(July 16) -- It was 40 years ago today Apollo 11 lifted off on its history-making mission to the Moon. NASA can't spend much time looking back because it's busy getting ready to make a little more history.
The shuttle Endeavour, with its seven astronauts, is on its way to the international space station, where six crewman are working. When they link up tomorrow, it will be the biggest crowd ever aboard the orbiting space complex.
One of the Apollo 11 astronauts is looking far beyond Earth's orbit as the anniverary of his moonwalk approaches. Buzz Aldrin's op-ed in the Washington Post declares we must "boldly go again" -- this time to Mars.
Will budget constraints prevent Americans from venturing farther into outer space? Politics Daily's Carl Cannon hopes not. He's urging President Obama to remember three familiar words as he ponders NASA's future: "Yes We Can."
To relive the Apollo 11 mission in even greater detail than we had in 1969, check out the "We Choose the Moon" site that launched this morning. This Pixcetera gallery also recaps the mission's highlights in pictures and sound. And even if you remember every one of those moments, you might be surprised by these 11 things you didn't know about Apollo 11.
The Daily Palin
If our Hot Seat poll is any indication, the country is evenly split over whether we should just ignore Sarah Palin. With more than 50,000 votes cast, 47 percent say yes, 51 percent say no and the rest aren't sure. Regardless, the Palin updates keep on coming in.
A more scientific survey by Gallup indicates Palin is still one of the early favorites for 2012 among Republicans and GOP-leaning indpendents. She's second in the poll with 21 percent support, trailing Mitt Romney who has 26 percent.
Mike Huckabee, who ranked third in the Gallup poll with 19 percent, has some advice for Palin: Don't get too mavericky. He's "a little concerned" that she might quit the GOP and run as a third-party candidate.
Still haven't had enough of the soon-to-be-former governor of Alaska? The Boston Phoenix has an exhaustive look at Palin's potential as "the biggest brand name in conservative politics." For the right wing, it says, she is "red meat, atop red Naughty Monkey heels. She will sell."
Obama's 'Mom Jeans'
Lost in the debate over whether President Obama's opening pitch at Tuesday's All-Star Game was adequate is this question: Who told him to wear those pants? Fortunately, CNN's Jeanne Moos is digging into this burning issue as only she can.
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Lost in the debate over whether President Obama's opening pitch at Tuesday's All-Star Game was adequate is this question: Who told him to wear those pants? Fortunately, CNN's Jeanne Moos is digging into this burning issue as only she can.
