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NASA/Aubrey Gemignani A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is the twelfth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev launched at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin a mission aboard the orbital outpost. After NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev arrive at the space station, they will conduct various experiments and technology demonstrations to benefit life on Earth and in orbit, furthering our journey back to the Moon, to Mars, and beyond. View the full article

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a Dragon spacecraft atop carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev lifts off at 5:15 a.m. EST, Feb. 13, 2026, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to the International Space Station. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 is the 12th crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the space station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.Credit: NASA Four crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission launched at 5:15 a.m. EST Friday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for a science expedition aboard the International Space Station. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled a Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The spacecraft will dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at approximately 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. “With Crew-12 safely on orbit, America and our international partners once again demonstrated the professionalism, preparation, and teamwork required for human spaceflight,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “The research this crew will conduct aboard the space station advances critical technologies for deep space exploration while delivering real benefits here on Earth. I’m grateful to the NASA and SpaceX teams whose discipline, rigor, and resilience made today’s launch possible. We undertake these missions with a clear understanding of risk, managing it responsibly so we can continue expanding human presence in low Earth orbit while preparing for our next great leap to the Moon and onward to Mars.” During Dragon’s flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California. NASA will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA’s live coverage resumes at 1:15 p.m. Saturday on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel with rendezvous, docking, and hatch opening. After docking, the crew will change out of their spacesuits and prepare cargo for offload before opening the hatch between Dragon and the space station’s Harmony module around 5 p.m. NASA also will provide coverage of the welcome ceremony aboard the space station shortly following hatch opening. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media. Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev will join the Expedition 74 crew, including NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev already aboard the orbiting laboratory, returning the space station to its standard seven crew members complement following the Jan. 14 departure of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission. During its mission, Crew-12 will conduct scientific research to prepare for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit and to benefit humanity on Earth. Participating crew members will study pneumonia-causing bacteria to improve cardiovascular treatments, on-demand intravenous fluid generation for future space missions, and research on how physical characteristics may affect blood flow during spaceflight. Other experiments include automated plant health monitoring and investigations of plant and nitrogen-fixing microbe interactions to enhance food production in space. Crew-12 is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which provides reliable access to space, maximizing the use of the station for research and development, and supporting future missions beyond low Earth orbit by partnering with private companies to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Learn more about the agency’s Commercial Crew Program at: [Hidden Content] -end- Josh Finch Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 *****@*****.tld Steven Siceloff Kennedy Space Center, Florida 321-867-2468 steven.p*****@*****.tld Sandra Jones / Joseph Zakrzewski Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 sandra.p*****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Feb 13, 2026 EditorJessica TaveauLocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsHumans in SpaceCommercial CrewInternational Space Station (ISS)ISS ResearchSpace Operations Mission Directorate View the full article

A solar concentrator is tested as part of the Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) project, which aims to produce oxygen from simulated lunar regolith for use at the Moon’s south pole. During this integrated test, the team combined the concentrator, mirrors, and control software and confirmed the production of carbon monoxide.NASA/Michael Rushing NASA’s Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) project completed an important step toward using local resources to support human exploration on the Moon. The CaRD team performed integrated prototype testing that used concentrated solar energy to extract oxygen from simulated lunar soil, while confirming the production of carbon monoxide through a solar-driven chemical reaction. If deployed on the Moon, this technology could enable the production of propellant using only lunar materials and sunlight, significantly reducing the cost and complexity of sustaining a long-term human presence on the lunar surface. The same downstream systems used to convert carbon monoxide into oxygen can also be adapted to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and methane on Mars. The integrated prototype brought together a carbothermal oxygen production reactor developed by Sierra Space, a solar concentrator designed by NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, precision mirrors produced by Composite Mirror Applications, and avionics, software, and gas analysis systems from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston led project management, systems engineering, testing, and development of key hardware and ground support systems. Explore More 4 min read NASA Moon Mission Spacesuit Nears Milestone Article 15 hours ago 2 min read NASA, University of Texas Expand Research and Workforce Development Article 1 week ago 8 min read Station Nation: Erin Edwards, Deputy Branch Chief for Crew Operations and Capsule Communicator Article 1 week ago View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Stonebreen’s Beating Heart Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Notes from the Field Blog Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search 2014–2022 Edgeøya, an island in the southeastern part of the Svalbard archipelago, is defined by stark Arctic expanses and rugged terrain. Still, even here—halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole—life persists, from mosses to polar bears. The southern lobe of Stonebreen, a glacier that flows from the Edgeøyjøkulen ice cap into the Barents Sea, gives the landscape a different kind of life. Its ice pulses like a heart. The apparent heartbeat comes from the ice speeding up and slowing down with the seasons. This animation, based on satellite data collected between 2014 and 2022, shows how fast the glacier’s surface ice moves on average during each month. In winter and spring, the ice flows relatively slowly (pink); by late summer, it races toward the sea at speeds exceeding 1,200 meters per year in places (dark red). In summer 2020, speeds reached as high as 2,590 meters per year (23 feet per day). In general, summer speedups are caused by meltwater that percolates from the surface down to the base of the glacier, where the ice sits on rock, explained Chad Greene, a glaciologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). “When the base of a glacier becomes inundated with meltwater, water pressure at the base increases and allows the glacier to slide more easily,” he said. Data for the animation are from the ITS_LIVE project, developed at JPL, which uses an algorithm to detect glacier speed based on surface features visible in optical and radar satellite images. In 2025, Greene and JPL colleague Alex Gardner used ITS_LIVE data to analyze the seasonal variability of hundreds of thousands of glaciers across the planet, including Stonebreen. Stonebreen is a surging glacier, a type that cycles between stretches of relatively slow movement and sudden bursts of speed when ice can flow several times faster than usual. These surges can last anywhere from months to years. Globally, only about 1 percent of glaciers are surge-type, though in Svalbard, they are relatively widespread. Before 2023, Stonebreen spent several years surging at high speeds after melting along its front likely destabilized the glacier, according to Gardner. Even during this surging *******, the ice followed a seasonal rhythm—speeding up in summer and slowing through the winter—all while continuing its faster overall flow toward the Barents Sea. Since 2023, however, the glacier has all but slowed to a halt, with only a short stretch in the summer when meltwater causes Stonebreen to glide across the ground. It has entered a phase of quiet, or “quiescence,” which is a normal part of the cycle for surge-type glaciers. These seasonal heartbeat-like pulses and longer-term variations in ice flow at Stonebreen and other glaciers worldwide can be explored using the ITS_LIVE app. Maps courtesy of Chad Greene and Alex Gardner, NASA/JPL, using data from the NASA MEaSUREs project ITS_LIVE. Story by Kathryn Hansen. Downloads View All 2014–2022 MP4 (112.73 MB) References & Resources Greene, C. A. and Gardner, A. S. (2025) Seasonal dynamics of Earth’s glaciers and ice sheets. Science, 390, 6776. NASA Earth Observatory (2025, December 3) Satellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth’s Glaciers. Accessed February 12, 2026. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2026) ITS_LIVE. Accessed February 12, 2026. Noël, B., et al. (2020) Low elevation of Svalbard glaciers drives high mass loss variability. Nature Communications, 11(4597). Strozzi, T., et al. (2017) Frontal destabilization of Stonebreen, Edgeøya, Svalbard. The Cryosphere, 11(1) 553–566. You may also be interested in: Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet. Satellites Detect Seasonal Pulses in Earth’s Glaciers 4 min read From Alaska’s Saint Elias Mountains to Pakistan’s Karakoram, glaciers speed up and slow down with the seasons. Article Alaska’s Brand New Island 3 min read A landmass that was once encased in the ice of the Alsek Glacier is now surrounded by water. Article Arctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record 3 min read Satellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data View the full article

Credit: NASA NASA and Vast have signed an order for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than summer 2027 from Florida. This private astronaut mission marks the company’s first selection to the orbiting laboratory, underscoring NASA’s ongoing investment in fostering a commercial space economy and expanding opportunities for private industry in low Earth orbit. “Private astronaut missions represent more than access to the International Space Station — they create opportunities for new ideas, companies, and capabilities that further enhance American leadership in low Earth orbit and open doors for what’s next,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “We’re proud to welcome Vast to this growing community of commercial partners. Each new entrant brings unique strengths that fuel a dynamic, innovative marketplace as we advance research and technology and prepare for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.” The mission is expected to spend up to 14 days aboard the space station. A specific launch date will depend on overall spacecraft traffic at the orbital outpost and other planning considerations. “The International Space Station plays an essential role in shaping the future of low Earth orbit,” said Dana Weigel, manager, International Space Station Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “By hosting private astronaut missions, the station helps accelerate innovation, opens new commercial pathways, and advances research strengthening the foundation of a thriving space economy.” Vast will submit four proposed crew members to NASA and its international partners for review. Once approved and confirmed, they will train with NASA, international partners, and SpaceX for their flight. The company has contracted with SpaceX as launch provider for transportation to and from the space station. “Vast is honored to have been selected by NASA for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station,” said Max Haot, CEO of Vast. “Leveraging the remaining life of the space station with science and research-led commercial crewed missions is a critical part of the transition to commercial space stations and fully unlocking the orbital economy.” The company will purchase mission services from NASA, including crew consumables, cargo delivery, storage, and other in-orbit resources for daily use. NASA will purchase the capability to return scientific samples that must remain cold during transit back to Earth. NASA made the selection from proposals received in response to its March 2025 NASA Research Announcement. Missions aboard the International Space Station, including private astronaut missions, help advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies in the unique microgravity environment. These commercial efforts in low Earth orbit are helping develop capabilities and technologies that could support NASA’s long-term goals for missions beyond low Earth orbit, including deep space exploration to the Moon and eventually to Mars through the agency’s Artemis campaign. Learn more about NASA’s commercial space strategy at: [Hidden Content] -end- Jimi Russell Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld Anna Schneider / Joseph Zakrzewski Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Feb 12, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsPrivate Astronaut MissionsCommercial SpaceHumans in SpaceInternational Space Station (ISS)ISS ResearchJohnson Space CenterKennedy Space Center View the full article

