Black holes that could help treat cancer, questions about whether we are alone in the universe and the possibility of our own spaceships discovering alien life all made news over the last week. <p>Vote for your favorite space story of the past week here:
China is pushing forward on readying its first space station module for launch. Meanwhile, that country's first astronaut is openly discussing the prospect of China's future engagement with the International Space Station. [<a href="http://www.space.com/12411-china-space-station-tiangong-readied-launch.html">Read More</a>]
Astronomers have discovered a set of rare volcanoes on the far side of the moon that offer an alternative way to sculpt the lunar surface.[<a href="http://www.space.com/12419-moon-side-rare-volcanoes.html">Read More</a>]
NASA has chosen a landing site for its next Mars rover with the goal of seeking more signs of historical water on the planet, and a recent study suggests it may find it.[<a href="http://www.space.com/12410-mars-water-evidence-curiosity-rover.html">Read More</a>]
Scientists engaged in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) work under the assumption that there is, in fact, intelligent life out there to be found. A new analysis may crush their optimism.[<a href="http://www.space.com/12421-alien-life-rare-universe-extraterrestrials-seti.html">Read More</a>]
Astronomers studying black holes have made a discovery that could help treat cancer patients down the road.[<a href="http://www.space.com/12428-black-hole-cancer-treatment-radiation.html">Read More</a>]
Astronomers have discovered a small asteroid companion to Earth trailing our planet in a stable. so-called "Trojan" orbit. The Earth joins planets Jupiter, Mars and Neptune as worlds with trojan asteroids. [<a href="http://www.space.com/12443-earth-asteroid-companion-discovered-2010-tk7.html">Read More</a>]
Dark matter, inferred to exist from its gravitational effects on the universe, is still a mystery to scientists. But a new study says that dark matter could help life evolve and survive on distant worlds outside of our solar system. [<a href="http://www.space.com/12446-alien-planet-life-dark-matter-particles.html">Read More</a>]
his year, sadly, the full moon will seriously hamper the 2011 Perseid meteor shower. But this week, the moon is a thin waning crescent and will arrive at new phase on Saturday, leaving the sky dark and moonless from dusk to dawn. [<a href="http://www.space.com/12458-summer-meteor-showers-weekend-skywatching-tips.html">Read More</a>]
A Senate panel issued a subpoena ordering NASA to produce internal documents related to the agency’s progress on the Space Launch System, the heavy-lift rocket Congress ordered NASA to make ready for flight by Dec. 31, 2016. [<a href="http://www.space.com/12467-senate-subpoena-orders-nasa-deliver-documents-big-rocket.html">Read More</a>]
Despite the grounding of NASA's storied space shuttle fleet, American spaceships are expected to make three trips to the International Space Station in the coming months. [<a href="http://www.space.com/12468-space-station-private-spaceships-dragon-cygnus.html">Read More</a>]
