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The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) partnered with Materials and Processes and Flammability subject matter experts from the Johnson Space Center, White Sands Test Facility, and the Marshall Space Flight Center to design and develop a test for evaluating the effectiveness of material assemblies to serve as a barrier between a potential cabin ignition source based on typical flammable materials in the habitable volume of spacecraft. Download PDF: Flammability Testing Configuration and Approach of Barrier Material Assemblies Designed for Space Flight Applications View the full article

NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) Nebula PMR 1 is a cloud of gas and dust that bears an uncanny resemblance to a brain in a transparent skull, inspiring its nickname, the “Exposed Cranium” nebula. Webb captured its unusual features in both near- and mid-infrared light. The nebula was first revealed in infrared light by a predecessor to Webb, NASA’s now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope, more than a decade ago. Webb’s advanced instruments show detail that enhances the nebula’s brain-like appearance. This image, released on Feb. 25, 2026, is in near-infrared light. The nebula appears to have distinct regions that capture different phases of its evolution — an outer shell of gas that was blown off first and consists mostly of hydrogen, and an inner cloud with more structure that contains a mix of different gases. Both Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) show a distinctive dark lane running vertically through the middle of the nebula that defines its brain-like look of left and right hemispheres. Webb’s resolution shows that this lane could be related to an outburst or outflow from the central star, which typically occurs as twin jets burst out in opposite directions. Read more about the Exposed Cranium nebula and see another view of it from Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Range Instrument). Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) View the full article

NASA astronaut Chris Williams calls mission controllers during Crew Medical Officer training while inside the International Space Station’s Destiny laboratory module.NASA/Jessica Meir Students in New York will hear from NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams as they answer prerecorded science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) questions while aboard the International Space Station. The Earth-to-space call will begin at 12:05 p.m. EDT Wednesday, March 11, and will stream live on the agency’s Learn With NASA YouTube channel. This event is hosted by the Queens Borough Public Library in Jamaica, New York, for students in grades K-12 and members of the community. This unique opportunity aims to deepen understanding of space exploration and inspire young people to pursue a future career in STEM. Media interested in covering the event must RSVP by 5 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, March 10, to Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska at: 917-702-0016 or *****@*****.tld; or to Elisabeth deBourbon at: 917-650-3815 or *****@*****.tld. For more than 25 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts communicate with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through SCaN’s (Space Communications and Navigation) Near Space Network. Research and technology investigations taking place aboard the space station benefit people on Earth and lay the groundwork for other agency deep space missions. As part of NASA’s Artemis program, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars, inspiring the world through discovery in a new Golden Age of innovation and exploration. See more information on NASA in-flight calls at: [Hidden Content] -end- Gerelle Dodson Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 gerelle.q*****@*****.tld Sandra Jones Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 sandra.p*****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 09, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsLearning ResourcesHumans in SpaceIn-flight Education DownlinksInternational Space Station (ISS)Johnson Space CenterNASA Headquarters View the full article

3 Min Read From Cabbages to Countdowns: NASA Marks 100 Years of Modern Rocketry Photograph of Robert Goddard and his liquid-fueled rocket, prior to its first flight on March 16, 1926, from a farm at Auburn, Mass. Credits: Esther Goddard, Courtesy of Clark University Snow covered the ground that Tuesday morning 100 years ago, when a college professor and his wife took a morning drive to the family farm a few miles south in Auburn, Massachusetts. Along for the ride, the couple brought two work colleagues — and “Nell.” They may not have known it at the time, but thanks to Nell, the four New Englanders were about to attend an auspicious birth. Some eleven feet tall and weighing a mere 10 pounds, Nell was a contraption of the professor’s invention. He had devised, constructed, and tested Nell methodically, incrementally, over the course of many, many years. That snowy morning at Aunt Effie’s farm, the professor’s assistant took a blowtorch to Nell. Moments later Nell ascended. The gangly apparatus climbed 41 feet high and landed in a cabbage patch 60 yards away. The entire journey took less than three seconds, but March 16, 1926, had just become the date of the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket flight, and Dr. Robert Goddard had just become a father of modern rocketry. “It looked almost magical as it rose, without any appreciably greater noise or flame, as if it said, ‘I’ve been here long enough; I think I’ll be going somewhere else, if you don’t mind,’” Goddard wrote in his journal the next day. Robert Goddard’s assistant Henry Sachs (left), former student and fellow Clark University Physics professor Percy Roope (middle), and wife Esther Goddard who photographed and filmed much of her husband’s work. They stand with parts from the rocket — later named “Nell” — following the flight of March 16, 1926, at Aunt Effie’s (a distant relative of Robert Goddard’s) Ward Farm in Auburn, Mass. This test marked the world’s first successful launch of a liquid-propelled rocket.Courtesy of Clark University The idea of a liquid-fueled rocket was not new. Others around the world had been pondering theory and sketching designs for years: Liquid propellant would offer greater thrust control than solid fuel, but the benefit accompanies tricky challenges, like how to pressurize and control the rate of fuel mixture. Goddard, who filled Nell up with a blend of gasoline and liquid oxygen, became the first in the world to build and successfully launch such a rocket. Recognition was slow to arrive — ridicule came faster. In 1920, The New York Times opined that Goddard’s work in rocketry and his suggestion that such a device could reach the Moon was “a severe strain on credulity”: How could a rocket function in a vacuum with no air to push against, the newspaper accused. “Of course [Goddard] only seems to lack the knowledge ladled out daily in high schools.” It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today, and the reality of tomorrow. DR. ROBERT H. Goddard Rocketry Pioneer But Goddard pressed on, refining and retooling his rockets over the years. At the dawn of the Space Age and with Esther Goddard championing her late husband’s work (Robert Goddard died in 1945), the true significance of the Clark University professor’s work became clearer. NASA named its first new complex the Goddard Space Flight Center in his honor in 1959. Liquid-propelled rocketry has been the backbone of spaceflight ever since. A century after Goddard’s first launch, NASA’s Artemis II mission is poised to bring astronauts around the Moon for the first time since 1972. The SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will take them there is 30 times taller and half a million times heavier than Nell — but still liquid-fueled, just as Goddard predicted and pioneered, 100 years ago in a snowy field next to a cabbage patch. By Rob Garner NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. References & Resources Goddard, Esther, “Figure 126: Robert Goddard standing next to rocket at Ward Farm, March 16, 1926” (1926). March 16, 1926: The First Liquid-Propellant Rocket Launch. 23. Goddard, Robert H., “Figure 128: Henry Sachs, Percy Roope, and Esther Goddard with parts of first liquid-propellant rocket after flight, March 16, 1926” (1926). March 16, 1926: The First Liquid-Propellant Rocket Launch. 24. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (1982). Dr. Robert H. Godard — 100th Anniversary October 5, 1882 – 1982. Greenbelt, Md. Rosenthal, Alfred (1968). Venture Into Space: Early Years of Goddard Space Flight Center. Washington, D.C.: NASA. Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics Dr. Robert H. Goddard, American Rocketry Pioneer Goddard Space Flight Center History About Goddard Explore NASA’s History Share Details Last Updated Mar 06, 2026 EditorRob GarnerContactRob Garner*****@*****.tldLocationGoddard Space Flight Center Related TermsGoddard Space Flight CenterNASA History View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Lake Coatepeque 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 10, 2026 Just inland from the Pacific coast of El Salvador, the striking blue waters of Lake Coatepeque fill part of a caldera of the same name. An astronaut aboard the International Space Station took this photo of the lake and surrounding terrain on February 10, 2026, as the station passed over Central America. The caldera formed during a series of explosive eruptions between 72,000 and 51,000 years ago. After the caldera’s formation, additional eruptions produced several lava domes along its western side, including one that became Isla del Cerro (Isla Teopán). According to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program, there have been no reported eruptions from the caldera during the Holocene (the past 11,700 years). Today, homes, restaurants, boathouses, and other structures line the lakeshore. This human footprint extends westward toward the caldera’s steep rim, which abuts the eastern flank of Santa Ana—El Salvador’s tallest volcano. Unlike Coatepeque, Santa Ana remains active, with small to moderate explosive eruptions recorded since the 16th century. Its most recent severe eruption occurred in 2005. Although the lake appears its usual blue in this photo, it can occasionally take on a strikingly different hue. At times, the water temporarily shifts to bright turquoise, prompting questions about its cause. In 2024, scientists reported that while pigments from microalgae and cyanobacteria can affect the lake’s color, the turquoise episodes are likely the result of natural mineralization. The broader landscape around the lake and Santa Ana Volcano is a mosaic of urban areas, agricultural fields, and even more volcanic terrain. The city of Santa Ana lies about 15 kilometers (9 miles) to the north, while San Salvador, also nestled amid volcanoes, lies 40 kilometers (25 miles) to the east. The volcanic landscape stretches more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) along Central America’s Pacific coast, from Guatemala to Panama, composing the Central American Volcanic Arc. Astronaut photograph ISS074-E-312810 was acquired on February 10, 2026, with a Nikon Z9 digital camera using a focal length of 400 millimeters. It was 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 Kathryn Hansen. Downloads February 10, 2026 JPEG (25.38 MB) References & Resources Atlas Obscura (2024, November 12) Lago Coatepeque. Accessed March 5, 2026. La Prensa Grafica (2022, August 24) The turquoise color once again takes over Lake Coatepeque. Accessed March 5, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2023, October 14) San Salvador: A City Among Volcanoes. Accessed March 5, 2026. Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program Coatepeque Caldera. Accessed March 5, 2026. Universidad de El Salvador (2024, October 3) Marine Toxins Laboratory presents study results on the turquoise coloration phenomenon of Lake Coatepeque. Accessed March 5, 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. 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 The Galaxy Next Door 3 min read The Large Magellanic Cloud—one of our closest neighboring galaxies—is a hotbed of star formation that is visible to both astronauts… Article Lake Eyre Blushes 3 min read Rounding out a remarkable year, the outback lake displayed distinct green and reddish water in its two main bays. 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 Open access to NASA’s archive of Earth science data View the full article

