For decades, the strange substance called dark matter has teased physicists, challenging conventional notions of the cosmos.

Taiwan opened a space research control centre Tuesday, as part of an ambitious international project aimed at exploring the origins of the universe.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - A private company will make a trial cargo run to the International Space Station in February, a key step in a new U.S. program to buy spaceflight services on a commercial basis, NASA said on Friday.

The possible first-ever evacuation of the International Space Station, if a Russian spacecraft is not launched in November, would risk the loss of the orbiting lab, a NASA official has warned.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - A Russian Soyuz capsule with a three-man multinational crew arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday to begin a six-month mission that will include hosting NASA's final space shuttle crew.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The space shuttle Endeavour touched down at its Florida home base early on Wednesday, capping a 16-day mission to deliver a premier science experiment to the International Space Station on NASA's next-to-last shuttle flight.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The space shuttle Endeavour touched down at its Florida home base early on Wednesday, capping a 16-day mission to deliver a premier science experiment to the International Space Station on NASA's next-to-last shuttle flight.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The space shuttle Endeavour touched down at its Florida home base early on Wednesday, capping a 16-day mission to deliver a premier science experiment to the International Space Station on NASA's next-to-last shuttle flight.

Astronauts have completed an inspection of the heat shield tiles on the underbelly of the space shuttle Endeavour after a first-ever papal video call to space from Pope Benedict XVI.

NASA plans to take a closer look Saturday at a damaged heat shield tile on the underbelly of the space shuttle Endeavour, but mission managers downplayed the inspection as no cause for concern.

Two astronauts on Friday embarked on the first space walk of the Endeavour shuttle's final mission to the International Space Station (ISS), according to NASA.

Astronauts installed a massive physics experiment at the International Space Station on Thursday, the fourth day of the US shuttle Endeavour's 16-day mission to spruce up the orbiting lab.

Astronauts prepared to install a massive physics experiment at the International Space Station on Thursday, the fourth day of the US shuttle Endeavour's 16-day mission to spruce up the orbiting lab.

The US space shuttle Endeavour, with six astronauts on board including an Italian, docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, NASA said.

The US space shuttle Endeavour, with six astronauts on board including an Italian, docked at the International Space Station on Wednesday, NASA said.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Space shuttle Endeavour reached the International Space Station on Wednesday to deliver a premiere science instrument and spare parts during NASA's next-to-last shuttle mission.

The space shuttle Endeavour blasted off Monday toward the International Space Station on the penultimate flight for the US shuttle program.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - U.S. space shuttle Endeavour blasted off on Monday on the next-to-last flight in NASA's shuttle program, carrying a potentially revolutionary physics experiment to the International Space Station.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - U.S. space shuttle Endeavour blasted off on Monday on the next-to-last flight in NASA's shuttle program, carrying a potentially revolutionary physics experiment to the International Space Station.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - U.S. space shuttle Endeavour blasted off on Monday on the next-to-last flight in NASA's shuttle program, carrying a potentially revolutionary physics experiment to the International Space Station.