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August 8, 2008 / 8:56 a.m. CT (1356 GMT)
Astronauts and the Olympics: Yang Liwei, China's first taikonaut, was among the five international space explorers who took part in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics torch relay, which ended Friday after the longest flame procession in history. Passing through 130 cities in 130 days, the torch covered the equivalent of three orbits around the Earth. The torchbearers, who also include the first woman and first Malaysian in space, weren't the only astronaut-connection to the games; the gymnast son of a mission specialist is a member of the United States team.
August 6, 2008 / 10:46 p.m. CT (0346 GMT Aug 7)
Look to the Stars in 2009: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin and artist Wendell Minor are teaming again to publish a children's book. Speaking with MSNBC, Aldrin revealed "Look To The Stars," the title of his and Wendell's second collaboration after their 2005 New York Times Best-Seller "Reaching for the Moon". The book, says the moonwalker, is aimed at stimulating "young people to look at the reality of history and how well it was carried out in the past." Due for release in April 2009 by Putnam Juvenile, the 40 page hardcover will be out for the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11.
August 3, 2008 / 1:29 a.m. CT (0629 GMT)
Lost in flight: The third flight for SpaceX's Falcon 1 two-stage rocket ended in its loss when two and a half minutes into its ascent a "problem occurred with stage separation." On-board the Falcon were three satellites to be deployed, including what could have been the first test flight of a solar sail, NASA's NanoSail-D. Also lost in flight were the cremated remains of 208 participants in Celestis' memorial "Explorers" mission, including astronaut Gordon Cooper who died in 2004. According to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, an investigation into the failure is underway and the company intends to go forward with plans to launch again.
July 31, 2008 / 9:00 p.m. CT (0200 GMT Aug 1)
The right book: The Chicago Public Library announced Thursday that Tom Wolfe's 1979 book about the original Mercury astronauts, "The Right Stuff" will be their 15th selection for the citywide book club, "One Book, One Chicago." Chosen in part to celebrate the 50th anniversary of NASA, approximately 2,000 copies of "The Right Stuff" will be available for loan through the library's branches. In addition, the city will host a free screening of the 1983 film adaptation, organize special exhibitions and events at the area's museums and universities, and honor Tom Wolfe in October as the 2008 Carl Sandburg Literary Award winner.
July 31, 2008 / 6:04 p.m. CT (2304 GMT)
McDonnell's Mercury: Mercury spacecraft #19 went on display Thursday at the Saint Louis Science Center James S. McDonnell Planetarium in Missouri. One of 20 built by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation at its St. Louis facility, #19 was moved to the Cape in March 1962 to serve as the backup to #16, which launched with Wally Schirra on Mercury-Atlas 8 in October of that year. Never to fly in space, #19 was transferred to the Smithsonian in 1968. Before returning 'home' to St. Louis, #19 was at the Swiss Museum of Transport & Communication in Lucerne.
July 29, 2008 / 1:05 p.m. CT (1805 GMT)
Patch preview | Richard Garriott: The first offspring of an American astronaut to follow his parent into space, Richard Garriott drew the inspiration for his personal flight insignia from his father's mission patch. Designed in collaboration with his mother, Garriott's emblem blends art with science by using Leonardo da Vinci's drawing of man.
July 28, 2008 / 1:32 p.m. CT (1832 GMT)
Revealing EVE: Virgin Galactic on Monday rolled out the WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft that will ferry SpaceShipTwo on the first stage of future sub-orbital spaceflights. The first WK2, christened 'EVE' in honor of Virgin founder Richard Branson's mother, is the largest all carbon composite aircraft in the world; its wing spar is the longest single carbon composite aviation component ever manufactured. EVE's first flight is scheduled for Fall 2008.
July 26, 2008 / 6:43 a.m. CT (1143 GMT)
To protect or collect: Should the Apollo 11 landing site be protected from future visits? What about Apollo 17's? What about Luna 9 or other robotic missions? In the light of the growing interest by international spacefaring societies and commercial efforts to return to the Moon, an increasing concern now exists about how to safeguard the lunar heritage sites. As Space.com's Leonard David writes the issue was recently aired during NASA's Lunar Science Conference held July 20-23 at the Ames Research Center.
July 26, 2008 / 3:42 a.m. CT (0842 GMT)
Robert T. Herres (1932-2008): One of four U.S. Air Force pilots selected during August 1967 as the third and final class of Manned Orbiting Laboratory astronauts, Gen. Robert Tralles Herres passed away on Thursday at age 75. Serving as chief of the flight crew division, Herres trained to be a crewmember on-board the planned military station until its cancellation in 1969. Though he'd never be an astronaut, Herres became the first chief of U.S. Space Command in 1985 and the first Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1987, before leaving the military in 1990.
July 25, 2008 / 12:58 p.m. CT (1758 GMT)
The ultimate product placement: Garrett Reisman, now back on Earth after orbiting the planet for 95 days, returned to Comedy Central's The Colbert Show Thursday after first appearing on the program in May from aboard the International Space Station. A fan of the show, Reisman wore one of Colbert's "WristStrong" bracelets in space 'protecting' his right wrist while using the ISS's arm and "firing our laser cannon." In accordance with the 'rule' that the red wristband be given to someone more famous, Reisman and Colbert simultaneously exchanged theirs on the show, leaving the host wearing the ISS-flown bracelet.
July 24, 2008 / 9:34 p.m. CT (0234 GMT Jul 25)
It's full of stars: "Quantum Quest," a 3-D large-format film targeted to hit theaters in September 2009, blends science fact with science fiction through the use of footage captured by seven on-going NASA robotic missions with a story line that follows a young photon on its journey from the Sun. The first movie initiated by JPL and NASA "Quantum Quest" also features a cast of real and fictional astronauts including Chris Pine and William Shatner ("Star Trek's" Captain Kirks), Mark Hamill ("Star Wars'" Luke Skywalker) and moonwalker Neil Armstrong.
July 24, 2008 / 12:36 p.m. CT (1736 GMT)
NASA Images.org: NASA and the Internet Archive, a non-profit digital library based in San Francisco, made available on Thursday the most comprehensive collection ever of NASA photographs, historic film and video. The website combines for the first time 21 NASA imagery collections into a single, searchable online resource. The site's launch is the first step in a five-year partnership that will add millions of images and thousands of hours of film.
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