Stunning high-res photos of the Sun reveal swirling threads of plasma

In what are described as the highest-resolution images ever taken of the Sun’s atmosphere, scientists have detected previously unsighted threads of magnetic plasma woven throughout, offering new clues as to the makeup of its active outer layers.

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Kepler data reveals most Earth-like exoplanet in size and temperature yet

A review of early data returned by NASA's Kepler mission has revealed one of the most Earth-like exoplanet discovered so far. The new planet is slightly larger than ours, is estimated to have a similar temperature, and orbits in the habitable zone.

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NASA funds concept for gigantic radio telescope on far side of Moon

NASA is exploring the potential of building an enormous radio telescope on the far side of the Moon in a huge impact crater. The telescope’s reflector would be comprised of a 1-km diameter wire mesh, pulled into place by wall-climbing robots.

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BepiColombo completes close encounter with Earth

The BepiColombo deep-space probe has successfully made its flyby of Earth on its journey to explore the planet Mercury. On April 10, the joint ESA/JAXA mission passed within 12,700 km of the Earth's surface as it carried out a slingshot maneuver.

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“Houston, we’ve had a problem”: The story of NASA’s most successful failure

This weekend marks 50 years since the launch of Apollo 13. Only seven months after Apollo 11, the third manned lunar landing attempt was already seen as routine, but it would become one of the most remarkable stories of survival in history.

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Rocket Lab uses a helicopter to catch its booster in mid-air

Rocket Lab is looking to join the rocket recycling party by collecting the first stage of its Electron launch vehicle in midair using a helicopter, a method that it has now successfully demonstrated over the open ocean in New Zealand.

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Masten Space Systems selected to deliver payloads to lunar south pole

NASA has awarded a US$75.9-million contract to Masten Space Systems of Mojave, California, to produce and operate eight lunar mission payloads, including nine science and technology instruments to scout the Moon's south pole.

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Earth to be buzzed this week by spacecraft heading to Mercury

This week Earth will be visited by a spacecraft that has traveled 1.4 billion km to get here. But no, it’s not aliens – it’s BepiColombo, just slingshotting around our planet for a gravitational speed boost on its roundabout journey to Mercury.

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