4 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) A NASA crew member practices using lunar tools to collect geology samples at NASA’s Johnson Space Center during an elevated suit pressure test where teams evaluate how well crew perform tasks in different suit pressure levels while wearing the Artemis III lunar spacesuit developed by Axiom Space called the AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit).NASA/Bill Stafford The next-generation spacesuit for NASA’s Artemis III mission continues to advance by passing a contractor-led technical review, as the agency prepares to send humans to the Moon’s South Pole for the first time. Testing is also underway for the new suits, built by Axiom Space, with NASA astronauts and spacesuit engineers recently simulating surface operations and tasks underwater to demonstrate safety and mobility. The AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit), is designed to give astronauts increased flexibility and improved mobility for moonwalking, including bending down to collect geology samples and perform a variety of scientific tasks. The suit features increased sizing options and adjustability to fit a wider range of crew members. It incorporates advanced life-support systems and enhanced protection to withstand the harsh lunar environment. Axiom Space is also developing specialized tools and equipment for work on the lunar surface, allowing astronauts to more easily gather geology samples. Now that Axiom Space has completed their technical review of the AxEMU, NASA will evaluate whether the spacesuit is ready for the agency’s Artemis III mission that will return American astronauts to the Moon. A NASA-led critical design sync review, which is an agency-required technical evaluation, will confirm that the design’s hardware and systems are on track for final testing and delivery. In parallel, Axiom Space has begun receiving parts for the first flight unit, which will be assembled later this spring. This achievement reflects our shared commitment to deliver a safe, capable lunar spacesuit that will enable astronauts to explore the Moon’s surface. Lara Kearney Manager, Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program “The completion of their internal review brings Axiom Space one step closer to delivering a next-generation lunar spacesuit,” said Lara Kearney, manager of the Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program at Johnson Space Center in Houston. “This achievement reflects our shared commitment to deliver a safe, capable lunar spacesuit that will enable astronauts to explore the Moon’s surface.” NASA and Axiom Space have conducted over 850 hours of pressurized testing with a person inside the AxEMU. Leading up to the review, teams conducted underwater and simulated lunar gravity tests of the AxEMU in facilities at NASA Johnson that demonstrate how the spacesuit’s capabilities will offer increased mobility as astronauts explore the Moon’s surface and prepare for missions to Mars. These tests allow astronauts and engineers to become familiar with the spacesuit and practice moving and performing tasks in a simulated lunar gravity environment, which is one-sixth the gravity we experience on Earth. Suit users have provided feedback on design, functionality, and safety. A NASA crew member practices simulated lunar surface operations at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory where teams evaluate how well crew perform tasks while wearing the Artemis III lunar spacesuit developed by Axiom Space called the AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit).NASA A NASA crew member practices simulated lunar surface operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center during an elevated suit pressure test where teams evaluate how well crew perform tasks in different suit pressure levels while wearing the Artemis III lunar spacesuit developed by Axiom Space called the AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit).NASA/James Blair NASA crew members practice emergency rescue drills during simulated lunar surface operations at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory where teams evaluate how well crew perform tasks while wearing the Artemis III lunar spacesuit developed by Axiom Space called the AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit).NASA A NASA crew member practices simulated lunar surface operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center during an elevated suit pressure test where teams evaluate how well crew perform tasks in different suit pressure levels while wearing the Artemis III lunar spacesuit developed by Axiom Space called the AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit).NASA/Bill Stafford Agency and Axiom Space teams recently finished the first series of test runs in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA Johnson. While in the 40-foot-deep pool, they weighted the AxEMU to match lunar gravity and assessed functionality and ease of movement. Now, teams are in the middle of evaluating how well test subjects can perform tasks while wearing the spacesuit in different suit pressure levels in NASA Johnson’s Active Response Gravity Offload System facility. The agency uses an overhead lift system that connects to a spacesuit to create a reduced-gravity environment allowing anyone in the suit to walk around in simulated lunar gravity. Higher suit pressures reduce time to acclimate to the suits, enabling astronauts to spend more time walking on the lunar surface during Artemis missions. Astronaut safety is NASA’s top priority for the Artemis campaign. Using more than 50 years of spacesuit expertise, NASA defined the technical and safety standards and requirements by which the next generation of lunar spacesuits are being built. At key milestones in the spacesuit’s development, NASA has and will continue to verify the AxEMU and its system deliverables to ensure the risk to the Artemis crew members is understood and minimized. NASA’s spacesuits contract is managed by the Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program which serves as the agency’s program to develop next-generation spacesuits, human-rated rovers, and spacewalking tools, along with all required spacewalking support systems that will enable astronauts to survive and work outside the confines of a spacecraft to explore on and around the Moon.  As part of a Golden Age of innovation and exploration, NASA’s Artemis astronauts will use these new spacesuits, along with advanced landers and rovers, to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to prepare for future human exploration of Mars. Learn more about NASA’s Artemis campaign at: [Hidden Content] Share Details Last Updated Feb 12, 2026 Related TermsHumans in SpaceArtemisArtemis 3Exploration Systems Development Mission DirectorateJohnson Space CenterSpacesuitsxEVA & Human Surface Mobility Explore More 3 min read I Am Artemis: Jesse Berdis Jesse Berdis’s dream of becoming a structural engineer began with visions of skyscrapers rising above… Article 1 day ago 6 min read What You Need to Know About NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Mission Article 3 days ago 3 min read Space Station Research Contributes to Artemis II Article 3 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Humans In Space Human Landing System Artemis III View the full article

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope reveals the clearest view yet of the Egg Nebula. This structure of gas and dust was created by a dying, Sun-like star. These newest observations were taken with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3.NASA, ESA, Bruce Balick (UWashington) This image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope released on Feb. 10, 2026, reveals a dramatic interplay of light and shadow in the Egg Nebula, sculpted by freshly ejected stardust. Located approximately 1,000 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus, the Egg Nebula features a central star obscured by a dense cloud of dust — like a “yolk” nestled within a dark, opaque “egg white.” It is the first, youngest, and closest pre-planetary nebula ever discovered. (A pre-planetary nebula is a precursor stage of a planetary nebula, which is a structure of gas and dust formed from the ejected layers of a dying, Sun-like star. The term is a misnomer, as planetary nebulae are not related to planets.) Read more about the Egg Nebula. Image credit: NASA, ESA, Bruce Balick (UWashington) View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Reaching Top Speed in the… Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Notes from the Field Blog Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search Nestled among high snowy peaks in northern Italy, Cortina d’Ampezzo is hosting athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics who are skiing, sliding, and curling toward a spot on the podium. The scenic mountain town is the co-host, along with Milan, of the international sporting extravaganza. Cortina sits within the Dolomites, a mountain range in the northern Italian Alps known for its sheer cliffs, rock pinnacles, tall peaks, and deep, narrow valleys. In this three-dimensional oblique map, several peaks over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) tall rise above the town. To create the map, an image acquired with the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 on January 27, 2026, was overlaid on a digital elevation model. Tofana di Mezzo, the third-highest peak in the Dolomites at 3,244 meters (10,643 feet), is the site of the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, the venue for the Olympic women’s Alpine skiing and all Paralympic skiing events. Competitors on the Olympia delle Tofane course descend 750 meters (2,460 feet), reaching high speeds and catching big air along the way. A highlight is the steep, 33-degree drop through the Tofana Schuss, a chute bounded by tall rock walls near the top of the course. More adrenaline-filled races are taking place at the Cortina Sliding Centre, the venue for bobsled, luge, and skeleton events. Athletes are competing on a rebuilt version of the track used in the 1956 Olympics, hosted by Cortina. And curlers, trading speed for strategy, are going for gold at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, built for the 1956 Olympic figure skating competition and opening ceremony. (There is indeed a theme: almost all of the 2026 Games are being held in existing or refurbished facilities.) Natural Color False Color NASA Earth Observatory NASA Earth Observatory Natural ColorFalse Color NASA Earth Observatory NASA Earth Observatory Natural Color False Color January 27, 2026 CurtainToggle2-Up These Landsat images show Cortina and its surrounding alpine terrain in natural color and false color. The band combination (6-5-4) highlights areas of snow (light blue), while steep, mostly snow-free cliffs stand out as areas of light brown, and forests appear green. Locations across the Italian Alps join Cortina in hosting the snow sports, which also include cross-country skiing, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, and snowboarding. As with many past Olympics, the 2026 Winter Games are manufacturing snow at the various venues to ensure consistent conditions. New high-elevation reservoirs were created to store water for snowmaking, according to reports. Automated systems are being used to limit snow production to the minimum amount required, and most snowmaking operations are being powered by renewable energy, the International Olympic Committee said. Snowfall in northern Italy was below average at the start of the season, but a storm on February 3—three days before the opening ceremony—eased some of the need for snowmaking. Still, snow coverage and the ability of Winter Olympic venues to maintain consistent conditions are areas of concern as global temperatures rise. Researchers studying the issue have suggested several ways to address this, including holding competitions at higher elevations, choosing regional or multi-country hosts, and shifting the Paralympic Games from early March to January or February when it’s typically colder and snowier. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and elevation data from TINITALY. Story by Lindsey Doermann. Downloads January 27, 2026 JPEG (9.25 MB) January 27, 2026 JPEG (12.37 MB) January 27, 2026 JPEG (1.68 MB) References & Resources AP News (2026, January 23) Italian expert’s manufactured snow will play big role at the Milan Cortina Games. Accessed February 11, 2026. The Conversation (2026, February 3) Climate change threatens the Winter Olympics’ future – and even snowmaking has limits for saving the Games. Accessed February 11, 2026. International Olympic Committee (2026) The Olympic Venues. Accessed February 11, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2026, February 5) Milano Cortina 2026. Accessed February 11, 2026. NBC Sports (2025, February 11) 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic venues: city arenas, scenic mountains, iconic ceremony landmarks. Accessed February 11, 2026. Scott, D., et al. (2026). Advancing climate change resilience of the Winter Olympic-Paralympic Games. Current Issues in Tourism, 1–8. UNESCO World Heritage Convention (2009) The Dolomites. Accessed February 11, 2026. You may also be interested in: Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet. Milano Cortina 2026 4 min read About 2,900 Olympic athletes have converged on northern Italy to sort out who is the GOAT—or perhaps the stoat. Article The West Faces Snow Drought 4 min read Very wet—but very warm—weather in the western U.S. has left many mountainous regions looking at substantial snowpack deficits. Article Snow Buries the U.S. Interior and East 2 min read Satellites observed a frozen landscape across much of the country after a massive winter storm. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data View the full article