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo craft, carrying over 11,000 pounds of new science and supplies for the Expedition 73 crew, is pictured moments before its capture with the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm. Both spacecraft were orbiting 257 miles above Namibia. Cygnus XL is Northrop Grumman’s expanded version of its previous Cygnus cargo craft increasing its payload capacity and pressurized cargo volume.NASA Media accreditation is open for the next launch to deliver NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. A Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL spacecraft will launch in April to the orbital laboratory on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for NASA. The mission is known as NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 (NASA’s Northrop Grumman CRS-24). Liftoff is targeted for no earlier than Wednesday, April 8, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following launch, astronauts aboard the space station will use the Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture Cygnus and install the spacecraft to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port for cargo unloading. The spacecraft will remain at the space station until October. This is the company’s 24th spacecraft built to deliver supplies to the International Space Station under contract with NASA. Credentialing to cover prelaunch and launch activities is open to U.S. media. The application deadline for U.S. citizens is 11:59 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, March 18. All accreditation requests must be submitted online at: [Hidden Content] Credentialed media will receive a confirmation email following approval. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online. For questions about accreditation, or to request special logistical support, email: ksc*****@*****.tld. For other questions, please contact NASA’s Kennedy Space Center newsroom at: 321-867-2468. In addition to food, supplies, and equipment for the crew, Cygnus will deliver research to the space station, including a new module to advance quantum science that could improve computing technology and aid in the search for dark matter and hardware to produce a greater number of therapeutic stem cells for blood diseases and *******. Cygnus also will carry model organisms to study the gut microbiome and a receiver that could enhance space weather models that protect critical space infrastructure, such as GPS and radar. Each resupply mission to the station delivers scientific investigations in the areas of biology and biotechnology, Earth and space science, physical sciences, and technology development and demonstrations. Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver scientific research to the space station, increasing NASA’s ability to conduct new investigations aboard humanity’s laboratory in space. 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 an important 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 strong low Earth orbit economy, NASA is focusing its resources on deep space missions to the Moon as part of the Artemis program to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars. Learn more about International Space Station research and operations at: [Hidden Content] -end- Josh Finch / Jimi Russell Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Steven Siceloff Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-876-2468 steven.p*****@*****.tld Sandra Jones / Leah Cheshier Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 sandra.p*****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 06, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsNorthrop Grumman Commercial ResupplyCommercial ResupplyInternational Space Station (ISS)Johnson Space CenterKennedy Space CenterNASA Headquarters View the full article

The Italian Space Agency’s LICIACube traveled alongside NASA’s DART to capture the spacecraft’s collision with Dimorphos. In this LICIACube image, taken moments after impact on Sept. 26, 2022, rocky debris can be seen fanning out from the smaller asteroid below its larger binary partner, Didymos.ASI/NASA This image of asteroids Didymos, left, and Dimorphos was captured by NASA’s DART mission a few seconds before the spacecraft smashed into Dimorphos on Sept. 26, 2022. The impact on the smaller asteroid had a measurable effect on the orbit of its larger partner.NASA/Johns Hopkins APL New research reveals that when NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft intentionally impacted the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos in September 2022, it didn’t just change the motion of Dimorphos around its larger companion, Didymos; the ****** also shifted the orbit of both asteroids around the Sun. Linked together by gravity, Didymos and Dimorphos orbit each other around a shared center of mass in a configuration known as a binary system, so changes to one asteroid affect the other. As detailed in a study published on Friday in the journal Science Advances, observations of the pair’s motion revealed that the 770-day orbital ******* around the Sun changed by a fraction of a second after the DART spacecraft’s impact on Dimorphos. That change marks the first time a human-made object has measurably altered the path of a celestial body around the Sun. The Hubble Space Telescope observed two tails of dust ejected from the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system several days after NASA’s DART spacecraft impacted the smaller asteroid.NASA, ESA, Jian-Yang Li (PSI), Joe Depasquale (STScI) “This is a tiny change to the orbit, but given enough time, even a tiny change can grow to a significant deflection,” said Thomas Statler, lead scientist for solar system small bodies at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The team’s amazingly precise measurement again validates kinetic impact as a technique for defending Earth against asteroid hazards and shows how a binary asteroid might be deflected by impacting just one member of the pair.” High impact When DART struck Dimorphos, the impact blasted a huge cloud of rocky debris into space, altering the shape of the asteroid, which measures 560 feet (170 meters) wide. Because the debris carried its own momentum away from the asteroid, it gave Dimorphos an explosive thrust — what scientists call the momentum enhancement factor. More debris being kicked out means more oomph. According to the new research, the momentum enhancement factor for DART’s impact was about two, meaning that the debris loss doubled the punch created by the spacecraft alone. Earlier research showed that the smaller asteroid’s 12-hour orbital ******* around the nearly half-mile-wide (805-meter-wide) Didymos shortened by 33 minutes. The new study shows the impact ejected so much material from the binary system that it also changed the binary’s orbital ******* around the Sun by 0.15 seconds. “The change in the binary system’s orbital speed was about 11.7 microns per second, or 1.7 inches per hour,” said Rahil Makadia, the study’s lead author at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Over time, such a small change in an asteroid’s motion can make the difference between a hazardous object hitting or missing our planet.” Although Didymos was not on an impact trajectory with Earth and it was impossible for the DART mission to put it on one, that change in orbital speed underscores the role spacecraft — aka kinetic impactors in this context — could play if a potentially hazardous asteroid is found to be on a collision course in the future. The key is detecting near-Earth objects far enough in advance to send a kinetic impactor. To that end, NASA is building the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission. Managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, this next-generation space survey telescope is the first to be built for planetary defense. The mission will seek out some of the hardest-to-find near-Earth objects, such as dark asteroids and comets that don’t reflect much visible light. How they did it To prove DART had a detectable influence on both asteroids — not just on the smaller Dimorphos — the researchers needed to measure Didymos’ orbit around the Sun to exquisite precision. So, in addition to making radar and other ground-based observations of the asteroid, they tracked stellar occultations, which occur when the asteroid passes exactly in front of a star, causing the pinpoint of light to blink out for a fraction of a second. This technique provides extremely precise measurements of the asteroid’s speed, shape, and position. Measuring stellar occultations is challenging: Astronomers have to be in the right place at the right time with several observing stations, sometimes miles apart, to track the predicted path of the asteroid in front of a specific star. The team relied on volunteer astronomers around the globe who recorded 22 stellar occultations between October 2022 and March 2025. “When combined with years of existing ground-based observations, these stellar occultation observations became key in helping us calculate how DART had changed Didymos’ orbit,” said study co-lead Steve Chesley, a senior research scientist at JPL. “This work is highly weather dependent and often requires travel to remote regions with no guarantee of success. This result would not have been possible without the dedication of dozens of volunteer occultation observers around the world.” Studying changes in Didymos’ motion also helped the researchers calculate the densities of both asteroids. Dimorphos is slightly less dense than previously thought, supporting the theory that it formed from rocky debris shed by a rapidly spinning Didymos. This loose material eventually clumped together to form Dimorphos, a “rubble pile” asteroid. More about DART The DART spacecraft was designed, built, and operated by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, for NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office, which oversees the agency’s ongoing efforts in planetary defense. It was humanity’s first mission to intentionally move a celestial object. For more information about the DART mission visit: [Hidden Content] Media Contacts Ian J. O’Neill Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-354-2649 *****@*****.tld Karen Fox / Molly Wasser NASA Headquarters, Washington 240-285-5155 / 240-419-1732 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld 2025-015 Explore More 1 min read Near-Earth Asteroids as of December 2025 Each month, NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office releases a monthly update featuring the most recent… Article 3 months ago 8 min read Sugars, ‘Gum,’ Stardust Found in NASA’s Asteroid Bennu Samples Article 3 months ago 3 min read Regions on Asteroid Explored by NASA’s Lucy Mission Get Official Names The IAU (International Astronomical Union), a global naming authority for celestial objects, has approved official… Article 6 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Planetary Defense – DART NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), built and managed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) for NASA’s Planetary… Asteroids Introduction Asteroids, sometimes called minor planets, are rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system… Didymos & Dimorphos Overview Asteroid Didymos and its small moonlet Dimorphos make up what’s called a binary asteroid system – meaning the small… NEO Surveyor Overview Building on the success of NASA’s NEOWISE space telescope, the agency’s NEO Surveyor will be the first spacecraft built… View the full article

