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Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Tracy Arm’s Post-Tsunami… 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 July 26, 2025 August 19, 2025 NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison July 26, 2025August 19, 2025 NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison July 26, 2025 August 19, 2025 CurtainToggle2-Up Image Details The shores of Tracy Arm, a fjord in southeast Alaska, are stripped of vegetation following a landslide and tsunami that occurred on August 10, 2025. The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 show the area in the weeks before and after the event, respectively. Carved over millennia by the pressure and motion of glacial ice, the valley walls cradling the Tracy Arm fjord in southeast Alaska continue to be reshaped. In summer 2025, following the rapid retreat of South Sawyer Glacier, a large landslide sent rock careening into the fjord, altering the wider landscape in a matter of minutes. The slide culminated on the morning of August 10, 2025, when at least 64 million cubic meters of rock slid downslope. Material entering the fjord induced a tsunami that stripped trees and other vegetation from the opposing fjord wall up to 1,578 feet (481 meters) above sea level. While this peak was the highest “runup” reached by the tsunami, shores and islands down the fjord also saw substantial destruction. NASA-USGS Landsat satellites captured these images on July 26 (left) and August 19 (right), before and after the event, respectively. “The bright landslide scar on the north side of the fjord is striking, as is the ‘bathtub’ ring around the fjord showing the areas where the forest was leveled by the tsunami,” said Dan Shugar, a geomorphologist at the University of Calgary. Note that Sawyer Island, about 6 miles (9 kilometers) from the landslide, also turned from green to brown. Only a few trees still stood at the island’s higher elevations. The landslide scar and the zone where vegetation was stripped by the resulting tsunami are both visible in this aerial photo of Tracy Arm and South Sawyer Glacier, captured on August 13, 2025. U.S. Geological Survey/John Lyons In the months following the slide, Shugar and colleagues combined satellite, airborne, and ground-based observations with eyewitness reports and simulations to build a more complete picture of how the event unfolded. Their analysis, detailing the event from its lead-up through its aftermath, was published May 6, 2026, in the journal Science. In addition to the details outlined above, the researchers showed that water continued to slosh around the fjord—a phenomenon known as a “seiche”—for more than a day. Both the landslide and seiche produced seismic signals detected around the world, the former equivalent to a magnitude 5.4 earthquake. The Landsat images also reveal significant retreat at the front of South Sawyer Glacier in less than a month. “Part of that occurred between the date of the first image and the date of the landslide,” Shugar said. “But part of it is from the landslide itself, which broke off a big chunk of the terminus of South Sawyer Glacier, resulting in a slurry of icebergs in the fjord.” The exact mechanisms that caused the landslide remain uncertain and could have involved a combination of factors. Rainfall, which was moderate prior to the event, and the rapid retreat of glaciers can both destabilize a slope. What is clear, however, is that the glacier’s retreat exposed a new area of open water, leaving it vulnerable to a landscape-reorganizing tsunami. Tracy Arm and other nearby fjords connect with Stephens Passage, a major waterway in southeast Alaska, visible in this image captured on August 19, 2025, by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison No one was injured in the event, though it did catch some by surprise. Kayakers camping on Harbor Island near the fjord’s mouth had their gear swept away, and passengers aboard a small cruise vessel in neighboring Endicott Arm reported swings in water levels and a strong current associated with the tsunami. Brentwood Higman of Ground Truth Alaska, a co-author of the paper, noted that a glacier’s shift from relative stability to renewed retreat, visible in satellite images, could serve as an important indicator that an area has become more susceptible to landslide and tsunami hazards. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Photograph by John Lyons/U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Kathryn Hansen. Downloads July 26, 2025 JPEG (17.40 MB) August 19, 2025 JPEG (17.19 MB) References & Resources Alaska Public Media (2025, August 12) ‘Pure chaos out of nowhere’: Mega-landslide and tsunami rip through Tracy Arm south of Juneau. Accessed May 7, 2026. AP News (2026, April 12) Cruise companies to Alaska are avoiding a popular excursion to Tracy Arm after a massive landslide. Accessed May 7, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2024, November 12) Sizing Up a Greenland Tsunami. Accessed May 7, 2026. Shugar, D. H., et al. (2026) A 481-meter-high landslide-tsunami in a cruise ship–frequented Alaska fjord. Science, 392 (6798). University of Alaska Fairbanks (2025, August 12) Tsunami-causing slide was largest in decade, earthquake center finds. Accessed May 7, 2026. U.S. Geological Survey (2025, August 13) 2025 Tracy Arm Landslide Before and After Satellite Imagery. Accessed May 7, 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. Landslide and Avalanche Debris Litter Hubbard Glacier 4 min read Satellite-based radar images show where a powerful earthquake in the Yukon, Canada, sent rock, snow, and ice spilling across the… Article Cyclone Rains Spur Papua New Guinea Landslides 3 min read Heavy rains from Tropical Cyclone Maila triggered a deadly landslide in the mountains of East New Britain. Article Record-Setting Retreat of Hektoria Glacier 5 min read Scientists relied on satellite data to understand how the Antarctic glacier lost so much ice so rapidly. 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

