60-second Space

The Phobos-Grunt mission, which could launch November 8th, will try to grab some Phobos soil and bring it back to Earth. John Matson reports

On November 8th an asteroid will pass Earth within the moon's orbit, offering a rare opportunity for study. John Matson reports

A Soyuz rocket carried into space components for a European GPS system--but the bigger news was the launch site, the European Space Agency home in French Guiana. John Matson reports

A sub-satellite of the Saturnian moon would explain two of the most puzzling features of Iapetus. John Matson reports

The WISE spacecraft's census of near-Earth asteroids lowers the population of the big, bad ones. John Matson reports

China launches the unmanned Tiangong 1 later this week, setting up opportunities for docking and long-duration stays. John Matson reports

To evolve into our current solar system, the original version probably had a fifth gas giant, computer simulations indicate. John Matson reports

NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite will fall out of orbit soon, with large pieces perhaps reaching Earth's surface, according to NASA's Nick Johnson at a telephone press conference. John Matson reports

NASA will teach writers about space science and promote sci-fi novels in the hope of inspiring young readers to learn science and math and become part of the space workforce. John Matson reports

NASA's WISE satellite has found a Y dwarf star, cool enough to touch, that is the hub of the seventh closest star system to us. John Matson reports

Newly discovered exoplanet HD 85512 b could be hospitable to life. John Matson reports

Seven years into its three-month mission, the Mars rover Opportunity reaches Endeavour Crater, a possible geologic treasure trove. John Matson reports

A telescopic sky survey finds 14 previously unknown objects in and around the Kuiper Belt. John Matson reports

The space shuttle era is over, but a mission to Jupiter is next up on the launch pad. John Matson reports

A Hubble telescope search for dust rings around Pluto turned up a previously unknown moon. John Matson reports

NASA's Kepler mission's principal investigator, Bill Borucki, talks about the search for exoplanets that might be habitable. Part 2 of 2. John Matson reports

NASA's Kepler mission's principal investigator, Bill Borucki, talks about the search for exoplanets that might be in habitable zones around their stars. John Matson reports

Orbital debris within 250 meters of the International Space station is a warning to clean up the neighborhood before a tragic impact. John Matson reports

Computer simulations show that about 10 percent of planets could have a massive moon that helps to stabilize the planetary tilt. John Matson reports

After 34 years in space, 17 billion miles from Earth, Voyager 1 has reached or is about to reach the heliopause. John Matson reports