As NASA invites the public to follow the Artemis II mission as a crew of four astronauts venture around the Moon inside the agency’s Orion spacecraft, people around the world can pinpoint Orion during its journey using the Artemis Real-time Orbit Website (AROW). During the approximately 10-day mission, NASA will test how the spacecraft’s systems operate as designed with crew aboard in the deep space environment. Using AROW, anyone with internet access can track where Orion and the crew are, including their distance from Earth, distance from the Moon, mission duration, and more. Access to AROW is available on: NASA’s website (www.nasa.gov/trackartemis) The NASA app (www.nasa.gov/nasa-app) Using AROW, the public can visualize data that is collected by sensors on Orion and then sent to the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston during its flight. It will provide constant information using this real-time data beginning about one minute after liftoff through Orion’s atmospheric reentry to Earth at the end of the mission. Online, users can follow AROW to see where Orion and the Artemis II crew are in relation to the Earth and the Moon and follow Orion’s path during the mission.Credit: NASA Online, users can follow AROW to see where Orion and the crew are in relation to the Earth and the Moon and follow Orion’s path during the mission. Users can view key mission milestones and characteristics on the Moon, including information about landing sites from the Apollo program. The mobile app includes similar features to the website, with the addition of augmented reality tracker. After a brief calibration sequence, on-screen indicators will direct users where to move their phone to see where Orion currently is relative to their position on Earth. Mobile app tracking will be available once Orion separates from the rocket’s upper stage, approximately three hours into the mission. The AROW mobile app includes similar features to the website, with the addition of augmented reality tracker that will direct users where to move their phone to see where Orion currently is relative to their position on Earth.Credit: NASA State vectors, or data that describes precisely where Orion is located and how it moves, also will be provided by AROW, following a proximity operations demonstration to evaluate the manual handling qualities of Orion. These vectors can be used for data lovers, artists, and creatives to make their own tracking app or data visualization. Also available for download will be trajectory data from the flight, called an ephemeris, found at the bottom of this page, after the mission begins. The ephemeris data can be used to track Orion with your own spaceflight software application or telescope, or to create projects such as a physics model, animation, visualization, or tracking application. Artemis II, the agency’s first crewed mission in the Artemis campaign, is a key step in NASA’s path toward establishing a long-term presence at the Moon and confirming the systems needed to support future lunar surface exploration and paving the way for the first crewed mission to Mars. To learn more about NASA’s Artemis campaign, visit: [Hidden Content] Download Artemis II ephemeris data here after the mission begins. Explore More 3 min read I Am Artemis: Paul Boehm Article 2 days ago 6 min read La NASA refuerza Artemis: añade una misión y perfecciona su arquitectura general Article 3 days ago 4 min read NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture Article 3 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

NASA/Chris Williams NASA astronaut Jessica Meir trims the hair of fellow NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway in this March 1, 2026, image. Meir uses an electric razor attached to a vacuum that collects loose clippings to keep the station’s atmosphere clean in microgravity. Crew on the International Space Station also use weekends to complete housekeeping tasks. Learn more about life on the International Space Station. Image credit: NASA/Chris Williams View the full article

