Oct 30 3 questions after the discovery of water molecules on the sunlit moon By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas A team of scientists who studied a slice of the moon aboard NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) detected the first evidence that water molecules can exist on the unforgiving landscape of the moon's illuminated surface. Continue reading
Oct 29 Asteroid samples tucked into capsule for return to Earth By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press So much was collected that rocks got wedged in the rim of the container and jammed it open, allowing some samples to escape. Whatever is left won't arrive at Earth until 2023. Continue reading
Oct 26 Moon holds more water in more places than ever thought By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press In a pair of studies published Monday, scientists say more than 15,400 square miles of lunar terrain near the poles could trap water in the form of ice. That's 20% more area than previously thought. Continue reading
Oct 23 Asteroid samples escaping from jammed open NASA spacecraft By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press The sample container on the end of the robot arm penetrated so deeply into the asteroid and with such force that rocks got sucked in and became wedged around the rim of the lid. Continue reading
Oct 21 WATCH: NASA releases first images from OSIRIS-REx touchdown on asteroid By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft crushed rocks and sent rubble flying as it briefly touched an asteroid, a strong indication that samples were collected for return to Earth, officials said Wednesday. Continue reading
Oct 20 NASA spacecraft successfully touches asteroid for rare space samples By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press A NASA spacecraft has descended to an asteroid and momentarily touched the surface to collect a handful of cosmic rubble for return to Earth. It was a first for the U.S. Continue reading
Oct 20 Watch 3:59 News Wrap: CDC strengthens mask guidance for transportation In our news wrap Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a stronger recommendation for passengers and employees to wear face masks on buses, planes and trains. The guidance, more specific than previous statements, comes as infections are… Continue watching
Oct 19 WATCH: NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to collect sample from asteroid Bennu By Elizabeth Cantwell, The Conversation OSIRIS-REx will touch down on asteroid Bennu, collect a sample of the dust and begin its journey back to Earth, where scientists will study it, hoping to learn secrets of the solar system's origin. Continue reading
Oct 18 Touch-and-go: US spacecraft sampling asteroid for return By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press After almost two years circling an ancient asteroid hundreds of millions of miles away, a NASA spacecraft this week will attempt to descend to the treacherous, boulder-packed surface and snatch a handful of rubble. Continue reading
Sep 23 Bus-size asteroid to zoom by Earth, ducking below satellites By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press A newly discovered asteroid is headed our way, but NASA says the space rock will zoom safely past Earth on Thursday. Continue reading