Spaceflight

Shedding light on the search for dark matterPhysicists and astronaut discuss cosmic ray detector’s findings of possible signs of dark matter.

AIAA honors David Mindell for ‘Digital Apollo’MIT professor’s book earns Gardner-Lasser Aerospace History Literature Award.

3 Questions: Greg Chamitoff on the final frontierAlum-astronaut relives some of the highlights of his space shuttle career.

Helping space shuttles achieve liftoffMIT has contributed 27 alumni-astronauts, plenty of earthbound expertise.

Greetings from spaceAstronaut alumni wish MIT a happy 150th from 200 miles above.

Doc Draper in spaceA letter written by Charles Stark Draper in 1961 hitches a ride on Space Shuttle Endeavour.

3 Questions: Jeffrey Hoffman on the Space Shuttle at 30Anniversary of the first shuttle flight comes just as it nears retirement, but the vehicle has changed space travel dramatically.

Video: Remembering astronaut, alum Ron McNairOn 25th anniversary of the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, AeroAstro professor Jeffrey Hoffman remembers his colleague.

Aerospace engineer Joseph Gavin ‘41, SM ‘42 dies at 90Former president of Grumman Aircraft led Lunar Module development for NASA, aided in the rescue of Apollo 13

Lending a handMIT researchers may be closer to understanding why spacesuit gloves hurt astronauts’ hands.

Personal cushion of airInspired by seeds, proposed air-bag system would surround astronauts and protect them during bumpy landings

A hop, skip and a jump on the moon — and beyondTeam envisions robotic spacecraft that can explore hard-to-reach areas on the moon and other planetary bodies by hopping.

Operating in orbitAstronaut and alumnus Bobby Satcher recounts his experience as the first orthopedic surgeon in space

NASA chief defends Obama’s space planIn MIT visit, Charles Bolden touts proposed expansion in R&D funding

The pull of artificial gravityMIT researchers say a centrifuge on the International Space Station — hinted at in Obama’s NASA proposal — would be a boon for physiological research