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft, loaded with more than 11,000 pounds of science and supplies for Expedition 73, is seen grasped by the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 after its capture on Sept. 18, 2025, as both spacecraft orbited 257 miles above Tanzania.Credit: NASA After delivering more than 11,000 pounds of supplies, science investigations, hardware, and other cargo to the International Space Station for NASA and its international partners, the Cygnus XL spacecraft supporting Northrop Grumman’s 23rd Commercial Resupply Services mission is scheduled to depart the orbiting laboratory Thursday, March 12. Watch NASA’s live coverage of undocking and departure beginning at 6:45 a.m. EDT on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media. Flight controllers on the ground will send commands for the space station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to detach the Cygnus XL spacecraft from the Unity module’s Earth‑facing port and maneuver it into position for release at 7 a.m. ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot will monitor Cygnus’ systems as it departs. Cygnus XL will be commanded to deorbit on Saturday, March 14, to dispose of several thousand pounds of trash during its reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, where it will harmlessly burn up. The Northrop Grumman spacecraft launched in September 2025 atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission is the first flight of the larger, more cargo-capable version of the solar-powered spacecraft. Learn more about this NASA commercial resupply mission at: [Hidden Content] -end- Josh Finch / Jimi Russell Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Sandra Jones Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 sandra.p*****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 06, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsNorthrop Grumman Commercial ResupplyCommercial ResupplyHumans in SpaceInternational Space Station (ISS)ISS ResearchJohnson Space Center View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Ailing “Megaberg” Sparks… 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 Natural color Chlorophyll NASA Earth Observatory NASA Earth Observatory Natural colorChlorophyll NASA Earth Observatory NASA Earth Observatory Natural color Chlorophyll January 25, 2026 CurtainToggle2-Up Iceberg A-23A has had a more eventful run than most of the large Antarctic icebergs that have calved from the continent’s ice shelves in recent decades. Over its winding, forty-plus-year journey, the “megaberg” spent decades grounded in the Weddell Sea before drifting north, twirling in an ocean vortex for months, and nearly colliding with an island in 2025. By 2026, the iconic iceberg, sopping with meltwater and shedding smaller bergs as it moved into warmer ocean waters, put on one more show. The chunks of ice and frigid glacial meltwater left in its wake appear to have fueled a surge in phytoplankton abundance, known as a bloom, observed in surface waters by NASA satellites. Phytoplankton, which harvest sunlight to carry out photosynthesis, form the base of the marine food web. They also produce up to half of the oxygen on Earth and serve as part of the ocean’s “biological carbon pump,” which transfers carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the deep ocean. The VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite captured this image (left) of the splintering tabular berg on January 25, 2026. The image was acquired after several large pieces had drifted northwestward and then curled toward the northeast following the iceberg breaking apart on January 9. A debris field full of brash ice, small icebergs, and bergy bits was visible east of the largest remaining pieces. Also on January 25, the OCI (Ocean Color Instrument) on NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem) satellite detected plumes of chlorophyll-a (right) drifting around the remaining bergs and debris field. Researchers use chlorophyll concentrations as a marker of phytoplankton abundance. January 25, 2026 “This bloom is too big and too clearly spreading from the icebergs not to be strongly linked to them,” said Grant Bigg, an emeritus oceanographer at the University of Sheffield. Bigg, who has studied how large icebergs have enhanced phytoplankton activity in this region, noted that while blooms unconnected to icebergs do occur regularly here, satellite imagery shows a connection that has persisted for weeks—increasing his confidence that the iceberg and phytoplankton bloom are related. The primary factors that limit phytoplankton in this region are access to light and nutrients, explained Heidi Dierssen, an oceanographer at the University of Connecticut. Light can be limiting even in the summer because phytoplankton are often mixed too deeply in the water column due to high winds and turbulence. Melting icebergs can boost phytoplankton by both creating a stable surface layer with favorable growth conditions and releasing plumes of meltwater rich in iron—a key nutrient for phytoplankton that can be scarce in this part of the South Atlantic, she said. Research indicates that icebergs also often contain significant amounts of manganese and macronutrients, such as nitrates and phosphates, that can benefit phytoplankton. These nutrients often accumulate on icebergs through windblown dust or through contact with bedrock or soil. The Landsat 8 image above, captured by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on January 25, 2026, shows blue meltwater pooling on several of the larger fragments. The linear patterns are likely related to striations that were etched hundreds of years ago when the ice was part of a glacier moving across Antarctic bedrock. Brown staining, perhaps soil or sediment, is visible on some of the bergs. Bigg also noted that the phytoplankton signal appears to be more concentrated near the smaller bergs, possibly because these are melting faster, releasing nutrient-rich material at a higher rate. Dierssen added that it’s also possible that chlorophyll concentrations may be higher near the largest bergs than they appear because algorithms sometimes overcorrect for “adjacency effects” near bright surfaces, like ice, when processing chlorophyll data. Ivona Cetinić, a researcher on NASA’s PACE science team, checked a database for clues about the smallest, or “pico,” phytoplankton swirling around the bergs. The tool, called MOANA (Multiple Ordination ANAlysis), taps into hyperspectral satellite observations of ocean color from PACE. MOANA indicated that picoeukaryotic phytoplankton—microscopic eukaryotic organisms that respond quickly to changes in temperature or nutrient availability—were thriving in these waters when the image was captured. The swirls to the west of the berg were made of a slightly larger group of cyanobacteria called Synechococcus, she said. The PACE team is currently developing additional tools that will help identify communities of larger types of phytoplankton, which were likely present as well. Some research suggests that icebergs may have contributed significantly to phytoplankton blooms in this region in recent years, possibly accounting for up to one-fifth of the Southern Ocean’s total carbon sequestration. Other research teams have concluded that surface waters trailing icebergs were about one-third more likely to have increased amounts of phytoplankton compared to background levels. How long iceberg A-23A will enhance phytoplankton productivity before and after disintegrating completely remains an open question. NASA scientists watching the berg say it continued to shrink and shed mass in February, but as of March 3, 2026, it remained just slightly above the size threshold required for naming and tracking by the U.S. National Ice Center. Past research indicates that icebergs can sustain elevated chlorophyll concentrations for more than a month after passing through in trails that stretch for hundreds of kilometers. Icebergs and the blooms surrounding them have also been known to attract fish, seabirds, and other types of marine life, highlighting the important ecological role they play. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership, PACE data from the NASA Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center OB.DAAC, and Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story Adam Voiland. Downloads Suomi NPP, January 25, 2026 JPEG (1.71 MB) PACE, January 25, 2026 JPEG (1.29 MB) Landsat, January 25, 2026 JPEG (2.52 MB) References & Resources Duprat, L. et al. (2016) Enhanced Southern Ocean marine productivity due to fertilization by giant icebergs. Nature Geoscience, 9, 219-221. Eos (2016, January 15) Icebergs Fertilize Southern Ocean, Sequester Carbon. Accessed March 5, 2026. Knowable Magazine (2018, March 15) The base of the iceberg: It’s big and teeming with life. Accessed March 5, 2026. Krause, J. et al. (2024) The macronutrient and micronutrient (iron and manganese) content of icebergs. The Cryosphere, 18, 5735-5752. Lucas, N., et al. (2025) Giant iceberg meltwater increases upper-ocean stratification and vertical mixing. Nature Geoscience, 18, 305-312. NASA (2026) Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem. Accessed March 5, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2026, January 8) Meltwater Turns Iceberg A-23A Blue. Accessed March 5, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2025, September 25) A Giant Iceberg’s Final Drift. Accessed March 5, 2026. Raiswell, R., et al. (2008) Bioavailable iron in the Southern Ocean: the significance of the iceberg conveyor belt. Geochemical Transitions, 9, 7. Schwarz, J.N. & Schodlok, M.P. (2009) Impact of drifting icebergs on surface phytoplankton biomass in the Southern Ocean: Ocean colour remote sensing and in situ iceberg tracking. Oceanographic Research Papers, 56(10), 1727-1741. Wu, S. & Hou, S. (2017) Impact of icebergs on net primary productivity in the Southern Ocean. The Cryosphere, 11, 707-722 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. A Giant Iceberg’s Final Drift 3 min read After a long, turbulent journey, Antarctic Iceberg A-23A is signaling its demise as it floats in the South Atlantic. Article Meltwater Turns Iceberg A-23A Blue 6 min read After a four-decade run, the massive, waterlogged berg is leaking meltwater and on the verge of disintegrating. Article Blooming Seas Around the Chatham Islands 2 min read A vibrant display of phytoplankton encircled the remote New Zealand islands. 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 Open access to NASA’s archive of Earth science data View the full article

2 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Computer simulation showing how aircraft and other vehicles of all types can safely navigate through the National Air Space.NASA / Kyle Jenkins The Air Traffic Management and Safety (ATMS) project defines, validates, and transfers advanced requirements and technologies to shift air traffic management from tactical to strategic. This change enables efficient, productive, and resilient operations while reducing safety assurance and compliance costs for highly automated systems. ATMS researches and develops technologies that safely integrate new air vehicles with traditional aviation operations to meet growing demand. Through close collaboration with the FAA, ATMS delivers actionable automation solutions, advanced operational concepts, and proactive safety management frameworks that accelerate airspace modernization. ATMS strengthens system resilience and expands human capacity by reducing cognitive workload, minimizing airline delays, and lowering operating costs while enhancing terminal safety and optimizing operational performance. ATMS tackles barriers in the increasingly complex and diverse airspace by focusing its research on three areas: Strategic Harmonization for Integrated Flows and Trajectories The National Airspace System (NAS) is evolving toward greater complexity and demand. Current tactical approaches limit scalability, efficiency, and predictability. ATMS research represents a paradigm change—from reactive, tactical decision-making to proactive, strategic management of traffic flows and trajectories. Safely Enable Routine Autonomous Operations Advancements in automation can reduce human workload, mitigate hazards, and enable new entrants across advanced air mobility. Critical gaps—in hazard perception and avoidance, seamless ATC integration, and flight procedures—still pose safety and operational risks. Without ATMS’ targeted research, autonomous taxi, approach, and landing will remain fragmented and heavily human-dependent, limiting efficiency and innovation. Assurance Methods for Aircraft Automation The aviation community is converging on assurance approaches that balance trust, evidence, and scalability. To ensure innovation and adoption of key automation capabilities, ATMS helps to define explicit safety objectives and meaningful notions of traceability across development and operations. Scaled adoption requires assurance processes that integrate design and operational assurance, so that requirements flow down to models, scenarios, analysis, test cases and metrics—and that these generate traceable, reusable evidence and operational outcomes. ATMS delivers practical solutions that benefit every stakeholder in the aviation ecosystem—from air traffic controllers and pilots to passengers and operators—ensuring America ‘s skies remain the safest and most efficient in the world. Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASAes @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 2 min read DIP RFI Outbrief Session Article 9 months ago 3 min read DIP Workshop Series 1: DIP Architecture and Date Integration Services Article 9 months ago 2 min read DIP Workshop Series 2: DIP for Service Providers Article 9 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans In Space Aeronautics STEM Explore NASA’s History Share Details Last Updated Mar 05, 2026 EditorJim BankeContactMegan Ritter Related TermsAir Traffic Management and Safety View the full article

