SPACE

Five environmental and cultural heritage groups are suing the Federal Aviation Administration over the agency’s dealings with SpaceX.

In the early morning hours of April 12, 1981, NASA launched its first Space Transportation System, or space shuttle, mission, carrying astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen into orbit.

More than half a century later, the Apollo 13 mission continues to fascinate audiences.

NASA on Monday introduced the astronauts who will travel around the moon.

NASA named three Americans and one Canadian to the Artemis II crew during a ceremony in Houston Monday.

NASA says battery issues with their Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere spacecraft, known as AIM, have led to the agency ending operational support for the craft’s mission. NASA said AIM was originally slated to operate for two years. It completed its primary mission in 2009 and has been in extended operations status since that time.

The comet is the expected to make its closest pass of Earth sometime between Feb. 1 and 2, possibly even sooner sometime at the end of January.

WATCH NASA’S LIVE COVERAGE OF ORION’S RETURN TO EARTH

When NASA launched the Artemis I mission early Wednesday morning, it was something people had waited weeks, months, years, and even decades to see happen. The flight is unmanned, but it marks a milestone in the work being done to return humans to the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions.

Space Center Houston will unveil a new vision and brand identity during a press conference Tuesday.

The 10,000 square-foot immersive experience is the first of its kind, and it opens to the public this weekend!

The student-run shop has a hip vibe that perfectly fits the quality and originality of its menu and service.

In 1992, Dr. Mae Jemison became the first black woman to travel into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

The University of Houston will have microchips that were created in one of their labs head to outer space during the Artemis 1 mission.

The goal of NASA’s Quesst mission is to expand supersonic flight and provide regulators with data to provide regulators with data to help change existing national and international aviation rules that ban commercial supersonic flight over land. Central to the mission is NASA’s quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft, which is designed to produce a gentle thump instead of a sonic boom.

A recap on what happened on Houston Life, July 25, 2022. Today, we have a talented 10-year-old fiddler champion and a couple that found love on a reality series, The One that Got Away. Plus, Lauren Kelly shows a new way of creatively releasing stress and anger.

If you’re headed to Space Center Houston this weekend or visiting the Clear Lake area in general, make sure to stop by this particular McDonald’s location -- but not just for the Big Mac’s or the McFlurry’s.

If you’re headed to Space Center Houston this weekend or visiting the Clear Lake area in general, make sure to stop by this particular McDonald’s location -- but not just for the Big Mac’s or the McFlurry’s.

Who needs a time machine when you have the internet?

Growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico, Katya Echazarreta was encouraged to abandon her dreams of traveling to space.

Texas stargazers turned out to witness and capture the lunar event. Here’s what they saw.

On April 11, 1970, the Apollo 13 crew left Earth on a Saturn V rocket. Fifty-two years later at 88-years-old, Apollo 13 astronaut, and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise, remembers those harrowing moments, describing them vividly in his newly released book, memoir, Never Panic Early: An Apollo 13 Astronaut’s Journey.

Axiom Space has successfully launched its first-ever Ax-1 (Axiom Mission 1) crew to orbit on Friday morning.

History will be made when four all-private astronauts make their way on the first all-private mission to the International Space Station as part of Axiom Mission 1.

Fifty years after Apollo 17, NASA’s Johnson Space Center is taking the lead in a major milestone – the opening of lunar sample from the last Apollo mission, Apollo 17.

Houston Newsmakers: Johnson Space Center Director embraces new role; ‘Artemis’ moon program nears starting line

Houston is the home to human spaceflight, and it is fitting that it would be the first place in the US to feature a one-of-a-kind, multi-sensory, interactive virtual reality experience exploring inside and outside the world’s orbiting space laboratory--the International Space Station.

NASA plans to retire the International Space Station by 2031 and will crash it into the Pacific Ocean, CNN reports.

We might not be able to claim that 2021 was *the* wildest year in recent history (2020 will likely get that credit for quite some time), but it might be a close second.

The world's largest and most powerful space telescope has blasted off on a high-stakes quest to behold light from the first stars and galaxies.

The longest partial lunar eclipse of the year is happening early Friday, and people in all 50 states will be able to view it.

