Moonwater

University of Tennessee Prof. Larry Taylor has a theory supporting existence of water molecules on the Moon, and a scenario for creating lunar gas stations to help propell missions deeper into space. The KNS reports.

NASA should have big 2011

The New York Times reports on scheduled missions centered on Mercury and Mars. New rovers, more hopes of water in the shadows of Mercury's crater rims and the International Space Station finally whole. The story's here.

NASA Astronaut in Memphis

Astronaut and engineer Bonnie Dunbar spoke this week to a women's-advancement group at Medtronic, and touched on the future of human spaceflight. The Obama Administration has proposed commercializing the flights. The MDN reports it.

SS Columbia: NASA reports on deaths of Seven and their craft

Nearly six years ago, on Feb. 1, 2003, seven Astronauts were killed when Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated, due ultimately to a 1.6-lb. piece of foam insulation breaking loose and damaging a wing. Today, The New York Times published its story about NASA's investigation of that catastrophe, and the 400-page NASA document is here. Though the entire matter is being handled with sensitivity, a review of the technical report of damage and failure factors leaves at least one reader somewhat stunned, and grateful for the report. NASA rightly also celebrates its 2008 successes, here.