Aerospace Science
The study of air and space flight, astronomy and the effect of flight on living organisms
China’s Long March to the Moon
China plans to send humans to the Moon. Why we should care.
January 14, 2012 |
By Paul D. Spudis
The Second-Moon Theory
Is Earth's moon the product of a big splat as well as a big whack?
January 2012 |
By Damond Benningfield
The Hurricane Hunters
When Atlantic storms threaten, NOAA pilots answer the call.
January 2012 |
By Paul Hoversten
Annus Horribilis: Space in 2011
A review of the year in space. It's not pretty.
December 27, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
Doomed Blob of Gas Headed for Black Hole
Astronomers will get to watch a black hole devour material for the first time, as a gas cloud barrels towards the center of the Milky Way.
December 16, 2011 |
By Heather Goss
The Path of Exploration
The meaning of the word "exploration" changed about a hundred years ago. We should recover its full, original meaning, which included not only discovery but exploitation and wealth creation.
December 14, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
The Latest Destination for Human Spaceflight
Humans to Venus? The latest proposed destination for human space missions illustrates the essential hollowness of the current direction of our civil space program.
December 01, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
Slopes, Streaks and Flows
Dark streaks occur on slopes on both the Moon and Mars, although interpretations about their origins may differ. The Moon offers us some insight into how these features can form on all of the terrestrial planets.
November 17, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
In the Museum: The People’s Observatory
Bringing telescopes where the people are.
November 2011 |
By Rebecca Maksel
A Universe Throttling Up
Astrophysicist Adam Riess talks about his Nobel-winning discovery that the expansion of the universe is accelerating.
November 01, 2011 |
By Heather Goss
Ronald Greeley: A Gentleman and a Scholar
Some scientists are both great researchers and fine human beings. Ron Greeley was one of them.
October 29, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
On the Orbiting of Species
NASA animal research practices have come a long way since the days of Able and Baker.
October 2011 |
By Mark Betancourt
Replicators Have Arrived
Three-dimensional printing technology can be used in conjunction with the material and energy resources of the Moon to build new space faring capabilities.
October 24, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
The Art in Science
Oscar Wilde once noted that aestheticism is the search for the secret of life. So what better place to turn the lens of aestheticism than images of our universe?
October 11, 2011 |
By Heather Goss
It’s a gas, man!
Newly recognized "hollows" on the planet Mercury help to inform us about the origin, history and processes associated with some unusual landforms on the Moon.
October 08, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
“Smithsonian’s Stars” at the Museum
Volcanic activity on the moon, traveling to asteroids, and crashing galaxies are a few of the topics covered in free lectures at the National Air & Space Museum.
October 05, 2011 |
By Heather Goss
Is it Real, or is it IMAX?
When the [Virginia] earthquake struck on August 23, it unnerved most of the staff and visitors at the National Air and Space Museum —except patrons in the IMAX® theaters.
October 04, 2011 |
By Pat Trenner
Brave Archivist Rifles Through Clinton’s Stuff, Rewarded
Among the list of things one expects to find while sifting through former President Bill Clinton's stuff, a lost moon rock might be low on the list.
September 23, 2011 |
By Heather Goss
Let’s Argue About The Right Things
We seem to be in one of those periods in which basic reasons for doing what we do as a nation are called into question.
September 17, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
