The first commercial cargo flight to the International Space Station lifted off on Sunday evening, inaugurating a new era for NASA in which private companies will take over the transportation of people and supplies to low-Earth orbit. For this launch, only cargo is going; private transportation for astronauts is still several years away. Space Exploration Technologies of Hawthorne, Calif. — SpaceX, for short — launched its Falcon 9 rocket on schedule at 8:35 p.m. Eastern time from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

The recent Mars landing of NASA’s rover Curiosity — and the stunning images it is sending back from the Red Planet — will hopefully inspire a generation of students entering college this fall to pursue an education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Yet for many students — particularly Latinos — those very valuable STEM degrees remain out of reach, practically ensuring that America’s growth in these important fields is stifled.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who holds the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman, took charge of the International Space Station Saturday

Neil Armstrong, who made the “giant leap for mankind” as the first human to set foot on the moon, died on Saturday. He was 82. A quiet, private man, at heart an engineer and crack test pilot, Mr. Armstrong made history on July 20, 1969, as the commander of the Apollo 11 spacecraft on the mission that culminated the Soviet-American space race in the 1960s. President John F. Kennedy had committed the nation “to achieving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth.” It was done with more than five months to spare.

Just over a week after NASA successfully landed its Curiosity Rover on Mars, India announced its own plans to launch its first mission to Earth’s next-door neighbor.  Prime Minister Manmohan

As the new rover that just landed on Mars looks for signs of life there, the NASA program that runs it is supporting life here on Earth — with jobs. NASA spokesman Guy Webster said the rover, named Curiosity, is currently supporting about 700 people, but has supported 7,000 jobs at various times over the last eight years. The Curiosity project and its $2.5 billion budget has generated jobs not just at NASA but at companies ranging from Lockheed Martin to a bicycle manufacturer in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Even though the U.S. in bursting with brilliant minds, STEM education and interest has been on the decline for decades. Top corporations such as Google [More…] and governmental agencies like NASA realize the demand for well-trained people in STEM careers. It is not only detrimental for our need to design renewable energy systems and cure diseases, but also to maintain a strong economy. Read Article->

Today, the last space shuttle launched off. I’m sure most of you already know this, but here are some great links to articles about it.