National Aeronautics and Space Administration news and stories

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Air Force sends mystery mini-shuttle back to space
The military's small, top-secret version of the space shuttle rocketed into orbit Tuesday for a repeat mystery mission, two years after making the ...
To the moon? Firm hopes to sell $1.5 billion trips
Attention wealthy nations and billionaires: A team of former NASA executives will fly you to the moon in an out-of-this-world commercial venture ...
Expert panel: NASA seems lost in space, needs goal
NASA, the agency that epitomized the "Right Stuff," seems lost in space and doesn't have a clear sense of where it is going, an independent panel of ...
Astronaut braces for unprecedented year in space
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly is already bracing for an unprecedented one-year mission aboard the International Space Station. He figures it will be as ...
Below surface, moon reveals a "shattered" history
The moon took quite a beating in its early days, more than previously believed, scientists reported Wednesday. This surprising new view of the moon ...
Mars redux: NASA to launch Curiosity-like rover
If you thought NASA's latest Mars landing was a nail-biter, get ready for a sequel. The space agency on Tuesday announced plans to launch another ...
NASA: Voyager 1 enters new region of solar system
The unstoppable Voyager 1 spacecraft has sailed into a new realm of the solar system that scientists did not know existed. Voyager 1 and its twin, ...
NASA: Closest planet to sun, Mercury, harbors ice
Just in time for Christmas, scientists have confirmed a vast amount of ice at the north pole — on Mercury, the closest planet to the sun. The findings ...
US twin astronaut, Russian to spend year in orbit
A former space shuttle commander whose twin brother is married to former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will attempt the longest spaceflight ever by an ...
Astronauts touch down in chilly Kazakhstan steppe
Three astronauts touched down in the dark, chilly expanses of central Kazakhstan onboard a Soyuz capsule Monday after a 125-day stay at the ...
Final 10-mile trek for space shuttle Atlantis
Accompanied by a fleet of astronauts spanning NASA's entire existence, Atlantis made a slow, solemn journey to retirement Friday, the last space ...
Astronauts take spacewalk to find ammonia leak
Two spacewalking astronauts worked on a leaky radiator system outside the International Space Station on Thursday, just hours after barely dodging a ...
Last shuttle's retirement move pains workers
Space shuttle Atlantis isn't going far to its retirement home at Kennedy Space Center's main tourist stop. But it might as well be a world away for ...
Dragon ship back on Earth after space station trip
An unmanned Dragon freighter carrying a stash of precious medical samples from the International Space Station parachuted into the Pacific Ocean on ...
Soyuz with astronauts docks with space station
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying three astronauts and a consignment of fish successfully docked Thursday with the International Space Station after ...
US-Russian crew blasts off for space station
A Russian spacecraft surged into clear skies over the Central Asian steppe Tuesday, carrying a three-man crew on their way to the International Space ...
US astronaut sees science breakthrough in space
A U.S. astronaut departing this week for the International Space Station said Monday that the bulk of the scientific benefits from the orbiting ...
Soyuz craft readied for space station mission
A Russian-made Soyuz rocket was erected into place Sunday, ahead of the start of a mission to take a three-man crew to the International Space Station
Skydiver's feat could influence spacesuit design
Now that the dust has settled in the New Mexico desert where supersonic skydiver "Fearless Felix" Baumgartner landed safely on his feet, researchers ...
SpaceX Dragon capsule arrives at space station
A private company successfully delivered a half-ton of supplies to the International Space Station early Wednesday, the first official shipment under ...
SpaceX launch good for NASA, not private firm
A private rocket successfully sent a capsule full of cargo zipping toward the International Space Station in a first of its kind delivery for NASA, ...
SpaceX Dragon capsule launched to space station
A commercial cargo ship rocketed into orbit Sunday in pursuit of the International Space Station, the first of a dozen supply runs under a ...
Private space station delivery to launch Sunday
A private company is on the verge of launching another cargo ship to the International Space Station. On Sunday night, California-based SpaceX will ...
SpaceX encore: 2nd private space station shipment
A private company is headed back to the International Space Station. On Sunday night, SpaceX will attempt to launch another Dragon capsule full of ...
Skydiver to break sound barrier in free fall
His blood could boil. His lungs could overinflate. The vessels in his brain could burst. His eyes could hemorrhage. And, yes, he could break his neck ...