized world in the TRAPPIST1 system is probably too cold to support life.

That may not have always been the case, however.  TRAPPIST-1 was likely much brighter in the past.

KELT-11b

KELT-11b  is a very strange world.  It's a gas giant, larger than Jupiter, but with the density of styrofoam.  That density is partly due to an atmosphere that's 1716 miles deep.

It's also a world not long for the universe.  Within a hundred million years, ir will be absorbed by its red giant parent star.

Boyajian's star

Boyajian's star is acting up again, dimming irregularly and inexplicably.

A megastructure orbiting the star still cannot be ruled out.

Titanic Study

A new study says the surface of Saturn's huge moon Titan more closely resembles Mars than Earth.

It also concludes there's been no tectonic activity on Titan for a very long time.

To The Moon?

The head of a Russian space company says he doubts SpaceX can fly people around the Moon next year.

He says the company's Dragon capsule is inadequate to the task.

Glints

A NASA probe has detected glints of sunlight bouncing off ice crystals in Earth's atmosphere from millions of miles away.

Similar observations could help characterize the atmosphere of exoplanets.

Migrating Mars

A new study suggests Mars may have formed in the asteroid belt.

The theory is that Mars moved to its current orbit through gravitational interactions with asteroids.

North Korea

North Korea tested another rocket over  the weekend, this one reportedly capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

Experts estimate North Korea could have the capability of delivering a nuclear bomb to America within 18-24 months.

Spacewalk

Astronauts conducted the 200th spacewalk from ISS yesterday.

It was also the ninth for Peggy Whitson.

HAT--P-26b

HAT-P-26b is a "warm Neptune"  that orbits its star every 4.2 Earth days.  Astronomers have found water vapor in its atmosphere.

It is 430 light years away.

Sptrading Life?

Tiny Brealthrough Starshot probes could carry bacteria-- and human DNA-- to the stars, scientists say.

The first such probes could leave Earth in as little as 20 years.

Getting To Mars

NASA's current plan to go to Mars includes a yearlong mission in lunar orbit to test our the Mars ship.

It also includes international and private industry partners.

Orbiting Pluto

A group of researchers are working on developing a Pluto orbiter mission.

The mission could launch in 2039, the centennial year of Pluto-s discovery.

X-37B

The USAF's X-37B spaceplane landed successfully yesterday after 718 days in orbit.

The Air Force says the vehicle is used to test new technologies.

Meteor Strike

A new study suggests a meteor strike 2 billion years ago triggered hundreds of thousands of years of volcanic eruptions on Earth.

Those eruptions profoundly affected the evolution of the planet and of life.

Neighbors

Within about 30 light years of the Sun, astronomers have already found several Earth-like exoplanets and dozens of systems that might support life.  That doesn't include the TRAPPIST-1 system, which is 39 light years away.

Astrobiologists will be busy for centuries.

Epsilon Eridani

A new study shows Epsilon Eridani-- a favorite star among science fiction authors writing about interstellar travel-- has a planetary system similar to our own.

Epsilon Eridani is a younger version of the Sun and only 10.5 light years away.

NASA Budget

NASA's budget for fiscal 2017 will be $19.653 billion.

That's about $600 million above the original request.

Perspective

Apple reportedly has $250 billion in cash.

That would be enough to fund NASA at its current level for ten years and still have $60 billion in cash.

Spy Stuff

SpaceX successfully entered a new market by launching an intelligence satellite for the U. S. Government this morning.

It also successfully soft-landed the booster.

SETI

Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute told Congress this past week that researchers could survey one million star systems for signs of intelligent life by 2037.

Shostak has previously said he thinks we could find intelligent signals by 2025.

Bigelow

Robert Bigelow told Congress recently that establishing a base on the Moon is the next logical step in human space exploration.

Bigelow Aerospace manufactures inlatable modules that could be used to build such a base.

Dragonfly

NASA is looking at a drone that could cover large areas of Titan in its low gravity and thick atmosphere.  It would land several times along the way.

Dragonfly could launch in the mid-2020s.

Terraforming Mars, Sort Of

Researchers are proposing terreaforming a small area on Mars by directing an asteroid to crash into the planet, creating a lake that would last thousands of years.

They suggest starting the process in 2036.

New Record

Peggy Whitson  broke the American  record for most days in space yesterday.

She is scheduled to remain in space until September.

