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Mice, gerbils perish in Russia space flight

Agence France-PresseMay 19, 2013 12:15

A number of mice and eight gerbils sent into space in a Russian capsule destined to find out how well organisms can withstand extended flights perished during their journey, scientists said Sunday as the month-long mission touched back down on Earth. Most of the 45 mice sent into orbit -- along with the gerbils and 15 newts -- died on the mission, which nevertheless returned with data that scientists hope will pave the way for a manned flight to Mars. The animals on board the Bion-M craft died because of equipment failure or due to the stresses of space, scientists said.

Russia retrieves mice, newts from space

Agence France-PresseMay 19, 2013 08:45

A Russian capsule filled with 45 mice and 15 newts along with other small animals returned from a month's mission in orbit on Sunday with data scientists hope will pave the way for a manned flight to Mars. Russian Mission Control said the Bion-M craft landed softly with the help of a special parachute system in the Orenburg Region about 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) southeast of Moscow. The capsule was also carrying snails and gerbils as well as some plants and microflora. Rossiya state television said not all the animals survived but provided no other details.

Japan to develop new large successor rocket to H2-A

Kyodo News InternationalMay 17, 2013 06:45

Japan plans to develop a large successor rocket to its current mainstay H-2A launch vehicle, government sources said Friday. The government's seven-member advisory body on space policy, called the Committee on National Space Policy, plans to make an official decision on the development of the new rocket by the end of this month, the sources said. If the plan is adopted, it would be the first document of a mainstay rocket since 1996 when Japan started development of the H-2A rocket.

Billion-year-old underground water could hold clues to early life on Earth, Mars

The Canadian PressMay 15, 2013 20:02

TORONTO - Deep underground within the Canadian Shield, scientists are probing for life — yes, life. Their laboratory is found at the bottom of mine shafts in Timmins, Ont., where pockets of water trapped inside crystalline granite rock have existed for at least a billion years, and may be as ancient as the geology itself — 2.7 billion years old.

How spaceman Hadfield's sons pushed him to social-media stardom

The Canadian PressMay 15, 2013 20:02

MONTREAL - Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield may have become a worldwide Internet sensation with his dramatic photos, tweets and musical performances from space. But it took some convincing by his two sons to persuade him of the importance of social media in the first place. His conversion began several years ago — long before Hadfield's mission to the International Space Station, which ended with great fanfare this week. He initially balked when his sons began preaching the merits of Twitter and Facebook more than three years ago.

NASA's Kepler planet hunter appears broken

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 17:15

NASA's planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft appears to be hobbled by a faulty wheel and may be near the end of its four-year mission, space agency scientists said Wednesday. Kepler, a $600 million mission, was launched in 2009 on a search for other planets. So far, it has found 2,700 candidates, including a handful that may be habitable worlds, not too hot and not too cold. The problem is a reaction wheel that keeps the spacecraft pointed but has stopped working, said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA.

Ghana's nascent space program aims to launch Coke-sized model of satellite

The Canadian PressMay 15, 2013 11:00

KOFORIDUA, Ghana - Their goal might not sound like much: The college students plan Wednesday to launch a tiny model of a satellite the size of a Coke can a mere 200 yards (meters) into the air. Yet in this developing West African country that recently launched the Ghana Space Science and Technology Center, ambitious organizers hope it's a sign of things to come.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper pays tribute to Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield

The Canadian PressMay 14, 2013 18:17

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. - Prime Minister Stephen Harper paid tribute Tuesday to Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield's time aboard the International Space Station. Harper said Hadfield's mission is a proud moment for Canada. "I'd like, as prime minister, to welcome Commander Chris Hadfield back to Earth," he said at a funding announcement. "He has made all Canadians proud. What a tremendous mission that has been."

Astronauts make safe return from space station

Agencia EFEMay 14, 2013 11:15

Moscow, May 14 (EFE).- The Soyuz-TMA capsule carrying three astronauts from the International Space Station landed safely Tuesday in Kazakhstan, Russian mission control said. Canada's Chris Hadfield, U.S. astronaut Thomas Marshburn and Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko made touchdown at 0231 GMT at the designated landing spot, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) southeast of Zhezkazgan. Russian television aired live images of the landing. All three astronauts are healthy and in good spirits, mission control said.

Canadian ISS astronaut returns to Earth as a star

Agence France-PresseMay 14, 2013 09:02

Canadian spaceman Chris Hadfield on Tuesday returned to Earth along with two other astronauts after a half-year mission to the International Space Station that saw him shoot to global stardom by captivating people worldwide with his Twitter microblog. Hadfield landed safely in the Kazakh steppe along with American Tom Marshburn and Russian Roman Romanenko aboard a Russian Soyuz-TMA capsule that had left the space station earlier Tuesday morning, Moscow mission control said.