It may not be too long before many everyday people are able to make their way to space. As commercial spaceflight grows within American soil with companies like SpaceX creating milestones for space exploration, Space City is playing a major role in health research to help future missions.

SpaceX’s first private flight streaked into orbit Wednesday night with two contest winners, a health care worker and their rich sponsor, the most ambitious leap yet in space tourism.

The ringed planet Saturn, already one of the solar system’s most dazzling sights, will shine bigger and brighter this month. On Monday, August 2, at around 1 a.m. the planet will reach alignment with the Earth and the sun in an event known as “opposition.” During this event, the sixth planet will reach its closest point to Earth and wil shine at its absolute brightest.

We’re lucky to get fleeting moments throughout the year when we can witness beautiful sights in the sky. Thanks to space experts, we’re fortunate enough to have a heads up as to when we’ll get the best view of them.

Those interested in the progress of space flight and space travel woke up Tuesday morning to watch Blue Origin's first human flight into space, so it's no surprise plenty of people were talking about it on social media too.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration has opened a safety field office in Houston to increase its oversight of commercial space operations in Texas and New Mexico.

Venus and Mars will align in planetary conjunction, nearly overlapping each other in the night’s sky on Monday.

If you’ve missed any of the celestial events that have happened this year already -- the Pink Moon in April or the recent solar eclipse, to name a couple -- you’ve got one more chance to witness a rare supermoon this year, and it’s happening this week.

SpaceX had a successful Falcon 9′s launch of its GPS III Space Vehicle 05 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida Thursday.

Social media users on Twitter shared stunning images of the annular solar eclipse that occurred Thursday morning.

The “ring of fire” solar eclipse of 2021 was partially visible in certain parts of the world Thursday.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston Airport System will break ground on the new Collins Aerospace Building at the Houston Spaceport Monday.

Animal spaceflights paved the way for the first human astronauts and today creatures big and small continue to space travel advancing our knowledge of how the zero-gravity environment impacts all beings and aiding research down on Earth.

There’s something exciting on the horizon: a supermoon, and it’s expected to be the largest moon we’ll see this year.

SpaceX is scheduled to attempt a test flight for Starship SN15 between noon and 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Space Center Houston is honoring the dedication of the Apollo 13 crew and the flight controllers in Mission Control at NASA Johnson Space Center who worked around the clock to ensure the crew’s survival and safe return.

On April 11, 1970, three astronauts and a team here on Earth dared to attempt what was expected to be the third moon landing. However, just shy of 56 hours into the mission, the crew experienced a problem that would turn into a full-fledged effort to get the crew back to Earth alive.

Everything is bigger in Texas – until you get to outer space.

First opened in the fall of 1989, the George Observatory has been closed since 2019. “We are so excited to welcome visitors back to the newly-remodeled George Observatory. While most are in remote areas, the George Observatory is uniquely placed within Brazos Bend State Park. The George Observatory will open to the public every Saturday at 3 p.m. The Gorge Observatory is located inside Brazos Bend State Park at 21901 FM 762 Rd.

HOUSTON – In 1992, Dr. Mae Jemison became the first black woman to travel into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Her name is Sharon McDougle, a former suit tech for the space shuttle program who talked to Houston Life about her incredible story. Sharon McDougle and Dr. Mae Jemison (Sharon McDougle)McDougle was responsible for processing the orange launch and re-entry pressure suit assemblies worn by all NASA space shuttle astronauts, including Jemison. It was like they didn’t even see me,’” said McDougle, who worked with the Space Shuttle Program for 22 years. Sharon McDougle (Sharon McDougle)“Everybody is trainable, that’s one thing I preach.

HOUSTON – Primary Paint Party is a Paint Party Studio and Creative Workspace. This is a space where community members can enjoy themed paint parties with their friends and family, teambuilding with co-workers, or special creative workshops with other artists. This creative space is also home to the unique Prime Art Gallery. Clients are drawn to the unlimited possibilities of art in its Prime state. Unframed Canvas Art is available throughout the Gallery that represents local artists in and around the Houston area.

