SPACE

There are fears items like the clock recovered from the disaster will be lost once their keepers die.

We might not be able to claim that 2021 was *the* wildest year in recent history (2020 will likely get that credit for quite some time), but it might be a close second.

Among the space events to watch in the coming year is the collision between a NASA probe and an asteroid in the autumn of 2022. The DART mission. VIDEOGRAPHIC

The world's largest and most powerful space telescope has blasted off on a high-stakes quest to behold light from the first stars and galaxies.

The jury in Kyle Rittenhouse's case reached agreement, but the nation remains bitterly divided over gun rights and social justice

The longest partial lunar eclipse of the year is happening early Friday, and people in all 50 states will be able to view it.

The actor shares a post from Rust's costume designer following the death of Halyna Hutchins.

The prestigious Riba Stirling Prize for architecture is won by a Kingston University London complex.

The vigil is being held in the town where the murder suspect was arrested.

Three scientists have won the Nobel Prize for physics for work that found order in seeming disorder. They helped to explain and predict complex forces of nature, including expanding our understanding of climate change. (Oct. 5)

Campaigners say including extremist narratives among everyday conversations can be a pathway to radicalisation.

It may not be too long before many everyday people are able to make their way to space. As commercial spaceflight grows within American soil with companies like SpaceX creating milestones for space exploration, Space City is playing a major role in health research to help future missions.

SpaceX’s first private flight streaked into orbit Wednesday night with two contest winners, a health care worker and their rich sponsor, the most ambitious leap yet in space tourism.

It didn't matter that I'd been looking at pictures of it for years — being in America was very, very foreign to me, from the food to the social life.

Box office takings in the past month are half of their pre-pandemic levels.

The ringed planet Saturn, already one of the solar system’s most dazzling sights, will shine bigger and brighter this month. On Monday, August 2, at around 1 a.m. the planet will reach alignment with the Earth and the sun in an event known as “opposition.” During this event, the sixth planet will reach its closest point to Earth and wil shine at its absolute brightest.

We’re lucky to get fleeting moments throughout the year when we can witness beautiful sights in the sky. Thanks to space experts, we’re fortunate enough to have a heads up as to when we’ll get the best view of them.

Those interested in the progress of space flight and space travel woke up Tuesday morning to watch Blue Origin's first human flight into space, so it's no surprise plenty of people were talking about it on social media too.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration has opened a safety field office in Houston to increase its oversight of commercial space operations in Texas and New Mexico.

Venus and Mars will align in planetary conjunction, nearly overlapping each other in the night’s sky on Monday.

The UK businessman is about to realise a lifetime's ambition by flying to the edge of space.

Here are the 10 fact checks that most captivated — or angered — readers so far in 2021.

The U.S. Space Force has a new primer for activities beyond Earth orbit amid increased NASA and international interest in lunar activities.

If you’ve missed any of the celestial events that have happened this year already -- the Pink Moon in April or the recent solar eclipse, to name a couple -- you’ve got one more chance to witness a rare supermoon this year, and it’s happening this week.

Employee at a Top Workplaces firm adapted his home into a remote mailroom

SpaceX had a successful Falcon 9′s launch of its GPS III Space Vehicle 05 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida Thursday.

Social media users on Twitter shared stunning images of the annular solar eclipse that occurred Thursday morning.

The “ring of fire” solar eclipse of 2021 was partially visible in certain parts of the world Thursday.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston Airport System will break ground on the new Collins Aerospace Building at the Houston Spaceport Monday.

Animal spaceflights paved the way for the first human astronauts and today creatures big and small continue to space travel advancing our knowledge of how the zero-gravity environment impacts all beings and aiding research down on Earth.

There’s something exciting on the horizon: a supermoon, and it’s expected to be the largest moon we’ll see this year.

SpaceX is scheduled to attempt a test flight for Starship SN15 between noon and 8 p.m. Wednesday.

NASA chose Alan Shepard, Jr. to be the first American to enter space inside the Freedom 7 capsule on May 5, 1961.