Out, Not Up

When people talk about ISS, for example, they generally say it's "up," even though up and down have no particular meaning once we get beyond the atmosphere-- until we reach another world.  We should say ISS is "out" from Earth.

Out also suggests we are on a journey.  We are.

Opportunity

The rover Opportunity is still exploring Mars after 13 years.

It is about to attempt to reach and enter a valley to investigate whether the valley was cut by flowing water.

Perspective

Verizon recently reported quarterly earnings of roughly $30 billion.

NASA's annual budget is roughly $19 billion.

Looking For Life

Astronomers have found what may be the best exoplanet yet to search for life-- a super-Earth orbiting within the habitable zone of a red dwarf star only 40 light years away.

Red dwarfs are the most common stars in the universe, so showing they can nurture life would be a game changer.

2014 JO25

A huge asteroid designated 2014 JO25 will pass within a million miles of Earth today.

If it struck Earth, it would cause major damage.

Lunar Summit

A conference bringing together representatives of space agencies from around the world and people from the private sector is set for October in Hawaii.  The goal will be to develop a plan to build a base on the Moon.

The conference is being called The  Lunar Summit.

Silicon-Based Life

A new set of experiments suggests silicon-based life is, in fact, possible.

That would greatly increase the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.

To The Moon

Several government space agencies, including those in China and Russia, support building a base on the Moon before sending humans to Mars.

They also support an international program to build the lunar base.

Life?

NASA has announced that chemical reactions that could support life likely take place inside Saturn's moon, Enceladus.  Jupiter's moon Europa is also a strengthening possibility to support life.

It should be noted that both those worlds are well outside the Sun's habitable zone.

Space Shuttle

Twenty years after Gagarin's flight, the Space Shuttle launched on its maiden flight.

It was the first maiden flight of a space vehicle to carry a human crew.

Gagarin

Today is the 56th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's flight into space.

It was his only spaceflight.

Metallic Mars

NASA's MAVEN probe has detected metals, such as iron and magnesium, in the atmosphere of Mars.

It's the first time metals have been established as a permanent feature of a planetary atmosphere beyond Earth.

Planetary Defense

A small asteroid passed within a million miles of Earth recently.

An asteroid strike is a natural disaster that could possibly be stopped.  Planetary defense efforts, though, need to be increased.

Blue Moon Cargo

Blue Origin is developing a program called "Blue Moon" that could deliver large cargo shipments to the Moon's surface to support human settlement.

Blue Moon could deliver as much as 10,000 pounds of cargo per flight and would be reusable.

Exoplanet Atmosphere

Astronomers have, for the first time, detected an atmosphere around an exoplanet only slightly larger than Earth.

The atmosphere is thick, suggesting a Venus-like world.  On the other hand, there is some indication that the main atmospheric component is water vapor, which conjures a water world with an atmosphere of steam.

Bezos

Jeff Bezos said yesterday he will sell $1 billion worth of Amazon stock annually to support Blue Origin.

BO's first passengered, suborbital flight is currently scheduled for next year.

TRAPPIST-1e

A new study using computer modeling finds TRAPPIST-1e is the only world in that system that may be able to support life.

The other six Earth-sized planets world be either too hot or too cold.

Hunting Planet Nine

Some 60,000 citizen scientists, working through the Zoouniverse.org website, have identified four candidates to be Planet Nine.

Astronomers will now closely study each.

Mars Base Camp

Lockheed Martin is developing a Mars Base Camp concept, a six-person space station in orbit around Mars from which astronauts could remotely explore Mars and support human expeditions to the surface.

The station could be place in 2028.

Reusability

Elon Musk says SpaceX may try for a completely reusable Falcon 9.

Already, with only a reusable booster stage, the costs per launch should drop significantly very soon.

SpaceX Success

SpaceX successfully launched a recycled rocket booster yesterday, opening a new era.

The booster was also successfully soft-landed, so it might be flown yet again.

Gateway

NASA is planning a "gateway" space station in lunar orbit in the 2020s.

The station could support various missions, including human flights to Mars.

Reusable Rockes

SpaceX is set to launch a rocket tomorrow that has already flown once.

The company sees reusable rockets as key to lowering the cost of opening space.

Resilient Life

A new study indicates life returned to the impact zone of the asteroid that killed off the dinosaurs only about 30,000 years after the strike.

