Virgin Turning Corner

A year ago, Virgin Galactic lost its SpaceShipTwo in an accident that killed one pilot,

VG is moving on, however.  It has nearly completed a new SpaceShipTwo, and it is developing LauncherOne, a rocket that will deliver small satellites to orbit at low cost.  It's also working with DARPA to develop the XS-1, a reusable spaceplane.

Molecular Oxygen In Comets

The Rosetta spacecraft has found molecular oxygen in the comet it's studying.

Since oxygen is so reactive, that's a surprise.  Our picture of the early Solar System may have to change.

Close To Ceres

NASA's Dawn spacecraft is backing into it's final orbit, 230 miles out from the dwarf planet Ceres.

From there, the probe will gather its most detailed data, hopefully explaining mysteries like Ceres' two bright spots.

Alien Megastructure

Astronomers are confident they'll be able to determine whether a huge structure orbits a star 1,500 light years away by observing the next dimming event.

Now, we wait.

Perspective

Ford reports revenues of $35.6 billion last quarter.

NASA's annual budget is $18 billion.

Pricey Tick Tock

A wristwatch worn on the Moon by David Scott during the Apollo 15 mission sold at auction for $1.6 million last week.

It was Scott's personal watch.  His NASA-issued watch broke.

Life On Earth

Scientists studying nearby comets and the proto-planetary disks of distant stars suggest the basic ingredients of life were on Earth from the beginning.

That, in turn, suggests they have been present on many worlds.