NASA's Mars Exploration Program has awarded four industry team contracts to conduct initial studies of specific implementation scenarios for a first Mars sample return mission that might be launched as early as 2011. In the forefront of nanotechnology development, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has acquired one of the world's finest electron beam lithography systems, one that will allow researchers to work on the sub-molecular scale. Explore the Net Major solar flare erupts One of the largest solar flares ever recorded erupted from the sun's surface at around 1350 GMT on Sunday. The powerful flare, which sent a shower of high energy protons into space, was fortunately not directed at Earth. Now a team of researchers has discovered that this climatic blip corresponded with a rare combination of events in the pattern of Earth's orbit around the Sun.
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Spaceflight Now , just send us an e-mail . Visit the Tracking Station for a full listing of upcoming launches. Hubble poster The Hubble Space Telescope's majestic view of the Eskimo Nebula. This spectacular poster is available now from the Astronomy Now Store. MORE Celebrate Columbia Celebrate the 20th anniversary of space shuttle Columbia's historic maiden flight with embroidered patches from the Astronomy Now Store.