Space

National

NASA's Orion Capsule Looks And Acts Like Apollo

11:51am December 06, 2014

With the launch of a new NASA spacecraft and a probe nearing Pluto, it's been a busy week in space. NPR science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel tells NPR's Scott Simon what's going on up there.

Queue Listen Now

Science

Lots Of Work Remains After Successful Orion Launch

6:30pm December 05, 2014

by Geoff Brumfiel

NASA successfully launched and landed a test version of its next-generation Orion spacecraft on Friday morning. The unmanned test is the first for the follow-on to the shuttle.

Queue Listen Now

NASA's Orion spaceship early Thursday in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

NASA Scrubs Launch Of Orion Spacecraft

2:38pm December 04, 2014

by Scott Neuman

After several issues, including high winds, stuck engine valves and a boat downrange of the launch site, the space agency said it would cancel today's planned launch of the new vehicle.

Science

NASA To Test Orion Spacecraft For Long Future Missions

10:34am December 04, 2014

by Geoff Brumfiel

NASA plans to launch an unmanned capsule named "Orion" from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday. NASA hopes that Orion will one day carry astronauts beyond Earth's orbit and even to Mars.

Queue Listen Now

NASA's Orion Capsule Built To Take Humans Into Deep Space

7:57am December 04, 2014

This is the first time NASA will fly a spacecraft designed for humans since the space shuttle retired in 2011. The pod is similar to what the Apollo astronauts used in the 1960s and '70s.

Queue Listen Now

The Orion capsule is poised to make its first test flight Thursday. If all goes as planned, the unmanned vehicle will orbit Earth twice before splashing into the Pacific Ocean.

Science

NASA Prepares To Test New Spacecraft (That You've Likely Never Heard Of)

3:43pm December 03, 2014

by Geoff Brumfiel

The new vehicle, named Orion, is designed to carry humans into deep space. But most Americans aren't aware it exists.

Queue Listen Now

Astronauts Will Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner In Space

12:12pm November 27, 2014

by Geoff Brumfiel

Two NASA astronauts are aboard the International Space Station. Turkey is on the menu but not pumpkin pie. NASA can't make pumpkin pie in space because the crust doesn't come out right.

Queue Listen Now

Matthew McConaughey plays an astronaut explorer in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar.

Science
Arts

Neil DeGrasse Tyson Separates Fact From Fiction In 'Interstellar'

8:14pm November 23, 2014

by NPR Staff

The astrophysicist has been tweeting about the science behind the film. In an interview with NPR, Tyson goes beyond those tweets, into wormholes, relativity and even some spoilers.

Queue Listen Now

The Rosetta spacecraft, which orbits the comet, captured this series of images of the Philae lander bounding off the surface. The precise spot the lander came to a stop remains unknown.

Science

Comet Lander's Big Bounce Caught On Camera

7:41pm November 17, 2014

by Geoff Brumfiel

An orbiting spacecraft caught the Philae lander bounding on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The lander sent home some scientific data before its batteries ran out.

Onlookers take cell phone pictures of stranded window washers hanging from scaffolding on the side of One World Trade Center.

Comet Lander, Firefighters Execute Dazzling Feats Above The Earth

10:21am November 15, 2014

by Scott Simon

The sky was full of wonders this week, NPR's Scott Simon muses, as a spacecraft landed on a comet and two window washers were rescued 69 stories above the streets at the new One World Trade Center.

Queue Listen Now