Enough About Espresso—Here’s the Important Stuff that Landed on the International Space Station Today

Medicine & Technology Apr 17, 2015

It appears that, as usual, everyone is excited about coffee on a Friday morning. Yes the International Space Station now has an espresso machine for the Americans, but the Italians won the race to the first ISSpresso in space and that’s not even the most important stuff that arrived today thanks to SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. And though the coffee may claim the spotlight, the nanotech, food and mice (yes, we said mice in space) are the really important things aboard this NASA payload.

The Budget Rocket Battle Has Begun with New Rocket Built to Take on SpaceX

Apr 16, 2015

While SpaceX continues to try to land a rocket for reuse later, Boeing and Lockheed Martin have unveiled what they believe will be a better and cheaper booster recycling solution.

Messenger Probes Dramatic Death Scheduled for April 30

Apr 16, 2015

The first spacecraft ever to orbit Mercury will crash into the surface of the small planet located closest to the sun in just two short weeks from now.

Espresso Machines Brings Civilized Society to ISS

Apr 16, 2015

A resupply mission to the International Space Station is bringing much needed culture to the ISS in the form of a new Espresso machine.

New Horizon's Sends Back First Color Image of Pluto and Charon

Apr 15, 2015

In July, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft will make its closest pass of Pluto, giving us a closer look at a body living in a little known region of our solar system. While it still has millions of miles left to go, New Horizons still has a treat for everyone as it has taken the first ever color image of Pluto and its largest moon, Charon.

SpaceX Stage 1 Failed, But What Will Still Make It To the International Space Station?

Apr 15, 2015

Just because the first stage of the Falcon 9 went up in flames when it returned back to Earth, doesn’t mean that the entire mission wasn’t a success. In fact, even though the near miss may have made headlines all this week, as the second attempt by SpaceX proved to be as unsuccessful as the first, the Dragon cargo capsule is still on its way to the International Space Station for its resupply mission, and it’s carrying quite a few surprises in store, as well.

Close, But No Cigar—SpaceX Rocket Recapture Fails Again

Apr 15, 2015

Close, but no cigar. Though you’d expect from the fire and the smoke to find something at the scene of the Falcon 9 rocket’s landing site. After multiple delays and promising weather conditions this Tuesday April 14, an unmanned Falcon 9 rocket developed by SpaceX was launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in transit towards the International Space Station, full of supplies. But in the second attempt that the company has pursued in trying to recapture the rocket’s first stage by landing it on an autonomous drone ship, SpaceX encountered yet another failure even after making monumental changes since the Jan. 10 crash landing, earlier this year.

Scientists Believe That Venus Holds the Secret of How Life Developed on Earth

Apr 14, 2015

Space agencies from around the world including NASA, the Russians and even the Europeans are planning trips to Venus that could provide valuable insight into the universe and perhaps even give scientists clues about how life originally formed right here on Earth.

Round 2 For SpaceX’s 10-Point Landing

Apr 14, 2015

It’s first attempt was a failure, but in hopes of creating a more sustainable spaceflight industry, private spaceflight company SpaceX is going to try landing one of their rockets again. And this time you can watch the mission live, no delays and no interruptions like before.

Curiosity Finds Compelling Evidence of Liquid Water Near Martian Surface

Apr 13, 2015

NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars has detected perchlorate compounds that are able to lower the freezing point of water, allowing it to remain in liquid form near the surface. Based on the data collected from the rover, researchers believe that liquid salt water may actually exist close to the surface.

What’s New for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Space Launch? Find Out Here and Watch It LIVE

Apr 13, 2015

Think that you know how today’s Falcon 9 launch and landing are going to play out? Think again! With some new improvements, and a lot of learning through trial and error, SpaceX thinks that they’ve worked out a plan for success, and we’re hoping that they stick the landing in grace.

Round 2 For SpaceX’s 10-Point Landing

Apr 13, 2015

It’s first attempt was a failure, but in hopes of creating a more sustainable spaceflight industry, private spaceflight company SpaceX is going to try landing one of their rockets again. And this time you can watch the mission live, no delays and no interruptions like before.

NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft Emerges into the Light

Apr 11, 2015

The time has almost arrived. NASA's Dawn spacecraft has sent back some of the first pictures of the dwarf planet, Ceres, after spending about a month approaching the world from its dark side.

SpaceX Poised to Try Daring Rocket Landing Again

Apr 10, 2015

SpaceX is set to launch its Dragon cargo capsule to the International Space Station on Monday, and mission control plans again to make history by landing their rocket back on Earth after blast off. The computer aims to bring the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket back to Earth for a soft touchdown on an unmanned "spaceport drone ship" in the Atlantic Ocean, after the booster sends the Dragon cargo container on its way to the International Space Station.

Organic Molecules Discovered in Young Star System

Apr 10, 2015

Astronomers have detected the presence of two molecules in the disc surrounding the star designated MWC 480, in a region that is similar to the Kuiper Belt around our Sun. The discovery of these building blocks of life in a young star shows that the conditions that create organic molecules can happen across the cosmos.