That's about the same time life began its comeback globally.

Pu-238

A commercial effort to augment U. S. Government production of fuel grade plutonium is underway.   The first Pu-238 in the program could be ready by 2022.

An increase in the availability of nuclear fuel could support more deep space exploratory missions.

Defining Planethood

Astronomers are making another effort to define the term "planet."  The last time they tried, in 2006, Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status.

Under the proposed new definition,  Pluto would again be a full planet, but so would Europa and Titan.

Wheel Of Curiosity

The left middle wheel on the Curiosity rover is showing the first signs of breaking, according to NASA.

The space agency also said the damage does not threaten the mission.

Mars' Dark Streaks

Dark streaks running down slopes on Mars during the warmest parts of the year have been seen as evidence of liquid flowing water.

A new study based on computer simulations, however, suggests they could be dry soil avalanches.

NASA Authorization

President Trump has signed a $19 billion authorization bill for NASA.

The new law tasks NASA with putting humans at Mars in the 2030s.

Arsis Mons

The huge Martian volcano Arsis Mons was last active about the time dinosaurs went extinct on Earth, according to a new study.

That seems a long time ago, but it's a short span in geologic terms.

North Korea Again

North Korea is supposedly working on a big new rocket engine.

The new engine would allow an ICBM to reach western North America.

NASA Cuts

President Trump's proposed NASA budget, according to reports, cuts the Europa lander project and  the asteroid redirect mission, among other projects.

The proposal still has to get through Congress.

Opening The Frontier

American business is awaiting the Trump space policy with some eagerness.

A policy that encourages private enterprise could open a new era.

Martian Dust Storms

Two huge dust storms have developed on Mars recently.

Both grew to cover areas larger than the United States.

Blue Origins

Blue Origin plans to launch a crew on a suborbital flight within a year.

The company plans to eventually deliver people to orbit.

Einstein

Today is the 136th anniversary of the birth of Albert Einstein.

Einstein ranks as one of the seminal geniuses in human history.  His theory of relativity is key to our understanding of the universe.

North Korea

Western experts are raising the question of how to deal with North Korea in space.

North Korea has no real assets in space, they point out, so it has no incentive to follow the established rules.

Fast Radio Bursts

Fast radio bursts are brief, extremely bright emissions that as yet have no natural explanation.

One possible explanation is that they are generated by advanced civilizations to power huge interstellar or even intergalactic spacecraft.

Refueling Depots

Robert Bigelow says private refueling depots could be in lunar orbit by 2020.

For that to happen, however, he said the Trump administration must act quickly to create a market for the fuel.

NASA Budget

The House and Senate have passed a roughly $19 billion NASA budget for the fiscal year.

The bill also directs NASA to put humans on or in the vicinity of Mars in the 2030s.

Cold Atom Lab

NASA is about to create  what could be the coldest spot in the universe aboard ISS.

At a billionth of a degree above absolute zero quantum principles rule, and no one knows exactly what that means.

Mars Water

A new study of Martian meteorites suggests early Mars had substantially more water than generally thought.

That, of course, has implications for life on Mars.

Hydrogen And Life

Volcanism that spews hydrogen into an atmosphere could support life, a new study suggests,

For example, if the seventh planet in the TRAPPIST system has volcanoes that put hydrogen into the atmosphere, it could support liquid water on its surface.

Fly Me To The Moon

Elon Musk announced recently that SpaceX intends to fly two tourists around the Moon in 2018.

The flight, however, would use the Falcon Heavy rocket and the Dragon V2 capsule, neither of which have flown yet.

MAVEN

NASA's MAVEN Mars orbiter had to make a course correction yesterday to avoid a possible collision with the moon Phobos March 9.

It is the first time such a maneuver has ever been needed.

Black Hole Winds

The streams of material ejected from supermassive black holes change in intensity over time,  observations find.

Such winds help shape entire galaxies.

Trump On Space

President Trump, in his speech before Congress last night, mentioned in passing that American footprints should soon be on distant worlds.

It's another tea leaf for those trying to divine Trump space policy.

Moon Trips

SpaceX announced yesterday it plans to fly two paying tourists around the Moon and back late next year.

It plans similar flights at least yearly after that.

UAE To Mars

The United Arab Emirates has announced a project to build a city on Mars by 2117.

It also plans to launch its first probe to Mars by 2020.

