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Seth Borenstein

One of the strongest solar storms in years engulfed Earth early Thursday, but scientists say the planet may have lucked out. Hours after the storm arrived, officials said there were no reports of problems with power grids, GPS, satellites or other technologies that are often disrupted by solar storms.

Solar storm having limited impact

Last updated Thursday, March 8, 2012 - 3:41pm

WASHINGTON -- One of the strongest solar storms in years engulfed Earth early Thursday, but scientists say the planet may have lucked out.

Solar flares, Solar storm, Space, Sun, National Read more Comments

An image released by NASA on March 5, 2012 is a view of a X1 solar flare in a new active region on the sun, region 1429. It has let loose two M-class flares and one X-class so far. The M-class flares erupted on March 2 and on March 4. The third flare, rated an X1, peaked at 10:30 ET on March 4. A CME accompanied each flare, though due to the fact that this active region is still off to the side of the sun, they will likely have a weak effect on Earth's magnetosphere. (AP Photo/NASA)

Scientists prepare for impact of solar storm on Earth

Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, March 8, 2012 - 10:11am

WASHINGTON -- The largest solar storm in five years was due to arrive on Earth early Thursday, promising to shake the globe's magnetic field while expanding the Northern Lights.

The storm started with a massive solar flare earlier in the week and grew as it raced outward from the sun, expanding like a giant soap bubble, scientists said. When it strikes, the particles will be moving at 4 million mph.

Earth, Science, Solar flares, Space, Sun, International Read more Comments

Biggest solar storm in years shooting toward Earth

Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - 6:43pm

WASHINGTON -- Earth's magnetic field is about to be shaken like a snow globe by the largest solar storm in five years.

Science, Solar storm, Space, Sun, National Read more Comments

Huge private plane planned to launch spaceships

Donna Blankinship, Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - 4:48pm

SEATTLE -- Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan are building the world's biggest plane to help launch cargo and astronauts into space, in the latest of several ventures fueled by technology tycoons clamoring to write America's next chapter in spaceflight.

Business, Aerospace, Microsoft, Private space program, Space craft, NASA Read more Comments

(PAUL SAKUMA/The Associated Press) In this Friday, Oct. 28, 2011 photo, Richard Muller, left, and his daughter, Elizabeth Muller, right, pose with a map from their study on climate at their home in Berkeley, Calif. A new study of Earth’s temperatures going back more than 200 years finds the same old story: It’s gotten hotter in the last 60 years. What’s different is the scientist behind the latest study, Richard Muller. The California physicist was doubtful of what climate scientists have been saying - until he did his own research, partly funded by climate change skeptics. Elizabeth Muller, co-founder and executive director of the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Study, ran the study.

Skeptic finds he now agrees global warming is real

Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Sunday, October 30, 2011 - 4:41pm

WASHINGTON — A prominent physicist and skeptic of global warming spent two years trying to find out if mainstream climate scientists were wrong. In the end, he determined they were right: Temperatures really are rising rapidly.

Climate change, Science, National Read more Comments

(STEVE RUARK/The Associated Press) In this Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011 file photo, an Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Spc. Jeremiah T. Sancho at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Sancho, of Palm Bay, Fla., died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. It seems as if violence is everywhere. Yet, historically, we’ve never had it this peaceful. That’s the thesis of three new books, including one by Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker. Statistics reveal dramatic reductions in war deaths, family violence, racism, rape, murder and all sorts of mayhem.

Bombings, beheadings? Stats show a peaceful world

Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Saturday, October 22, 2011 - 4:05pm

WASHINGTON — It seems as if violence is everywhere, but it’s really on the run.

Drug cartels, Pakistan, Study, Violence, International, National Read more Comments

This artist concept provided by NASA shows the rocket design, called the Space Launch System. The design for NASA's newest behemoth of a rocket harkens back to the giant workhorse liquid rockets that propelled men to the moon. But this time the destinations will be much farther and the rocket even more powerful. (AP Photo/NASA)

NASA unveils $18B giant new rocket design

Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - 11:00pm

WASHINGTON -- The design for NASA's newest behemoth of a rocket harkens back to the giant workhorse liquid rockets that propelled men to the moon. But this time the destinations will be much farther and the rocket even more powerful.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and several members of Congress joined Wednesday in unveiling the Obama administration's much-delayed general plans for its rocket design, called the Space Launch System. The multibillion-dollar program will carry astronauts in a capsule on top and start test launching from Cape Canaveral, Fla., in six years.

