National Geographic News: Space and Techhttp://news.nationalgeographic.com/en-usThu, 12 Feb 2015 07:47:53 -0400Solar Storm Satellite Heads for Gravitational Sweet Spothttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150208-lagrangian-point-gravity-orbit-satellite-dscovr-launch-science-space/The Deep Space Climate Observatory mission depends on the physics of an increasingly crowded location.Brad ScriberTue, 10 Feb 2015 18:44:00 -0400Spacecraft Launched to Watch Earth and Warn of Solar Stormshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150206-dscovr-launch-solar-climate-space/After a decade of anticipation, the Deep Space Climate Observatory launches, watching for solar storms and observing Earth's clouds.Dan VerganoThu, 12 Feb 2015 07:47:53 -0400Rosetta Spacecraft, First to Orbit Comet, Finds Surprises Aplentyhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150122-space-rosetta-surface-dust-science/The spacecraft sends home new views as it rides along with a comet toward the sun.Michael D. LemonickThu, 22 Jan 2015 14:04:53 -0400Astronomers Spy "Bullet" Galaxy Blasting Through Other Galaxieshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150114-bullet-cluster-space-newton/The core of one galaxy is piercing a cluster of distant galaxies in a fast-moving merger, astronomers report.Dan VerganoWed, 14 Jan 2015 14:54:41 -0400"Close But No Cigar," SpaceX Rocket Engine Suffers Hard Landing on Bargehttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150110-spacex-landing-barge-space-science/A first attempt to land a rocket engine on a floating barge failed, following a successful cargo launch to the International Space Station.Dan VerganoSat, 10 Jan 2015 07:35:18 -0400Stunning 3-D Models Reveal Bizarre Double Star Acting Uphttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150108-eta-carinae-3d-space-astronomy-pictures-science/Astronomers get a glimpse into the turbulent heart of the Eta Carinae star system and record baffling blasts of stellar wind.Nadia DrakeThu, 08 Jan 2015 17:57:39 -0400NASA's Kepler Spacecraft Discovers New Batch of Earthlike Planetshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150106-kepler-goldilocks-exoplanets-universe-space-science/NASA's Kepler spacecraft turns up 554 possible worlds, and confirms eight more, including some that may be suitable for life.Nadia DrakeTue, 06 Jan 2015 16:35:44 -0400Rosetta's Comet Lander Will Revive After Bumpy Touchdown, Scientists Sayhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141217-rosetta-philae-comet-wake-science-space/Rosetta mission scientists grow hopeful for a revival of their stranded Philae lander.Dan VerganoWed, 17 Dec 2014 15:50:36 -0400Out of Fuel, Venus Express Is Falling Gently to Its Death in Planet's Skieshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141217-venus-express-final-plunge-space-science/Europe's hard-working Venus Express has finally run out of gas and will start to fall through the planet's thick atmosphere.Nadia DrakeWed, 17 Dec 2014 14:34:25 -0400Alien Life on Mars? NASA Rover Spots Methane, a Possible Sign of Microbeshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141216-mars-methane-curiosity-space-science/NASA's Curiosity rover detects spikes of methane gas on Mars, puzzling scientists and pointing to surprising geology or perhaps microbial life.Dan VerganoTue, 16 Dec 2014 17:19:31 -04008 Sky Events This Week: Comet Visits Galaxy, Jovian Eclipseshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141215-starstruck-sky-events-comet-planets-science/December diamonds crown the night sky, lovely sights for stargazers as the solar system's royalty dances.Andrew FazekasMon, 15 Dec 2014 13:43:51 -0400Gem of a Meteor Shower on Tap This Weekendhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141211-starstruck-sky-events-geminids-science/Break out a lawnchair and a warm coat for a December meteor shower.Andrew FazekasThu, 11 Dec 2014 17:27:57 -0400Rosetta Spacecraft Suggests Asteroids, Not Comets, Birthed Earth's Oceanshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141210-rosetta-comet-water-space-science/Rosetta spacecraft's latest report shoots down a long-held idea that comets were the original source of Earth's water.Dan VerganoWed, 10 Dec 2014 14:07:37 -0400Orion's 'Picture Perfect' Splashdown Marks New Era in Spaceflighthttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141205-orion-nasa-splashdown-space-science/In a successful trial run, NASA tested the capacity of its new capsule to carry humans on deep-space missions.Dan VerganoFri, 05 Dec 2014 13:08:12 -0400NASA's Orion Launch Will Test Future of Manned Space Flighthttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141204-orion-nasa-preview-space-science/The unmanned capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday morning.Dan VerganoFri, 05 Dec 2014 11:43:41 -04005 Sky Events This Week: Moon Meets Mars, Neptune, and Saturn Nebula http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141124-starstruck-sky-events-this-week-sky-watching-astronomy-science/Sky-watchers can follow the moon on a tour of night-sky treasures.Andrew FazekasMon, 24 Nov 2014 15:44:36 -0400"Our Lander's Asleep": Philae Delivers Science as Batteries Fade http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141115-philae-comet-sleep-space-science/A landing mishap parked Europe's comet lander in the shadow of a crater.Dan VerganoSat, 15 Nov 2014 13:21:59 -0400'Solar Sneezes' May Trigger Auroras Around Venushttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141111-venus-express-space-aurora-science/Northern lights on Venus? Once thought impossible, they may arise from solar storms, say space scientists.Dan VerganoTue, 11 Nov 2014 18:20:21 -04005 Sky Events This Week: Mars Has Tea While Moon Joins Jupiterhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141110-starstruck-sky-watching-events-astronomy-science/The red planet will top the handle of the star teapot, and the asteroid Hebe will make an appearance.Andrew FazekasMon, 10 Nov 2014 16:56:04 -0400Astronomical Mirrors Open Deep Window Into the Early Universehttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141106-steward-video-mirror-astronomy-telescope-science/Future astronomical discoveries rest on huge mirrors, carefully polished in a lab beneath a football stadium.Thu, 06 Nov 2014 16:09:55 -0400Will Virgin Galactic's Crash End Space Tourism?http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141031-virgin-galactic-space-tourism-impacts/The fatal explosion of SpaceShipTwo in the Mojave Desert may lead to more scrutiny of the fledgling space passenger industry.Dan VerganoFri, 31 Oct 2014 17:58:40 -040040-Year-Old Russian Engine at Heart of Rocket Investigationhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/14/141029-rocket-explosion-russian-nasa-science/After a space station supply rocket explosion, reliance on refurbished Russian rockets raises questions.Dan VerganoWed, 29 Oct 2014 22:59:15 -0400Social Media Abuzz with Amazing Snapshots of Partial Solar Eclipsehttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141024-photos-partial-solar-eclipse-astronomy-science/The moon took a bite out of the sun on Thursday for an exciting few hours. See the results.Andrew FazekasWed, 29 Oct 2014 16:29:38 -0400"Lost" Satellite Photos Reveal Surprising Views of Earth in the 1960shttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141020-first-space-pictures-earth-satellite-photos/Images include the Aral Sea before it dried up, the most Antarctic ice on record, and possibly the first shots of Europe from space.James ThomsonMon, 20 Oct 2014 18:11:16 -0400Captured Space Dust Is Probably From Beyond Our Solar Systemhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140815-stardust-interstellar-dust-nasa-space-science/In the dust collector of a NASA probe, citizen scientists helped find particles that probably came from interstellar space—the first that could be studied on Earth.Michael D. LemonickFri, 15 Aug 2014 11:01:05 -0400