Trappist SETI

With the discovery of 7 Earth-sized planets in the Trappist-1 system, including 3 in the star's habitable zone, SETI researchers will likely listen to the system.

The discovery also suggests dwarf stars, the most common stars in the universe, should be fully in play in the search for life.

UFOs

UFO sightings, according to the National UFO Reporting Center, have spiked to an all-time high worldwide.

The vast majority of sightings, however, occur in the United States.

Trappist-1

Trappist-1 is an ultracool dwarf star only slightly bigger than Jupiter.  It is the most common type star in the universe.  Orbiting it are seven Earth-sized worlds-- three of which orbit in the star's habitable zone.

Trappist-1 is only 39 light years away, so the next generation of large telescope will be able to study the worlds' atmospheres in detail, in a search for life.

Streaky Slopes

There is reason to think that liquid water spasmodically flows down certain slopes on Mars, and that such streaks may contain life.

Knowing where water flows may be key to human exploration and colonization.

Opening Deep Space

NASA will spend up to $30 million over the next five years to develop technologies for deep space human excursions.

The money will be spent by two new research institutes.

Return To Flight

SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 yesterday for the first time since an explosion last September.

The first stage was also successfully soft-landed.

Ceres Organics

Organic molecules, the precursors of life, have been found on the dwarf planet Ceres.

A new study suggests the organics formed on Ceres rather than being delivered by comets or asteroids.

Calling ET

Stephen Hawking, among others, has warned against alerting aliens that we're here, for fear they might destroy us.

There is another school of thought, however.   Advocates of sending messages to the stars note our radio and television transmissions have already reached the nearest stars and suggest powerful transmissions targeted on those stars.

Churchilll On Aliens

An essay written by Winston Churchill has been discovered among his papers.  It was written in 1939, when Europe was sliding into war.

In the essay, Churchill speculates about life elsewhere in the universe, and lays out essentially the same logic scientists use today to argue advanced life may be fairly common.  He also wrote he saw no  reason to think humans were the only, or the most intelligent, advanced race in the cosmos.

104 For India

India successfully launched 104 satellites into orbit on one rocket last night.

The nation is quietly building quite a capable space program.

North Korea

North Korea tested a new ballistic missile over the weekend.

Some analysts have always argued North Korea's space efforts were simply a cover for rocket development.

Europan Lander

NASA is looking at a mission concept that would put a lander on Europa to search for life.

The mission would launch in 2024 and reach Jupiter five years later.

Benji-Colombo

A joint Europe-Japan mission to Mercury is scheduled to launch in 2018.

After several gravity assists, Benji-Colombo will reach Mercury in 2020.

Trump Space?

A new report holds that the Trump administration might refocus NASA on helping the private sector build a space-based economy.

Done correctly, such an effort would fundamentally change the future.

Forming Luna

With the help of atomic tests, scientists are building a case that the Moon is so dry because volatiles like water were driven out if the material that formed the Moon when a huge body crashed into Earth.

The Moon does have water ice, but it was probably brought by comets.

Helium

Experiments show that helium can form compounds with other elements under the pressure deep within giant planets.

Science had traditionally held helium did not form compounds.

Alpha Centauri

Research suggests there's an 85 percent chance of finding a world in the habitable zone of at one of the two main stars of the Alpha Centauri system.

A world has already been found in the habitable zone of Proxima Centauri.

Anakyzing Asteroids

A new concept for studying the composition of asteroids involves shooting tiny impactors inti them and analyzing the plasma raised.

First flights could occur in five to ten years.

Cryovolcanoes

Cryovolcanoes relax and disappear over time, a new study suggests.

They are principally made of water ice, and such ice is not structurally strong enough to support the mass of a mountain over time, so the ice slowly relaxes and the mountain goes away.

Another Near Miss

A 30-foot long asteroid missed Earth by about 100,000 miles yesterday.

The miss was the third close call in only nine days.

Orbiting Proxima b

A new study finds it might be possible to put nanoprobes into orbit around Proxima b.

That's the good news.    The bad news is that an orbital mission would take several times longer the a flyby because of the need to manage flight speed.

Perspective

Apple has reported quarterly earnings of over $78 billion.

That's more than four times NASA's proposed annual budget.

2017 BH30

An asteroid the size of a pickup truck passed within about 32,000 miles of Earth last night, only hours after it was discovered.

