A graphic sometimes gives you better info than hearing the numbers. Wait, how big is NASA’s budget again? | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine.

There are a lot of rumors floating about what President Obama will opt to do with NASA and manned spaceflight. Much of this is based on the report Obama received from the Review of Human Spaceflight Plans Committee. While some of the rumors are doubtless based on administration “trial balloons”, I do think a paradigm shift is definitely in the offing.

The diff between “hard” SF and “soft” SF? You worry about stuff like this when you write the “hard” stuff.
The Physics of Space Battles – Gizmodo.

Many are inspiring, but many are also clearly not created by graphic designers (i.e. “too busy”). NASA selects 15 finalists for end-of-shuttle commemorative patch contest

Science is definitely cool. And nature, too, for that matter (or antimatter). Antimatter Lightning Discovered On Earth! (via @dailygalaxy)

NASA has always relied upon extreme engineering to tackle the extreme challenges of space exploration. Much of that engineering has now come back down to Earth in the form of technological applications that touch the lives of millions.
via SPACE.com — Great NASA Tech Spinoffs Come Down to Earth.

On July 20, 1969, two men landed and walked on the Moon. For the first time, we were the aliens. I got to witness this extraordinary event. But I almost missed it.

When I was a kid, I lived in a small town that was more or less out in the middle of nowhere. Most businesses would close up around six (give or take), and most people stayed home. There were some streetlights, but not a lot. And at night, there were stars.

I think I’ve found a solution to the Node-naming mess that has erupted between NASA and political humorist Stephen Colbert.

With the total number of objects both large and small in Earth orbit increasing by the year, the chance of more collisions is constantly on the rise. It is long past the time that we need to deal with the problem. I think the best plan is to start with something low-tech: snot.