3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) scale-model wing flies for the first time on a NASA F-15 research jet during a test flight from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The 75-minute flight confirmed the aircraft could maneuver safely with the approximately 3-foot-tall test article mounted beneath it. NASA will continue flight tests to collect data that validates the CATNLF design and its potential to improve laminar flow, reducing drag and lowering fuel costs for future commercial aircraft.NASA/Carla Thomas NASA completed the first flight test of a scale-model wing designed to improve laminar flow, reducing drag and lowering fuel costs for future commercial aircraft. The flight took place Jan. 29 at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, using one of the agency’s F-15B research jets. The NASA-designed, 40-inch Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) wing model was attached to the aircraft’s underside vertically, like a fin. The flight lasted about 75 minutes, during which the team ensured the aircraft could maneuver safely in flight with the additional wing model. “It was incredible to see CATNLF fly after all of the hard work the team has put into preparing,” said Michelle Banchy, research principal investigator for CATNLF. “Finally seeing that F-15 take off and get CATNLF into the air made all that hard work worth it.” NASA’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) scale-model wing flies on a NASA F-15 research jet during a test flight from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The CATNLF technology is designed to maintain smooth airflow, known as laminar flow. NASA will continue flight tests to collect data that validates the CATNLF design and its potential to improve laminar flow, reducing drag and lowering fuel costs for future commercial aircraft.NASA/Carla Thomas NASA designed the CATNLF technology to improve the smooth flow of air, known as laminar flow, over swept-back wings, used in everything from airliners to fighter jets, by reducing disruptions that lead to drag. Maintaining laminar flow could help lower fuel burn and costs. This flight was the first of up to 15 planned for the CATNLF series, which will test the design across a range of speeds, altitudes, and flight conditions. “First flight was primarily focused on envelope expansion,” Banchy said. “We needed to ensure safe dynamic behavior of the wing model during flight before we can proceed to research maneuvers.” During the flight, the team performed several maneuvers, such as turns, steady holds, and gentle pitch changes, at altitudes ranging from about 20,000 to nearly 34,000 feet, providing the first look at the aerodynamic characteristics of the wing model and confirming that it is working as expected. NASA’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) scale-model wing flies for the first time on a NASA F-15 research jet during a test flight from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The 75-minute flight confirmed the aircraft could maneuver safely with the approximately 3-foot-tall test article mounted beneath it. NASA will continue flight tests to collect data that validates the CATNLF design and its potential to improve laminar flow, reducing drag and lowering fuel costs for future commercial aircraft.NASA/Carla Thomas The team measured laminar flow using several tools, including an infrared camera mounted on the aircraft and aimed at the wing model to collect thermal data during flight tests. They will use this data to confirm key aspects of the design and evaluate how effectively the model maintains smooth airflow. “CATNLF technology opens the door to a practical approach to getting laminar flow on large, swept components, such as a wing or tail, which offer the greatest fuel burn reduction potential,” Banchy said. Early results showed airflow over the aircraft closely matched predictions made using computer models, she said. The first flight builds on earlier work accomplished through computer modeling, wind tunnel testing, ground tests, and high-speed taxi tests. NASA plans to continue flight tests to gather research data that will help further validate the CATNLF test article and its potential for future commercial aircraft designs. The CATNLF testing is a collaboration under NASA’s Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project and Subsonic Vehicle Technologies and Tools project. The CATNLF concept has been supported through the combined efforts of NASA’s Advanced Air Vehicles Program and Integrated Aviation Systems Program under the agency’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. Share Details Last Updated Feb 11, 2026 EditorDede DiniusContactTeresa Whiting*****@*****.tld Related TermsAdvanced Air Vehicles ProgramAeronautics Research Mission DirectorateAeronautics TechnologyArmstrong Flight Research CenterFlight Demos CapabilitiesFlight InnovationIntegrated Aviation Systems ProgramLangley Research Center Explore More 8 min read ARMD Research Solicitations (Updated Feb. 4) Article 1 week ago 5 min read NASA Armstrong Contributions Propel Artemis, Deep Space Innovation Article 1 week ago 3 min read NASA Aims to Advance Hypersonic Flight Testing with New Awards Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Aeronautics Artemis II NASA Aircraft View the full article

3 Min Read I Am Artemis: Jesse Berdis Listen to this audio excerpt from Jesse Berdis, Artemis II mobile launcher 1 deputy project manager: 0:00 / 0:00 Your browser does not support the audio element. Jesse Berdis’s dream of becoming a structural engineer began with visions of skyscrapers rising above the Dallas and Oklahoma skyline. Today, that dream has soared beyond city limits, reaching towering heights at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Berdis, the deputy project manager for mobile launcher 1 for the agency’s Artemis II mission, had a path to NASA which was anything but planned. While attending an engineering leadership conference in Orlando, he left a copy of his resume with NASA recruiters. Four weeks later, that simple gesture turned into a life-changing opportunity: a role at Kennedy as a launch infrastructure engineer with the Exploration Ground Systems Program, working on Artemis I, the uncrewed test flight of SLS and Orion. Anyone I talk to, that’s what’s on my mind, getting ready for the Artemis campaign. It can go from technical issues we’re solving to the passion we have for launching the crew and taking the next step in humanity of going back to the Moon. Jesse Berdis Artemis II mobile launcher 1 deputy project manager The mobile launcher serves as a backbone to the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis missions before and during launch. It is designed to support the integration, testing, and checkouts of the rocket and spacecraft, in addition to serving as the structural platform, or as Berdis calls it, “the shoulders, at liftoff.” Standing more than 400 feet tall, the mobile launcher houses the umbilicals that provide power, communications, coolant, fuel, and stabilization prior to launch, as well as access for the Artemis II crew to safely board Orion. When Berdis first arrived on center, the sight of massive ground systems left an unforgettable impression. To him, these weren’t just structures, they were skyscrapers for space exploration. Jesse Berdis, Artemis II mobile launcher 1 deputy project manager, poses for a photo near the emergency egress system at Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. The emergency egress system is an abort system for personnel to climb into four baskets of the mobile launcher to the base of the pad in the unlikely event of an emergency at the launch pad. Mobile launcher 1 supports the integration, testing, and checkouts of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim ShiflettNASA/Kim Shiflett After the historic launch of Artemis I, Berdis and his team turned their focus to an even greater challenge: preparing for Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed Moon mission in more than 50 years. One of the most critical upgrades for Artemis II is the emergency egress system, an abort system for personnel to use in the unlikely event of an emergency at the launch pad. Located on the 274-foot level of the mobile launcher, four baskets will provide a rapid escape route from the mobile launcher to the base of the pad in case of emergency, using electromagnetic braking technology. “That is a true feat of humanity: someone putting all of their passion into these systems to make it all come together at T-0. Jesse Berdis Artemis II mobile launcher 1 deputy project manager Berdis recently set his sights on the Artemis human landing system lander ground operations, to develop and maintain an integrated schedule. Under his leadership, the team ensures accuracy of combined schedules, risks, and insights, ensuring the ground operations and human lander development remain in sync. About the AuthorLaura SasaninejadStrategic Communications Specialist Share Details Last Updated Feb 11, 2026 Related TermsArtemis 2ArtemisExploration Ground SystemsI Am ArtemisKennedy Space CenterMissionsOrion Multi-Purpose Crew VehicleSpace Launch System (SLS) Explore More 4 min read NASA’s Hubble Captures Light Show Around Rapidly Dying Star This stunning image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope reveals a dramatic interplay of light and… Article 1 day ago 7 min read Core Survey by NASA’s Roman Mission Will Unveil Universe’s Dark Side Article 1 day ago 6 min read What You Need to Know About NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Mission Article 2 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

