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.