<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.nasa.gov_feature_mark-2Dgeyer-2Dsenior-2Dadvisor-2Dto-2Dthe-2Dassociate-2Dadministrator_&d=DwMDaQ&c=IdVe9qYOlLvEHvfqFspkfxuOEuSulhj36o8Ug6l7Bq4&r=Y_WT0yWVNwy0YnaZdec5wA&m=OfbruZES1Roj3fXmW46ISPUxTTHEGzJ6wWcH_0FcUjw&s=cM984Gr3CqodmM6VxsEamEvVURQongxkiRZ2gv0gGVg&e=">Mark Geyer</a>, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is stepping down from his position leading the center to focus more time on his health and family in light of a cancer diagnosis, a news release said.

A painting by Edinburgh-born artist Robert Scott Lauder is the focus of a major conservation project.

Astronomers call for the United Nations to protect the pristine night sky against light pollution from megaconstellations.

Space Center Houston is honoring the dedication of the Apollo 13 crew and the flight controllers in Mission Control at NASA Johnson Space Center who worked around the clock to ensure the crew’s survival and safe return.

On April 11, 1970, three astronauts and a team here on Earth dared to attempt what was expected to be the third moon landing. However, just shy of 56 hours into the mission, the crew experienced a problem that would turn into a full-fledged effort to get the crew back to Earth alive.

Everything is bigger in Texas – until you get to outer space.

Baylor coach gives wild opinion about COVID-19 testing Baylor's Kim Mulkey says players should be allowed to play in Final Four without any...Meet the future of suborbital space travel For just the price of your home, you can experience space for a few minutes.

First opened in the fall of 1989, the George Observatory has been closed since 2019. “We are so excited to welcome visitors back to the newly-remodeled George Observatory. While most are in remote areas, the George Observatory is uniquely placed within Brazos Bend State Park. The George Observatory will open to the public every Saturday at 3 p.m. The Gorge Observatory is located inside Brazos Bend State Park at 21901 FM 762 Rd.

HOUSTON – In 1992, Dr. Mae Jemison became the first black woman to travel into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Her name is Sharon McDougle, a former suit tech for the space shuttle program who talked to Houston Life about her incredible story. Sharon McDougle and Dr. Mae Jemison (Sharon McDougle)McDougle was responsible for processing the orange launch and re-entry pressure suit assemblies worn by all NASA space shuttle astronauts, including Jemison. It was like they didn’t even see me,’” said McDougle, who worked with the Space Shuttle Program for 22 years. Sharon McDougle (Sharon McDougle)“Everybody is trainable, that’s one thing I preach.

HOUSTON – Primary Paint Party is a Paint Party Studio and Creative Workspace. This is a space where community members can enjoy themed paint parties with their friends and family, teambuilding with co-workers, or special creative workshops with other artists. This creative space is also home to the unique Prime Art Gallery. Clients are drawn to the unlimited possibilities of art in its Prime state. Unframed Canvas Art is available throughout the Gallery that represents local artists in and around the Houston area.

HOUSTON – A passion for storytelling led Rose-Ann Aragon into the world of journalism. KPRC 2's Rose-Ann Aragon on location for the launch of SpaceX Starship Prototype. This was a very memorable experience for Aragon and she enjoyed having a front-row seat to space history. AdKPRC 2's Rose-Ann Aragon talks about her involvement with the Lumikha Arts Showcase. To learn more or to connect with Rose-Ann Aragon, click here.

HOUSTON – The Houston Spaceport will be home to the world’s first space station to built by a commercial space company. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Tuesday that Axiom Space will build a 14-acre headquarters at the city’s spaceport next year and provide 1,000 high-paying jobs. Suffredini said the first module of the Axiom space station is set to be launched in late 2024 and will be the first commercial module to be attached to the International Space Station. Once the ISS is retired, the Axiom modules will detach and remain in low-earth orbit. Axiom will also provide commercial missions to the space station, the first of which is expected to launch late next year, Suffredini said.

A Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Launch Complex 40 with the SiriusXM-7 satellite ready for launch. (Image: SpaceX)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX is preparing for the launch of the SXM-7 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. The Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this launch previously supported Crew Dragon’s first flight to the International Space Station (Demo-1), launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission and four Starlink launches in 2020. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9′s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX said half of Falcon 9′s fairing previously supported the ANASIS-II mission in July 2020.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A nighttime rocket launch lit up the skies over Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday. The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy carrying the NROL-44 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office was originally set to launch about 5:15 p.m., from the Space Launch Complex-37. The launch was rescheduled for 7:09 p.m.You can watch again in the video below:

SpaceX’s high-altitude test flight for its prototype Starship SN8 ended in an explosion Wednesday as the spacecraft attempted to land in Boca Chica. It was the first test of its kind for the Starship, running all three raptor engines in an attempt to reach a height of more than 41,000 feet. The prototype came in for a landing at an angle before exploded at what appeared to be touchdown. “Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD, but we got all the data we needed! Successful ascent, switchover to header tanks & precise flap control to landing point!

Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, marked Wednesday’s test flight of the Starship SN8 a success, despite it blowing up during the landing phase. Can't wait for SN9. @elonmusk @SpaceX #starshipsn8 — nikkcolas (@Nikkcolas) December 9, 2020Congratulations @SpaceX and @elonmusk for the #starshipsn8 launch. It was a spectacular event, the landing was almost a success. SN9 will be the one I guarantee you :D — VAJDAD4M (@vajdad4m) December 9, 2020

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA has named the 18 astronauts — half of them women — who will train for its Artemis moon-landing program. The first woman and next man on the moon will come from this elite group. Half of the NASA astronauts have spaceflight experience. Two are at the International Space Station right now: Kate Rubins and Victor Glover. The other experienced members on the list include Kjell Lindgren, Anne McClain and Scott Tingle, all former space station residents.

BOCA CHICA, Texas – Space fans will just have to wait another day after SpaceX aborted its first attempt at a high-altitude test flight for its SN8 Starship Prototype in Boca Chica on Tuesday. Starship SN8 is expected to fly more than 41,000 feet into the air, do a now-iconic bellyflop or skydiving-like maneuver and then correct itself just before landing on the launchpad. The spacecraft is a two-stage vehicle that founder Elon Musk hopes will one day take as many as 100 people to Mars. It’s the first Starship to be fully outfitted with a nosecone and flaps. You can watch a replay of the first attempt below.

HOUSTON – Gen. Chuck Yeager, a fighter pilot best known as becoming the first person to break the sound barrier, died Monday. Born in West Virginia, Yeager enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941 and flew during World War II and shot down more than a dozen German planes. On Oct. 14, 1947, Yeager flew a rocket plan called “Glamorous Glennis” over the Mojave Desert to break the sound barrier. Yeager went on to become a trainer of some of the first American astronauts. He made an appearance in the movie “The Right Stuff,” which is about the early days of the American space program.

The two Dragon parking spots are just 15 feet (4.5 meters) or so apart. SpaceX redesigned its cargo ships to be as big as its spacious crew capsules in order to pack more in. The cargo Dragon will remain at the space station for a month, before parachuting into the Atlantic with science samples and discarded gear. The crew Dragon will stay up until spring. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education.

The Dragon — packed with Christmas treats and presents — should reach the space station on Monday, joining the Dragon that delivered four astronauts last month. “Dragons everywhere you look,” said Kenny Todd, NASA’s deputy space station program manager. With NASA’s commercial crew program officially under way, SpaceX expects to always have at least one Dragon capsule at the space station. I fear it might mess up my own Christmas,” Todd said late last week. This is SpaceX’s 21st station supply run for NASA since 2012.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – The shores at Isla Blanca Park are expected to be the place where hundreds of space enthusiasts and islanders go to watch a test launch across the water at SpaceX’s Starship facility in Boca Chica, Texas. With the Starship SN8 launch teasingly imminent, South Padre Island has found a lot more tourists walking the streets. The view of the SpaceX launch facility just a few miles across the water. “Everybody wants to see it happening,” said James Baxter, a Houston native and South Padre Island transplant. I was so excited!”They don’t think they will leave South Padre Island.

One Houstonian experienced this first-hand and turned his own vision into reality -- creating the ultimate space pad Airbnb for many space enthusiasts to rent. However, 400 miles away in the rugged terrain of Boca Chica, just 8 miles from the SpaceX Launch Facility, he’s managed to create the ultimate space lover’s experience, Rocket Ranch. The multi-room ranch has a full-kitchen, coffeeroom area, living room and outside amenities, filled with decor space enthusiasts would appreciate. Photos of different planets, milestone space exploration achievements and touches of trivial space gadgets fill the space. This all started when he went to see a SpaceX launch at the Cape.