HOUSTON – A passion for storytelling led Rose-Ann Aragon into the world of journalism. KPRC 2's Rose-Ann Aragon on location for the launch of SpaceX Starship Prototype. This was a very memorable experience for Aragon and she enjoyed having a front-row seat to space history. AdKPRC 2's Rose-Ann Aragon talks about her involvement with the Lumikha Arts Showcase. To learn more or to connect with Rose-Ann Aragon, click here.

HOUSTON – The Houston Spaceport will be home to the world’s first space station to built by a commercial space company. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Tuesday that Axiom Space will build a 14-acre headquarters at the city’s spaceport next year and provide 1,000 high-paying jobs. Suffredini said the first module of the Axiom space station is set to be launched in late 2024 and will be the first commercial module to be attached to the International Space Station. Once the ISS is retired, the Axiom modules will detach and remain in low-earth orbit. Axiom will also provide commercial missions to the space station, the first of which is expected to launch late next year, Suffredini said.

A Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Launch Complex 40 with the SiriusXM-7 satellite ready for launch. (Image: SpaceX)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX is preparing for the launch of the SXM-7 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. The Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this launch previously supported Crew Dragon’s first flight to the International Space Station (Demo-1), launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission and four Starlink launches in 2020. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9′s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX said half of Falcon 9′s fairing previously supported the ANASIS-II mission in July 2020.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A nighttime rocket launch lit up the skies over Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday. The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy carrying the NROL-44 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office was originally set to launch about 5:15 p.m., from the Space Launch Complex-37. The launch was rescheduled for 7:09 p.m.You can watch again in the video below:

SpaceX’s high-altitude test flight for its prototype Starship SN8 ended in an explosion Wednesday as the spacecraft attempted to land in Boca Chica. It was the first test of its kind for the Starship, running all three raptor engines in an attempt to reach a height of more than 41,000 feet. The prototype came in for a landing at an angle before exploded at what appeared to be touchdown. “Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD, but we got all the data we needed! Successful ascent, switchover to header tanks & precise flap control to landing point!

Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, marked Wednesday’s test flight of the Starship SN8 a success, despite it blowing up during the landing phase. Can't wait for SN9. @elonmusk @SpaceX #starshipsn8 — nikkcolas (@Nikkcolas) December 9, 2020Congratulations @SpaceX and @elonmusk for the #starshipsn8 launch. It was a spectacular event, the landing was almost a success. SN9 will be the one I guarantee you :D — VAJDAD4M (@vajdad4m) December 9, 2020

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA has named the 18 astronauts — half of them women — who will train for its Artemis moon-landing program. The first woman and next man on the moon will come from this elite group. Half of the NASA astronauts have spaceflight experience. Two are at the International Space Station right now: Kate Rubins and Victor Glover. The other experienced members on the list include Kjell Lindgren, Anne McClain and Scott Tingle, all former space station residents.

BOCA CHICA, Texas – Space fans will just have to wait another day after SpaceX aborted its first attempt at a high-altitude test flight for its SN8 Starship Prototype in Boca Chica on Tuesday. Starship SN8 is expected to fly more than 41,000 feet into the air, do a now-iconic bellyflop or skydiving-like maneuver and then correct itself just before landing on the launchpad. The spacecraft is a two-stage vehicle that founder Elon Musk hopes will one day take as many as 100 people to Mars. It’s the first Starship to be fully outfitted with a nosecone and flaps. You can watch a replay of the first attempt below.

HOUSTON – Gen. Chuck Yeager, a fighter pilot best known as becoming the first person to break the sound barrier, died Monday. Born in West Virginia, Yeager enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941 and flew during World War II and shot down more than a dozen German planes. On Oct. 14, 1947, Yeager flew a rocket plan called “Glamorous Glennis” over the Mojave Desert to break the sound barrier. Yeager went on to become a trainer of some of the first American astronauts. He made an appearance in the movie “The Right Stuff,” which is about the early days of the American space program.

The two Dragon parking spots are just 15 feet (4.5 meters) or so apart. SpaceX redesigned its cargo ships to be as big as its spacious crew capsules in order to pack more in. The cargo Dragon will remain at the space station for a month, before parachuting into the Atlantic with science samples and discarded gear. The crew Dragon will stay up until spring. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education.

