Space & PhysicsJanuary 8, 2013
NASA Eyes Wild Plan to Drag Asteroid Near the Moon
NASA scientists have proposed snagging a 25-foot-wide asteroid and placing it into lunar orbit—the first step on sending a deep-space mission to Mars
Stories by Mike Wall
Mike Wall has been writing for Space.com since 2010. His book about the search for alien life, “Out There,” was published on Nov. 13, 2018. Before becoming a science writer, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Space & PhysicsDecember 20, 2012
For Manned Deep-Space Missions, Radiation Is Biggest Hurdle
Radiation risk currently limits space journeys to about one year, putting Mars within reach but many other locations unaccessible
Space & PhysicsDecember 19, 2012
Potentially Habitable Planet Detected around Nearby Star
The newly detected planet is one of five found circling the star Tau Ceti, which sits 12 light-years away
Space & PhysicsDecember 18, 2012
Moon Probes' Crash Site Named after Sally Ride
Ride, the first American woman in space, was an advocate of science and math education, including outreach projects related to the latest moon mission
Space & PhysicsDecember 12, 2012
Newfound Asteroid Buzzes Earth inside Moon's Orbit
Researchers discovered the asteroid shortly before it came within 225,000 kilometers of the planet
Space & PhysicsDecember 6, 2012
Moon Surprisingly Battered, New Lunar Gravity Map Reveals
New measurements by twin probes Ebb and Flow strengthen evidence for the leading theory for the moon's origin
Space & PhysicsDecember 5, 2012
NASA to Launch New Mars Rover in 2020
The new rover may collect Martian soil samples to bring back to Earth for further analysis
Space & PhysicsNovember 14, 2012
"Orphan" Alien Planet Found Nearby without Parent Star
The massive exoplanet, which is likely four to seven times the size of Jupiter, is just 100 light-years from Earth
Space & PhysicsNovember 13, 2012
Total Solar Eclipse Today Is Last until 2015
Australians, eclipse-chasers and Pacific Ocean fish will get to view the eclipse in person shortly after dawn; others can watch online
Space & PhysicsNovember 8, 2012
"Super-Earth" Alien Planet May Be Habitable for Life
The planet is only 42 light-years from Earth and may contain liquid water, but scientists do not know whether the world is rocky or gaseous
Space & PhysicsNovember 6, 2012
Superman's Home Planet Krypton "Found"
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson helped DC Comics choose the planet, which is 27.1 light-years from Earth
Space & PhysicsNovember 5, 2012
Extreme Voting: How Astronauts Cast Ballots from Space
Both NASA astronauts onboard the space station have already voted in the presidential election
November 2, 2012
Curiosity Rover Finds No Methane on Mars--Yet
Living organisms produce more than 90 percent of the methane found in Earth's atmosphere, so scientists are keen to see if the gas is present in Mars's air. The hunt continues
Space & PhysicsNovember 1, 2012
Huge Saturn Moon Titan Glows in the Dark
Further study of the glow could shed light on the complex chemical reactions going on in Titan's atmosphere
Space & PhysicsOctober 31, 2012
Mars Dirt Similar to Hawaiian Volcanic Soil
Curiosity's analysis of soil from the Gale Crater is consistent with a time of transition from a wet to a dry environment
The SciencesOctober 14, 2012
Daredevil Makes Record-Breaking Supersonic Jump
Felix Baumgartner broke the mark for highest-ever skydive after leaping from a balloon more than 38 kilometers above Earth's surface on October 14
Space & PhysicsSeptember 25, 2012
Curiosity Rover Touches First Martian Rock, Makes Longest Drive Yet
The $2.5-billion robot has performed its first contact-science operations
Space & PhysicsSeptember 19, 2012
Private Capsule Set to Launch Space Station Cargo Next Month
The mission will be the first of twelve contracted supply deliveries by SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft
Space & PhysicsSeptember 13, 2012
Antimatter and Fusion Drives Could Power Future Spaceships
The raw materials for high-energy reactions are difficult and expensive to make, but production may be feasible in 50 years
Space & PhysicsSeptember 5, 2012
Northern Lights Blaze Up after Big Sun Storm
As we come to the peak of the sun's activity cycle, scientists expect more dazzling, but possibly disruptive, displays
Space & PhysicsAugust 21, 2012
NASA Announces New Robotic Mars Mission
NASA's next low-budget planetary mission will land a probe on Mars in 2016 to investigate the Red Planet's inner workings
July 25, 2012
Gliese 581 g Tops List of 5 Potentially Habitable Exoplanets
Gliese 581 g shot to the top of a list put out by researchers at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo’s Planetary Habitability Laboratory (PHL) after a new study marshaled support for its long-debated existence
May 23, 2012
SETI Astronomer Jill Tarter Steps Down from Alien Hunt
Tarter is shifting into a full-time fund-raising role for the SETI Institute, which had to shut down a set of alien-hunting radio telescopes for more than seven months last year due to budget shortfalls
May 11, 2012
Huge Asteroid Vesta Actually Is an Ancient Protoplanet
Data from the Dawn spacecraft now reveal that Vesta, as wide as the state of Arizona, is large enough to have had its own internal geologic evolution