Satellite Shot Destroyed Toxic Fuel

Fifty years later, thousands of descendants have made a home in space

(NEWSER) - Satellites have lost a bit of their star power since Sputnik blasted into orbit. But 50 years later, its grandkids continue to look down at the Earth and out into deep, deep space. Here are some of the coolest, according to Wired:

• James Webb Space Telescope: Putting the Hubble to pasture, this planned telescope will monitor the infrared spectrum to detect new planets.
• Envisat: Making Al Gore proud, this environmental lab monitors sea-ice coverage and changes to glaciers.

Despite leak warnings, CIA, Pentagon and White House rolled out the red carpet

(NEWSER) - The White House, CIA, and Pentagon all gave special access to Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow to help with her movie about Osama bin Laden's death, according to documents obtained by the conservative Judicial Watch . In one interview , Undersecretary of Defense Mike Vickers tells Bigelow that top admirals can't talk because it would set "a bad example if it gets out," but that she could interview a SEAL Team 6 operator, who would "give you everything you … would get from Adm Olson or Adm McRaven." More»

Defense Clandestine Service will snoop beyond battlefields

(NEWSER) - The Pentagon has created a new spy agency that will expand its intelligence gathering operations outside of current war zones. The new Defense Clandestine Service will work closely with the CIA, investigating targets unrelated to its current battles in Iraq and Afghanistan, officials tell the Washington Post ; the paper speculates that agents might focus on things like nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and China's ascendency. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, a former CIA chief, gave it the green light last week. More»

Defense secretary is open to 'alternatives'

(NEWSER) - Leon Panetta has taken at least 27 trips home to California since becoming secretary of defense in July, which have cost taxpayers more than $800,000 in all—but he does feel bad about it. The Pentagon chief expressed his regrets at a Pentagon briefing yesterday and said he is open to "alternatives," but gave no hint that he would stop the weekend trips. "For 40 years that I’ve been in this town, I’ve gone home because my wife and family are there and because, frankly, I think it’s healthy to get out of Washington periodically just to get your mind straight and your perspective straight," he said. More»

National Security Agency plan was banned by Congress years ago

(NEWSER) - Looks like Congress can't stop the NSA from monitoring every nook and cranny of our lives after all. In an explosive feature in Wired , James Bamford reveals that the National Security Agency has revived a program called "Total Information Awareness," which aims to collect and sift through every electronic communication around the world. Yep, that includes those made by Americans—even though Congress passed legislation in 2003 to stop "TIA" from spying on US citizens. More»