ExoMars 2016 Launch campaign

Rocket rollout

Video showing the rocket carrying the ExoMars 2016 spacecraft being rolled out to the launch pad To source

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Pluto's Mountains Capped by Methane Ice (Photo)

View of part of Pluto’s dark Cthulu region, captured by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft on July 14, 2015. The inset at left shows bright material coating the tops of Cthulu’s reddish mountains; the inset at right shows the distribution of methane ice in the area (light purple). Credit: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI Some of Pluto’s frigid peaks are […]

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Scott Kelly, NASA's One-Year Astronaut, Will Retire Next Month

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly inside the cupola of the International Space Station during his one-year mission aboard the orbiting lab. Credit: NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly, who recently completed an unprecedented yearlong mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and holds the American record for most days spent off Earth, will retire from NASA on April […]

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Swimming in Sculptor

Hubble Sees a Legion of Galaxies

Containing countless galaxies, this parallel field observation is nearly as deep as the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field. When compared to other deep fields, it will help astronomers understand how similar the universe looks in different directions. To source

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With ExoMars, Europe and Russia Aim to Kickstart Mars Exploration

Artist’s illustration of Europe’s ExoMarsTrace Gas Orbiter releasing the Schiaparelli landing demonstrator near Mars. Credit: ESA A new Mars mission launching Monday (March 14) aims to kick off a new European program of exploration — and reboot Russian dreams of working at the Red Planet. Russia hasn’t had any sort of Mars success since 1989, […]

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Spotting the Shadows of Jupiter's Galilean Moons

On the night of Jan. 7, 1610, Galileo Galilei turned his new telescope on the planet Jupiter for the first time, and discovered it had moons. Credit: Starry Night Software On the evening of Jan. 7, 1610, Galileo Galilei turned his newly constructed telescope on the planet Jupiter and was amazed to observe three tiny […]

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Celestial Whiz Kids Named Pluto, Designed Alaska's State Flag

Pluto as seen by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft in July 2015. The dwarf planet was named by 11-year-old English girl Venetia Burney in 1930. Credit: NASA/JHUAPL/SWRI When we think of people who have made a contribution of scientific or historical import, we usually do not think of kids. Yet this column celebrates the accomplishments of […]

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6 Early-Career NASA Scientists Gain a Top Presidential Award

Six NASA researchers have received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, including one focused on planetary protection. Credit: NASA NASA can claim six recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers this year — an award considered among the highest for early-career researchers. President Barack Obama announced 105 new […]

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Giotto 30

Thirty years ago, Giotto met Comet Halley, inspiring an art competition for children To source

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