As technology advances, scientists and social experts are taking the search for alien life forms to a new level. NBCs Rhonesha Byng meets up with some academics who say "its good to be prepared." (NBC News Web Extra)

From space-walking astronauts to distant galaxies, Leonardo DiCaprio narrates this unique view of the orbiting Hubble telescope, and the discoveries it has brought back to earth. This film opens in IMAX theaters on March 19. (Other)

Obama on Wednesday telephoned astronauts aboard the International Space Station and praised the work being done some 200 miles above the Earth. He also told astronauts that he wants to continue to invest in NASA even as the current fleet of space shuttles is nearing retirement.

A high-powered laser destroyed a target missile in flight off the Central California coast in a milestone test of a futuristic but troubled national defense system, the Air Force announced Friday.

New images and observations of the spectacular Orion Nebula have revealed normally hidden dusty regions and the odd behavior of very young active stars buried within them.

A new NASA spacecraft aimed at studying the inner workings of our sun blasted off Thursday to begin a five-year mission to better understand the mysteries of Earths star.

Science editor Alan Boyles Weblog: Scientists are showing off a one-of-a-kind double light show, spotted on Saturn by the Hubble Space Telescope.

With just a few mouse clicks, you now have the universe at your control. NBCs Mike Wendland reports. (NBC News Channel)

We asked for photos of your favorite launches, and you rose to the challenge: Check out these views of Endeavour’s liftoff and other shuttle snapshots.

Sundays liftoff will bring the shuttles path nearly parallel to the U.S. East Coast, and the glow of the shuttles engines will be visible along much of the Eastern Seaboard.

Never-before-seen amateur video surfaces showing the space shuttle Challenger disaster. Msnbc.coms Dara Brown reports. (msnbc.com)

NASA is predicting good weather for this weekends space shuttle launch.

NASAs beleaguered Mars rover Spirit may no longer be much of a rover, but its not the end of the road for her yet. The semi-stuck robot still has plenty of science left to do on the red planet, mission scientists say.

President Barack Obamas 2011 budget request has effectively shut down NASAs five-year effort to return astronauts to the moon, leaving the U.S. space agency with lofty goals — but no firm deadlines — to once again send humans beyond Earth orbit.

Science editor Alan Boyles Weblog: NASAs new "flexible path" makes room for new technologies and new players in spaceflight — but will Congress follow the same path?

Jan. 29: UFO expert Nick Pope talks about a recent UFO sighting near Dublin, Ireland. (Other)

Enjoy a cool view of the moon, planets and other celestial highlights for January 2010.

A stunning new image of the Cats Paw Nebula reveals a region at the heart of our Milky Way galaxy where new stars are being born at a furious pace.

It has long been a mystery why small galaxies dont have as many stars and matter in their centers as predicted. Now scientists have found the answer with a new simulation of galaxy and star formation.