Aerospace and military: Reconfigured spacecraft explores uranus International armada captures a fleeting comet space defense research progresses ‘smart’ computers assist U.S. Navy commanders

After a long string of glamorous triumphs, the U.S. space program confronted catastrophe last year. The bewildering and disconcerting series of launch vehicle failures seemed almost reminiscent of the fledgling rocket program three decades ago. Failures were evident also in the space programs of other nations.