The Dragon — packed with Christmas treats and presents — should reach the space station on Monday, joining the Dragon that delivered four astronauts last month. “Dragons everywhere you look,” said Kenny Todd, NASA’s deputy space station program manager. With NASA’s commercial crew program officially under way, SpaceX expects to always have at least one Dragon capsule at the space station. I fear it might mess up my own Christmas,” Todd said late last week. This is SpaceX’s 21st station supply run for NASA since 2012.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – The shores at Isla Blanca Park are expected to be the place where hundreds of space enthusiasts and islanders go to watch a test launch across the water at SpaceX’s Starship facility in Boca Chica, Texas. With the Starship SN8 launch teasingly imminent, South Padre Island has found a lot more tourists walking the streets. The view of the SpaceX launch facility just a few miles across the water. “Everybody wants to see it happening,” said James Baxter, a Houston native and South Padre Island transplant. I was so excited!”They don’t think they will leave South Padre Island.

One Houstonian experienced this first-hand and turned his own vision into reality -- creating the ultimate space pad Airbnb for many space enthusiasts to rent. However, 400 miles away in the rugged terrain of Boca Chica, just 8 miles from the SpaceX Launch Facility, he’s managed to create the ultimate space lover’s experience, Rocket Ranch. The multi-room ranch has a full-kitchen, coffeeroom area, living room and outside amenities, filled with decor space enthusiasts would appreciate. Photos of different planets, milestone space exploration achievements and touches of trivial space gadgets fill the space. This all started when he went to see a SpaceX launch at the Cape.

This year, the International Space Station celebrated 20 years of having a continuous human presence on it. But what exactly is the International Space Station and what does it do? Over a 13-year period from 1998-2011, different modules were launched into space and attached to each other in orbit by astronauts. That mission was successful to create an initial base, and in subsequent years, other modules were launched into orbit and connected. The ISS is aging -- and if it’s not eventually destroyed or taken down by humans, space obstacles might arise, according to space.com.

In this frame grab from NASA TV, the SpaceX Dragon is seen after docking at the International Space Station, late Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. (NASA TV via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX’s newly launched capsule with four astronauts arrived Monday at the International Space Station, their new home until spring. The Dragon capsule pulled up and docked late Monday night, following a 27-hour, completely automated flight from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. “Oh, what a good voice to hear,” space station astronaut Kate Rubins called out when the Dragon's commander, Mike Hopkins, first made radio contact. As they prepared for the space station linkup, the Dragon crew beamed down live window views of New Zealand and a brilliant blue, cloud-streaked Pacific 250 miles below.

It is due to reach the space station late Monday and remain there until spring. NASA policy at Kennedy Space Center requires anyone testing positive for coronavirus to quarantine and remain isolated. Even the two astronauts on the first SpaceX crew flight stayed behind at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The four astronauts will be joining two Russians and one American who flew to the space station last month from Kazakhstan. NASA turned to private companies to haul cargo and crew to the space station, after the shuttle fleet retired in 2011.

It marked the first rendezvous of the American space shuttle with Russia’s space station Mir. Also on board, Eileen Collins, an American, became the first woman to pilot a space shuttle, and C. Michael Foale became the first British-born American astronaut to walk in space. “I saw that as an avenue for me to go to space,” Harris said. In August 1990, Harris began a year of training and evaluation with 22 classmates at Johnson Space Center. We have liftoffSpace Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, reopened in July after a temporary closure due to COVID-19.

Have you heard of the Leonid meteor shower? It comes around every November, but the chances of seeing it this year are much higher than last year. The shower happens at the same time every year, when Earth’s orbit crosses the orbit of Comet Tempel-Tuttle, according to Space.com. A trail of dust is left behind the comet, and when Earth’s orbit crosses that trail, pieces of the comet fall toward our planet’s surface. Luckily for us, meteors are visible to the naked eye, and the shower will peak overnight Monday into Tuesday (Nov. 16-17) around 3 a.m.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The moon’s shadowed, frigid nooks and crannies may hold frozen water in more places and in larger quantities than previously suspected. And for the first time, the presence of water on the moon’s sunlit surface has been confirmed, scientists reported Monday. While previous observations have indicated millions of tons of ice in the permanently shadowed craters of the moon’s poles, a pair of studies in the journal Nature Astronomy take the availability of lunar surface water to a new level. The presence of water in sunlit surfaces had been previously suggested, but not confirmed. For now, Sofia can analyze only the moon's outermost surface, but these water molecules could be buried yards (meters) deep, Honniball noted.

