Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft ‘phones home’ after flyby of Ultima Thule

Scientists celebrate probe’s successful completion of most distant space flyby in history

Nasa scientists are celebrating after a spacecraft “phoned home” to confirm it had successfully performed the most distant space flyby in history in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Thousands of photographs of the dark, icy space rock called Ultima Thule were snapped by the New Horizons probe as it barrelled past it on the outer edge of the solar system at 0533 GMT.

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Cannon: – First Man’ is a giant step for America and movies

It sounds like the opening to a joke: Donald Trump, Bill Kristol and Marco Rubio walk into a bar. The three Republican frenemies eye each other warily, until one breaks the ice by asking, "What did you guys think of the new movie about the moon landing?" "Total lunacy," says Rubio, a Florida senator who while running for president in 2016 questioned the size of Trump's manhood.

Should a Scientist Run NASA?

I got a little excited the first time I met then-Administrator Charlie Bolden in 2012! I did take a proper picture after, but this is just so good! With every President comes a new NASA administrator, and the current admin, Jim Bridenstine, has raised a number of eyebrows. The strongest reaction to Bridenstine's appointment comes from his lack of a science background, though more recent reports say he has changed his mind on climate change and does believe humans are responsible and can curb the effects we're having on the planet.

Former Space Shuttle Commander And DARPA Exec Joins SPA Board Of Directors

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., has announced the appointment of former NASA Space Shuttle Commander and retired USAF Colonel, Pamela A. Melroy, to the SPA Board of Directors. With a distinguished career of over 25 years as a professional jet and test pilot, nearly 1000 hours in space, and executive positions in industry and government, Colonel Melroy brings her unique and extensive experience in space, hypersonics, defense, and international markets to SPA.

Space experts worry US won’t make it to Mars by 2030s

President Donald Trump has touted a goal of sending Americans to the Moon again for the first time since the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s, building a lunar gateway to test the technology and spacecraft that will carry humans to Mars. At a hearing in Washington, Senator Bill Nelson said the White House decision to return to the Moon - a program former president Barack Obama halted in order to focus on reaching Mars - could drag down the whole process.

JPL employees criticize government for pursuing background checks

JPL employees Wednesday criticized federal authorities for seeking a U.S. Supreme Court review of an appeals court decision blocking the government from requiring mandatory background checks. The U.S. Solicitor General's Office wants the nation's highest court to review the ruling, arguing that it could affect the government's ability to conduct background checks of contract employees.

New NASA chief vows US will always have astronauts in orbit

In this Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017 photo provided by NASA, Rep. James Bridenstine, R-Okla., nominee for administrator of NASA, testifies at his nomination hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington. On Wednesday, June 6, 2018, Bridenstine says NASA is already talking with private companies about potentially taking over the space lab after 2025.

NASA’s new administrator says he’s talking to companies to…

NASA is talking to several international companies about forming a consortium that would take over operation of the International Space Station and run it as a commercial space lab, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in an interview. "We're in a position now where there are people out there that can do commercial management of the International Space Station," Bridenstine said in his first extensive interview since being sworn in as NASA administrator in April.