NASA/Kim Shiflett From left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot pose next to their mission insignia inside the Astronaut Crew Quarters in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 crew members will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 to the International Space Station no earlier than 5:15 a.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 13, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40. During their eight-month mission, Crew-12 will conduct a variety of science experiments to advance research and technology for future Moon and Mars missions and benefit humanity back on Earth. This research includes studies of pneumonia-causing bacteria to improve treatments, on-demand intravenous fluid generation for future space missions, automated plant health monitoring, investigations of plant and nitrogen-fixing microbe interactions to enhance food production in space, and research on how physical characteristics may affect blood flow during spaceflight. Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett View the full article

3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA Stennis teams complete a water system activation milestone on Jan. 30 at the Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-2). The milestone tested new cooling systems added to the stand for the future Green Run test series of NASA’s exploration upper stage that is expected to fly on the Artemis IV mission.NASA/Danny Nowlin Water flowing out. Data flowing in. A water system activation at the Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-2) on Jan. 30 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, helped capture critical data to support testing a new SLS (Space Launch System) stage expected to fly on the Artemis IV mission. The activation milestone tested new cooling systems that were added for the future Green Run test series of NASA’s exploration upper stage (EUS). The more powerful upper stage is a four-engine liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen in-space stage for the evolved Block 1B version of SLS. NASA Stennis teams complete a water system activation milestone on Jan. 30 at the Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-2). The milestone tested new cooling systems added to the stand for the future Green Run test series of NASA’s exploration upper stage that is expected to fly on the Artemis IV mission.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis teams complete a water system activation milestone on Jan. 30 at the Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-2). The milestone tested new cooling systems added to the stand for the future Green Run test series of NASA’s exploration upper stage that is expected to fly on the Artemis IV mission.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis teams complete a water system activation milestone on Jan. 30 at the Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-2). The milestone tested new cooling systems added to the stand for the future Green Run test series of NASA’s exploration upper stage that is expected to fly on the Artemis IV mission.NASA/Danny Nowlin For Green Run, teams at NASA Stennis will activate and test all systems to ensure the stage is ready to fly. It will culminate with a hot fire of the stage’s four RL10 engines, just as during an actual mission. As part of the test stand modification, crews have added water-cooled diffusers to act as a heat shield to manage the super-hot exhaust from all four RL10 engines; water-cooled fairings to direct engine exhaust to align with the diffuser walls; and a purge ring that supplies cooling water and gaseous nitrogen to protect a flexible seal that allows the engines to move, or gimbal, during testing. These three systems all were integrated by the NASA Stennis team with the existing flame deflector and acoustic suppression equipment used during previous core stage testing for NASA’s SLS rocket ahead of the successful Artemis I launch. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video NASA/Stennis The exercise also pushed the high pressure industrial water system to maximum capacity. While a typical RS-25 engine test at NASA Stennis runs a subset of the 10 diesel pumps and one electric pump, testing the exploration upper stage will require all eleven pumps running simultaneously. The 14-million gallons of water used during the exercise on Jan. 30 was recycled throughout the test complex. A 66-million-gallon reservoir feeds water to the test stand through an underground 96-inch diameter pipe, with water distributed to various cooling components. The water ultimately flows into the flame deflector, then through a concrete flume to the stand’s catch pond. When the catch pond fills up, the excess water drains back to the canal through a drainage ditch, ready to be recycled for future use. “We will use the data gathered to set the final timing of when valves are cycled, determine our redline pressures, and select the operating pressure,” said Nick Nugent, NASA Stennis project engineer. “This exercise also put the water system under a full load prior to the final stress test. It is always good to give the system a good shake down run prior.” NASA Stennis teams complete a water system activation milestone on Jan. 30 at the Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-2). The milestone tested new cooling systems added to the stand for the future Green Run test series of NASA’s exploration upper stage that is expected to fly on the Artemis IV mission.NASA/Danny Nowlin The exploration upper stage is being built by Boeing at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The four RL10 engines for the upper stage are manufactured by L3Harris Technologies. Before it all arrives at NASA Stennis, crews will perform a final 24-hour check, or stress test, across all test complex facilities to demonstrate readiness for the test series. Explore More 5 min read A Look Back at NASA Stennis in 2025 Article 2 months ago 2 min read NASA Makes Webby 30s List of Most Iconic, Influential on Internet Article 5 months ago 5 min read Crossroads to the Future – NASA Stennis Grows into a Model Federal City Article 5 months ago View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Summer Heat Hits Southeastern… Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Notes from the Field Blog Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search January 29, 2026 While a part of the United States braved extreme winter cold, January 2026 brought sweltering summer conditions to many parts of Australia. Australia’s area-averaged mean temperature was 1.90 degrees Celsius (3.42 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1961–1990 average, making it the fourth-warmest January since the start of observations in 1910, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). Contributing to this was a late-month heatwave in the country’s southeast that was especially intense between January 26 and January 30. During that *******, numerous weather stations in South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria recorded record-high daily temperatures. The heatwave’s intensity and extent are evident in this map, which shows air temperatures at 03:00 Universal Time (2 p.m. local time in Victoria) on January 29, modeled at 2 meters (6.5 feet) above the ground. It was produced with a version of the GEOS (Goddard Earth Observing System) model, which integrates meteorological observations with mathematical equations that represent physical processes in the atmosphere. The darkest reds are where the model indicates temperatures reaching or exceeding 45°C (113°F). According to BoM, the hottest temperatures of January 2026 were measured in two places in South Australia: in the town of Andamooka on the 29th and at the Port Augusta airport on the 30th, where temperatures reached 50.0°C (122.0°F). In both New South Wales and Victoria, the month’s hottest day was on the 27th, when temperatures reached 49.7°C (121.5°F) at a station in Pooncarie and 48.9°C (120.0°F) at stations in Walpeup and Hopetoun. The heatwave brought significant human and public-health effects, including the increased risk of heat-related illness. Organizers of the *********** Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Victoria, suspended play on some courts and closed roofs to provide shade as part of an “extreme heat policy” to protect players and spectators, according to news reports. The recent warmth followed another bout of heat earlier in the month that, combined with strong winds and dry conditions, created dangerous fire conditions. Numerous bushfires were burning across Victoria on January 9 as officials urged people to evacuate. By mid-month, news reports indicated that the fires had destroyed hundreds of structures and killed tens of thousands of livestock. NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using GEOS data from the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at NASA GSFC. Story by Kathryn Hansen. Downloads January 29, 2026 JPEG (1.72 MB) References & Resources *********** Broadcasting Corporation (2026, January 15) Hundreds of satellite images capture Victoria’s destructive bushfires erupting. Accessed February 10, 2026. *********** Broadcasting Corporation (2026, January 14) Tens of thousands of livestock confirmed dead as Victorians return to bushfire-ravaged communities. Accessed February 10, 2026. Bureau of Meteorology (2026, February 2) Australia in January 2026. Accessed February 10, 2026. Bureau of Meteorology (2026, February 2) New South Wales in January 2026. Accessed February 10, 2026. Bureau of Meteorology (2026, February 2) Victoria in January 2026. Accessed February 10, 2026. Bureau of Meteorology (2026, February 1) South Australia in January 2026. Accessed February 10, 2026. The New York Times (2026, January 8) Three Reported Missing in Australia as Fires Rage in ‘Catastrophic’ Conditions. Accessed February 10, 2026. VIC Emergency (2026, January 9) Bushfires could spread in catastrophic conditions update 9 January 2026. Accessed February 10, 2026. You may also be interested in: Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet. Extreme January Cold 3 min read Following a significant winter storm, frigid temperatures lingered in late January 2026 across a vast swath of the U.S. Article Summer Heat Lingers in the West 3 min read A prolonged high-pressure weather system brought unusually warm September temperatures to British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. Article Fires Erupt in South-Central Chile 2 min read Tens of thousands of people fled to safety as blazes spread throughout the country’s Biobío and Ñuble regions. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data View the full article

