News briefs: November 8
Posted: Fri, Nov 9 9:57 AM ET (1457 GMT)
A new survey has reduced estimates of the number of asteroids in the solar system, and thus the risk of an impact by one. Astronomers...

Congress reaches agreement on 2002 NASA budget
Posted: Thu, Nov 8 1:00 PM ET (1800 GMT)
A House-Senate conference committee agreed Wednesday on a $14.8-billion budget for NASA for fiscal year 2002 that includes funding for a Pluto...

Cause of Taurus launch failure identified
Posted: Thu, Nov 8 10:31 AM ET (1531 GMT)
Investigators believe a stuck steering mechanism caused the September 21 failure of a Taurus booster, the president of Orbital Sciences Corporation said Wednesday. According to...

News briefs: November 7
Posted: Thu, Nov 8 10:14 AM ET (1514 GMT)
Lockheed Martin announced plans Wednesday to eliminate 360 jobs in its Space Systems division. The reductions will be spread out between its Colorado and California...

Shuttle launch preparations continue under tight security
Posted: Wed, Nov 7 4:20 PM ET (2120 GMT)
The crew of shuttle mission STS-108 arrived at the Kennedy Space Center Tuesday for a launch rehearsal under tight security conditions. Florida Today reported...

Scientists peer into heart of sunspot
Posted: Wed, Nov 7 4:07 PM ET (2107 GMT)
Solar scientists said Tuesday that they now have a better understanding of the structure of sunspots and how they stay together, thanks to data from...

News briefs: November 6
Posted: Wed, Nov 7 8:05 AM ET (1305 GMT)
Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday that it will take a $420 million writeoff in the fourth quarter to cover its investment in troubled broadband satellite venture...

News briefs: November 5
Posted: Tue, Nov 6 10:15 AM ET (1515 GMT)
Tests have begun on an upgraded version of the upper stage engine that failed during an Ariane 5 mission in July, AviationNow reported Monday. About...

ICO and Teledesic break off merger
Posted: Tue, Nov 6 10:07 AM ET (1507 GMT)
Satellite communications companies ICO and Teledesic announced Monday afternoon that they will not merge into a single company. ICO, officially known as New ICO since...

News briefs: November 3-4
Posted: Mon, Nov 5 9:27 AM ET (1427 GMT)
China is planning to launch the third test flight of the prototype of its human spacecraft in the next few months, SpaceDaily reported this weekend....