This undated image made available by NASA shows the asteroid Bennu from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. After almost two years circling the ancient asteroid, OSIRIS-REx will attempt to descend to the treacherous, boulder-packed surface and snatch a handful of rubble on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. “Sampling is in progress.”Confirmation came from the Osiris-Rex spacecraft as it made contact with the surface of the asteroid Bennu more than 200 million miles away. Bennu’s gravity was too low for the spacecraft to land — the asteroid is just 1,670 feet (510 meters) across. Japan expects samples from its second asteroid mission — in the milligrams at most — to land in the Australian desert in December.

If the planet Mars looks a little bigger and brighter tonight in the sky, it’s not just you. The Earth will be between the Sun and Mars making it appear very bright tonightThat places us in a perfect situation for viewing a much brighter and bolder looking Mars tonight. There are many fun facts about Mars, including the fact that the effect of gravity on Mars is roughly a third of what it is on the Earth. Meaning if you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, you would only weigh 38 pounds on Mars! There you’ll find fun facts and discover new things for you and your kids!

Mars will appear brighter than at any other point during the year on Oct. 13, when it will be closest to Earth. “So, a little over every two years, Mars and Earth are closest together in their orbits and, thus, Mars is at its brightest in our nighttime sky. (© 2012 Michael Orso)Blue moon on HalloweenFor the first time since 2001, trick-or-treaters will get the chance to experience a Halloween full moon. A blue moon, by the most popular definition, according to Gross, is when two full moons appear in a single month. “We will have full moons on Oct. 1 and 31, so that means that we’ll have a blue moon on Halloween,” Gross said.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket is scheduled to launch the NROL-33 mission just before midnight Wednesday from the Space Launch Complex in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This launch will send a national security payload to space for the National Reconnaissance Office, which is the government agency tasked with building and maintaining America’s intelligence satellites. This will be the one hundred and forty-first mission for the United Launch Alliance. You can read more about the mission in the agency’s brochure. Watch the launch below:

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A small air leak at the International Space Station finally has been traced to the Russian side, following a middle-of-the-night search by astronauts. Space station deputy program manager Kenny Todd said the good news is that “instead of a bunch of haystacks, we're down to maybe one haystack." But he added: “It's still a needle we're looking for.”NASA is sending up extra air supply tanks on its next space station delivery, scheduled for a Thursday departure from Virginia. As long as the leak does not worsen, Todd said, the space station should be fine through next spring. In two weeks, two Russians and an American are scheduled to arrive at the space station, followed by crew of three Americans and a Japanese on SpaceX's second launch of astronauts, now targeted for Oct. 31.

Astronomers have found a potential sign of life high in the atmosphere of neighboring Venus: hints there may be bizarre microbes living in the sulfuric acid-laden clouds of the hothouse planet. They said it doesn't satisfy the “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" standard established by the late Carl Sagan, who speculated about the possibility of life in the clouds of Venus in 1967. “It’s not a smoking gun," said study co-author David Clements, an Imperial College of London astrophysicist. After three astronomers met in a bar in Hawaii, they decided to look that way at the closest planet to Earth: Venus. ... Not a single process we looked at could produce phosphine in high enough quantities to explain our team’s findings.”That leaves life.

HOUSTON – NASA wants to buy moon rocks, but it’s mainly aimed at encouraging commercial companies to develop space exploration technology. According to the request for bids, the space agency will pay for between 50 and 500 grams of lunar regolith material from a contractor. The contractor must also provide imagery that identifies the material and information about where it was collected on the lunar surface. Once purchased, the material becomes the sole property of NASA, according to the bid. The goal is for the material to be retrieved and transferred to NASA before 2024, which is when the agency aims to land the next humans on the moon.

NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps is making a second attempt at history by becoming the first Black woman to be assigned on a mission in orbit. She was selected to become a NASA astronaut in 2009. Epps was one of nine members selected in the 20th NASA Astronaut class, her biography said. Her training includes Russian Language training, robotics, T-38 Training, and spacewalk training. Epps received several distinguished awards.