Curiosity Navigation Curiosity Home Mission Overview Where is Curiosity? Mission Updates Science Overview Instruments Highlights Exploration Goals News and Features Multimedia Curiosity Raw Images Images Videos Audio Mosaics More Resources Mars Missions Mars Sample Return Mars Perseverance Rover Mars Curiosity Rover MAVEN Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mars Odyssey More Mars Missions Mars Home 2 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4798-4803: Back for More Science NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image showing the side-by-side drill holes “Nevado Sajama” (right) and “Nevado Sajama2” (left). Curiosity used its Mast Camera (Mastcam) to capture the image on Jan. 31, 2026 — Sol 4795, or Martian day 4,795 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission — at 22:55:27 UTC. NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Written by Michelle Minitti, MAHLI Deputy Principal Investigator Earth planning date: Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 The results from our first visit to the “Nevado Sajama” drill location were intriguing enough to motivate our return to do a deeper dive into the minerals and compounds locked in this rock with SAM (the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite). As explained in the last blog, that deeper dive involves using the second of two vials of a chemical reagent, tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), that helps makes molecules detectable to SAM that would otherwise be undetectable. This week was focused on completing the many carefully-coordinated steps to apply the TMAH reagent to the rock powder from a drill hole and then analyze the treated sample. As you can see in the image above, we know the drilling necessary to collect the sample was successful, as was delivery of the sample to SAM. We are awaiting word about the first part of the SAM analysis, and are running the second part in the weekend plan. As you can imagine, running a mass spectrometer and chemistry experiment remotely on another planet takes a lot of energy, but throughout the week, the team took advantage of whatever spare power there was to include additional science observations. ChemCam planned two attempts at targeting the Nevado Sajama2 drill-hole interior, analyzed “Tiquipaya,” one of the family of rocks broken by the rover wheels that expose bright white material, and measured the chemistry of the atmosphere with a passive sky observation. They also planned an RMI mosaic of layers near the base of the “Mishe Mokwa” butte to our east. MAHLI and APXS paired up to image and analyze the ground-up tailings around the drill hole for the most direct measure of chemistry of what SAM analyzes. As Mastcam acquired a full 360-degree mosaic the first time we were at Nevado Sajama, they did not have many rock observations to plan. Instead, they turned their eyes toward the sky to measure the amount of dust in the atmosphere. Navcam made complementary measurements of atmospheric dust and planned movies and imaging surveys of clouds and dust devils. Ever watchful, RAD and REMS made their regular measurements of the Martian environment while DAN regularly monitored the Martian subsurface. Want to read more posts from the Curiosity team? Visit Mission Updates Want to learn more about Curiosity’s science instruments? Visit the Science Instruments page NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity at the base of Mount Sharp NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Share Details Last Updated Feb 10, 2026 Related Terms Blogs Explore More 2 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4788-4797: Welcome Back from Conjunction Article 6 days ago 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4750-4762: See You on the Other Side of the Sun Article 2 months ago 3 min read Wind-Sculpted Landscapes: Investigating the Martian Megaripple ‘Hazyview’ Article 2 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and the seventh largest. It’s the only planet we know of inhabited… All Mars Resources Explore this collection of Mars images, videos, resources, PDFs, and toolkits. Discover valuable content designed to inform, educate, and inspire,… Rover Basics Each robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a… Mars Exploration: Science Goals The key to understanding the past, present or future potential for life on Mars can be found in NASA’s four… View the full article

NASA/Chris Williams NASA astronaut Chris Williams pointed a camera out a window on the cupola as a set of CubeSats were deployed outside the Kibo laboratory module by a small satellite orbital deployer into Earth orbit. Students from Mexico, Italy, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan designed the shoe-boxed satellites for a series of Earth observations and technology demonstrations. CubeSats are a class of nanosatellites – small spacecraft weighing 1-10 kilograms – that use a standard size and form factor. The development of CubeSats has advanced into its own industry with government, industry and academia collaborating for ever increasing capabilities. CubeSats now provide a cost-effective platform for science investigations, new technology demonstrations and advanced mission concepts. Image credit: NASA/Chris Williams View the full article

Share Details Last Updated Feb 10, 2026 Editor Andrea Gianopoulos Location NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Contact Media Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland *****@*****.tld Ann Jenkins, Christine Pulliam Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland Related Terms Hubble Space Telescope Astrophysics Goddard Space Flight Center Nebulae Planetary Nebulae Reflection Nebulae