2 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA / Kyle Jenkins The Advanced Air Mobility Pathfinders (AAMP) project accelerates advanced air mobility technologies for wildfire response and urban transportation through real-world demonstrations and strategic partnerships. AAMP researches emerging technologies, establishes aircraft strategic deconfliction frameworks, and validates solutions in metropolitan areas to enable larger-scale urban air mobility. The project enhances Unmanned Aircraft Systems capabilities for wildfire mitigation and disaster response by transferring Portable Airspace Management System technologies to enable routine, safe, and efficient Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations. AAMP delivers scalable technologies, integration standards, and coordination tools that drive industry adoption and improve multi-agency collaboration for emergency response. More AAMP details The project is dedicated to demonstrating and validating the safe and practical integration of advanced air mobility technologies. We focus on developing, evaluating, and transferring performance requirements for:  Portable Airspace Management System — To enable safe, scalable, and continuous (24/7) aerial operations, especially in challenging degraded visual environments.  Airspace Service Providers — Managing medium-density advanced air mobility operations, aligning with the AAM National Strategy.   Our goal is to ensure these systems are ready for real-world use in emergency operations as well as urban transportation. AAMP actively collaborates with government agencies, academia, and industry stakeholders. These partnerships are vital for validating the safe and effective performance of these new technologies.  This, in turn, enables safe, practical, and resilient urban air mobility operations. AAMP bridges the gap between research and implementation, making Advanced Air Mobility a trusted solution for everyday transportation and life-saving missions across the United States.  Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASAes @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 2 min read NASA Demonstrates Safer Skies for Future Urban Air Travel Article 3 months ago 4 min read NASA Tests 5G-Based Aviation Network to Boost Air Taxi Connectivity Article 8 months ago 3 min read NASA Intern Took Career from Car Engines to Cockpits Article 9 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans In Space Aeronautics STEM Explore NASA’s History Share Details Last Updated Mar 05, 2026 EditorJim BankeContactMegan Ritter Related TermsAir Mobility Pathfinders project View the full article

1 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA TACP Benefits Foundation for disruptive technologies: Placing emphasis on transformative concepts lays the groundwork for revolutionary advancements in aviation. Accelerated innovation in aerospace: Developing next-generation engineering methodologies and digital tools enables faster, more efficient design, testing, and certification processes. Strong collaborative ecosystem: TACP fosters partnerships among NASA, academia, industry, and government, creating a powerful network for innovation. These collaborations lead to shared knowledge and joint research, accelerating breakthroughs. Workforce development and leadership: Engaging students and academic institutions in cutting-edge research inspires and prepares the next generation of aeronautics experts. Continuous investment in talent and emerging technologies helps keep the U.S. a global leader in aviation. TACP Projects Transformational Tools and Technologies (TTT) University Innovation (UI) Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASAes @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 4 min read Award-Winning NASA Camera Revolutionizes How We See the Invisible Article 2 weeks ago 4 min read NASA Software Raises Bar for Aircraft Icing Research Article 3 months ago 3 min read NASA Launches 2026 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition Article 5 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Artemis Aeronautics STEM Explore NASA’s History Share Details Last Updated Mar 06, 2026 EditorLillian GipsonContactJim Banke*****@*****.tld Related TermsTransformative Aeronautics Concepts Program View the full article

A Rocket Lab HASTE rocket launches into the night sky from Launch Complex 2 at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Feb. 27, 2026NASA/Danielle Johnson NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility supported a Rocket Lab HASTE suborbital launch from the company’s Launch Complex 2 in Virginia on Feb. 27, 2026. The mission, called Cassowary Vex, supported a flight of a hypersonic test platform for the Department of War’s Defense Innovation Unit. The NASA Wallops launch range supported by providing services such as tracking, telemetry, and range safety to ensure a safe and successful mission. NASA Wallops plays a key role in enabling national security missions at its launch range for commercial partners and other government agencies. Image Credit: NASA/ Danielle Johnson A February 27, 2026 nighttime launch of a Rocket Lab HASTE rocket from NASA’s Wallops Island.NASA/Danielle Johnson Share Details Last Updated Mar 05, 2026 Related TermsGoddard Space Flight CenterWallops Flight Facility View the full article

NASA/Michael DeMocker The Moon appears red during a total lunar eclipse over New Orleans, home of NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, on March 3, 2026. This “blood moon” occurs during a total lunar eclipse, as Earth lines up between the Moon and the Sun. When this happens, the only light that reaches the Moon’s surface is from the edges of Earth’s atmosphere. The air molecules from Earth’s atmosphere scatter out most of the blue light. The remaining light reflects onto the Moon’s surface with a red glow, making the Moon appear red in the night sky. This is the same effect that turns the sky pink, orange, and red at sunrise and sunset. Image credit: NASA/Michael DeMocker View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory A Little Town with a Long Name 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 April 9, 2025 On the southeastern coast of Anglesey, an island off the coast of mainland Wales, lies a little town with a big name. Following a Welsh tradition of naming towns after churches and nearby geographic features, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch roughly translates to “St. Mary’s Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the red cave.” Though Wales has many towns with long names, the unusual length of this one is intentional. The settlement, now home to about 3,000 people, was once called Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, but a local resident pushed for the longer version of the name in the 1860s as part of an effort to promote tourism and give its train station the longest name in Britain. Locals usually use a short version of the name—either Llanfairpwll or Llanfair PG. The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 captured this image of the town on April 9, 2025. The image below shows a wider view of the same area. The whirlpool mentioned in the name likely refers to a section of the Menai Strait between the Menai Suspension Bridge and Britannia Bridge known as the Swellies. The area is known for having exceptionally treacherous waters because of its complex bathymetry and because tides enter the strait from both ends at different times, creating strong swirling currents. Menai Suspension Bridge, often described as the first modern suspension bridge, was completed in 1826. April 9, 2025 Llanddaniel Fab, a village nearby, is the hometown of NASA luminary Tecwyn Roberts. Roberts was a shy boy who grew up without electricity but went on to become one of NASA’s first flight dynamics officers. He is credited with helping to conceptualize NASA’s Deep Space Network, helping design Mission Control at Johnson Space Center, and leading the development of key systems used to communicate with Apollo astronauts. Llanfairpwll’s full name, with 58 characters, is still shorter than the ceremonial 168-character name for Bangkok, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. However, Llanfairpwll’s full name is said to be the longest one-word place name in Europe and among the longest in the world. Neighboring planets also boast some lengthy place names. Among the contenders on these other worlds: Schiaparelli crater on Mars, Nantosuelta valley on Venus, and Tchaikovsky crater on Mercury. But even these are less than half the length of the Welsh town’s name. The International Astronomical Union working group responsible for naming planetary features recommends that the first consideration for potential names is that they be “simple, clear, and unambiguous.” NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland. Downloads April 9, 2025 JPEG (4.14 MB) References & Resources BBC (2019, July 18) The Welshman behind Nasa’s Apollo 11 moon landing mission. Accessed March 4, 2026. BBC (2015, March 4) Welsh place names. Accessed March 4, 2026. Comerford Way (2016, May 1) I know what Llanfair PG means, but can I pronounce the longest name in Wales? Accessed March 4, 2026. HistoryHit (2022, March 30) Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Accessed March 4, 2026. History Points (2012) NASA space officer’s school, Llanddaniel-fab. Accessed March 4, 2026. History Extra (2019, July 18) NASA’s unknown Welsh hero: the story of Tecwyn Roberts. Accessed March 4, 2026. NASA (2019, November 5) Goddard Honors an Apollo-era Pioneer, His Legacy. Accessed March 4, 2026. University of Southampton (2019, July 17) Rocket Man: Welsh hero of NASA’s moon landings. Accessed March 4, 2026. USGS Astrogeology Science Center Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Accessed March 4, 2026. Yahoo (2015, September 12) Here’s the story behind the 58-letter town name in Wales that everyone is talking about. Accessed March 4, 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 Galaxy Next Door 3 min read The Large Magellanic Cloud—one of our closest neighboring galaxies—is a hotbed of star formation that is visible to both astronauts… Article By the Warm Light of the Moon 3 min read Astronauts and much of Earth’s population had a chance to view a coppery “Blood Moon” during a total lunar eclipse… Article City Lights Glow Along Moonlit Waters 3 min read An astronaut photographed moonglint shimmering across the sea surface and the bright clusters of Florida’s cities at night. 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