3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft flies above Palmdale and Edwards, California, during its first flight Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, accompanied by a NASA F/A-18 research aircraft serving as chase.NASA/Jim Ross NASA’s home for experimental flight is welcoming more flyers to its already high-performing fleet as it continues to support science and aeronautics test missions – continuing the legacy of pioneers like Neil Armstrong. NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, added multiple aircraft this year: two F-15s supersonic jets, a Pilatus PC-12 utility plane, and a T-34 turboprop trainer, which the center will use to support the agency’s advancement of aerospace research. Throughout the center’s history, pilots have flown everything from large aircraft like the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and rocket-powered airplanes like the X-15 to high-speed repurposed fighter jets like the F-18. And after almost 80 years, flight research is still going strong in the desert today. “Armstrong has a rich history of flight research, but it’s the multidimensional skills of the people we have here, and the knowledge they’ve built to handle very unique aircraft maintenance and modifications, that stands out,” said Darren Cole, capabilities manager for the Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project at NASA Armstrong. Armstrong has a rich history of flight research, but it’s the multidimensional skills of the people we have here … that stands out. Darren Cole Capabilities Manager at NASA Armstrong The center plays a pivotal role in worldwide airborne science missions, flying scientists and equipment from NASA, other government agencies, industry, and academia to collect measurements such as air pollution levels, glacier melt trends, and wildland fire mapping. Scientists can manage experiments in real time aboard flying laboratories like the NASA ER-2, to collect important data with the help of Armstrong’s pilots and airborne science team. “We all come together to make the science happen,” said Matt Berry, airborne research platforms branch chief at NASA Armstrong. “It is the agility of the Armstrong team that allows us to collaborate with scientists, get their equipment onboard, and to fly them to areas where they need to collect data.” The center sits on Rogers Dry Lake, a 44-square-mile slat flat area used for aviation research and test operations. Rogers and the adjacent Rosamond Dry Lake have seen everything from space shuttle landings to emergency test flight recoveries. The Rogers lakebed continues to serve as an important piece of Armstrong’s test missions. For NASA Armstrong, it all started with the first attempt by a human to fly faster than the speed of sound in the Bell X-1. In 1946, 13 employees from NASA’s predecessor agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), arrived at what was then known as Muroc Army Airfield to prepare for the X-1 tests. A year later, NACA’s Muroc Flight Test Unit was established as a permanent facility at the airfield. The center has gone by several names over the years, most recently changing from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center to NASA Armstrong in 2014. But its legacy has never shifted: The Bell X-1E, the last of the X-1 series of aircraft, now sits in front of NASA Armstrong, welcoming the newest test pilots, engineers, scientists, explorers, and dreamers. And they’re using the aircraft of today to break new barriers. “I don’t think there is another place in the world with a more diverse fleet of aircraft. We have everything from a low-altitude powered glider to ER-2s, which are flying at high altitudes, and a multitude of aircraft in between,” Cole said. From sourcing rare components to machining custom parts in-house, NASA Armstrong’s teams transform these aircraft into research workhorses. The center continues its crucial role in leading aeronautics testing, Earth science research, and supporting government and industry partners. Learn more about aircraft flown at NASA Armstrong Share Details Last Updated May 07, 2026 EditorDede DiniusContactTeresa Whiting*****@*****.tldLocationArmstrong Flight Research Center Related TermsArmstrong Flight Research CenterAeronauticsFlight InnovationNASA Aircraft Explore More 6 min read Cornell Students Aid NASA with Drone Safety in Sky Article 14 hours ago 3 min read NASA’s Dryden Aeronautical Test Range Supports Flight, Space Missions Article 1 day ago 4 min read NASA Fosters Development of Lunar Resource-Seeking Technologies Article 3 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Aeronautics X-Planes at Armstrong NASA Aircraft View the full article

Credit: NASA The Republic of Paraguay signed the Artemis Accords on Thursday during a ceremony in Asunción, becoming the latest nation to commit to the shared principles guiding civil space exploration. “Today, I am proud to welcome Paraguay as the 67th signatory to the Artemis Accords,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “They join an ever-growing coalition of like-minded nations committed to the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space. Established by President Trump in his first term, the Artemis Accords provided the principles for how we explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Now, with his national space policy, we are putting the Artemis Accords into practice with our Moon Base. We are creating opportunities for all Artemis Accords signatories, including Paraguay, to join us on the lunar surface and advance our shared objectives in this next era of exploration.” U.S. Embassy Asunción Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Aaron Pratt shared Isaacman’s remarks during the ceremony. Minister President of the Paraguayan Space Agency Osvaldo Almirón Riveros signed on behalf of Paraguay. “The signing of the Artemis Accords represents a historic milestone for Paraguay and reflects our commitment to international cooperation, the peaceful use of outer space, scientific development, and the advancement of national space capabilities,” said Almirón Riveros. “This step strengthens Paraguay’s position within the global space community and opens new opportunities for research, innovation, and sustainable development.” The Paraguayan Space Agency was established in 2014 and has worked to develop capabilities in satellite technology and Earth observation, including with international partners. Its first satellite, GuaraníSat‑1, launched from the International Space Station in 2021. The agency now is preparing to launch its second satellite, GuaraníSat‑2, in October aboard a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission was developed with collaborators from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and other partners. In 2020, the United States, led by NASA and the U.S. State Department, joined with seven other founding nations to establish the Artemis Accords, responding to the growing interest in lunar activities by both governments and private companies. The Artemis Accords introduced the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing the safety and coordination between like-minded nations as they explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Signing the Artemis Accords means committing to explore peaceably and transparently, to render aid to those in need, to enable access to scientific data that all of humanity can learn from, to ensure activities do not interfere with those of others, and to preserve historically significant sites and artifacts by developing best practices for space exploration for the benefit of all. More countries are expected to sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead, as NASA continues its work to establish a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space. For more information about the Artemis Accords, visit: [Hidden Content] Share Details Last Updated May 07, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsArtemis AccordsArtemisOffice of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR) View the full article

1 Min Read NASA Sends Mars Helicopter Blades Beyond Mach 1 PIA26649 Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech Photojournal Navigation Science Photojournal NASA Sends Mars Helicopter… Photojournal Home Photojournal Search Latest Content Galleries Feedback RSS About Downloads NASA Sends Mars Helicopter Blades Beyond Mach 1 JPEG (1.38 MB) Description Engineer Fernando Mier-Hicks inspects a test stand used to investigate the performance of next-generation Mars helicopter rotor blades at high speeds inside the 25-Foot Space Simulator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California in November 2025. Data from the tests indicate that the rotors could surpass the sound barrier without breaking apart. The test campaign was funded by the agency’s Mars Exploration Program in pursuit of maximizing the capability of future aircraft flying at the Red Planet. A division of Caltech in Pasadena, JPL manages the Mars Exploration Program for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From Photojournal Photojournal Search Photojournal Photojournal’s Latest Content Feedback View the full article

1 Min Read NASA’s Next-Gen Mars Helicopter Rotors Are Moving Fast PIA26648 Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech Photojournal Navigation Science Photojournal NASA’s Next-Gen Mars… Photojournal Home Photojournal Search Latest Content Galleries Feedback RSS About Downloads NASA’s Next-Gen Mars Helicopter Rotors Are Moving Fast JPEG (1.34 MB) Description Engineer Jaakko Karras inspects a next-generation Mars helicopter rotor blade prior to supersonic speed testing in the 25-Foot Space Simulator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California in November 2025. The three-bladed rotor hanging horizontally in the foreground is the next-gen rotor being tested. The vertically aligned two-bladed rotor provided a “headwind,” enabling the tips of the three-bladed rotor to go beyond Mach 1. Data from the tests indicate that the next-gen rotor could surpass the sound barrier without breaking apart. The agency’s Mars Exploration Program funded the test campaign in pursuit of maximizing the capability of future aircraft flying at the Red Planet. A division of Caltech in Pasadena, JPL manages the Mars Exploration Program for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From Photojournal Photojournal Search Photojournal Photojournal’s Latest Content Feedback View the full article

