Posted: Fri, Jan 27 5:37 AM ET (1037 GMT)
Scientists analyzing data from NASA's Kepler spacecraft announced Thursday the discovery of 26 more extrasolar planets orbiting 11 stars. None of the planets appear similar to the Earth in size and orbit: their masses range from 1.5 times the Earth to larger than Jupiter, while all orbit closer to their stars than Venus orbits the Earth. One of the systems, Kepler-33, has five planets, while several other stars have pairs if planets in orbital resonances. Scientists said the findings help demonstrate that planets around stars are relatively common in the galaxy.

Related Links:

•  SPACE.com article
•  Discovery.com article
•  Spaceflight Now article
•  MSNBC article
•  NASA press release

Posted: Fri, Jan 27 5:25 AM ET (1025 GMT)
The former head of the Indian space agency ISRO has been barred from any future positions with the government because of his alleged involvement in a spectrum deal with an Indian company. The Indian government said that G. Madhavan Nair and three others would no longer be eligible for government positions because of their role approving a deal between ISRO's commercial arm, Antrix, and a telecommunications company, Devas, in 2005. That deal allegedly gave Devas access to satellite spectrum in violation of existing regulations. The contract was canceled last February as part of a government investigation into the deal. Nair has protested the decision and claims he is being scapegoated by current ISRO leadership.

Related Links:

•  PTI article
•  IANS article
•  The Times of India article
•  Daily News and Analysis article
•  The Hindu Business Line article

Gingrich proposes lunar base
Posted: Thu, Jan 26 5:51 AM ET (1051 GMT)
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said Wednesday that, if elected, he would set a goal of establishing a lunar base by 2020. Gingrich, speaking at...

Progress launched to ISS
Posted: Thu, Jan 26 5:34 AM ET (1034 GMT)
A Soyuz rocket successfully launched a Progress cargo spacecraft for the International Space Station early Thursday. The Soyuz rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome...

Strongest solar storm in over six years heads towards Earth
Posted: Tue, Jan 24 6:48 AM ET (1148 GMT)
The most powerful solar storm since 2005 erupted on the Sun late Sunday, which is expected to trigger a geomagnetic storm at Earth on Tuesday....