1 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Artist concept of a high-speed point-to-point vehicle.NASA Langley What We do The High-Speed Flight (HSF) project develops technologies that make high-speed, airbreathing, commercial flight possible from Mach 1 to Mach 5 and above. HSF creates tools, technologies, and knowledge that will help eliminate today’s technical barriers to practical supersonic flight, most notably sonic *****. The project supports the X-59 quiet supersonic vehicle testing by gathering acoustic data and validating tools that predict in-flight sonic booms. HSF conducts fundamental and applied research that explores key challenges in reusable, hypersonic flight technology. Future Applications The project evaluates the potential for future commercial hypersonic vehicles, including reusable access to space and commercial point-to-point missions. Unique Hypersonic Facilities and Expertise NASA maintains unique facilities, laboratories, and subject matter experts who investigate fundamental and applied research areas to solve the challenges of hypersonic flight. The High-Speed Flight project coordinates closely with partners in industry, academia, and other government agencies to leverage relevant data sets to validate computational models. These partners also utilize NASA expertise, facilities, and computational tools. Partnerships are critical to advancing the state of the art in hypersonic flight. Read More about the High-Speed Flight Project Contact the High-Speed Flight Project by email at *****@*****.tld Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 12 min read NASA Armstrong Advances Flight Research and Innovation in 2025 Article 2 months ago 5 min read NASA’s X-59 Completes First Flight, Prepares for More Flight Testing Article 4 months ago 4 min read NASA Poised to Break Sound Barrier in New Way Article 3 years ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Artemis Aeronautics STEM Explore NASA’s History Share Details Last Updated Mar 04, 2026 EditorJim BankeContactShannon Eichorn*****@*****.tld Related TermsHigh-Speed Flight View the full article

2 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA NASA’s Advanced Air Vehicles Program (AAVP) studies, evaluates, and develops technologies and capabilities for new aircraft systems and explores far-future concepts for revolutionary air travel improvements. AAVP develops technologies for all flight regimes from hover to hypersonic to enable safe, new aircraft that are faster, quieter, and more fuel efficient. AAVP develops a broad range of technologies that maintain U.S. leadership in aerospace, benefitting the nation’s economy and quality of life. AAVP’s research primes the technology pipeline, bolstering U.S. competitiveness. For subsonic transport aircraft, AAVP accelerates development of key technologies to ensure they will be ready by the late 2020s to transition into U.S. industry’s next-generation single-aisle transport aircraft. AAVP also explores high-risk, high-payoff concepts for future generations of aircraft. The program engages with partners from industry, academia, and other government agencies to maintain a broad perspective on technology solutions to aviation’s challenges, to pursue mutually beneficial collaborations, and to leverage opportunities for effective technology transition. AAVP Projects High Speed Flight (HSF) Hi-Rate Composite Aircraft Manufacturing (HiCAM) Subsonic Vehicles Technologies and Tools (SVTT) Legacy AAVP Projects Advanced Composites (ACP) Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) Commercial Supersonic Technology (CST) Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) Hypersonic Technology (HT) Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT) Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 2 min read HiCAM Project Overview Article 2 weeks ago 3 min read NASA Aims to Advance Hypersonic Flight Testing with New Awards Article 1 month ago 4 min read NASA, GE Aerospace Hybrid Engine System Marks Successful Test Article 1 month ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Artemis Aeronautics STEM Explore NASA’s History Share Details Last Updated Mar 04, 2026 EditorJim BankeContactShannon Eichorn*****@*****.tld Related TermsAdvanced Air Vehicles Program View the full article

X-ray: NASA/CXC/John Hopkins Univ./C.M. Lisse et al.; Infrared: NASA/ESA/STIS; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk For the first time, a young, Sun-like star has been caught red-handed blowing bubbles in the galaxy, by astronomers using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. The bubble – called an “astrosphere” – completely surrounds the juvenile star in this image released on Feb. 23, 2026. Winds from the star’s surface are blowing up the bubble and filling it with hot gas as it expands into much cooler galactic gas and dust surrounding the star. The Sun has a similar bubble around it, which scientists call the heliosphere, created by the solar wind. It extends far beyond the planets in our solar system and protects Earth from cosmic radiation. This is the first image of an astrosphere astronomers have obtained around a star similar to the Sun. It shows slightly extended emission, rather than a single point of light as seen for other such stars. Read more about this discovery. Text credit: Lee Mohon Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/John Hopkins Univ./C.M. Lisse et al.; Infrared: NASA/ESA/STIS; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk View the full article

3 Min Read I Am Artemis: Paul Boehm Paul Boehm, Orion crew support and thermal systems functional area manager, stands in the Orion Life Support Integration Facility (OLIF) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credits: NASA/Rad Sinyak Listen to this audio excerpt from Paul Boehm, Orion crew support and thermal systems functional area manager: 0:00 / 0:00 Your browser does not support the audio element. As the Artemis II astronauts fly around the Moon, they’ll rely on systems inside the Orion spacecraft to live, work, and keep them safe during their mission. At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Paul Boehm, crew support and thermal systems functional area manager in the Orion Crew and Service Module Office, leads this work. Boehm oversees life support systems, flight equipment, and Orion Crew Survival System suits worn during launch and re-entry. Developed, designed, and built by Boehm’s team, these systems are set to fly for the first time with crew aboard Orion on Artemis II. Sustaining the crew in the harsh environment of deep space is no simple task, especially when it comes to a complex system like the environmental control and life support system (ECLSS). Think about things that you do every day for 24 hours — those are the things the ECLSS has to support. We have to support all the crew’s human bodily functions, from breathing, to eating, going to bathroom, and temperature control. Paul Boehm Orion Crew Support and Thermal Systems Functional Area Manager Developing these systems for Orion’s deep space missions to the Moon poses special challenges, such as mass and volume requirements faced when launching heavy spacecraft, and a need for systems that operate reliably without resupply. “Orion’s ECLSS is unique for Artemis missions because we’re going into deep space,” said Boehm. “It’s a lot longer of a trip that you cannot return quickly from, like a mission on the International Space Station, which is only a couple hours away. Therefore, we try to make a lot of the life support systems regenerative, so you don’t have to carry a lot of consumables, and we also try to make them simpler.” Paul Boehm, Orion crew support and thermal systems functional area manager, stands in the Orion Life Support Integration Facility (OLIF) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Teams have conducted integrated testing of Orion’s environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) and the Orion Crew Survival System Suit (OCSS) in the OLIF to validate the performance of these systems in preparation for the crewed Artemis II mission.NASA/Rad Sinyak The system also needs hardware to handle a range of variables that may come its way during the mission, according to Boehm. “You’re dealing with fluids, you’re dealing with electrical, electronic, and electromechanical components — and you’re also dealing with the human variable of different metabolic situations. Everybody’s different. The ECLSS takes all that into account.” It’s a challenge that Boehm welcomes and has worked toward throughout his career at NASA. Since starting at NASA Johnson 37 years ago, he has served in disciplines that work directly with crew members, including supporting the astronaut office, extravehicular activities for the space shuttle and space station, and the Orion Program since 2011. I've always loved being able to be with systems that work with the crew. Paul Boehm Orion Crew Support and Thermal Systems Functional Area Manager “And so, when I had the opportunity to work on Orion, ECLSS, and crew systems, I said that’s where I want to go, because that way I’ll still be able to help and be directly involved with supporting the crew,” Boehm said. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed that.” As NASA prepares to send crew members around the Moon on Artemis II, seeing Orion and its systems carry the crew will be the marker of a career that’s contributed to moving the future of human spaceflight forward. “I think that’s why everybody is here working toward this mission — we know it’s for the betterment of humanity,” Boehm said. “Moving things forward for the next generation is something that we all take to heart, and that’s what we’re trying to really do here. We are taking the first step in making history with sending the crew back to the Moon.” About the AuthorErika Peters Share Details Last Updated Mar 04, 2026 Related TermsI Am ArtemisArtemis 2Orion Multi-Purpose Crew VehicleOrion Program Explore More 6 min read La NASA refuerza Artemis: añade una misión y perfecciona su arquitectura general Article 18 hours ago 4 min read NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture Article 19 hours ago 4 min read Artemis II: What’s on the Menu? Article 20 hours ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

