Marcia Dunn - Chattanooga Times Free Press

New crew from US, Russia and UAE arrives at space station

by Marcia Dunn ·March 4, 2023

A new crew arrived at the International Space Station on Friday for a six-month mission, after overcoming trouble with one of the capsule's docking hooks.

In this image from NASA TV, the four astronauts including United Arab Emirates' Sultan al-Neyadi, third left gather, during the welcoming ceremony, on the International Space Station, Friday, March 3, 2023. A new crew from the United States, Russia and United Arab Emirates has arrived at the International Space Station. The new arrivals include United Arab Emirates' Sultan al-Neyadi, the first astronaut from the Arab world who will spend an extended time in space. Al-Neyadi is only the second person from the UAE to rocket into orbit. (NASA TV via AP)

What time is it on moon? Europe pushing for lunar time zone

by Marcia Dunn ·February 28, 2023

With more lunar missions than ever on the horizon, the European Space Agency wants to give the moon its own time zone.

FILE - The moon rises beyond a sign in the outfield during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. With more lunar missions than ever on the horizon, the European Space Agency wants to give the moon its own time zone. In February 2023, the agency said space organizations around the world are considering how best to keep time on the moon. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Space telescope uncovers massive galaxies near cosmic dawn

by Marcia Dunn ·February 23, 2023

Astronomers have discovered what appear to be massive galaxies dating back to within 600 million years of the theorized Big Bang, suggesting the early universe may have had a stellar fast-track that produced these “monsters.”

This image provided by NASA and the European Space Agency shows images of six candidate massive galaxies, seen 500-800 million years after the Big Bang. One of the sources (bottom left) could contain as many stars as our present-day Milky Way, but is 30 times more compact (NASA via AP)

Jupiter’s moon count jumps to 92, most in solar system

by Marcia Dunn ·February 4, 2023

Astronomers have discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter, putting the total count at a record-breaking 92.

This photo made available by NASA shows the planet Jupiter, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, on June 27, 2019. On Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, scientists said they have discovered 12 new moons around the gas giant, putting the total count at a record-breaking 92. That's more than any other planet in our solar system. (NASA, ESA, A. Simon/Goddard Space Flight Center, M.H. Wong/University of California, Berkeley via AP)

NASA marks 20 years since space shuttle Columbia disaster

by Marcia Dunn ·January 26, 2023

NASA marked the 20th anniversary of the space shuttle Columbia tragedy with somber ceremonies and remembrances during its annual tribute to fallen astronauts on Thursday.

From left, Bob Cabana, Associate Administrator of NASA; Sheryl Chaffee, daughter of Apollo 1 astronaut Roger Chaffee, and Janet Petro, NASA KSC director, bow their heads in prayer during NASA's Day of Remembrance ceremony, hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. NASA is marking the 20th anniversary of the space shuttle Columbia tragedy with somber ceremonies during its annual tribute to fallen astronauts. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Say cheese! Galactic photo shoot captures 3 billion stars

by Marcia Dunn ·January 20, 2023

A galactic photo shoot has captured more than 3 billion stars and galaxies in one of the biggest sky surveys ever.

Mars rover captures 1st sound of dust devil on red planet

by Marcia Dunn ·December 15, 2022

What's a dust devil sound like on Mars? A NASA rover by chance had its microphone on when a whirling tower of red dust passed directly overhead, recording the racket.

FILE - This photo made available by NASA was taken during the first drive of the Perseverance rover on Mars on March 4, 2021. A NASA rover on Mars by chance had its microphone on when a whirling tower of red dust passed overhead and caught the sound. Scientists released the first-of-its-kind audio Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP, File)

NASA capsule buzzes moon, last big step before lunar orbit

by Marcia Dunn ·November 21, 2022

NASA's Orion capsule reached the moon Monday, whipping around the far side and buzzing the lunar surface on its way to a record-breaking orbit with test dummies sitting in for astronauts.

This screengrab from NASA TV shows NASA's Orion capsule, left, nearing the moon, right, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. At center is earth. (NASA via AP)

Webb Space Telescope spots early galaxies hidden from Hubble

by Marcia Dunn ·November 20, 2022

NASA's Webb Space Telescope is finding bright, early galaxies that until now were hidden from view, including one that may have formed a mere 350 million years after the cosmic-creating Big Bang.

This image made available by the Space Telescope Science Institute on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, shows a protostar within the dark cloud L1527 embedded within a cloud of material feeding its growth, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. Ejections from the star have cleared out cavities above and below it, whose boundaries glow orange and blue in this infrared view. The region at lower right appears blue, as there's less dust between it and Webb than the orange regions above it. (NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI) via AP)

NASA capsule on way to moon after launch by giant new rocket

by Marcia Dunn ·November 16, 2022

NASA's mightiest rocket lifts off 50 years after Apollo