Wow.

discoverynews:

Introducing Kepler-62: A Star System With Two Earths?

Two Earth-sized planets have been discovered orbiting Kepler-62, a star approximately 1,200 light-years away, inside its habitable zone. Which, quite frankly, is bonkers.

“We’re particularly delighted to find that there are two planets in the habitable zone.” — lead Kepler scientist William Borucki

Read more

treehugger:

motherjones:

team-joebama:

The most important aspect of Curiosity landing successfully on Mars is that now Spirit won’t be alone

Aw. We cried a little.

Guys? 

Yay, Spirit has a new pal.

The shuttle’s successors

A nice round-up of all the craft that could replace the NASA Shuttle.

thedailywhat:

End Of An Era of the Day: Space Shuttle Atlantis, manned by Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, charged into space this morning for the very last time.

Atlantis’s final launch was also the last launch of NASA’s 30-year Space Shuttle Program. “The shuttle’s always going to be a reflection of what a great nation can do when it commits to be bold and follow through,” said the Commander Ferguson just before lift off. “We’re completing a chapter of a journey that will never end. Let’s light this fire one more time, and witness this great nation at its best.”

The crew will spend 12 days at the International Space Station attaching additional parts, including a room filled with a year’s worth of provisions, and conducting various experiments.

Atlantis is scheduled to return to Earth July 20th.

Watch the launch footage below:

[nasa / wired / mefi.]

See Also: What’s next for NASA?

fuckyeahspaceexploration:

The last time Endeavour will ever dock with the ISS.