A single bunch of flowers resting on a plain coffin and the warm glow of the affection of those who knew her reflected the life of a murder victim who had always put other people first.

Anglo-American astronaut Michael Foal, just back from a six-month stint aboard the international space station, said today it would take a new challenge to get him back into orbit.

A riskier-than-usual spacewalk outside the international space station was cut short because of a malfunction that left one of the two crewmen with a warm, damp suit.

US PRESIDENT George W Bush urged the US “forward into the universe” last night, outlining a costly new effort to return Americans to the moon as early as 2015 and use it as a way-station to Mars and beyond.

British-born astronaut Michael Foale will be celebrating the New Year with tea and roast chicken aboard the International Space Station tonight.