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NASA Nixes Proposal Adding Crew to First SLS/Orion Deep Space Flight

By Ken Kremer - May 14, 2017 12:00 AM UTC | Space Policy
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - After conducting a thorough review examining the feasibility of adding a two person crew to the first integrated launch of America's new Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket and Orion capsule on a mission that would propel two astronauts to the Moon and back by late 2019, NASA nixed the proposal during a media briefing held Friday.
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Movie Review - Alien: Covenant

By David Dickinson - May 11, 2017 11:48 AM UTC | Astrobiology
So, are you excited for the 2017 movie season? U.S. Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us, and that means big ticket, explosion-laden sci-fi flicks and reboots/sequels. Lots of sequels. We recently got a chance to check out Alien: Covenant opening Thursday, May 18th as the second prequel and the seventh (if you count 2004's Alien vs. Predator) in the Alien franchise.
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See Comet C/2015 ER61 PanSTARRS at its Best

By David Dickinson - May 09, 2017 01:55 PM UTC | Planetary Science
Have you been following the Springtime parade of bright comets? Thus far, the Oort cloud has offered up several fine binocular comets, including Comet 2/P Encke, 41/P Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak, 45/P Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova, C/2016 U1 NEOWISE and C/2017 E4 Lovejoy. Now, another comet joins the dawn ranks, as it brightens up ahead of expectations: 2015 ER61 PanSTARRS.
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SpaceX Stages Stupendous NRO Spysat Sunrise Liftoff and Land Landing

By Ken Kremer - May 01, 2017 08:52 PM UTC | Missions
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - SpaceX today staged the stupendously successful Falcon 9 rocket launch at sunrise of a mysterious spy satellite in support of U.S. national defense for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) while simultaneously accomplishing a breathtaking pinpoint land landing of the boosters first stage that could eventually dramatically drive down the high costs of spaceflight.
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