As if there weren’t enough to think about these days, now there is talk of an asteroid supposedly heading directly for Earth. The truth of the matter is, there is an asteroid, and it is headed in our general direction, but maybe not right at us. A flying space object known as 2018 VP1 is hurtling through our solar system right now, and it’s due to be in our vicinity in early November. An internet video and a few stories have created a bit of buzz for those who look for this type of information. His insights into space, asteroids and 2018 VP1 were beyond helpful.

HOUSTON Boca Chica Village may become a new popular Texas getaway destination as American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company, SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, looks to build its first resort. According to an online job listing, spotted by CNBCs Michael Sheetz, SpaceX is looking to employ a Resort Development Manager to oversee the development of the companys first resort in Boca Chica Village, near Brownsville, Texas. SpaceX is hiring a Resort Development Manager to develop the Boca Chica Village in Texas into a 21st century Spaceport and the companys first resort. https://t.co/AEfUaCIVGr pic.twitter.com/rhJqq2rnIV Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) August 10, 2020Boca Chica Village, once a secluded beach town, is the latest launch site of SpaceXs Starship, and the companys next-generation launch vehicle. RELATED: How a remote Texas village transformed when SpaceX became its neighborAccording to the job listing, the new resort is a part of SpaceXs plan to transform the tiny town into a 21st-century Spaceport.

BOCA CHICA, Texas – Boca Chica is a village that was once known for its nature and quiet. When SpaceX came to town, the village transformed into a rapidly developing spaceport poised to launch humans further than they have ever gone. Neighbors say this little village will never be the same.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket that will launch to Mars arrives at Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Tuesday, July 28, 2020, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The rocket scheduled to launch on Thursday will land on Mars in February 2021 and the Mars 2020 rover, named Perseverance, will study Martian geology. (AP Photo/John Raoux)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. The summers third and final mission to Mars featuring NASA's most elaborate life-hunting rover is on the verge of liftoff. The rover Perseverance will follow Chinas rover-orbiter combo and a United Arab Emirates orbiter, both launched last week. First things first, though: Good flying weather is forecast for United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket.

FILE - NASA astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger talks with Space Camp camper Bria Jackson, of Atlanta, before giving a speech at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. in this July 13, 2018 file photo. Space Camp, an educational program attended by nearly 1 million people, said Tuesday, July 28, 2020 it's in danger of closing without a cash infusion because of the coronavirus pandemic. Part of the state-owned U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Space Camp was shut down for weeks earlier this year and has been hampered by low attendance since reopening in June with limited capacity, officials said. Space Camp students have access to that area plus classes and mockups where they participate in simulated space missions. Space Camp is Huntsvilles most visible calling card," said Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell, who worked as marketing director for the attraction in its early days.

This illustration made available by NASA depicts the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter on the red planet's surface near the Perseverance rover, left. Set to rocket away this week from Florida, Perseverance is NASA's brawniest and brainiest Martian rover yet. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. With eight successful Mars landings, NASA is upping the ante with its newest rover. The spacecraft Perseverance set for liftoff this week is NASAs biggest and brainiest Martian rover yet. CURIOSITY:The six-wheeled, car-sized Perseverance is a copycat of NASAs Curiosity rover, prowling Mars since 2012, but with more upgrades and bulk.

Get ready for NEOWISE, discovered just this past March by NASA and named after their Near Earth Objects Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer space telescope. My viewer, Linda L. sent me this quick question: Hi Frank,I am wondering if we will be able to see NEOWISE in the sky any time soon in our area? When and Where to Look for NEOWISEMost everyone can spot the Big Dipper, even those who arent regular skywatchers. Heres a great guide from mars_stu on Twitter:NEOWISE guide from mars_stu on TwitterThanks for the question, Linda! Enjoy and please Click2pin NEOWISE if you get a nice pic!

If you've ever wondered what space smells like, a new perfume may answer that for you. A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign was recently launched for a new fragrance called Eau de Space to bring the smell of outer space back down to Earth. The fragrance was developed by Steve Pearce, according to Eau de Space product manager Matt Richmond. He hopes that Eau de Space will start the discussion, with parents, teachers and scientists taking it from there. Richmond revealed that they are looking into releasing a fragrance called Smell of the Moon based on the excitement around Eau de Space.