Credit: NASA The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and NASA announced NASA Force on Wednesday, a dedicated talent track within the US Tech Force initiative designed to recruit and deploy the nation’s top engineers and technologists to support America’s space program. NASA Force will identify and place high-impact technical talent into mission-critical roles supporting NASA’s exploration, research, and advanced technology priorities, ensuring the agency has the cutting-edge expertise needed to maintain U.S. leadership in space. Tech Force, led by OPM, was established to recruit elite technical professionals into federal service, embed them at partner agencies to modernize systems, accelerate innovation, and strengthen mission delivery. NASA Force represents a focused expansion of that effort, tailored to the unique technical demands of space exploration and aerospace research. “America’s leadership in space depends on extraordinary talent,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “NASA Force will help us attract the next generation of innovators and technical experts who are ready to solve the toughest challenges in exploration, science, and aerospace technology. This partnership strengthens our workforce and helps ensure the United States remains the global leader in space.” “NASA represents the pinnacle of American innovation,” said OPM Director Scott Kupor. “Through NASA Force, we are ensuring the world’s premier space agency has access to the very best engineers and technologists in the country. If you want to work on the most consequential technical challenges anywhere in the world, this is your call to serve.” The launch of NASA Force builds on the growing momentum of the US Tech Force initiative, which has attracted strong interest from early- and mid-career technologists eager to apply their skills to public service. Applications will be live soon and those interested are encouraged to follow @USTechForce on X for updates. To learn more about NASA’s mission, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Bethany Stevens / Cheryl Warner Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 04, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsNASA HeadquartersAmes Research CenterArmstrong Flight Research CenterGlenn Research CenterGoddard Space Flight CenterJohnson Space CenterLangley Research CenterMarshall Space Flight CenterPeople of NASAStennis Space CenterWallops Flight Facility View the full article

5 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Sunlight glints off one of the solar panels of the SWOT satellite in this artist’s concept. The antennas of the mission’s key instrument — the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) — collect data along a swath 30 miles (50 kilometers) wide on either side of the satellite.CNES Rivers rise and fall throughout the year, but by how much? Perhaps less than previously thought, according to new data from the SWOT mission. Hidden riverbed contours are also emerging. In a first, a space mission led by NASA and France has tracked Earth’s rivers swelling and shrinking from month to month over the course of a year and found significantly less of a swing than previous model-based estimates. A record drought in the Amazon likely influenced the tally made by the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite. The findings also reveal new details about the underwater topography of the world’s river channels. Launched in 2022, SWOT is a collaboration between NASA and the French space agency CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales). It is the first satellite capable of surveying not only the ocean, but also nearly all the world’s lakes and rivers with ultraprecision. While SWOT does not measure the absolute volume of rivers, it can track their width, surface height, and slope changing over time. Traditionally, hydrologists have relied on models to calculate river storage changes, or they multiplied altimeter estimates of height by optical or radar estimates of width. In contrast, SWOT measures both dimensions, height and width, at the same time using its sensitive Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) instrument to bounce microwaves off the water’s surface and time how long the signal takes to return. The new study, published Wednesday in Nature, analyzed nearly 1.6 million such observations. The analysis paints a picture of some 127,000 river segments rising and falling between October 2023 and September 2024. In aggregate, river volumes varied by almost 83 trillion gallons (313 cubic kilometers). That’s about 28% less of a swing than the lowest previous estimates, a result likely skewed by extremely dry conditions during that ******* in the Amazon, home to Earth’s largest river by volume. Earth’s rivers pulse like capilleries in this visualization using data from the SWOT mission. The world tour zooms in on iconic rivers including the Amazon, which in the span of a year gained and lost enough water to fill 68 million Olympic-size swimming pools. NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio New way to map river channels Even gripped by drought, the Amazon River varied more than any other during the year, gaining and losing more than 45 trillion gallons (172 cubic kilometers) — enough to cover the entire state of California in more than a foot of water. More surprisingly, the world’s longest river, the Nile, varied less than expected, with volumes changing by only 2.2 trillion gallons (8.5 cubic kilometers). Possible explanations include upstream damming and severe drought, along with challenges that come with learning to work with a new satellite instrument. Cedric David, who leads the SWOT research team that conducted the work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said the findings are a first look and the role of large floodplain dynamics remain to be fully determined. Still, such an accounting has been elusive until now. River gauges are sparse in areas, and some channels too remote for boat and ground surveys. Longstanding questions, such as how fast do rivers flow and how much rainwater and snowmelt runs into them, have added to the uncertainty. “We’re starting to untangle some of the really tough questions SWOT was built for,” David said. “This is just the beginning.” Tracking rivers as they swell and shrink is also helping scientists visualize something that can be challenging to survey in person: the underlying shape of riverbanks and beds. Such contours influence everything from shipping to flooding but have remained largely unmapped in many places, noted Arnaud Cerbelaud, a postdoctoral research fellow at JPL who co-led the study. The new SWOT data provides a window into river channels ranging from concave to convex, steep to gentle, and stable to highly variable. In the Amazon, Mississippi, Orinoco, Yangtze, Ganges, Mekong and Yenisei rivers, for example, observed water levels vary by more than 32 feet (10 meters) from peak to trough. “The implications go far beyond hydrology and will help us understand how water moves through the global Earth system,” Cerbelaud said. More about SWOT Launched in December 2022 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, SWOT is now in its operations phase, collecting data that will be used for research and other purposes. The SWOT satellite was jointly developed by NASA and CNES, with contributions from the CSA (********* Space Agency), and the *** Space Agency. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed for the agency by Caltech in Pasadena, California, leads the U.S. component of the project. For the flight system payload, NASA provided the KaRIn instrument, a GPS science receiver, a laser retroreflector, a two-beam microwave radiometer, and NASA instrument operations. NASA partners at CNES provided the Doppler Orbitography and Radioposition Integrated by Satellite system, the dual frequency Poseidon altimeter (developed by Thales Alenia Space), the KaRIn radio-frequency subsystem (together with Thales Alenia Space and with support from the *** Space Agency), the satellite platform, and ground operations. The KaRIn high-power transmitter assembly was provided by CSA. NASA provided the launch vehicle and the agency’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, managed the associated launch services. To learn more about SWOT, visit: [Hidden Content] SWOT Spots Planet-Rumbling Tsunami in Greenland Next-Generation Water Satellite Maps Seafloor From Space How SWOT Can Improve Flood Prediction News Media Contacts Andrew Wang / Andrew Good Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 626-379-6874 / 818-393-2433 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Written by Sally Younger 2026-014 Share Details Last Updated Mar 04, 2026 Related TermsEarthEarth ScienceJet Propulsion LaboratorySWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography)Water on Earth Explore More 3 min read Searching for Selenite Oklahoma’s Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge attracts rare and diverse species—and enthusiasts looking for a… Article 11 hours ago 2 min read Smoke Rises Over Big Cypress National Preserve The National fire has burned tens of thousands of acres within the Florida preserve, fueled… Article 1 day ago 7 min read Scoria Cones on Earth and Mars The hill-shaped features are a sign of explosive volcanic activity—a rarity on the Red Planet. 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Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Searching for Selenite 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 October 10, 2025 Dating back centuries, salt-crusted plains in present-day Oklahoma held great value to native tribes and, later, to homesteaders. People used the inland supply of salt in their diets, for tanning deer hides, and for trade. The area also proved to be a fertile hunting ground due to the abundance of game that sought out the nutrient-rich habitat. Since 1930, the salty deposit located about 90 miles (150 kilometers) northwest of Oklahoma City has been part of Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Today, the plains are still known as a gathering place for diverse animal life, including more than 300 species of birds. But its salt resources have become appealing in another way: it is the only place in the world where people can dig for a distinctively patterned form of crystallized gypsum. The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 captured these images of the area in natural color (above) and false color (below) on October 10, 2025. The salt basin is partially filled by Great Salt Plains Lake, a shallow reservoir formed by the damming of the Salt Fork Arkansas River and fed by ephemeral streams. The false-color image combines the shortwave infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with visible light (OLI bands 7-4-2). In this combination, healthy vegetation appears dark red to purple, and water is blue. The variation in color on the salt plain may be due to different moisture or salinity levels. (Scientists can use shortwave infrared data in estimations of soil salinity.) October 10, 2025 The basin’s salt has its origins in the Permian *******, about 300 million to 250 million years ago. A shallow salt layer from that time still underlies parts of the southwestern U.S., including western Oklahoma. Salt gradually dissolves into groundwater, and when the resulting brine rises to the surface, the water evaporates and leaves behind a bright crust. The saline water is a key component in a mineral structure unique to the area—hourglass selenite crystals. Selenite, a crystalline variety of gypsum, forms in the top two feet of the wet subsurface when saline water combines with gypsum. The process can occur relatively quickly when temperatures and moisture levels are right. Likewise, crystals may dissolve away if the environment is too wet. Sand and clay particles get incorporated into the otherwise clear crystals, often in a brownish hourglass shape. Visitors to the Salt Plains scour for these crystal “blades,” but crystal collecting is limited to certain months of the year so as not to disrupt seasonal activities of shorebirds and waterbirds. The salt flats provide habitat and feeding grounds for species such as the snowy plover, sandhill crane, and endangered whooping crane. Other wildlife common to the area include white-tailed deer, red-eared sliders, and nine-banded armadillos. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Lindsey Doermann. Downloads Natural color, October 10, 2025 JPEG (9.72 MB) False color, October 10, 2025 JPEG (2.99 MB) References & Resources Johnson, K.S. (1981) Dissolution of salt on the east flank of the Permian Basin in the southwestern U.S.A. Journal of Hydrology, 54 (1–3), 75-93. National Geographic (2020, September 15) Dig in! This nature reserve wants you to make a mess. Accessed March 3, 2026. Oklahoma Historical Society (2010, January 15) Great Salt Plains. Accessed March 3, 2026. Oklahoma Historical Society (2010, January 15) Great Salt Plains State Park and National Wildlife Refuge. Accessed March 3, 2026. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Welcome to Great Salt Plains Lake. Accessed March 3, 2026. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Accessed March 3, 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. Finding Freshwater in Great Salt Lake 4 min read Reed-covered mounds exposed by declining water levels reveal an unexpected network of freshwater springs that feed directly into the lake… Article Lake Eyre Blushes 3 min read Rounding out a remarkable year, the outback lake displayed distinct green and reddish water in its two main bays. Article Dark Skies Over the Great Basin 5 min read Far from large urban areas, Great Basin National Park offers unencumbered views of the night sky and opportunities to study… 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

