NASA

Feb 01 2025SCIENCE

Desert Worlds: The Science Behind Sci-Fi Drought

The universe is full of planets. Many of us are drawn to the sand and dust of desert worlds. "Star Wars" and the "Dune" series are famous for their desert planets. Tatooine and Arrakis are memorable. Is it possible to have dry and dusty planets with life such as creatures like womp rats, sandworms o

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Jan 29 2025TECHNOLOGY

Elon Musk's Space Puzzle: Why He Said Trump Wants Astronauts Home

SpaceX founder Elon Musk made a strange announcement on his social media platform X on Tuesday. He claimed that President Trump asked SpaceX to bring home two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station. The statement was unusual and caused confusion for NASA. One possible explanation is

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Jan 26 2025SCIENCE

The Day NASA's Opportunity Rover Began Its Martian Adventure

Did you know that on January 25th, 2004, NASA's Opportunity rover touched down on Mars? The rover, which was expected to last only 90 days, ended up exploring the red planet for over 15 years! That's like driving a car across 28 miles of Martian surface. This wasn't the only event that happened on

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Jan 24 2025BUSINESS

Boeing's Space Woes: More Losses Expected for Starliner Program

Well, it seems like Boeing is still facing a bumpy ride with its Starliner commercial crew program. In a recent press release, the company admitted it's bracing for some more financial hits. They're expecting to take a $400 million beating, along with some other programs like the VC-25B presidential

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Jan 23 2025EDUCATION

Charleston's New Inflatable Planetarium: A Cosmic Adventure Awaits

Get ready, Charleston! A unique experience is coming to Citadel Mall in West Ashley. The Charleston Planetarium Society is setting up an inflatable planetarium dome right next to Planet Fitness. This 50-seat theater will offer shows on astronomy, biology, and history, all aimed at inspiring folks, e

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Jan 22 2025POLITICS

Bill Nelson Bids Farewell as NASA Chief, Ushering in New Era

In a significant shift, Bill Nelson stepped down from his post as NASA administrator on January 20, 2021. This date marked the end of the Biden Administration and the start of Donald Trump's second term as president. Nelson, a long-time public servant with a career spanning over five decades, took t

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Jan 21 2025POLITICS

NASA's Top Job in Flux as Trump's Second Term Begins

President Trump's second term kicked off with big plans for Mars but puzzling leadership at NASA. In his inaugural speech, Trump talked about sending astronauts to Mars, but there was confusion about who was in charge at NASA. Bill Nelson and Pam Melroy had just stepped down as administrator and dep

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Jan 20 2025POLITICS

What If Trump Returns? NASA and Space Plans in Flux

Picture this: President Trump wins another term. NASA might see some major changes. The Artemis mission, aimed at getting humans back to the moon, could get a whole new makeover. Big rockets like the Space Launch System, built for moon trips, might also change. Earth science projects could see budge

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Jan 16 2025SCIENCE

Hubble's Budget Woes: What's at Stake?

The Hubble Space Telescope, a staple in astronomy for nearly 35 years, is facing significant budget cuts. NASA's proposed budget for upcoming years has prompted the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) to consider major changes. The institute, which handles Hubble's science operations, might ha

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Jan 15 2025SCIENCE

Two Moon Landers, One Launch: What's the Big Deal?

Early morning on January 15th, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. Aboard were two lunar landers, one from the U. S. and one from Japan, each with their own unique journey to the moon. Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost 1 and ispace's HAKUTO-R M2 'Resilience' are bo

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