Lets make it memorable for all the right reasons with the KPRC 2 Summer Kids Program. ____________________________________________________________________________________________Get read to see the stars: Welcome to Week 5 of our Summer Kids ProgramStars and space is the fifth theme in the KPRC 2 Kids Summer Program. Little Kids First Big Book of Space by Catherine Hughes and David Aguilar - This beautiful book is the latest addition to the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series. The book will explain basic concepts of space, beginning with what is most familiar to kids and expanding out into the universe. Well share them throughout the week on KPRC 2 and at the end of the summer program.

We’ve seen a couple of pretty cool things lately when it comes to rocket launches, but the view of Falcon 9 taking off just before daybreak Saturday has got to be at the top of the list. In case you missed it, the rocket launched 58 Starlink communication satellites, bringing SpaceX one step closer to reaching its goal of providing global internet coverage from space. Falcon 9 launches 58 Starlink satellites and 3 @planetlabs Skysats to orbit before returning to Earth and landing on a droneship pic.twitter.com/K6OjgJQZfv — SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 13, 2020WOAH! A #SpaceX #Starlink launch into astronomical twilight is the absolute BEST WAY to start your day. pic.twitter.com/Mqr6NWNDhu — Jamie Groh (@AlteredJamie) June 13, 2020Full Screen 1 / 4 Viewers capture spectacular images during the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch early Saturday morning.

Let’s be serious, we’re all in a space mood after watching NASA astronauts launch from Kennedy Space Center last month. Whether you’re taking your shuttle out for a Sunday drive, taking a road trip, or blasting off to the stars -- a playlist is absolutely necessary to make the trip memorable. NASA Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley made a playlist for their 3-mile ride to Launch Complex 39A before liftoff. You’ll hear melodies like “Space Oddity”, “Rocket Man” as well as “A Sky Full of Stars” made famous by Coldplay. Buckle up and don your space suit -- or whatever NASA apparel you have close by, as we dive into our space jams.

Here are answers to five questions about what “basic” life is like for astronauts on the ISS. As if they are going to a restaurant, astronauts can choose which food items they want off of a menu. On the ISS, astronauts use liquid soap, water and no rinse shampoo. Given the microgravity means, there is no up or down, and astronauts can sleep in any orientation, according to NASA. The station has small crew cabins with sleeping bags that astronauts sleep in.

The flag flew on the first space shuttle flight in 1981 and the final one in 2011. The flag was an added incentive for Elon Musk's SpaceX company and Boeing, competing to be the first private company to launch a crew to the space station. The crew will include Chris Ferguson, commander of the last shuttle flight who now works for Boeing. The Dragon capsule, also built and owned by SpaceX, docked at the space station Sunday. The capsule will serve as their lifeboat during their space station visit.

COCOA BEACH, FLorida – It is difficult to put into words the feeling of unrelenting anticipation and an electric energy in the air of a different kind--excitement. All week, KPRC sent photojournalist Jeovany and I (Rose-Ann Aragon) to cover this historic moment from Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach for viewers and readers in Space City--the home to human spaceflight. Wednesday by 3:33pm (Houston time), Cocoa beach was packed, many tried to maintain social distancing by wearing masks and staying away from other people. From the Cocoa Beach beach front I spent hours reading Elon Musk’s biography (It’s a good one!) I could only imagine what was going through people’s heads the seconds that we all at Cocoa Beach couldn’t see what happened right after the liftoff.

HOUSTON After a historic launch Saturday, the SpaceX Dragon capsule has arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday. 1:50 p.m. - Mission continuesThe arrival of the SpaceX Dragon capsule at the International Space Station was just another step in the Demo 2 mission. Dragon approaching ISS The SpaceX Dragon capsule is approaching the International Space Station. 10:35 a.m. - Dragon makes 5SpaceXs Dragon capsule makes for a total of five spacecraft that are currently docked at the International Space Station. 10:04 a.m. - Space Station hatch openedThe hatch of the International Space Station has been opened as the pressurization of the vestibule continues.