Annie Platoff, a librarian at UC Santa Barbara, is on a mission to find out what happened to the American flags that astronauts planted on the moon during the six lunar landings.
Space
NASA Sues Astronaut to Get Apollo 14 Lunar Camera Back
Your plans to shoot your first film on a lunar camera from the 1971 Apollo 14 moon mission just got scuttled by NASA.
Animal Astronaut: Iran to Launch a Monkey Into Space Next Month
Following to suit of a mouse, a turtle and some worms, an Iranian monkey is to be sent to space next month.
Incoming Asteroids: They’re Here, They’re Near, Get Used to Them
We wish we could be more reassuring about the whole asteroid-collision-wiping-out-all-life-on-Earth thing, but no can do. Just ask the dinosaurs.
Phew! Asteroid to Miss Earth by 7,600 Miles
Duck! (If you happen to be 7,600 miles tall.)
Phoning the Heavens: Pope Calls Endeavour Astronauts
Finding the intersection of science and religion, Pope Benedict thanked the astronauts for helping us learn about the wonders of the universe.
Videos: Space Shuttle Endeavour Blasts Off at Kennedy Space Center
If you couldn’t snag a ticket to view the final launch of NASA’s Endeavour Space Shuttle from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, you can check out the action here.
Reading While Eating for May 10: The Sky’s the Limit
Today’s links take you up, up and away with angry birds, air armadas and aspiring astronauts.
Everyone Poops: How Do Astronauts Go to the Bathroom in Space?
They may need a combination of brains, guts, strength and skill—the “right stuff” as Tom Wolfe called it—but they also need to be potty trainable.
Alan Shepard, 50 Years After Mercury: An Unpredictable NASA Legend
I met Alan Shepard only once, and did not enjoy the experience a bit.
Why NASA Scrapped Today’s Endeavour Launch
Hoopla and liftoffs have never really mixed that well.
Reading While Eating for April 25: Starstruck
From celebs to space shuttles, today’s links show you the stars.