Space Station Threshold

Steve Squyres and the Mars Exploration Rover team knew from the beginning that dust could cause a problem for the rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. When a thick layer of dust coats the solar panels, it blocks the sunlight that provides power to the six-wheeled robots. In the summer of 2007 a [...]

Right on schedule on November 13th, ESA's Rosetta spacecraft made its 2nd earthly flyby; testing its scientific instruments, and receiving a much needed gravitational assist. About two hours before its flyby, the spacecraft captured this image of the Earth's night side, including Asia, Africa and Europe.

How high is Mount Everest? Really high? Nearly 9,000 metres? Come on, be precise. Don't worry if you can't, even geographers can't agree. In 1999, the mountain's height was stated as 8,850 metres, and then a Chinese survey in 2005 calculated it to be 8,844.43. That might not sound like much of a difference, but [...]