Tech news from around the world: De-orbiting the ISS; mine-clearing robot; new Chinese space station; NASA GRAIL and data furnaces.

Around 1 million people gathered in Cape Canaveral, Florida, to witness the launch of Atlantis on Nasa's final space shuttle voyage of the 30-year progam.

The new Transformers film is better, says its director, and not just because it's embracing 3D technology - it's more intriguing. Sandy Cohen reports.

Pamela Wade has a close encounter with the solar system.

Budding astronauts love Auckland's Stardome, writes Alex Tully.

The TROPICS constellation of satellites is set to be launched from Mahia in Hawke’s Bay next month. Video / NASA

New Zealand researchers have shed new light on the phenomenon which causes black holes to explode.

The shaking and devastation caused by the Christchurch earthquake have been measured in new radar imagery taken from space.

We came here because we are big fans of the original Shaky Isles in Kingsland and wanted to check out their new "branch" in the Britomart precinct.

There are a few reinventions afoot this week in the world of information TV, with the Documentary Channel becoming BBC Knowledge and TVNZ's digital and freeview channel's 6 and 7 merging into one.

If travelling to a new home might take thousands of years, would humans be able to successfully procreate along the way?

After more than 250 days in isolation, three participants of a simulated mission to Mars stepped out to a mock-up of the red planet in Moscow and planted flags in the sand.

The Sun in all its illuminating glory has for the first time been photographed on all sides at once in an historic image.

Kiwi tech entrepreneur Derek Handley on his latest venture into mobile advertising.

A new Rainbow Warrior is approaching completion in a German shipyard.