Engineer Jaakko Karras inspects a next-generation Mars helicopter rotor blade prior to testing it at supersonic speeds in the 25-Foot Space Simulator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in November 2025. NASA/JPL-Caltech Inside the dark chamber of JPL’s 25-Foot Space Simulator, an engineer examines a test stand used to investigate the performance of next-generation Mars helicopter rotor blades at high speeds. The image was taken in November 2025. NASA/JPL-Caltech The rotor blades that will carry NASA’s next-generation helicopters to new Martian heights broke the sound barrier during March tests at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Data from the tests, which took place in a special chamber that can simulate environmental conditions on the Red Planet, indicate that the fastest traveling part of the rotor blade, the tips, can be accelerated beyond Mach 1 without breaking apart. Data gathered from 137 test runs will enable engineers to design aircraft capable of carrying heavier payloads, including science instruments. “NASA had a great run with the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, but we are asking these next-generation aircraft to do even more at the Red Planet,” said Al Chen, Mars Exploration Program manager at JPL. “That’s not an easy ask. While everything about Mars is hard, flying there is just about the hardest thing you can do. That’s because its atmosphere is so incredibly thin that it is hard to generate lift, and yet Mars has significant gravity.” By pushing rotors beyond the speed of sound during recent testing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, engineers are unlocking new possibilities for low-altitude aerial exploration of Mars. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Ingenuity, which performed the first powered, controlled flight on another world just over five years ago on April 19, 2021, was a trailblazing technology demonstration that did not carry science instruments. The agency’s recently announced SkyFall project and other potential future Mars aircraft will be capable of carrying payloads — including science instruments and sensors — to collect data in support of future human and robotic missions, leveraging the advantages that come with low-altitude aerial exploration. Need for speed In the fast-moving world of rotors, more thrust comes from a quicker spin or a larger diameter. Although this axiom holds true on Earth, engineers designing aircraft for the Red Planet must be much more aggressive. Because the Mars atmosphere is only 1% as dense as Earth’s, maximizing thrust requires pushing blade tips toward the speed of sound to achieve significant lift. While small-diameter rotors on Earth can also rotate at thousands of revolutions per minute, they have more air molecules to push and don’t need to approach the sonic edge. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter does a slow spin test of its blades on April 8, 2021, the 48th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The rotorcraft, captured here by the Mastcam-Z instrument aboard NASA’s Perseverance rover, completed its historic first flight less than two Earth weeks later.NASA/JPL-Caltech/****/MSSS The Ingenuity flight team never allowed the rotational speed of their composite-skinned foam rotors to exceed 2,700 rpm during the helicopter’s 72 flights at Mars for two reasons: to avoid the unpredictable physics of the sound barrier and to make sure that an unexpected gust of wind (from a dust ******, for instance) wouldn’t send the rotor tips over the sonic edge. “If Chuck Yeager were here, he’d tell you things can get squirrely around Mach 1,” said JPL’s Jaakko Karras, the rotor test lead. “With that in mind, we planned Ingenuity’s flights to keep the rotor blade tips at Mach 0.7 with no wind so that if we encountered a Martian headwind while in flight, the rotor tips wouldn’t go supersonic. But we want more performance from our next-gen Mars aircraft. We needed to know that our rotors could go faster safely.” While Mach 1 on Earth at sea level is approximately 760 mph (1,223 kph), the speed of sound on Mars is significantly slower — roughly 540 mph (869 kph) — due to the planet’s thin, cold, carbon-dioxide-rich atmosphere. Blade-proof chamber To begin evaluating the rotors, which were developed and manufactured by AeroVironment in Simi Valley, California, Karras and his team mounted a three-bladed rotor that could be used in future Mars helicopter designs inside the historic 25-Foot Space Simulator at JPL. They evacuated the air and replaced it with just enough carbon dioxide to match the Martian atmosphere, then blasted the rotor with wind as it spun at increasing speeds. The test engineers had taken the precaution of lining part of the chamber with sheet metal in case the blades broke apart during the supersonic experiment. From a control room a few yards away from the chamber, the team watched displays showing data and a view inside the chamber as the rpm climbed as high as 3,750. At that rate, the tips were traveling at Mach 0.98. Then the engineers activated a fan inside the chamber that pelted the rotors with headwinds. After each run, they increased in wind velocity for the next run. The team pushed rotor tip speeds to Mach 1.08, boosting the Mars vehicle’s lift capability by 30%. This breakthrough allows future missions to support heavier scientific payloads, including advanced sensors and larger batteries for extended flight. Next the team tried their luck with the two-bladed SkyFall rotor. Because it is slightly longer than the three-bladed version, only 3,570 rpm was needed to achieve the same near-supersonic speed at the rotor tips prior to introducing the headwinds. “The successful testing of these rotors was a major step toward proving the feasibility of flight in more demanding environments, which is key for next-gen vehicles,” said Shannah Withrow-Maser, an aerodynamicist from NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley and member of the test team. “We thought we’d be lucky to hit Mach 1.05, and we reached Mach 1.08 on our last runs. We’re still digging into the data, and there may be even more thrust on the table. These next-gen helicopters are going to be amazing.” The SkyFall mission design team has incorporated the test team’s findings into the performance specifications. Inspired by Ingenuity, the only rotorcraft to fly on another planet to date, SkyFall is designed to carry three next-gen Mars helicopters to the Red Planet in December 2028. More about NASA’s Mars Exploration Program The faster-than-sound spin test campaign was funded by the agency’s Mars Exploration Program in pursuit of maximizing the capability of future aircraft flying at the Red Planet. A division of Caltech in Pasadena, JPL manages the Mars Exploration Program for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. For more information about NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, visit: [Hidden Content] News Media Contacts DC Agle Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-393-9011 *****@*****.tld Karen Fox / Alana Johnson NASA Headquarters, Washington 240-285-5155 / 202-672-4780 *****@*****.tld / alana.r*****@*****.tld 2026-029 Explore More 2 min read NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover Surveys ‘Crocodile Bridge’ Description NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z camera system to capture this 360-degree panorama… Article 2 days ago 5 min read NASA’s Perseverance, Curiosity Panoramas Capture Two Sides of Mars Article 1 week ago 5 min read NASA’s Curiosity Finds Organic Molecules Never Seen Before on Mars Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Mars: Facts Mars is one of the most explored bodies in our solar system, and it’s the only planet where we’ve sent… Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mars Exploration Mars is the only planet we know of inhabited entirely by robots. Learn more about the Mars Missions. View the full article

