Topic: European Space Agency

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Briefing
How dangerous are near-Earth asteroids? 5 key questions answered.

On Feb. 15, asteroid 2012 DA14, discovered a year ago, cleared Earth by a scant 17,200 miles. The same day, a smaller, unrelated asteroid that no one saw coming exploded 12 to 15 miles above Russia’s Chelyabinsk region. Events that day highlight the risk that near-Earth objects (NEOs) can pose – although to some extent, humans can counter them.
Man and Mars through history

A look back over centuries at man's attempt to uncover information about the 'Red Planet.'Sources: NASA, American Museum of Natural History, and Scientific American
What makes a planet livable? Five things scientists look for.

Scientists have so far detected at least 550 planets outside the solar system – and another 2,000-plus await confirmation. But how to pick out the ones that may be Earth-like havens for life? Here's what one team looks for in assessing any planet's potential habitability and its similarity to Earth's properties.
In Pictures: Burning Man Festival
In Pictures: Space photos of the day: Final Endeavour mission

All Content

Mars One will look for — and hide from — life on Mars

Mars One plans to put four astronaut-explorers on Mars by 2023, but they will take steps to avoid contaminating any lifeforms already on Mars.
Spaceflight conference: No NASA reps, but Sigourney Weaver is there

NASA banned employees from attending the annual National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. But 'Alien' star Sigourney Weaver will be there.
How did supermassive black holes get so big? New data give a clue.

Scientists have now measured the spin of a supermassive black hole, describing the rate in terms of the energy needed to sustain the spin. These black holes are thought to occupy the center of virtually every galaxy.
Astronomers clock supermassive black hole's spin for first time

How fast does a supermassive black hole spin? For the first time, scientists have made a reliable measurement of these behemoths, thought to be at the center of most, if not all, galaxies.
US scientists seek to prevent another meteor explosion

NASA and the Air Force are working together to develop plans to prepare for future meteor strikes like the one in Russia earlier this month.
Scientists reconstruct Russia meteor trajectory (+video)

Relying on videos of the meteor as it streaked across the sky over the Ural mountains, a pair of Colombian astronomers say they have reconstructed the space rock's orbit.
Unsuspecting target chosen for asteroid-smashing mission

A joint European/US mission to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid now has a target: the asteroid Didymos, which poses no threat to Earth and has no idea what's coming.
Briefing
How dangerous are near-Earth asteroids? 5 key questions answered.

On Feb. 15, asteroid 2012 DA14, discovered a year ago, cleared Earth by a scant 17,200 miles. The same day, a smaller, unrelated asteroid that no one saw coming exploded 12 to 15 miles above Russia’s Chelyabinsk region. Events that day highlight the risk that near-Earth objects (NEOs) can pose – although to some extent, humans can counter them.
Spectacular NASA video shows plasma 'rain' on sun

NASA released an amazing video of an enormous solar flare erupting on the sun in July 2012
Meteorite - not the end of the world - strikes Russia's Siberia (+video)

A bus-sized meteor exploded over Russia's Ural Mountains, sparking speculation about everything from a missile attack to the end of the world. The shock waves smashed windows and damaged buildings.
Meteor explodes over Russia, injuring hundreds (+video)

A 10-ton meteor exploded over Russia on Friday, creating a shockwave that blew out windows and injured some 400 people. What you need to know about meteor strikes.
Ozone hole shrinks to new low

Ozone hole: The hole in our planet's ozone layer over Antarctica is the smallest that it has been in the past 10 years, according to satellite observations.
Man and Mars through history

A look back over centuries at man's attempt to uncover information about the 'Red Planet.'Sources: NASA, American Museum of Natural History, and Scientific American
Cover Story The Mars mystique

After 50 years of missions to Mars, scientists are unlocking some of the mysteries surrounding a planet that has captivated mankind for millenniums. Will humans ever leave a boot print on Mars?
Russian trio heads for space station

The spacecraft launched from a Russian-leased manned-space facility in Kazakhstan with an American, a Canadian, and a Russian on board.
Earth-sized planet too hot for non-asbestos life forms, but ...

Earth-sized planet: With a mass about 1.1 times that of Earth, it is strikingly similar in size. Could the Alpha Centauri B system hold more Earth-sized, but habitable planets?
Space boat could voyage on Saturn moon Titan's lakes

Titan, the largest of the more than 60 natural satellites of Saturn, is covered in seas, lakes and rivers of methane, and hosts a thick atmosphere, making it one of the most Earth-like bodies in the solar system.
Humongous, gassy halo found surrounding Milky Way

The findings were reported today by a research team using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Scientists fear Curiosity rover drill bits could contaminate Mars

The possible contamination of the drill bits occurred six months before the rover’s launch last Nov. 26. The bits had been sterilized inside a box to be opened only after Curiosity landed on Mars.
Rover Curiosity is a star, but can it help fund future of Mars exploration?

The steady stream of enticing photographs from the rover Curiosity may be wowing scientists and the public, but NASA is facing serious budgetary constraints on the future of Mars exploration.
Amazing photograph shows Mars rover just before landing

A spectacular photo taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the Curiosity Mars rover as it dangles from a supersonic parachute shortly before safely touching down on the Red Planet.
NASA rover lands safely on Mars

'Curiousity' dropped down onto the surface of the red planet early Monday morning and is already sending back pictures.
NASA's Curiosity rover completes crucial course correction en route to Mars (+video)

NASA's car sized Curiosity Mars Science Lab fired its thrusters to set in on course for its scheduled touchdown in the Red Planet's Gale Crater, where, if the landing goes well, it will begin searching for signs of habitability.
Odyssey successfully positioned for new Mars Rover's landing, NASA says

NASA announced the 11-year-old Mars Odyssey, which recently suffered a malfunction, has been successfully positioned to provide confirmation of Curiosity's August 5 landing.
Will NASA's Mars rover land safely? Glitch could delay news. (+video)

NASA's Curiosity rover is due to touch down on the Martian surface on August 5, but a malfunction in another NASA spacecraft orbiting Mars will mean we'll all have to wait longer to find out if the landing is successful.