Business, Congress, Rockets, Space, NASA Read more Comments

Johnny Lamca throws away ruined items from his flooded home in Manville, N.J., Monday, Aug. 29, 2011. Lamca said this flooding from Hurricane Irene was the worst of the four times that his home has been flooded by the Raritan River. Earlier Monday in Manville, Gov. Chris Christie said waters had reached or passed record levels at nine river locations, and he warned that the Passaic River had not yet crested. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Experts praise decisions to evacuate from Irene

Samantha Gross, Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, August 30, 2011 - 10:10am

NEW YORK — They were life and death decisions made by politicians, bureaucrats and everyday people. Hurricane Irene was barreling toward the East Coast. It was big. It was scary. Flooding was certain. The choice: Flee or stay put.

Emergency, East Coast, Emergency Preparedness, Evacuations, Hurricane, Hurricane Irene, New York City, National Read more Comments

(The Associated Press) Apollo 13 commander James A. Lovell Jr. (foreground) speaks in Cape Kennedy, Fla., before the spacecraft’s ill-fated 1970 journey to the moon.

Shuttle scuffle: Critics say NASA is ignoring'backup plan' rule

Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, July 6, 2011 - 11:32pm

Shuttle scuffle: Critics say NASA is ignoring 'backup plan' rule

By SETH BORENSTEIN

The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A somewhat generational battle over NASA's future is escalating even as NASA is about to close the book on the space shuttle era.

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(AP photo) In a 59-second time exposure photo released by Anthony Galvan III, the Taurus XL rocket carrying NASA’s Glory satellite launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Goleta, Calif., early Friday. NASA said a protective shell atop the rocket did not separate from the satellite as it should have after launch.

Big cuts, no Glory: Cash-strapped NASA watches research satellite plunge into sea

Seth Borenstein, The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, March 4, 2011 - 10:01pm

WASHINGTON -- For the second time in two years, a rocket glitch sent a NASA global warming satellite to the bottom of the sea Friday, a $424 million debacle that couldn't have come at a worse time for the space agency and its efforts to understand climate change.

Years of belt-tightening have left NASA's Earth-watching system in sorry shape, according to many scientists. And any money for new environmental satellites will have to survive budget-cutting, global warming politics and, now, doubts on Capitol Hill about the space agency's competence.

The Taurus XL rocket carrying NASA's Glory satellite lifted from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and plummeted to the southern Pacific several minutes later. The same thing happened to another climate-monitoring probe in 2009 with the same type of rocket, and engineers thought they had fixed the problem.

Business, Aerospace Industry, Economy, National Government, Space program, Featured, NASA Read more Comments

Chris Carlson/The Associated Press
President Barack Obama talks to astronaut Mark Kelly, husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., at a memorial service for the victims of Saturday's shootings at McKale Center on the University of Arizona campus Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, in Tucson, Ariz.

NASA names backup for Giffords’ husband on shuttle

Seth Borenstein, The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, January 13, 2011 - 2:34pm

WASHINGTON — NASA announced Thursday a backup commander, if necessary, to take the place of the astronaut-husband of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was wounded in a mass slaying and recovering in a Tucson, Ariz., hospital.

Officially, Capt. Mark Kelly, who is Giffords’ husband of more than three years, is still the commander for the final scheduled flight of the space shuttle program, NASA said. The shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to launch on April 19 on a trip to the International Space Station.

Kelly was named commander of the final shuttle flight in 2009 and has been in training for 17 months. Being chosen to lead the final shuttle flight is a big honor, NASA spokesman Michael Curie said.

Astronaut, Congresswoman shot, Mark Kelly, Space, Space shuttle, NASA Read more Comments

(The Associated Press) A dead sea turtle lies on the beach in Pass Christian, Miss., Sunday. Researchers from the Institute of Marine Mammal Sciences from Gulfport, Miss., collected a number of dead turtles and will examine them to determine the cause of death.

Fishing closed from La. to Fla. because of spill

Seth Borenstein, Allen G. Breed The Associated Press

Last updated Sunday, May 2, 2010 - 6:34pm

VENICE, La. -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is closing commercial and recreational fishing from Louisiana to parts of the Florida Panhandle because of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Accident, Fishing, National Read more Comments

Obama: Americans to Mars within his lifetime

Erica Werner, Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, April 15, 2010 - 2:16pm

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- President Barack Obama predicted Thursday his new space exploration plan would lead Americans beyond the moon and to Mars within his lifetime. "I expect to be around to see it," he declared.

Space, NASA, National Read more Comments

Generation gap: Obama space plan angers old hands

Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 2:16pm

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Call it NASA: The Next Generation. The president is pointing America toward a new direction in space, and some heroes from NASA's long-ago glory days don't like it.

Space, NASA, National Read more Comments

Obama revives capsule from canceled moon program

Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 9:00pm

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is reviving the NASA crew capsule concept that he had canceled with the rest of the moon program earlier this year, in a move that will mean more jobs and less reliance on the Russians, officials said Tuesday.

Business, Space, NASA, National Read more Comments