Located in Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the full-scale prototype of the crew cabin of Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 crew lander is over 15 feet (5 m) tall.NASA A full-scale mock-up of a crew cabin for a future industry lunar lander for NASA’s Artemis program now is operational for training and testing. The agency and its industry partners will use Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 crew cabin for mission simulations as the agency prepares to dock with landers in Earth orbit in 2027 and send astronauts to the Moon by 2028. NASA is working with two American companies to develop the human landing systems that will safely transport astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moon’s surface and back for Artemis. Blue Origin’s lander, launching uncrewed on top of the company’s New Glenn rocket, will meet astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit. Two astronauts will board the Blue Moon crew lander, which will ferry them to the surface and back to other crew members aboard Orion in lunar orbit following the conclusion of their surface stay. The Blue Moon crew lander that will fly to the Moon will stand about 52 feet tall. Its crew cabin, located at the base of the lander, will be the living and working space where two astronauts will eat, sleep, conduct science, and observe the lunar environment during their stay. The prototype at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston is a full-size model, featuring the exterior ladder astronauts will use during their time on the Moon. As NASA and industry teams prepare for future crewed missions to the lunar surface, this model will evolve to support more advanced mission and training needs. Over time, it will become an integrated simulator with interactive systems that help astronauts practice for their flight with ground flight control teams. NASA and Blue Origin can access the exterior and interior of the crew cabin trainer to conduct a series of human-in-the-loop tests, or tests with human interaction, including mission scenarios, mission control communications, spacesuit checkouts, and preparations for simulated moonwalks. The training cabin will also be used to provide design feedback to the Blue Origin team as the lander continues to be developed and mission planning evolves. Following the successful Artemis II test flight that took four astronauts around the Moon, NASA will launch the Artemis III mission next year to test critical systems in Earth orbit, including rendezvous and docking with one or both commercial landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX. The agency and its partners will conduct integrated checkouts of life support, communications, propulsion, and potentially new spacesuits. These operations will pave the way for Artemis IV and V in 2028, which will return NASA astronauts to the Moon using these commercial provide landers. Under Artemis, NASA will send astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery and economic benefits, building the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars. Learn more about the Artemis program: [Hidden Content] Share Details Last Updated May 07, 2026 EditorLee MohonContactCorinne M. Beckinger*****@*****.tldLocationMarshall Space Flight Center Related TermsHuman Landing System ProgramArtemisGeneralJohnson Space CenterMarshall Space Flight Center View the full article

NASA A thin sliver of Earth’s edge is brightly illuminated against the vast darkness of space in this April 3, 2026, image taken during the Artemis II mission. Artemis II was the first crewed flight in a series of missions to test NASA’s human deep space capabilities, paving the way for future lunar surface missions. See more imagery from the Artemis II mission. Image credit: NASA View the full article

3 Min Read NASA-Supported Small Spacecraft Launches to Study Solar Particles The Solar Neutrino Astro-Particle PhYsics (SNAPPY) CubeSat launched at 3 a.m. EDT (12 a.m. PDT) on Sunday, May 3, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenburg Space Force Base in California. Credits: SpaceX Through NASA, a university-designed small spacecraft is paving the way to studying particles, known as neutrinos, that move through the universe at near-light speeds. The Solar Neutrino Astro-Particle PhYsics CubeSat, known as SNAPPY, launched at 12 a.m. PDT on Sunday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and was deployed via launch integraor Exolaunch. The SNAPPY project will test a prototype solar neutrino detector in low Earth polar orbit. Weighing approximately half a pound, the prototype detector consists of four crystals and is encased in a shielding block made of epoxy loaded with tungsten dust to match the density of steel. The detector and a dedicated electronics stack for power and readout purposes are housed inside a CubeSat platform from Kongsberg NanoAvionics. The Solar Neutrino Astro-Particle PhYsics (SNAPPY) CubeSat being prepared for integration into the EXOpod Nova deployer.SpaceX The idea behind SNAPPY was sparked by interest in NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission. As the probe prepared to become the first spacecraft to fly through the Sun’s corona, Nick Solomey, a professor of mathematics, statistics, and physics at Wichita State University, was inspired knowing the spacecraft would pass an area where the solar neutrino flux, the rate of particles passing through a specific area, is nearly 1,000 times stronger than what reaches Earth. “All life on Earth – past, present, and future – relies on the Sun,” remarked Solomey, whose career is centered on elementary particle physics. “We must work to understand this ball of energy to the best of our abilities because it’s what makes life on Earth possible.” Neutrinos are believed to be the second most abundant fundamental particles in the universe and could help us better understand the structure of the universe, the origin of mass, and the core of the Sun itself. On Earth, neutrino detectors must be buried deep underground to isolate their extremely faint signals. Using what we learn from SNAPPY, a future mission may one day place a detector closer to the Sun, allowing scientists to observe and study solar neutrinos in a completely new way. Before such a mission is possible, researchers must understand how a neutrino detector performs in space, and SNAPPY is designed to take the critical first step. This includes proving it can operate reliably in orbit and eliminating signatures from other activities, such as energy interactions, that could mimic a true neutrino interaction in space. These measurements will help scientists determine whether a future large detector positioned closer to the Sun is feasible. Through NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program, within the Space Technology Mission Directorate, SNAPPY was selected for a Phase I award in 2018, followed by a Phase II award in 2019, and a Phase III award in 2021, helping mature the project from its early studies through flight demonstration. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, designed and built the dedicated electronic readout cards for the SNAPPY detector, and Wichita State University graduate students programmed the payload computer to interact with the electronics. To date, 36 graduate and undergraduate students have had the opportunity to work on the SNAPPY project. This achievement reflects the dedication of experts across agency and academia, including NASA Marshall, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the University of Minnesota, the University of Michigan, and South Dakota State University. To learn more, visit: [Hidden Content] Explore More 4 min read NASA Fosters Innovative, Far-Out Tech for the Future of Aerospace Article 11 months ago 3 min read NASA Doubles Down, Advances Six Innovative Tech Concepts to New Phase Article 2 years ago 4 min read Mycotecture off Planet: En route to the Moon and Mars Article 2 years ago Share Details Last Updated May 07, 2026 EditorLoura Hall Related TermsSpace Technology Mission DirectorateJet Propulsion LaboratoryMarshall Space Flight CenterNASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (*****) ProgramTechnology View the full article

