Vote Now! Best Space Stories of the Week - March 25, 2012

Runaway Planets, Submarines on Jupiter and a Supernova Explosion

From runaway planets to a submarine on Jupiter, it's been a busy week in space. Vote now for the week's best space story.

FIRST STOP: 'Warp-Speed' Planets Flung Out of Galaxy on Wild Ride

'Warp-Speed' Planets Flung Out of Galaxy on Wild Ride

New research shows that planets can be flung outward just like runaway stars, and some of these escaping worlds zoom through space at a few percent of the speed of light - up to 30 million miles per hour. [Full Story]

NEXT: Europe Launches Giant Cargo Ship Toward Space Station

Europe Launches Giant Cargo Ship Toward Space Station

After a minor delay, Europe's third huge robot cargo ship - the Automated Transfer Vehicle 3 - launches toward the International Space Station on Friday, March 23 at 12:34 a.m. EDT (0434 GMT). The spacecraft will deliver more than 7 tons of cargo to the spaces station on March 28. [Full Story]

NEXT: Source Star of New Supernova Explosion May Be Found

Source Star of New Supernova Explosion May Be Found

Astronomers have identified the star that may be responsible for a supernova discovered by skywatchers last week, SPACE.com has learned. [Full Story]

NEXT: Next-Generation GPS Satellites Designed in Virtual Reality

Next-Generation GPS Satellites Designed in Virtual Reality

A new factory built to crank out the next generation of advanced Global Positioning System satellites will draw upon some Hollywood magic: 3D glasses and virtual reality. [Full Story]

NEXT: Robot Submarine on Jupiter Moon Europa is 'Holy Grail' Mission for Planetary Science

Robot Submarine on Jupiter Moon Europa is 'Holy Grail' Mission for Planetary Science

Sending a submarine to the bottom of the ocean on Jupiter's moon Europa is the most exciting potential mission in planetary science, according to one prominent researcher. [Full Story]

NEXT: Time Running Out to Salvage Doomed Russian Satellite

Time Running Out to Salvage Doomed Russian Satellite

A group of researchers is trying to convince Russia to repurpose its failed telecom satellite Express AM4 into a tool for Antarctic researchers, but time is rapidly running out. [Full Story]

NEXT: Scientists Vow to Fight Cuts in NASA's Planetary Science

Scientists Vow to Fight Cuts in NASA's Planetary Science

Angry space scientists have launched a call to action to restore NASA's planetary science budget — a rallying cry to push back on President Obama's proposed fiscal year 2013 budget for NASA.[Full Story]

NEXT: Mercury Surprises: Tiny Planet Has Strange Innards and Active Past

Mercury Surprises: Tiny Planet Has Strange Innards and Active Past

Two new studies are reveailing new details about Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, based on views from NASA's Messenger spacecraft currently orbiting the small, rocky world. One study finds parts of Mercury are less varied than Mars and the moon, while a huge crater hints at intense upheaval. The second study finds that Mercury's outer crust is denser than thought and that its innards are vastly different than other planets. [Full Story]

NEXT: Excitement Builds for 1st Private Spaceship Flight to Space Station

Excitement Builds for 1st Private Spaceship Flight to Space Station

Anticipation and excitement over the first-ever launch of a private spaceship to the International Space Station next month is steadily building, astronauts and NASA flight controllers said Tuesday (March 20). [Full Story]

NEXT: Congress Grills NASA Chief on Planetary Science Cuts

Congress Grills NASA Chief on Planetary Science Cuts

Lawmakers grilled NASA administrator Charles Bolden about deep cuts to the planetary science program in the agency's 2013 budget request, saying it "cannibalizes" a successful Mars program and threatens American leadership in space. [Full Story]

NEXT: Ashton Kutcher Buys 500th Ticket for Virgin Galactic Spaceship Ride