The broadest planned survey by NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will reveal hundreds of millions of galaxies scattered across the cosmos. After Roman launches as soon as this fall, scientists will use these sparkly beacons to study the universe’s shadowy underpinnings: dark matter and dark energy. “We set out to build the ultimate wide-area infrared survey, and I think we accomplished that,” said Ryan Hickox, a professor at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and co-chair of the committee that shaped the survey’s design. “We’ll use Roman’s enormous, deep 3D images to explore the fundamental nature of the universe, including its dark side.” This infographic describes the High-Latitude Wide-Area Survey that will be conducted by NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. This observation program will cover more than 5,000 square degrees (about 12 percent of the sky) in just under a year and a half. Scientists will use the survey to analyze hundreds of millions of galaxies scattered across the cosmos that reveal clues about the universe’s shadowy underpinnings — dark matter and dark energy — as well as a wealth of other science topics. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Roman’s High-Latitude Wide-Area Survey is one of the mission’s three core observation programs. It will cover more than 5,000 square degrees (about 12 percent of the sky) in just under a year and a half. Roman will look far from the dusty plane of our Milky Way galaxy (that’s what the “high-latitude” part of the survey name means), looking up and out of the galaxy rather than through it to get the clearest view of the distant cosmos. “This survey is going to be a spectacular map of the cosmos, the first time we have Hubble-quality imaging over a large area of the sky,” said David Weinberg, an astronomy professor at Ohio State University in Columbus, who played a major role in devising the survey. “Even a single pointing with Roman needs a whole wall of 4K televisions to display at full resolution. Displaying the whole high-latitude survey at once would take half a million 4K TVs, enough to cover 200 football fields or the cliff face of El Capitan.” The survey will combine the powers of imaging and spectroscopy to unveil a goldmine of galaxies strewn across cosmic time. Astronomers will use the survey’s data to explore invisible dark matter, detectable only via its gravitational effects on other objects, and the nature of dark energy — a pressure that seems to be speeding up the universe’s expansion. “Cosmic acceleration is the biggest mystery in cosmology and maybe in all of physics,” Weinberg said. “Somehow, when we get to scales of billions of light years, gravity pushes rather than pulls. The Roman wide area survey will provide critical new clues to help us solve this mystery, because it allows us to measure the history of cosmic structure and the early expansion rate much more accurately than we can today.” Weighing shadows Anything that has mass warps space-time, the underlying fabric of the universe. Extremely massive things like clusters of galaxies warp space-time so much that they distort the appearance of background objects — a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. “It’s like looking through a cosmic funhouse mirror,” Hickox said. “It can smear or duplicate distant galaxies, or if the alignment is just right, it can magnify them like a natural telescope.” This simulation shows the type of science astronomers will be able to do with future observations from NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The sequence demonstrates how the gravity of intervening galaxy clusters and dark matter can distort the light from farther objects, warping their appearance. More intervening material creates stronger distortions. By analyzing these features, astronomers can study elusive dark matter, which can only be measured indirectly through its gravitational effects on visible matter. As a bonus, the distortion acts like a telescope, enabling observations of extremely distant galaxies. Simulations like this one help astronomers understand what Roman’s future observations could tell us about the universe, and provide useful data to validate data analysis techniques.Caltech/IPAC/R. Hurt Roman’s view will be large and sharp enough to study this lensing effect on a small scale to see how clumps of dark matter warp the appearance of distant galaxies. Astronomers will create a detailed map of the large-scale distribution of matter — both seen and unseen — throughout the universe and fill in more of the gaps in our understanding of dark matter. Studying how structures grow over time will also help astronomers explore dark energy’s strength at various cosmic stages. “The data analysis standards required to measure weak gravitational lensing are such that the astronomy community as a whole will benefit from very high-quality data over the full survey area, which will undoubtedly lead to unexpected discoveries,” said Olivier Doré, a senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, who leads a team focused on Roman imaging cosmology with the High-Latitude Wide-Area Survey. “This survey will accomplish much more than just revealing dark energy!” While NASA’s Hubble and James Webb space telescopes both also study gravitational lensing, the breakthrough with Roman is its large field of view. “Weak lensing distorts galaxy shapes too subtly to see in any single galaxy — it’s invisible until you do a statistical analysis,” Hickox said. “Roman will see more than a billion galaxies in this survey, and we estimate about 600 million of them will be detailed enough for Roman to study these effects. So Roman will trace the growth of structure in the universe in 3D from shortly after the big bang to today, mapping dark matter more precisely than we’ve ever done before.” Sounding out dark energy Roman’s wide-area survey will also gather spectra from around 20 million galaxies. Analyzing spectra helps show how the universe expanded during different cosmic eras because when an object recedes, all of the light waves we receive from it are stretched out and shifted toward redder wavelengths — a phenomenon called redshift. By determining how quickly galaxies are receding from us, carried by the relentless expansion of space, astronomers can find out how far away they are –– the more a galaxy’s spectrum is redshifted, the farther away it is. Astronomers will use this phenomenon to make a 3D map of all the galaxies measured within the survey area out to about 11.5 billion light-years away. That will reveal frozen echoes of ancient sound waves that once rippled through the primordial cosmic sea. For most of the universe’s first half-million years, the cosmos was a dense, almost uniform sea of plasma (charged particles). Rare, tiny clumps attracted more matter toward themselves gravitationally. But it was too hot for the material to stick together, so it rebounded. This push and pull created waves of pressure—sound — that propagated through the plasma. This animation illustrates how small particles (in this case, sand) behave when exposed to different sound frequencies. In the very early universe, a cosmic “hum” created ripples in the primordial soup that filled space. Since the ripples were places where more matter was collected, like the rings of sand shown here, slightly more galaxies formed along them than elsewhere. As the universe expanded over billions of years, so did these structures. By comparing their size during different cosmic epochs, astronomers can trace the universe’s expansion.Nigel Stanford (used with permission) Over time, the universe cooled and the waves ceased, essentially freezing the ripples (called baryon acoustic oscillations) in place. Since the ripples were places where more matter was collected, slightly more galaxies formed along them than elsewhere. As the universe expanded over billions of years, so did these structures. These rings act like a ruler for the universe. Today, they are about 500 million light-years wide. Roman will precisely measure their size across cosmic time, revealing how dark energy may have evolved. Recent results from other telescopes hint that dark energy may be shifting in strength over cosmic time. “Roman will be able to make high precision tests that should tell us whether these hints are real deviations from our current standard model or not,” said Risa Wechsler, director of Stanford University’s KIPAC (Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology) in California and co-chair of the committee that shaped the survey’s design. “Roman’s imaging survey combined with its redshift survey give us new information about the evolution of the universe — both how it expands and how structures grow with time — that will help us understand what dark energy and gravity are doing at unprecedented precision.” Altogether, Roman will help us understand the effects of dark energy 10 times more precisely than current measurements, helping discern between the leading theories that attempt to explain why the expansion of the universe is speeding up. Because of the way Roman will survey the universe, it will reveal everything from small, rocky objects in our outer solar system and individual stars in nearby galaxies to galaxy mergers and ****** holes at the cosmic frontier over 13 billion years ago. “Roman is exciting because it covers such a wide area with the image quality only available in space,” Wechsler said. “This enables a broad range of science, from things we can anticipate studying to discoveries that we haven’t thought of yet.” The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is managed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, with participation by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California; Caltech/IPAC in Pasadena, California; the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore; and a science team comprising scientists from various research institutions. The primary industrial partners are BAE Systems Inc. in Boulder, Colorado; L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York; and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging in Thousand Oaks, California. By Ashley Balzer NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Media contact: Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. 301-286-1940 Share Details Last Updated Feb 10, 2026 EditorAshley BalzerContactAshley Balzer*****@*****.tldLocationGoddard Space Flight Center Related TermsNancy Grace Roman Space TelescopeDark EnergyDark MatterGalaxiesGoddard Space Flight CenterThe Milky WayThe Universe Explore More 7 min read Journey to Center of Milky Way With Upcoming NASA Roman Core Survey Article 3 weeks ago 6 min read NASA Roman Core Survey Will Trace Cosmic Expansion Over Time Article 6 months ago 6 min read NASA’s Roman Mission Shares Detailed Plans to Scour Skies Article 10 months ago View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Winter Grips Japan Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Notes from the Field Blog Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search February 5, 2026 Northern Japan, especially the island of Hokkaido, is home to some of the snowiest cities in the world. Sapporo, the island’s largest city and host of an annual snow festival, typically sees more than 140 days of snowfall, with nearly 6 meters (20 feet) accumulating on average each year. The ski resorts surrounding the city delight in the relatively dry, powdery “sea-effect” snow that often falls when frigid air from Siberia flows across the relatively warm waters of the Sea of Japan. However, despite the region’s familiarity with heavy snowfall, winter 2026 got off to a disruptive start. A series of intense storms in January and February repeatedly paralyzed transportation systems, closing airports, snarling roadways, and suspending trains. Following storms that dropped more than 2 meters (7 feet) of snow in Aomori, a city on the island of Honshu just south of Hokkaido (out of frame), authorities deployed troops to help clear roofs, according to news reports. The snow has caused dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries, according to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency. On February 5, 2026, the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this image of snow-covered landscapes across Hokkaido. With more than 31 active volcanoes, the island features several large caldera lakes, including at least five that are visible in the image. (Calderas are large depressions formed by volcanic eruptions.) In the east, forested windbreaks around Nakashibetsu form a checkerboard pattern, while to the north, swirls of drifting sea ice adorn the Sea of Okhotsk. The Sea of Okhotsk is the southernmost sea that routinely hosts large amounts of sea ice. Although this winter brought unusually cold weather, long-term observations indicate that the amount of ice observed there each year has declined significantly in recent decades. One 2026 analysis noted a 3.4 percent per decade decline in the maximum extent of its winter sea ice since the 1970s. These changes could have implications for the region’s marine ecosystems, which are known for being highly productive and producing massive phytoplankton blooms each spring after the ice melts. Disruptive snowstorms are also striking elsewhere in Japan. In February, a storm blanketed western Japan in snow, leading to more travel disruptions and the early closure of some polling stations during national elections. NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Adam Voiland. Downloads February 5, 2026 JPEG (2.46 MB) References & Resources AccuWeather (2026, February 3) Snow piles nearly 7 feet high as deadly storms bury northern Japan. Accessed February 9, 2026. Associated Press (2026, February 4) Heavy snow in northern Japan blocks roads and causes dozens of deaths. Accessed February 9, 2026. The Japan Times (2026, February 4) Japan warns of avalanches as snow deaths rise to 35. Accessed February 9, 2026. The Mainichi (2026, January 26) Heavy snow strands 7,000 travelers at Hokkaido’s ‘landlocked’ New Chitose Airport. Accessed February 9, 2026. Narita, D. & Iwasaki, S. (2026) Past and Future Changes in Sea Ice in the Sea of Okhotsk: Analysis Using the Future Ocean Regional Projection Dataset. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 14(1), 52. The New York Times (2026, February 8) Heavy Snow Disrupts Japan Election, Forcing Polling Stations to Close Early. Accessed February 9, 2026. NHK World Japan (2026, February 8) Snow piles up rapidly in western Japan. Accessed February 9, 2026. Skiing Hokkaido (2013) Meteorologist Mr. Mori explains ~ Why “good snow” falls in Hokkaido. Accessed February 9, 2026. Steenburgh, W.J. & Nakai, S. (2020) Perspectives on Sea- and Lake-Effect Precipitation from Japan’s “Gosetsu Chitai.” Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 101(1), E58-E72. World Meteorological Organization (2026, February 3) Extreme heat, cold, precipitation and fires mark the start of 2026. Accessed February 9, 2026. You may also be interested in: Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet. The West Faces Snow Drought 4 min read Very wet—but very warm—weather in the western U.S. has left many mountainous regions looking at substantial snowpack deficits. Article Antarctic Sea Ice Saw Its Third-Lowest Maximum 2 min read Sea ice around the southernmost continent hit one of its lowest seasonal highs since the start of the satellite record. Article Arctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record 3 min read Satellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data View the full article

