GeoEye-1 Will Be A High-Res Eye In The Sky Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:29:00 -0400 The GeoEye-1 satellite will be capable of making out details on Earth just 16 inches across. It will be the highest resolution satellite run by a private company; it's images will be marketed to a range of governments and private customers. Europe Considers Joining Space-Faring Nations Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:35:00 -0400 Europe's space agency reached two milestones earlier this year. A European-built lab was installed at the International Space Station, and Europe launched a robotic cargo vehicle that successfully docked with the station. The European Space Agency is thinking about converting the vehicle so it could take astronauts into orbit. Tensions With Russia May Hurt NASA Program Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:18:00 -0400 The conflict with Russia over Georgia might affect NASA's ability to get astronauts to the international space station after the space shuttle gets retired in 2010. Congress must pass a special waiver by Sept. 30 so NASA can buy Soyuz capsule flights. What Makes Our Solar System Special? Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:02:00 -0400 Researchers say that if the conditions had been slightly different for our solar system, planets could have careened into the sun or been expelled into deep space. Also: A volunteer astronomer spots a strange gaseous object some are calling a "cosmic ghost." Phoenix Finds A Salt Compound On Mars Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:07:00 -0400 NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has detected a salt found on Earth on the surface of Mars. The salt, called perchlorate, is used in fireworks and rocket fuel. The news follows the recent confirmation of the presence of water on the Red Planet. Space Company Hopes To Cut Cost Of Launches Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:44:00 -0400 A private company called SpaceX has failed three times to reach orbit with one of its rockets. But the company says it's learning from its failures and still hopes to radically decrease the cost of putting objects in space.