The asteroid, 2017 BH30, is too small to be a threat to Earth, but it is another reminder of the need for planetary defense.

Expanding Universe

A new study suggests the universe is expanding faster than thought.

The speed may be tied to dark energy, dark matter, or a new understanding of physics.

Hot Jupiters

A new study suggests so-called hot Jupiters actually get bigger as they age.

That would help explain how so many huge worlds got to be so close to their parent star.

Apollo 1

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire that took the lives of Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee.

Out of that tragedy came an extremely capable spacecraft that did not lose a man during one of the most demanding exploration programs to date.

Axiom

Axiom Space is a new company that plans to attach a completely self-sufficient module to ISS in 2020 that will be capable of supporting seven astronauts.

Axiom plans to help lead the industrialization of space.

Opportunity

NASA's Opportunity rover landed on Mars thirteen Earth-years ago today.

Its mission was supposed to last 90 days, but in fact Opportunity is still roving-- a remarkable tribute to the technology and the people who designed, built, and continue to operate it.

Microorganisms

A new study suggests simple Earth microorganisms could live in the current atmosphere of Mars.

That suggests that if life ever arose on Mars it might still be there.

2014 MU69

The New Horizons spacecraft is on its way to an encounter with Kuiper Belt object 2014 MU69 in 2019.

It encountered Pluto in 2015, and has now sent all that data back to Earth.

Return To The Moon?

There's some indication that the Trump administration may refocus NASA's human spaceflight program away from Mars and to returning to the Moon.

That return could possibly come within three to seven years.

Perspective

General Electric has announced quarterly revenues of over $33 billion.

The proposed NASA budget currently before Congress calls for about $19 billion for the coming fiscal year.

Mud Cracks On Mars

Curiosity has found what are likely mud cracks on its way up Mount Sharp.

It's more evidence that Mars had extended wet periods in the past.

Venus Wave

Scientists have found a huge, long-lasting wave high in the atmosphere of Venus that seems to be associated with a mountain range.

Similar formations appear on Earth.

Eugene Cernan

Eugene Cernan, the last Apollo astronaut to stand on the Moon, passed away yesterday at 82.

He was also one of only three Apollo astronauts to fly to the Moon twice.

Return To Flight

SpaceX successfully launched a bevy of satellites over the weekend.

It was the company's first launch since a Falcon 9 exploded last year.

ARM

NASA is delaying letting contracts for its Asteroid Redirect Mission.

NASA cites budget issues, but the delay also gives the incoming Trump administration time to review the project.

Moon Express

Moon Express has secured the necessary funding to attempt to land on the Moon and win the Google Lunar X-Prize.

Deadline for the prize is December 31, 2017.

Life On Venus?

Speculation among some scientists is that microbial life might exist high in the atmosphere of Venus.

Dark. so far unexplained streaks that absorb ultraviolet light appear precisely in the section of the Venusian atmosphere that is most Earth-like.

X-37B

The current mission of the U. S. Air Force's X-37B spaceplane has passed the 600 day mark.

What is happening on that mission is still unknown to the general public.

2017 AG13

Early this morning, asteroid 20177 AG13 flew past Earth at about half the distance to the Moon.

It was discovered only two days ago.

Exoplanets

Twenty-five years ago today, the discovery of the first two exoplanets was announced.

Today, that number stands at about 3,500.

JWAT On Track

NASA is telling astronomers to start working on their observation proposals for the James Webb Space Telescope.

Observations are scheduled to begin in April 2019.

Supermassive Black Holes

Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory have detected up to a billion supermassive black holes in the early universe.

That was many more than expected.  Studying them will tell us much about the essentials of the universe.

Planetary Defense

The Obama White House has released a planetary defense strategy.

Whether the Trump White House will adopt it remains to be seen.

Spirit

Thirteen years ago yesterday, the Spirit rover landed on Mars.  It was supposed to last 90 days. but it fact it covered more than four miles over six years.

Its twin, Opportunity, is still moving along.

Return To Flight

SpaceX is planning its next launch next week.

It will be the company's first launch since a Falcon 9 exploded during launch last year.

Shredding Asteroids

Asteroids that stray too close to the Sun in their orbits may be slowly torn apart, a new study suggests.

Astronomers aren't sure of the mechanism.  The bodies studied don't get close enough to the Sun to be ripped apart by gravity.