Columbia’s Tragic Mission Remembered, Space Junk and More
Last week SPACE.com readers and experts shared their memories of the day of the Columbia accident, we looked at the evolving threat of Earth-circling orbital debris and a close conjunction of Jupiter and the moon amazed stargazers all over the world. See the top stories of the last week here.
FIRST STOP: Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy: Share Your Thoughts
Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy: Share Your Thoughts
We ask SPACE.com readers and experts for their memories of the day of the Columbia accident. [Full Story]
NEXT: Space Junk Menace: How to Deal with Orbital Debris
Space Junk Menace: How to Deal with Orbital Debris
The saga of what steps must be taken to deal with the evolving threat of Earth-circling orbital debris is a work in progress. Dangerous space junk comes in all sizes and, indeed, has become a “growth industry” in and of itself. [Full Story]
NEXT: On Mars, Dry Ice 'Smoke' Carves Up Sand Dunes
On Mars, Dry Ice 'Smoke' Carves Up Sand Dunes
Thawing dry ice causes seasonal changes in dunes on Mars, a new study suggests. [Full Story]
NEXT: NASA Eyes 'Hedgehog' Invasion of Mars Moon Phobos
NASA Eyes 'Hedgehog' Invasion of Mars Moon Phobos
Stanford researchers have created new spiky rovers called hedgehogs that could be used for a mission on Phobos, a Martian moon. How they work and where the project stands. [Full Story]
NEXT: Giant Mars Crater Shows Evidence of Ancient Lake
Giant Mars Crater Shows Evidence of Ancient Lake
Groundwater might lurk under the surface of Mars, hinting that a vast amount of life might once have potentially lived there. [Full Story]
NEXT: Space Explosion to Blame for Tree Ring Mystery, Astronomers Say
Space Explosion to Blame for Tree Ring Mystery, Astronomers Say
A spike in rare chemicals recorded in tree rings from 775 A.D. may have been caused by a space explosion called a gamma-ray burst, according to a new study. The study solves a long-standing tree ring mystery. [Full Story]
NEXT: NASA's Planet-Hunting Kepler Telescope Stalled by Glitch
NASA's Planet-Hunting Kepler Telescope Stalled by Glitch
NASA's prolific planet-hunting Kepler Space Telescope has been placed in a precautionary "safe mode" after engineers noticed a problem with the instrument's orientation mechanism. [Full Story]
NEXT: Close Encounter of Jupiter and Moon Wows Stargazers
Close Encounter of Jupiter and Moon Wows Stargazers
A close conjunction of Jupiter and the moon amazed stargazers all over the world last night. Readers submitted photos of what the close pairing looked like. [Full Story]
NEXT: Is Space Big Enough for Two Asteroid-Mining Companies?
Is Space Big Enough for Two Asteroid-Mining Companies?
The second company to jump into the asteroid-mining business isn't worried about competition from its rival, saying that the resources of space are vast enough to support an entire extractive industry off Earth's surface. [Full Story]
NEXT: Astronaut's Video Reveals Secret of Zero-G Fingernail Clipping
Astronaut's Video Reveals Secret of Zero-G Fingernail Clipping
The Canadian Space Agency released a video of Chris Hadfield explaining how to cut fingernails in space. [Full Story]
NEXT: How NASA Revealed Sun's Hottest Secret in 5-Minute Spaceflight
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