jsc2026e004045 (Oct. 17, 2025) — The four members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station pose together for an official crew portrait. From left are, Roscosmos cosmonaut and Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, Commander and Pilot respectively, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Mission Specialist Sophie Adenot.NASA Four crew members are set to launch to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission, where they will conduct research, technology demonstrations, and maintenance aboard the orbiting laboratory. The crew will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. The spacecraft previously flew NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 and Crew-9 missions, as well as private astronaut missions Axiom Mission 2 and 3. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively. They will be joined by ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, who will serve as mission specialists. Crew-12 will join Expedition 74 crew members already aboard the space station. During their eight-month mission, Crew-12 will conduct a variety of science experiments to advance research and technology for future Moon and Mars missions and benefit humanity back on Earth. This research includes studies of pneumonia-causing bacteria to improve treatments, on-demand intravenous fluid generation for future space missions, automated plant health monitoring, investigations of plant and nitrogen-fixing microbe interactions to enhance food production in space, and research on how physical characteristics may affect blood flow during spaceflight. Meanwhile, support teams are progressing through Dragon preflight milestones for Crew-12, they also are preparing a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster for its second flight. After system checkouts are complete and all components are certified, teams will mate Dragon to Falcon 9 in SpaceX’s hangar at the launch site. The integrated spacecraft and rocket then will roll to the pad for a dry dress rehearsal with the crew and an integrated static fire test before launch. This flight is the 12th crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Meet Crew-12 jsc2026e004033 (Jan. 21, 2026) — The four members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station pose together for a crew portrait in their pressure suits at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. From left are, Roscosmos cosmonaut and Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, Pilot and Commander respectively, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Mission Specialist Sophie Adenot.SpaceX This will be the second flight to the space station for Meir, who was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013. The Caribou, Maine, native earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Brown University, a master’s degree in space studies from the International Space University, and a doctorate in marine biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego. On her first spaceflight, Meir spent 205 days as a flight engineer during Expedition 61/62, and she completed the first three all-woman spacewalks with fellow NASA astronaut Christina Koch, totaling 21 hours and 44 minutes outside of the station. Since then, she has served in various roles, including assistant to the chief astronaut for commercial crew (SpaceX), deputy for the Flight Integration Division, and assistant to the chief astronaut for the human landing system. Follow @Astro_Jessica on X and Instagram. A commander in the United States Navy, Hathaway was selected as part of the 2021 astronaut candidate class. This will be Hathaway’s first spaceflight. The South Windsor, Connecticut, native holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and history from the U.S. Naval Academy and master’s degrees in flight dynamics from Cranfield University and national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. Hathaway also is a graduate of the Empire Test Pilot’s School, Fixed Wing Class 70 in 2011. At the time of his selection, Hathaway was deployed aboard the USS Truman, serving as Strike Fighter Squadron 81’s prospective executive officer. He has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours in 30 different aircraft, including more than 500 carrier arrested landings and 39 combat missions. Follow @astro_hathaway on X and Instagram. The Crew-12 mission will be Adenot’s first spaceflight. Before her selection as an ESA astronaut in 2022, Adenot earned a degree in engineering from ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse, France, specializing in spacecraft and aircraft flight dynamics. She also earned a master’s degree in human factors engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. After earning her master’s degree, she became a helicopter cockpit design engineer at Airbus Helicopters and later served as a search and rescue pilot at Cazaux Air Base from 2008 to 2012. She then joined the High Authority Transport Squadron in Villacoublay, France, and served as a formation flight leader and mission captain from 2012 to 2017. Between 2019 and 2022, Adenot worked as a helicopter experimental test pilot in Cazaux Flight Test Center with DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement – the French Defence Procurement Agency). She has logged more than 3,000 hours flying 22 different helicopters. Follow @Soph_astro on X and Instagram. This will be Fedyaev’s second long-duration stay aboard the orbiting laboratory. He graduated from the Krasnodar Military Aviation Institute in 2004, specializing in aircraft operations and air traffic organization, and earned qualifications as a pilot engineer. Prior to his selection as a cosmonaut, he served as deputy commander of an Ilyushin-38 aircraft unit in the Kamchatka Region, logging more than 600 flight hours and achieving the rank of second-class military pilot. Fedyaev was selected for the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center Cosmonaut Corps in 2012 and has served as a test cosmonaut since 2014. In 2023, he flew to the space station as a mission specialist during NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission, spending 186 days in orbit as an Expedition 69 flight engineer. For his achievements, Fedyaev was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation and received the Yuri Gagarin Medal. Mission Overview jsc2026e004030 (Jan. 23, 2026) — The four members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station pose together for a crew portrait in their blue flight suits at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. From left are, Roscosmos cosmonaut and Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, Pilot and Commander respectively, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Mission Specialist Sophie Adenot.SpaceX Following liftoff, Falcon 9 will accelerate Dragon to approximately 17,500 mph. Once in orbit, the crew, along with NASA and SpaceX mission control, will monitor a series of maneuvers to guide Dragon to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module. The spacecraft is designed to dock autonomously, but the crew can pilot it manually if necessary. After docking, Crew-12 will be welcomed aboard the station by the three-member Expedition 74 crew, including NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. While aboard the space station, Crew-12 will welcome a Soyuz spacecraft in July carrying three new crew members: NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. They also will bid farewell to the Soyuz carrying Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev. The crew also is expected to see the arrival of Dragon, Roscosmos Progress, and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL spacecraft for station resupply. For more than 25 years, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and making research breakthroughs that are not possible on Earth. The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies concentrate on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a robust low Earth orbit economy, NASA is focusing its resources on deep space missions to the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign in preparation for future human missions to Mars. Learn more about the space station, its research, and crew, at: [Hidden Content] View the full article

A composite image shows the International Space Station as it transits the Moon. Photo Credit: NASA/Joel KowskyNASA/Joel Kowsky Have you ever heard the saying, “You have to learn how to walk before you can run?” The same can be true in human space exploration. To push capabilities further and ensure safe, successful missions, NASA must test ideas and solve challenges ahead of time. While Earth-based research and engineering helps NASA progress through various challenges, it can’t fully replicate the space environment. That’s where the International Space Station comes in — an out-of-this-world laboratory where astronauts help prepare for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. (From left) Andreas Mogensen of ESA (European Space Agency); Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli, both from NASA; and Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), showing off crew active dosimeters used for radiation monitoring. Credit: NASANASA Since 2000, NASA and its partners have used the orbiting laboratory to conduct groundbreaking research and collaborate to advance human exploration to the depths of our solar system. Research aboard the space station helped lay the foundation for the Orion spacecraft’s life support and safety systems, which will carry four astronauts around the Moon during the Artemis II mission. These systems include radiation sensing equipment, carbon dioxide removal systems, a water-based portable fire extinguisher, emergency fire masks, the toilet, a heat exchanger, and a backup emergency navigation system. Artemis II also includes a set of science objectives, many rooted in research and methods pioneered aboard the space station. One example is Spaceflight Standard Measures, an experiment that tracks psychological and physiological data points. This research will branch off to collect astronaut information beyond low Earth orbit, deepening our understanding of how the body adapts to living and working far from Earth. Organ-chip experiments use small devices containing cells to model how tissues and organs respond to space stressors and therapeutic treatments. These devices and their related hardware have been used in several experiments aboard the space station and will continue their legacy in the lunar environment to study the effects of deep space stressors on human health using cells from Artemis II astronauts. Organ-chip research could be used to develop improved prevention and personalized medical treatments for people on Earth and in space. NASA astronaut Jonny Kim takes a photo of Earth landmarks from the International Space Station’s cupola. Credit: NASA.NASA Methods proven through Crew Earth Observations aboard space station are informing Crew Lunar Observations in support of Artemis II science and handheld imaging of the Moon. The crew will analyze and photograph geologic features on the lunar far side, providing critical information for Artemis III surface exploration. Frameworks from Earth observations, including target planning, visualization software, and scripts, have been adapted for lunar observations, shaping operations and preparing for future exploration missions. Small, cost-effective satellites called CubeSats are deployed from space station and other spacecraft to test new technologies and conduct scientific research in low Earth orbit. Building on this success, NASA is partnering with international agencies to deploy CubeSats aboard Artemis II for technology demonstrations and studies in high Earth orbit. The space station remains a critical testbed for optimizing communications, robotics, and other technologies for missions to the Moon and Mars. Researchers also study the effects of spaceflight on people, develop tools to monitor crew health, and enhance plant growth to support astronaut safety and wellbeing. As humans prepare to venture beyond Earth’s orbit for the first time in more than 50 years, we celebrate the space station and other NASA programs that walked so Artemis could run. Share Details Last Updated Feb 06, 2026 Related TermsISS ResearchArtemisHumans in SpaceInternational Space Station (ISS) Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA International Space Station Latest News from Space Station Research Humans In Space Artemis View the full article

Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey During a stretch of frigid weather in late January 2026, ice choked the Hudson River along Manhattan’s western shore. The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 captured this image of the wintry landscape around midday on Jan. 28. This image uses representational color to distinguish ice (light blue) from open water and snow. Vegetation appears red. Much of the ice in the image likely floated there from farther upriver, where tidal currents are weaker and salinity is lower. These conditions allow water to freeze sooner and at higher temperatures than the faster-flowing, brackish water near the river’s mouth, shown here. Read more about the effects of river ice and how scientists track waterways. Text credit: Lindsey Doermann Image credit: Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory A Grand, Snow-Rimmed Canyon Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Notes from the Field Blog Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search January 26, 2026 A sunny day in early 2026 revealed the remnants of a winter storm on Arizona’s high desert—and produced a striking, if somewhat puzzling, display of light and shadow in the Grand Canyon. An astronaut aboard the International Space Station captured these photographs of the distinct topography on January 26, 2026. Snow flurries were flying in the area the previous two days, as they were across much of the central and eastern U.S. Hazardous conditions within Grand Canyon National Park prompted officials to close Desert View Drive, which runs along a portion of the South Rim shown in the photo above, and to issue warnings about icy trails. (The North Rim is closed to traffic in winter and early spring.) When the road reopened around the time of these photos, a layer of white remained on both the South Rim, at an elevation of around 7,000 feet (2,100 meters), and the North Rim, at about 8,000 feet (2,400 meters). January 26, 2026 Snow is typical at these high elevations in winter. The South Rim and North Rim see average season totals of 58 inches and 142 inches, respectively. At lower, warmer elevations, precipitation tends to fall as rain. On January 24, for example, snow fell on the plateau, while a weather station at Phantom Ranch on the canyon floor recorded 0.06 inches of rain. If these photos make the iconic feature of the American West look more like a mountain range than a vast chasm, the effect is likely due to a visual illusion called relief inversion. Many people have an unconscious expectation that a light source should come from the top of an image. In these images, however, the Sun is shining from the south, or the bottom of the photos. Though the shadows on the canyon walls may be visually deceiving, the presence of snow helps to signal that the flat areas sit at higher elevations. Astronaut photographs ISS074-E-208838 and ISS074-E-208848 were acquired on January 26, 2026, with a Nikon Z9 digital camera using a focal length of 400 millimeters. They are provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at NASA Johnson Space Center. The images were taken by a member of the Expedition 74 crew. The images have been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Story by Lindsey Doermann. Downloads January 26, 2026 JPEG (9.88 MB) January 26, 2026 JPEG (10.45 MB) References & Resources Grand Canyon National Park (2025, November 28) Visiting Grand Canyon During Winter. Accessed February 6, 2026. Grand Canyon National Park (2025, February 18) Weather and Climate. Accessed February 6, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2019, March 10) Grand Canyon Under Snow. Accessed February 6, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2013, April 20) Exploring the Grand Canyon. Accessed February 6, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2011, July 12) Are you ever fooled by relief inversion? Accessed February 6, 2026. You may also be interested in: Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet. An Amphitheater of Rock at Cedar Breaks 4 min read The colorful formations found in this bowl-shaped escarpment in southwestern Utah are the centerpiece of Cedar Breaks National Monument. Article A Northwest Night Awash in Light 3 min read The glow of city lights, the aurora, and a rising Moon illuminate the night along the northwest coast of North… Article Five Minutes in Orbit 3 min read An astronaut captured a moonrise—and much more—in a series of photos taken from the International Space Station. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data View the full article

