Will Pluto Be A Planet Again? What Happened to the Ninth Planet

NANOTECHNOLOGY 10.03.2014 22:35 PM

For some of us, the shock has still never quite settled in. That distant ball of ice Pluto is still tightly woven in our minds as a true planet and even has its very own place within our planetary moniker: “My Very Excellent Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas”. But back in 2006, the international Astronomical Union (IAU) stripped Pluto of its planetary status declaring the relatively small compact of ice much closer to a satellite in its new second-tier title as “dwarf planet”.

Hell Hasn’t Frozen Over, But Titan May Have

10.03.2014 22:32 PM

Two years ago, a viscous cloud was seen over Titan’s south pole, and planetary scientists mistakenly made the assumption that the anomaly was ordinary gases floating 300 km above Titan’s surface. However, a new study reveals that the cloud is actually composed of hydrogen cyanide ice, and it’s leading researchers to think that the pole is much colder than they once thought.

NASA: Giant Asteroids Gave Early Earth Extreme Surface Makeover

08.01.2014 05:08 AM

New research from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shows the earth's earliest rocks and outer crust were likely lost to giant asteroids.

NASA Unveils Mars 2020 Rover Instruments Thursday

07.30.2014 22:58 PM

The instruments planned for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's next rover mission to Mars will be unveiled Thursday, July 31, starting at noon Eastern Daylight Saving Time, by way of a live broadcast on NASA Television and the space agency's official Website.

Current Global Headlines: United Arab Emirates to Send Probe to Mars by 2021

07.22.2014 06:44 AM

The UAE announced it will send a probe to Mars by 2021, 50 years after the combined emirates were formed into one country. The oil-rich country has the financial means to succeed, but speculation exists on a new space agency tackling Mars (before the moon) since veteran programs have struggled in the past.

Solar Energy Electricity Farm in Space: Has Potential, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Says Possible by 2030

07.16.2014 01:43 AM

Solar power can provide unlimited energy With the looming energy crisis across the globe, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has comes up with a new proposal that would solve Japan's energy woes in the foreseeable future.

Russian Satellite Breaks Up in Atmosphere: Russia Threatens US Space Program

07.16.2014 01:34 AM

Ukraine crisis hinders space cooperation between the U.S. and Russia. The only place left to successfully launch spacecraft is a Soviet space base in Kazakhstan.

Lockheed Martin Wins $915M Pentagon 'Space Fence' Contract: Fence Will Protect Satellites From Space Debris

07.16.2014 01:28 AM

Space debris poses a threat to satellites In a new and unpredicted danger, scientists are saying that speeding space junk poses real-life threats to much of our equipment orbiting the Earth.

Italians Create Zero-Gravity Espresso Machine for Astronauts at International Space Station

07.16.2014 01:19 AM

From 3D Printers to now Espresso machines, this space-age coffee maker will be made exclusively for the astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS).

SpaceX Launches $1.6B NASA Contract With Falcon 9, Dragon Capsule: Orbital Sciences' Antares, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Join Space Race

07.16.2014 01:06 AM

A number of companies are vying for US government contracts Flying from Cape Canaveral in Florida, the Falcon 9 and its SpaceX Dragon capsule were successfully launched last Friday, April 18 at 3:25 pm or 1925 GMT to the International Space Station (ISS).

Cosmos Reboot Brings New Graphics, New Host, Same Science Enthusiasm

07.16.2014 00:45 AM

Neil deGrasse Tyson is set to take on the universe with his new series "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey," the reboot of the 1980's Carl Sagan classic documentary "Cosmos: A Personal Voyage."

Italians Create Zero-Gravity Espresso Machine for Astronauts at International Space Station

07.08.2014 23:25 PM

From 3D Printers to now Espresso machines, this space-age coffee maker will be made exclusively for the astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS).

Agreement With FAA Clears Operational Path for Commercial Spaceplane

07.08.2014 23:04 PM

Virgin Galactic, the privately-funded space transportation outfit led by Sir Richard Branson, and New Mexico's Spaceport America announced a clearer course to eventual trips to space.

Even With Biggest Telescopes, Seeing New 'Diamond' Star Is Rough

07.08.2014 22:55 PM

One of the largest known diamonds in the universe has been spotted by an international team of astronomers working through the Virginia-based National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

First NASA Spacecraft to Measure Carbon Dioxide Levels in Earth's Atmosphere

06.27.2014 15:24 PM

First NASA Spacecraft to Measure Carbon Dioxide Levels in Earth's Atmosphere With global warming and climate change at the forefront of the international agenda, one would think NASA had already developed some sort of advanced measurement tool to track CO2 emissions across the globe.