This year, the International Space Station celebrated 20 years of having a continuous human presence on it. But what exactly is the International Space Station and what does it do? Over a 13-year period from 1998-2011, different modules were launched into space and attached to each other in orbit by astronauts. That mission was successful to create an initial base, and in subsequent years, other modules were launched into orbit and connected. The ISS is aging -- and if it’s not eventually destroyed or taken down by humans, space obstacles might arise, according to space.com.

In this frame grab from NASA TV, the SpaceX Dragon is seen after docking at the International Space Station, late Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. (NASA TV via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX’s newly launched capsule with four astronauts arrived Monday at the International Space Station, their new home until spring. The Dragon capsule pulled up and docked late Monday night, following a 27-hour, completely automated flight from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. “Oh, what a good voice to hear,” space station astronaut Kate Rubins called out when the Dragon's commander, Mike Hopkins, first made radio contact. As they prepared for the space station linkup, the Dragon crew beamed down live window views of New Zealand and a brilliant blue, cloud-streaked Pacific 250 miles below.

It is due to reach the space station late Monday and remain there until spring. NASA policy at Kennedy Space Center requires anyone testing positive for coronavirus to quarantine and remain isolated. Even the two astronauts on the first SpaceX crew flight stayed behind at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The four astronauts will be joining two Russians and one American who flew to the space station last month from Kazakhstan. NASA turned to private companies to haul cargo and crew to the space station, after the shuttle fleet retired in 2011.

It marked the first rendezvous of the American space shuttle with Russia’s space station Mir. Also on board, Eileen Collins, an American, became the first woman to pilot a space shuttle, and C. Michael Foale became the first British-born American astronaut to walk in space. “I saw that as an avenue for me to go to space,” Harris said. In August 1990, Harris began a year of training and evaluation with 22 classmates at Johnson Space Center. We have liftoffSpace Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, reopened in July after a temporary closure due to COVID-19.

Have you heard of the Leonid meteor shower? It comes around every November, but the chances of seeing it this year are much higher than last year. The shower happens at the same time every year, when Earth’s orbit crosses the orbit of Comet Tempel-Tuttle, according to Space.com. A trail of dust is left behind the comet, and when Earth’s orbit crosses that trail, pieces of the comet fall toward our planet’s surface. Luckily for us, meteors are visible to the naked eye, and the shower will peak overnight Monday into Tuesday (Nov. 16-17) around 3 a.m.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The moon’s shadowed, frigid nooks and crannies may hold frozen water in more places and in larger quantities than previously suspected. And for the first time, the presence of water on the moon’s sunlit surface has been confirmed, scientists reported Monday. While previous observations have indicated millions of tons of ice in the permanently shadowed craters of the moon’s poles, a pair of studies in the journal Nature Astronomy take the availability of lunar surface water to a new level. The presence of water in sunlit surfaces had been previously suggested, but not confirmed. For now, Sofia can analyze only the moon's outermost surface, but these water molecules could be buried yards (meters) deep, Honniball noted.

This undated image made available by NASA shows the asteroid Bennu from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. After almost two years circling the ancient asteroid, OSIRIS-REx will attempt to descend to the treacherous, boulder-packed surface and snatch a handful of rubble on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. “Sampling is in progress.”Confirmation came from the Osiris-Rex spacecraft as it made contact with the surface of the asteroid Bennu more than 200 million miles away. Bennu’s gravity was too low for the spacecraft to land — the asteroid is just 1,670 feet (510 meters) across. Japan expects samples from its second asteroid mission — in the milligrams at most — to land in the Australian desert in December.

If the planet Mars looks a little bigger and brighter tonight in the sky, it’s not just you. The Earth will be between the Sun and Mars making it appear very bright tonightThat places us in a perfect situation for viewing a much brighter and bolder looking Mars tonight. There are many fun facts about Mars, including the fact that the effect of gravity on Mars is roughly a third of what it is on the Earth. Meaning if you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, you would only weigh 38 pounds on Mars! There you’ll find fun facts and discover new things for you and your kids!