La Luna se eleva detrás del cohete Sistema de Lanzamiento Espacial y la nave espacial Orion de la misión Artemis II de la NASA, situados sobre una plataforma móvil de lanzamiento en el Complejo de Lanzamiento 39B del Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA en Florida, el domingo 1 de febrero de 2026. El vuelo de prueba Artemis II llevará al comandante Reid Wiseman, al piloto Victor Glover y a la especialista de misión Christina Koch, de la NASA, y al especialista de misión Jeremy Hansen, de la CSA (Agencia Espacial Canadiense), alrededor de la Luna y de vuelta a la Tierra.NASA/Ben Smegelsky Read this story in English here. A fin de lograr el objetivo nacional de llevar astronautas estadounidenses a la superficie de la Luna y mantener la superioridad de Estados Unidos en exploración y descubrimientos, la NASA anunció el 27 de febrero que aumentará la frecuencia de sus misiones **** el programa Artemis, estandarizará la configuración del cohete Sistema de Lanzamiento Espacial (SLS, por sus siglas en inglés) y agregará una nueva misión. Estos planes fueron dados a conocer durante una conferencia de prensa (en inglés) en el Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA en Florida, e incluyeron una actualización sobre la misión que se dará en el futuro cercano, Artemis II. Esta actualización se centró en los sistemas de transporte para llevar tripulaciones a la Luna. La arquitectura actualizada de la NASA incluye agregar una nueva misión en 2027 para poner a prueba las capacidades de sistema más cerca de la Tierra antes de enviar astronautas a la superficie de la Luna por primera vez en más de 50 años y tiene como objetivo lograr una misión lunar por año a partir de entonces. Ahora, la estandarización del cohete Sistema de Lanzamiento Espacial (SLS, por sus siglas en inglés) y de otros sistemas ayudará a la NASA a enviar astronautas a explorar el Polo Sur lunar por primera vez en 2028. Los detalles específicos para lograr este nuevo enfoque, así como otras actualizaciones de la arquitectura, serán dados a conocer próximamente, ya que la agencia sigue centrada en la misión Artemis II, la cual tiene previsto volar alrededor de la Luna no más tarde de abril, y está comprobando sus capacidades para respaldar una mayor frecuencia de las misiones. Artemis I: La NASA completó **** éxito un vuelo de prueba sin tripulación del cohete SLS y la nave espacial Orion en noviembre de 2022. Esta misión puso a prueba por primera vez el lanzamiento del cohete utilizando nuevos sistemas terrestres de exploración y evaluó los sistemas de Orion sin incluir astronautas ni los sistemas críticos de soporte vital planificados para la siguiente misión. Artemis II: Esta misión será el primer vuelo de prueba **** tripulación a bordo del cohete SLS y la nave espacial Orion. Después de un exitoso ensayo general **** circulación de combustible en febrero, la NASA descubrió un problema del flujo de helio a la etapa de propulsión criogénica provisional, y llevó el cohete y la nave espacial de regreso al Edificio de Ensamblaje de Vehículos para su reparación. Los ingenieros del Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA en Florida están trabajando actualmente en el cohete SLS y la nave espacial Orion, que está montada sobre él, para abordar el problema que requirió su retirada, y los equipos también están aprovechando el tiempo para cambiar las baterías y hacer otros trabajos. La ventana de lanzamiento se abre en abril. Los miembros de la tripulación son los astronautas de la NASA Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover y Christina Koch, y el astronauta de la CSA (Agencia Espacial Canadiense) Jeremy Hansen, quienes emprenderán una misión **** una duración aproximada de 10 días que los enviará alrededor de la Luna y de regreso a la Tierra. Artemis III: La NASA añadió una nueva misión de demostración en la órbita terrestre baja para mediados de 2027 a fin de poner a prueba uno o ambos módulos de aterrizaje comerciales de SpaceX y Blue Origin, respectivamente. Esta misión lanzará a la tripulación a bordo de Orion sobre el cohete SLS para poner a prueba las capacidades de encuentro y acoplamiento entre Orion y las naves espaciales comerciales privadas que son necesarias para llevar astronautas a la Luna. Esta prueba se llevará a ***** **** uno o ambos proveedores. Artemis IV: La NASA sigue teniendo como objetivo que el primer alunizaje de Artemis sea a principios de 2028, que ha sido la fecha de alunizaje prevista desde mediados de 2025. Después del lanzamiento, la tripulación se trasladará a un módulo de aterrizaje lunar comercial para su transporte a la superficie de la Luna. La preparación del módulo de aterrizaje determinará qué proveedor los llevará de manera segura a la superficie y de regreso a Orion en la órbita lunar, antes de que la tripulación regrese a casa a bordo de Orion, para amerizar de manera segura en el océano Pacífico. Se llevarán a ***** medidas para estandarizar el cohete SLS para la misión Artemis IV. **** este enfoque arquitectónico, la NASA evalúa opciones alternativas para la segunda etapa del cohete. La etapa de propulsión criogénica provisional utilizada para las tres primeras misiones será reemplazada por una nueva segunda etapa, y la agencia ya no planea utilizar la Etapa Superior de Exploración ni el Lanzador Móvil 2, ya que el desarrollo de ambos ha sufrido retrasos. Artemis V: Mediante la configuración estandarizada del cohete SLS, la NASA anticipa que el lanzamiento de esta misión a la superficie lunar ocurrirá a finales de 2028 y, a partir de entonces, habrá futuras misiones aproximadamente una vez al año. También se espera que en esta misión la NASA comience a construir su base lunar. La NASA continúa perfeccionando los planes de la arquitectura de sus misiones, y la agencia dará a conocer más información sobre su estrategia para la exploración lunar y asignaciones de tripulación en el futuro. Como parte de una edad de oro de innovación y exploración, la NASA enviará astronautas de Artemis en misiones progresivamente más difíciles para explorar más regiones de la Luna a fin de lograr descubrimientos científicos y beneficios económicos, y de utilizar nuestro desarrollo de los programas espaciales para sentar las bases para las primeras misiones tripuladas a Marte. Para obtener más información sobre el programa Artemis, visita: [Hidden Content] (en inglés) [Hidden Content] (español) View the full article