HOUSTON, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper has left NASA to return to the Navy.

NASA astronaut and US Navy Capt. Heidemarie M Stefanyshyn-Piper has left NASA to return to the Navy.

The Inauguration Committee for President-elect Barack Obama officially extended an invitation Wednesday for NASA to be part of the 56th Inaugural Parade on Jan. 20.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Inauguration Committee for President-elect Barack Obama officially extended an invitation Wednesday for NASA to be part of the 56th Inaugural Parade on Jan.

British amateur astronomers say they have a new challenge -- spotting an astronaut's lost tool bag orbiting the Earth, to be visible until early next month. The backpack-sized object was lost by astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper during a space walk last week and should be visible from Britain with a reasonably strong telescope or pair of binoculars through the first days of December, astronomers told The Times of London. The best opportunities for British stargazers to spot the tool bag, which is 250 miles above the Earth and traveling at 15,000 mph, would be early Wednesday evening and on Friday, the newspaper said.