Mars will appear brighter than at any other point during the year on Oct. 13, when it will be closest to Earth. “So, a little over every two years, Mars and Earth are closest together in their orbits and, thus, Mars is at its brightest in our nighttime sky. (© 2012 Michael Orso)Blue moon on HalloweenFor the first time since 2001, trick-or-treaters will get the chance to experience a Halloween full moon. A blue moon, by the most popular definition, according to Gross, is when two full moons appear in a single month. “We will have full moons on Oct. 1 and 31, so that means that we’ll have a blue moon on Halloween,” Gross said.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket is scheduled to launch the NROL-33 mission just before midnight Wednesday from the Space Launch Complex in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This launch will send a national security payload to space for the National Reconnaissance Office, which is the government agency tasked with building and maintaining America’s intelligence satellites. This will be the one hundred and forty-first mission for the United Launch Alliance. You can read more about the mission in the agency’s brochure. Watch the launch below:

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A small air leak at the International Space Station finally has been traced to the Russian side, following a middle-of-the-night search by astronauts. Space station deputy program manager Kenny Todd said the good news is that “instead of a bunch of haystacks, we're down to maybe one haystack." But he added: “It's still a needle we're looking for.”NASA is sending up extra air supply tanks on its next space station delivery, scheduled for a Thursday departure from Virginia. As long as the leak does not worsen, Todd said, the space station should be fine through next spring. In two weeks, two Russians and an American are scheduled to arrive at the space station, followed by crew of three Americans and a Japanese on SpaceX's second launch of astronauts, now targeted for Oct. 31.

Astronomers have found a potential sign of life high in the atmosphere of neighboring Venus: hints there may be bizarre microbes living in the sulfuric acid-laden clouds of the hothouse planet. They said it doesn't satisfy the “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" standard established by the late Carl Sagan, who speculated about the possibility of life in the clouds of Venus in 1967. “It’s not a smoking gun," said study co-author David Clements, an Imperial College of London astrophysicist. After three astronomers met in a bar in Hawaii, they decided to look that way at the closest planet to Earth: Venus. ... Not a single process we looked at could produce phosphine in high enough quantities to explain our team’s findings.”That leaves life.

On Sunday, Jan. 19, an eight-minute test took place, one all-important test to make sure that if SpaceX should need to abort after launch then the crew could safely make it back down to Earth. credit SpaceXThe capsule, pictured below, fell perfectly and safely to the ocean water. Watch that first as its very interesting and helpful when understanding what really took place. As of this writing the launch itself is at a 60% chance of happening as the sky really needs to be rain- and cloud-free. But its comforting to know that if things do go awry during the launch, there is an emergency plan.

HOUSTON NASA and SpaceX aim to make history Wednesday with the launch of American astronauts from U.S. soil for the first time in nearly a decade. The launch is scheduled to happen at launchpad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, at 3:33 p.m. Central time. You can follow live coverage below and watch live coverage in the video player above once it begins. 10:50 a.m. How the day will unfoldHeres a look at the schedule for today. All times are Central.

HOUSTON Wednesday was supposed to be a historic day for America, as two NASA astronauts geared up for the first space launch in nine years from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. However, due to thunderstorms, the launch was scrubbed just 10 minutes before launch time. Dream big .. on Saturday @elonmusk safety first #SpaceX #LaunchDay take some Texas blends with you too @TexasBlends Josh Kelly (@RealJoshKelly) May 27, 2020Honestly... who in the heck during the attempted #SpaceX launch was singing "No Scrubs" by TLC? #SpaceLaunchLIVE #LaunchAmerica #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/FWcxAGGQeG Jon Rodrigo (@JonRodrigoTV) May 27, 2020The #SpaceX crew waited for three hours to launch. We'll see you again on Saturday afternoon #launchamerica Flux (@therealdjflux) May 27, 2020@elonmusk Although #SpaceX cancelled, its all good.

HOUSTON Two astronauts will travel from Houston to Florida on Wednesday, a week before they will participate in the first manned launch from U.S. soil in nearly a decade. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will depart Ellington Field aboard a Gulfstream aircraft to travel to Kennedy Space Center. Its an incredible time for NASA, the space program once again launching U.S. crews from Florida," said Hurley. Behnken and Hurley are scheduled to travel to the International Space Station on the SpaceX Demo-2 mission on May 27 at 3:33 p.m. central time. This commercial launch program is really important to us as a station and international community to rotate our astronauts to bring more business to station and more science to station, said Hasbrook.