4 min read NASA’s Prithvi Becomes First AI Geospatial Foundation Model In Orbit Florida as seen from the International Space Station. A NASA geospatial AI foundation model was deployed to a platform aboard the space station for the first time, unlocking new opportunities for Earth observation. NASA A team of researchers from Adelaide University and the SmartSat Cooperative Research Center in South Australia has successfully uploaded and demonstrated NASA and IBM’s open-source Prithvi Geospatial artificial intelligence (AI) foundation model aboard two in-orbit platforms, making it the first geospatial foundation model to be deployed in orbit. Trained on 13 years’ worth of data, Prithvi can facilitate a wide variety of Earth observation tasks. By uploading a compressed version of Prithvi to the South *********** government’s Kanyini satellite and to the Thales Alenia Space IMAGIN-e (ISS Mounted Accessible Global Imaging Nod-e) payload aboard the International Space Station, the researchers tested the model’s flood and cloud detection performance across two different orbiting platforms and computing environments. Prithvi’s demo prediction of burn scars from the Gifford Fire, which occurred northwest of Los Angeles on August 17, 2025. When deployed aboard an Earth-observing satellite, foundation models can perform advanced analyses before the data even reaches the ground. NASA The team chose Prithvi for their research because of its strong generalization across Earth observation tasks, and because of its availability as an open-source model. “If Prithvi weren’t open source, I would have to train my own foundation model,” said Dr. Andrew Du, the project’s lead researcher, who is a postdoctoral researcher at Adelaide University and an AI engineer at the SmartSat Cooperative Research Center. “Having that model openly available saved a lot of time and effort.” A foundation model is an AI model trained on an enormous amount of unlabeled data, which allows the model to begin detecting patterns in the data that humans wouldn’t notice on their own. The model can then be fine-tuned for specific applications using much smaller amounts of labeled data. Flooding around Lake Norman in North Carolina caused by Hurricane Helene on October 7, 2024. The blue areas of the image are the Prithvi foundation model demo’s prediction of the extent of the flooding. NASA “Prithvi is the first model of its kind to be deployed in orbit, and that demonstrates exactly why we make our AI models open source,” said Kevin Murphy, chief science data officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington, whose office led the collaboration that created Prithvi. “By sharing these tools with anyone who wants to use them, we accelerate scientific and technological development into the future.” Developed by a team of data scientists from IBM and NASA’s IMPACT team within the Office of Data Science and Informatics at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the Prithvi Geospatial model was trained on the Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 dataset. This dataset compiles over a decade of global geospatial data from NASA’s Landsat and ESA (European Space Agency) Sentinel-2 satellites. Prithvi can be adapted for tasks such as mapping flood plains, monitoring disasters, and predicting crop yields. By sharing these tools with anyone who wants to use them, we accelerate scientific and technological development into the future. Kevin Murphy NASA Chief Science Data Officer and Acting Chief Data Officer/Chief AI Officer Earth-observing satellites collect enormous amounts of data about our planet. Processing and analyzing the data in orbit before the satellite sends it back to Earth can help researchers gain insights more quickly. However, active satellites often can’t accept large software updates because of bandwidth limits, so the AI models they carry for data analysis tend to be lightweight and highly specialized. Researchers can use the flexibility of a foundation model to facilitate a wide range of Earth observation tasks in one software architecture. If they want the model to take on a new task once the satellite is in orbit, they only need to upload a small extra decoder package – using far less bandwidth than uploading a whole new model to the satellite. On June 22, 2013, the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured this false-color image of the East Peak fire burning in southern Colorado near Trinidad. Burned areas appear dark red, while actively burning areas look orange. Dark green areas are forests; light green areas are grasslands. Data from Landsat 8 were used to train the Prithvi foundation model, which can help detect burn scars. NASA Earth Observatory Sending Prithvi to orbit is an early demonstration of how foundation models could transform Earth observation. In addition to data analysis, foundation models could eventually help scientists interact with the instruments collecting the data. “A large language model is also a type of foundation model,” Du said. “In the future, this could allow operators to interact with satellites in natural language, asking questions about onboard data or system status and receiving responses in a conversational way.” The NASA team behind Prithvi continues to work on open-source foundation models trained on NASA data. A heliophysics model, Surya, was released in 2025, and the team intends to create foundation models for planetary science, astrophysics, and biological and physical sciences as well. The Prithvi Geospatial foundation model is funded by the Office of the Chief Science Data Officer within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The Office of the Chief Science Data Officer advances scientific discovery through innovative applications and partnerships in data science, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence. To learn more about NASA’s AI foundation models and other AI tools for science, visit: [Hidden Content] By Lauren Leese Web Content Strategist for the Office of the Chief Science Data Officer Share Details Last Updated May 07, 2026 Related Terms Science & Research Artificial Intelligence (AI) Open Science Explore More 6 min read 650 NASA Volunteers Have Co-Authored Scientific Papers Article 2 days ago 5 min read NASA Research Shows Early Life Relied on Rare Metal Article 2 days ago 3 min read New NASA HEAT Coloring Book Blends Art, Science, and Cultural Perspectives A new Sun-centered and science-focused coloring book produced by NASA in partnership with the University… Article 2 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