The four members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station pose together for a crew portrait inside a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. From left are, Roscosmos cosmonaut and Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, Pilot and Commander respectively, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Mission Specialist Sophie Adenot. SpaceX NASA will stream live coverage of the upcoming prelaunch, launch, and docking activities for the agency’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff is targeted for no earlier than 6:01 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The targeted docking time is approximately 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 12. Watch agency launch coverage on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. Individual events on YouTube will have their own stream closer to their start time. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, to the orbiting laboratory for a science mission. This is NASA’s 12th crew rotation mission and the 13th human spaceflight mission to the space station supported by the Dragon spacecraft since 2020, as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. The deadline for media accreditation for in-person coverage of this launch has passed. The agency’s media credentialing policy is available online. For questions about media accreditation, please email: ksc*****@*****.tld. Media who need access to NASA live video feeds may subscribe to the agency’s media resources distribution list to receive daily updates and links. NASA’s mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations): Sunday, Feb. 8 11 a.m. – Crew-12 virtual media event from Astronaut Crew Quarters at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with the following participants: Jessica Meir, commander, NASA Jack Hathaway, pilot, NASA Sophie Adenot, mission specialist, ESA Andrey Fedyaev, mission specialist, Roscosmos Watch live coverage of the virtual crew media event on NASA Kennedy’s YouTube account. Media may ask questions via phone. For the dial-in number and passcode, media should contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom no later than one hour prior to the beginning of the news conference at: ksc*****@*****.tld Monday, Feb. 9 11 a.m. – Prelaunch news conference with the following participants: Steve Stich, manager, Commercial Crew Program, NASA Dana Weigel, manager, International Space Station Program, NASA Andreas Mogensen, Human Exploration Group Leader, ESA William Gerstenmaier, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX NASA will provide live coverage of the news conference on the agency’s YouTube channel. Media may ask questions in person and via phone. For the dial-in number and passcode, media should contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom no later than one hour prior to the beginning of the news conference at: ksc*****@*****.tld. Wednesday, Feb. 11 4 a.m. – Launch coverage begins on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. 6:01 a.m. – Launch Following the conclusion of launch coverage, NASA will distribute audio-only discussions between Crew-12, the space station, and flight controllers during Dragon’s transit to the orbital complex. NASA+ coverage resumes at the start of rendezvous and docking and continues through hatch opening and welcoming remarks. 7:30 a.m. – Postlaunch news conference with the following participants: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman Josef Aschbacher, director general, ESA Steve Stich, manager, Commercial Crew Program, NASA Dana Weigel, manager, International Space Station Program, NASA Lee Echerd, senior mission manager, Human Spaceflight Mission Management, SpaceX Live coverage of the postlaunch news conference will stream on the agency’s YouTube channel. Media may ask questions in person and via phone. Limited auditorium space will be available for in-person participation. For the dial-in number and passcode, please contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom no later than one hour prior to the beginning of the news conference at ksc*****@*****.tld. Thursday, Feb. 12 8:30 a.m. – Arrival coverage begins on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. 10:30 a.m. – Targeted docking to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module. 12:15 p.m. – Hatch opening followed by welcome remarks All times are estimates and could be adjusted based on real-time operations after launch. Follow the space station blog for the most up-to-date operations information. Live video coverage prior to launch NASA will provide a live video feed of Space Launch Complex 40 approximately six hours prior to the planned liftoff of the Crew-12 mission. Pending unlikely technical issues, the feed will be uninterrupted until the prelaunch broadcast begins on NASA+, approximately two hours prior to launch. Once the feed is live, find it online at: [Hidden Content]. NASA website launch coverage Launch day coverage of the mission will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming at 4 a.m. Feb. 11, and blog updates as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video on NASA+ and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468. Follow countdown coverage on the commercial crew or Crew-12 blog. Attend launch virtually Members of the public may register to attend this launch virtually. NASA’s virtual guest program for this mission also includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a stamp for the NASA virtual guest passport following launch. Audio only coverage Launch audio also will be available on Launch Information Service and Amateur Television System’s VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz and KSC Amateur Radio Club’s UHF radio frequency 444.925 MHz, FM mode, heard within Brevard County on the Space Coast. Watch, engage on social media Follow the Crew-12 mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by following and tagging these accounts: X: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @Space_Station, @ISS National Lab, @SpaceX Facebook: NASA, NASAKennedy, ISS, ISS National Lab Instagram: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @ISS, @ISSNationalLab, @SpaceX Coverage en Espanol Did you know NASA has a Spanish section called NASA en Espanol? Check out NASA en Espanol on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for additional mission coverage. Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese **** Antonia Jaramillo: 321-501-8425; *****@*****.tld; o Messod Bendayan: 256-930-1371; *****@*****.tld. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program has delivered on its goal of safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station from the United States through a partnership with American private industry. This partnership is opening access to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station to more people, more science, and more commercial opportunities. For more than 25 years, humans have continuously lived and worked aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies that enable us to prepare for human exploration of the Moon as we prepare for Mars. To learn about the mission, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Joshua Finch / Jimi Russell Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Steven Siceloff Kennedy Space Center, Florida 321-867-2468 steven.p*****@*****.tld Sandra Jones / Joseph Zakrzewski Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 sandra.p*****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Feb 06, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsMissionsCommercial CrewHumans in SpaceInternational Space Station (ISS)Space Operations Mission Directorate View the full article

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash toward the upper middle — on Feb. 4, 2026. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in blue and red.NASA/SDO This Feb. 4, 2026, image from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captures a strong solar flare erupting from the star. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy that can, along with other types of solar eruptions, can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. The flare pictured was classified as an X4.2 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. SDO measures the Sun’s properties and solar activity to help us better understand the Sun’s magnetic changes. By studying flares and how they affect our planet and nearby space, SDO helps us to better prepare for and deal with these potential disruptions. Image credit: NASA/SDO View the full article

Landsat Navigation Landsat Home Missions Landsat Next Landsat 9 Landsat 8 Landsat 7 Landsat 6 Landsat 5 Landsat 4 Landsat 3 Landsat 2 Landsat 1 News Latest News People of Landsat Q&As Newsletter Publications Data Overview Cal/Val Open Data Benefits Overview Agriculture & Food Security Disaster Management Ecosystems & Biodiversity Energy Resources Forest Management Human Health Urban Development Water Resources Wildfires Case Studies Outreach Multimedia About Search To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video For the first time, researchers have been able to confirm that our planet’s boreal forests are on the move. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Burns The boreal forest—the world’s largest terrestrial biome—is warming faster than any other forest type. To understand the changing dynamics of boreal forests, Feng et al., 2026 analyzed the biome from 1985 to 2020, leveraging the longest and highest-resolution satellite record of calibrated tree cover to date. The study, published in February in Biogeosciences with four co-authors from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, confirms a northward shift in boreal forest cover over the past four decades. Landsat imagery played a central role in this study: the researchers applied machine learning to process 224,026 scenes collected by Landsats 4, 5, 7, and 8 to create annual, 30-meter resolution maps of tree cover across the entire boreal biome. They downscaled and extended calibrated MODIS Vegetation Continuous Fields data to 30-meter resolution, creating a 36-year time series (1984-2020) that provided unprecedented spatial detail for tracking forest changes. The analysis revealed that boreal forests both grew in size and moved northward. The forests expanded by 0.844 million km² (a 12% increase) and shifted northward by 0.29° mean latitude, with gains concentrated between 64-68°N. Their work also showcased the capacity of new growth to act as a carbon sink. Young boreal forests (up to 36 years) hold an estimated 1.1-5.9 petagrams of carbon (Pg C) with potential to sequester an additional 2.3-3.8 Pg C if allowed to mature. Landsat’s long time series of highly calibrated data allows researchers to study how ecosystems shift over decades, a crucial insight into our changing world. Explore More Boreal Forests Are Shifting North 2 min read The boreal forest—the world’s largest terrestrial biome—is warming faster than any other forest type. New research uses Landsat data to… Article Milano Cortina 2026 4 min read About 2,900 Olympic athletes have converged on northern Italy to sort out who is the GOAT—or perhaps the stoat. Article Tracking Glacial Change with Landsat and Radar 5 min read NASA Scientist Alex Gardner highlights how Landsat made his research into the dynamics of glacial flow possible. Article 1 2 3 … 288 Next View the full article