mathoda.com

Check out this article: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-09/uoca-epm090506.php.

Here’s a snippet from it :

More than one-third of the giant planet systems recently detected outside Earth’s solar system may harbor Earth-like planets, many covered in deep oceans with potential for life, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder and Pennsylvania State University.

Of course such studies are based on computer models, which are (ironically) notoriously subject to human error. But if it were true, it certainly makes it more likely that there is life similar to Earth life elsewhere.

Finally, NASA has moved is moving away from the terribly complex and costly Space Shuttle. NASA has decided the replacement for the Space Shuttle’s manned capabilities will be the Orion crew capsule, which looks alot like the Apollo capsules of the past (it’s cone shaped, and at the end of a rocket, the Ares I) but takes advantage of modern technology: http://www.space.com/news/060831_nasa_cev_contract.html

Hopefully this design direction will lead to much lower costs to lift matter into orbit, and increase the pace of the space program.

Update: Apparently a different vehicle on a bigger rocket (the Ares V) will be used to transport heavier payloads into orbit than the space shuttle can support. NASA has a great site showing pictures and video of the Orion concept here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/multimedia/index.html

Think you know what the solar system looks like?

Think again: http://szyzyg.arm.ac.uk/~spm/