Members of NASA’s CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) mission 2 pose for a group photo. (From left to right: Ellen Ellis, Ross Elder, James Spicer, and Matthew Montgomery) Credit: NASA The four crew members of NASA’s Mars simulation recently marked 200 days into their 378-day Red Planet mission on May 7. Currently, the crew is in a simulated two‑week loss‑of‑signal ******* that mimics a Mars-Earth communications blackout when Mars moves behind the Sun. During this blackout, the crew works without contact with mission control, using preplanned procedures and available resources to complete tasks and handle any issues that may arise. The CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) mission 2 crew, commanded by Ross Elder and with medical officer Ellen Ellis, science officer Matthew Montgomery, and flight engineer James Spicer, entered the 3D-printed habitat last year at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Oct. 19. They will exit in about six months on Oct. 31. “I’m proud of the crew’s accomplishments over the past 200 days — facing each challenge with fortitude and finding new ways to improve our performance and efficiency daily,” said Ellis. Now over halfway through the mission, the crew continues to provide NASA with valuable insights and data on how humans adapt to isolation, confinement, and resource limitations — all critical factors for future exploration of the Moon and Mars. “We approach every day committed to doing our best work, whether we’re doing a simulated spacewalk, geology, exercise, a medical activity, or anything in between,” said Spicer. “What keeps us motivated is knowing that we’re contributing directly to NASA’s deep space exploration objectives.” The crew has completed robotic operations, performed habitat maintenance, and grown crops inside the 1,700-square-foot habitat. Crew members also experience mission constraints such as delayed communications, limited supplies, and simulated equipment malfunctions. These realistic stressors are designed to help researchers better understand how crews perform under pressure during deep space missions. “Having limited resources, be it tools, equipment, software, supplies, or no internet, really bounds what you have to solve problems,” said Montgomery. “Finding creative and clever solutions has been both challenging and rewarding.” A key objective of NASA’s CHAPEA missions is to gather data on cognitive and physical performance during extended isolation. Researchers monitor how the crew adapts to the environment, manages stress, and maintains productivity. The data will help NASA refine mission planning, habitat design, and support systems for future long-duration missions. “Extended-duration missions are relatively rare in NASA’s history to date,” said Sara Whiting, project scientist and mission manager at Johnson for NASA’s Human Research Program. “The operational lessons learned, along with the detailed health and performance data this crew is providing, come at the perfect time to inform the development of a sustainable lunar presence and longer-term objectives for crewed Mars missions.” As NASA advances toward its long-term goal of human exploration of Mars, simulated missions like CHAPEA are essential to understanding how to keep astronauts healthy, safe, and mission-ready — both during the journey and on the surface of another world. CHAPEA mission 2 commander Ross Elder shows geological samples collected during a simulated extravehicular activity. Credit: NASA CHAPEA mission 2 crew members perform a maintenance task on their stationary bike (Clockwise from the left: Matthew Montgomery, James Spicer, and Ross Elder). Credit: NASA CHAPEA mission 2 medical officer Ellen Ellis collects samples during an extravehicular activity, also known as a spacewalk. Credit: NASA CHAPEA crew members perform blood collections to monitor their health. (From left: James Spicer and Matthew Montgomery) Credit: NASA CHAPEA mission 2 crew members during off-duty time. (From left: Matthew Montgomery, Ellen Ellis, and Ross Elder) Credit: NASA ____ NASA’s Human Research Program NASA’s Human Research Program pursues methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel. Through science conducted in laboratories, ground-based analogs, commercial missions, the International Space Station and Artemis missions, the program scrutinizes how spaceflight affects human bodies and behaviors. Such research drives the program’s quest to innovate ways that keep astronauts healthy and mission ready as human space exploration expands to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Explore More 2 min read Ames Science Stars of the Month May 2026 Article 16 hours ago 5 min read New NASA Technology Mimics Extreme Cold of the Lunar Night Article 1 day ago 2 min read NASA Astronaut to Answer Questions from Students in Florida Article 2 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Living in Space Artemis Human Research Program Space Station Research and Technology View the full article

