NASA’s Messenger spacecraft approached Mercury yesterday and transmitted close-up pictures of the planet that is closest to the sun. The detailed images clearly show the gigantic craters and cliffs as well as a pattern of rays in the northern region of Mercury. Extra: SLIDESHOW

NASA said it is set to launch a spacecraft to image and map the interstellar boundary regions for the very first time: IBEX is planned to conduct high-altitude orbits above Earth to investigate and capture images of processes taking place at the farthest reaches of the solar system – a region where the solar system meets interstellar space - nine billion miles from the sun. Extra: SLIDESHOW

Researchers at NASA's Glenn Research Center are looking at a sub-surface fission-based nuclear reactor to power the first permanent Lunar outpost. A relatively small 40 Kilowatt reactor - enough to power about 8-10 homes on Earth - would prove a constant, predictable power source for the remote base. Scientists believe the regolith (Lunar soil) would shield the deadly radiation well enough to make it safe for human habitation.

NASA today said that is Phoenix Mars Lander has detected snow falling from Martian clouds and found more details about soil data that are believed to hint to a liquid past. The organization also plans to update journalists on a “significant anomaly” affecting its Hubble Space Telescope, which will delay next month's space shuttle Atlantis' Hubble servicing mission.