Milestones in space

From sending rhesus monkeys into orbit to India's launch of a lunar probe, a hitchhiker's guide to exploration of the universe.

A private space industry is born

Human spaceflight today may be where the satellite business was early on: Governments initially handled everything, but eventually companies took over the business.

Russia becomes the world's taxicab to space

Though its program is nothing like it once was, the country uses its fleet of rockets to ferry tourists and satellites into orbit.

Biggest news you've never heard: Earth isn't warming

NASA moon 'bombing' a plunge into the mystery of lunar water

Two pieces of a NASA spacecraft – not bombs – will crash into the moon early Friday morning, hoping to kick up evidence of water ice at the bottom of a frigid south pole crater.

NASA moon bombing successful. Did we find water?

NASA successfully bombed the moon on Friday ending the LCROSS mission. Now scientists will begin their search for water.

Asteroid 'Apophis' will miss us this time; but 2068? Stay tuned

The asteroid Apophis is very unlikely to smack Earth in 2036. That's the good news from a large group of planetary scientists meeting this week in Puerto Rico

Dust storm in Australia turns Sydney into Mars

Australia's worst dust storm in 70 years has given a rusty tint to the the continent's east coast.

Coldest place in the solar system? Look to the moon.

Craters may hold evidence of Earth's history, and frozen ices at their floors could be valuable resources for lunar explorers.

Arctic continues to skate on thin ice

Astronomers find 'super Earth' around another star; call it Rocky

Jupiter captures a comet, briefly

After weather and valve glitch, shuttle Discovery set to launch

Sensors failed to signal fuel valve’s status. But further tests may allow officials to “relax” a rule.

Kiss this planet goodbye! (No, not Earth)

Discovery to-do list: build COLBERT, lug huge coolant tank

The comparatively low-key mission, scheduled to launch at 1:36 a.m. Tuesday, marks the winding down of the space shuttle program.

East Coast to get ringside seat for shuttle Discovery's launch, V 2.0

Scientists find key ingredients in genetic recipe for hardier rice

Hurricane Bill keeping you up? Take time for personal preparedness

Scientists find a building block for life in a comet's halo

Galaxy Zoo wants YOU for its supernova hunt!