6 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Students from Cornell University are shown working with an air transportation management tool in which a real drone flying over a remote field thinks its operating with imaginary drones flying in a simulated urban environment. Their work is the result of a NASA grant that is part of the agency’s University Student Research Challenge.Cornell University / Mehrnaz Sabet A team of Cornell University students are turning heads within industry and the federal government with the results of their research into creating a national air transportation management system in which thousands of drones could safely operate together. NASA is sponsoring their work through the University Student Research Challenge (USRC), which provides grants to college students interested in helping the agency realize its aeronautical research goals. “Looking at new traffic management systems for drones is not new,” said Mehrnaz Sabet, a doctoral student in the field of information science who serves as principal investigator on the grant and leads the Cornell team. “In fact, NASA has led that effort for years.” Now, through USRC, NASA is giving Sabet and her team the chance to offer up innovative approaches to drone safety by managing their movements in the air, taking advantage of their young minds and fresh ideas. The ultimate benefit of Cornell’s research in this area is the full realization of advanced air mobility, an area of industry focus that includes everything from urban flying taxis, more robust disaster response aircraft, and hot fresh pizza delivered right to your door. The work also underscores the value NASA places on maturing cutting-edge technologies and helping to develop its future workforce through initiatives like USRC. “Sabet and her team have demonstrated versatile skills involving software, algorithms, hardware, sensors development, laboratory tests, simulations, and actual flight tests – a rare combination,” said Parimal Koperdekar, acting director of NASA’s Airspace Operations and Safety Program. Flying drones like we drive Currently, drone operators must file plans that fully describes the intended flight path of the drone with a traffic management service. Those plans are checked with others to ensure there will be no collisions – what Sabet calls strategic deconfliction. The challenge is that today’s air traffic management system is limited in its ability to handle the growing number of aircraft taking to the sky. Adding thousands of drones to the mix during the coming years risks over burdening the system, Sabet said. What is needed in the air is essentially what we have on the ground – where millions of people drive on a road every day, she said. As a driver you might know your whole “trajectory,” or the path you’d follow to reach your destination. But you would never coordinate your plan with every other driver on the road before you leave. Instead, traffic laws and infrastructure such as stop lights and traffic signs allow you to deconflict with other cars as you go. Drone operators will still have to file flight plans saying where they intend to go, but the idea is to incorporate that car-like flexibility into drone operating systems, allowing them to be adaptable during their journeys. “We need to ensure all these different types of drones can tactically deconflict with each other so that it is safe for them to operate like cars do on the ground. And that missing piece – tactical deconfliction – is at the center of our project,” Sabet said. Mehrnaz Sabet, a doctoral candidate in the field of information science at Cornell University, leads a student team testing technologies used in a drone traffic management system under a grant from NASA’s University Student Research Challenge, She is seen during a drone traffic simulation exercise taking place in a rural field.Cornell University Two worlds joined The key to the Cornell team’s research is the notion of integrating a simulated world with the real one to test and demonstrate how drones can learn to adapt to potentially hazardous conditions and make necessary corrections in their flight path on their own. Knowing they could not go out and fly 100 drones at the same time to test their ideas for tactical deconfliction, the students decided to create an entirely virtual urban world to evaluate different high-volume traffic models, separation algorithms, and related data. “Our first year of the project went into adapting and scaling that simulation engine and it all went very well,” Sabet said. “But we didn’t want to stick to a simulation. We wanted to see how the simulation translated to the real world, which mattered more.” Still hampered by the limitations of how many drones they could operate and where they could fly – not many and basically in the middle of nowhere – they sought the best of both worlds, real and imagined. “What we wound up doing was to embed the simulation into a real drone, so the drone thought it was flying in a dense urban environment although it was actually flying out in an open field where there wasn’t a real city in sight,” Sabet said. before after A drone designed and built by Cornell University students hovers over an open field during a test of air traffic management system technologies in which the drone “thinks” its flying within an urban environment. The goal is to prove a system in which drones can safely react to unforeseen events and avoid each other in the sky without human intervention.Cornell University Several drones appear in a Cornell University computer graphic simulation of an urban environment in which an air traffic management system is tested to show how the drones can safely alter course on their own to avoid colliding.Cornell University beforeafter A drone designed and built by Cornell University students hovers over an open field during a test of air traffic management system technologies in which the drone “thinks” its flying within an urban environment. The goal is to prove a system in which drones can safely react to unforeseen events and avoid each other in the sky without human intervention.Cornell University Several drones appear in a Cornell University computer graphic simulation of an urban environment in which an air traffic management system is tested to show how the drones can safely alter course on their own to avoid colliding.Cornell University before after drone flight test Combing real and simulated worlds CurtainToggle2-Up Image Details The image at left (BEFORE) shows a Cornell University student-designed and built drone flying in the open above an isolated, rural field. The image at right (AFTER) shows the simulated urban environment the real drone “thinks” its flying in as it calculates all the imaginary drones’ flight paths (the blue and yellow lines) to find the best trajectory to safely avoid a collision. This combining of real and simulated worlds allows the drone to safely test its traffic avoidance technologies. Real world lessons This allowed the team to try out different traffic management tools and evaluate how drones might coordinate course corrections and avoid collisions with each other. During the past year, they’ve taken the idea further by flying two real drones in the real world, each running the real-time simulation on board, allowing them to coordinate and “see” both simulated traffic and each other within the integrated test environment. “We would then intentionally put them on a direct collision course to stress-test the detect and avoid and coordination models and see how well they react and coordinate the drone’s maneuvers to avoid hitting each other,” Sabet said. Their success struck a chord with NASA experts in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM). “What’s impressive is that Cornell’s study included over 10,000 runs involving more than one million trajectories, and over 200,000 hours of experimentation to understand how multi-agent decentralized coordination would safely take place,” Kopardekar said. Industry and the Federal Aviation Administration have also responded positively to this research and its potential. The team was asked to use its infrastructure and technology to virtually recreate an incident in 2025 in which a pair of drones collided with a stationary crane in Arizona. The team also showed how the accident could have been prevented. The team was also asked to simulate recent, real-world fires in California to showcase how drones could better coordinate their movements both to provide situational awareness for public safety officials on the ground and to stay clear of fire-suppressing air tankers. And according to the Cornell team, the FAA is interested in applying the project’s mix of virtual and real-world testing to evaluate drone operations under increasing levels of operational complexity. “This kind of mixed-reality type of operational complexity enables them to test drone operations in a way that was not possible before,” Sabet said. Thanks to NASA’s support through USRC, the Cornell team will continue to expand their capabilities and manage increasingly complex advanced air mobility operations. “Our goal is to build the foundational systems that enable safe, large-scale autonomy in the skies,” Sabet said. USRC is an opportunity within NASA’s Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program under the agency’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. About the AuthorJim BankeManaging Editor/Senior WriterJim Banke is a veteran aviation and aerospace communicator with more than 40 years of experience as a writer, producer, consultant, and project manager based at Cape Canaveral, Florida. He is part of NASA Aeronautics' Strategic Communications Team and is Managing Editor for the Aeronautics topic on nasa.gov. In 2007 he was recognized with a Distinguished Public Service Medal, NASA's highest honor for a non-government employee. Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASAes @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 4 min read There’s No Place Like NASA’s New X-59 Hangar Home Article 1 week ago 8 min read NASA Celebrates Decade of University Innovation in Aeronautics Article 2 weeks ago 4 min read NASA Releases Powerful LAVA Software to US Aerospace Industry Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Artemis Aeronautics STEM Explore NASA’s History Share Details Last Updated May 06, 2026 EditorJim BankeContactSteven Holz*****@*****.tldLynne Sahay*****@*****.tld Related TermsAeronauticsFlight InnovationUniversity Student Research Challenge View the full article

NAS Ames Science Directorate Stars of the Month: May 2026 Portrait photos of the NASA Ames Stars of the Month for May 2026. Pictured left to right: Lora Jovanavić, Tammy Moore, Frances Donovan, and Jaden Ta. The NASA Ames Science Directorate recognizes the outstanding contributions of (pictured left to right) Lora Jovanavić, Tammy Moore, Frances Donovan, and Jaden Ta. Their commitment to the NASA mission represents the entrepreneurial spirit, technical expertise, and collaborative disposition needed to explore this world and beyond. Space Science Star: Lora Jovanavić Lora Jovanić is a research scientist in the Astrophysics Branch for the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute. Lora is recognized for her major role in significantly increasing the number of experimental optical constant datasets available on the Optical Constants Database, from 297 to 533. These optical constants are critical input parameters for models used to interpret observational data returned from space missions (e.g. SPHEREx , Cassini, New Horizons, Juno). Space Biosciences Star: Tammy Moore Tammy Moore is the Space Biosciences Division’s Resource Analyst. Tammy is recognized for her leadership through major changes in budget guidelines and processes and for being a steady source of support for the whole division thanks to her expert knowledge and exceptional determination to help our scientists and engineers. Space Biosciences Star: Frances Donovan Frances Donovan is a scientist and project manager in the Space Biosciences Division. Frances is recognized for her boundless dedication, resourcefulness, and persistence in serving as the Science Directorate’s Contracting Officer’s Representative for the FILMSS-2 (Fully Integrated Lifecycle Mission Support Services) task , educating and supporting the task requestors, and inventing new approaches to significantly simplify task management. Earth Science Star: Jaden Ta Jaden Ta is a deputy project manager in the Earth Science Project Office in the Earth Science Division. Jaden is recognized for her valuable contributions to the Earth Venture Suborbital FarmFlux investigation. She is acknowledged for her leadership in developing the project’s Investigation Implementation Plan and for her strategic role in determining deployment locations for the research aircraft. View the full article

