Category: Points of Information

The first image of an extrasolar planet, originally taken in 2008, has been confirmed. Scientists needed to track the object for the last two years to prove that it actually is in orbit around its sunlike star.

After their successful first launch several weeks ago, the Dragon capsule and upper stage of Falcon 9 fell back to Earth over the weekend.

The first solar sail finally flies. The Japanese have activated Ikaros and are beginning actual flight tests.

The space war between Congress and the President over space continues.

Japanese scientists have taken their first look inside the Hayabusa capsule. So far, they’ve detected some unidentified gas, but no particles bigger than 1 millimeter.

On Sunday, Deep Impact flies past Earth to give it a boost so that it can rendezvous with another comet on Nov 4, 2010.

India has joined the Thirty Meter Telescope Project. This is important as it shows how much India is becoming a first world nation. It also indicates that nation’s continuing passion for all things space-related. Also, the Thirty Meter Telescope (with a mirror the size of a football field!) is cool on its own.