3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Range operators at the Dryden Aeronautical Test Range at NASA’s Armstong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, provide voice and tracking support to the International Space Station. In this Friday, Dec. 6, 2025, photo, Alex Oganesyan, left, and Deming Ingles are at their workstations, where they support communications backup for space station missions.NASA/Christopher LC Clark NASA advances aeronautics and space technologies through experimental aircraft and flight research at the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Behind those efforts is the Dryden Aeronautical Test Range (DATR), which provides the communications, tracking, and data services that enable safe and effective missions. For most NASA Armstrong research flights, the DATR supplies communications, radar, and telemetry. The range’s video capabilities can also capture ground footage as well as long-range coverage for flights. Modernization efforts started in the early 2020s expanded those capabilities and prepared the range to support efforts such as test flights of NASA’s X‑59 quiet supersonic research aircraft, as well as spaceflight communications. “The DATR provides real‑time data, tracking, and situational awareness that help keep flight research safe and efficient,” said Tara McCoy, acting deputy director for DATR Mission Operations at NASA Armstrong. “The range also supports science missions, works with industry partners, and provides capabilities used for International Space Station operations.” Ongoing upgrades include new very high frequency (VHF) ground antennas, updated electronic components, and software improvements for tracking the International Space Station and visiting spacecraft. NASA installed additional antennas to ensure backup coverage. The range’s ability to processes and display real‑time radar, telemetry, and video data is critical for monitoring research flights, such as NASA’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) wing model. CATNLF, a scale-model wing attached under a NASA F-15B research jet, is designed to improve the smooth flow of air known as laminar flow, reducing drag and lowering fuel costs for future commercial aircraft. The DATR also supports aircraft platforms that enable science missions, such as the ER-2 high-altitude aircraft and the C-20A aircraft. NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft first flight travels from Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California, to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. The control room at NASA Armstrong enabled engineers to monitor real-time flight data, maintain communication, and view video throughout the mission, demonstrating the capabilities of the center’s Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.NASA Television Preparing for future flights The range is developing multiple approaches to streamline and shorten the time it takes to process and validate raw flight data for researchers, saving time and resources. “The faster we can get data to the project engineers to review, the faster they can determine whether certain test points need to be repeated, or future test points can be skipped,” said David Tow, DATR chief engineer. “We are working these efforts simultaneously because each one has the potential to drastically improve how long it takes to deliver post-processing data.” One NASA approach is to automate and consolidate the data processing steps from five down to one. Another approach leverages an existing partnership with the U.S. Air Force to enable multiple computers to post-process data from separate missions simultaneously. The collaboration between the Air Force and DATR aims to reduce processing time for post-flight data from two hours to less than 30 minutes. Mission operator Mike Webb sits at one of the radar stations used to track the International Space Station as it passes high above NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Sept. 30, 2025. Webb is part of the center’s Dryden Aeronautical Test Range, which provides voice and tracking support to the space station.NASA/Christopher LC Clark Supporting space station operations The DATR is part of NASA’s safety and communications infrastructure that supports International Space Station missions. Its capabilities are used for backup communications and telemetry during launches, dockings, and reentries. NASA Armstrong is one of only two ground stations in the United States capable of sending and receiving messages on all space station frequencies. The other is NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Armstrong has provided communications and radar tracking for the station since its first component launched in 1998 and continues to support commercial cargo and crew missions. A telemetry antenna, right, and two radars are part of the Dryden Aeronautical Test Range at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.NASA/Lauren Hughes Sonja Belcher and Zack Springer support research flights at the telemetry and radar acquisition processing system at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards, California.NASA Advancing NASA’s mission The range operates within NASA’s Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project in its Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate and remains positioned to support aeronautics, science, and International Space Station missions with communications, tracking, and data services. Share Details Last Updated May 06, 2026 EditorDede DiniusContactJay Levine*****@*****.tldLocationArmstrong Flight Research Center Related TermsArmstrong Flight Research CenterFlight Demonstrations and Capabilities Explore More 4 min read NASA Fosters Development of Lunar Resource-Seeking Technologies Article 2 days ago 4 min read There’s No Place Like NASA’s New X-59 Hangar Home Article 1 week ago 6 min read NASA Tech and Science Bound for Low Earth Orbit on Commercial Launch Article 1 month ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Aircraft Flown at Armstrong Aeronautics Earth Science View the full article

1 Min Read test article /wp-content/plugins/nasa-blocks/assets/images/article-hero-header/article-c-example-01.jpg Teams are evaluating how to train for lunar surface operations during Artemis missions, in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credits: NASA this is a test page View the full article

1 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Aerial view of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility main base in Wallops Island, Virginia.Courtesy of Patrick Hendrickson To facilitate discussion and information sharing on activities at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, a public information session is being held 4–6 p.m., Wednesday, May 13, at the NASA Wallops Visitor Center. During the event, NASA will have information booths on the status on the causeway bridge construction, updates on beach replenishment, and a representative from the GLOBE program. Federal and state health experts will be on hand to speak with the public on the PFAS health consultation report released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The NASA Wallops Visitor Center is located on Virginia Route 175 about five miles from U.S. Route 13 and five miles from Chincoteague. Share Details Last Updated May 06, 2026 ContactAmy Barra*****@*****.tldJamie Adkins*****@*****.tldLocationWallops Flight Facility Related TermsWallops Flight FacilityGoddard Medical and Environmental Division Explore More 1 min read NASA Wallops Visitor Center Extended Hours June 12 Article 2 years ago View the full article

A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft supporting NASA’s SpaceX CRS-33 mission approaches the International Space Station on Aug. 25, 2025, for an automated docking to the Harmony module’s forward port. Credit: NASA NASA and SpaceX are targeting 7:16 p.m. EDT Tuesday, May 12, for the next launch to deliver science, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. This will be the 34th SpaceX commercial resupply services mission to the orbital outpost for NASA. Carrying about 6,500 pounds of cargo, a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will lift off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Dragon is scheduled to dock autonomously at about 9:50 a.m. Thursday, May 14, to the forward port of the station’s Harmony module. Watch NASA’s launch and arrival coverage 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. In addition to cargo for the crew aboard the space station, Dragon will deliver several new experiments, including a project to determine how well Earth-based simulators mimic microgravity conditions, a bone scaffold made from wood that could produce new treatments for fragile bone conditions like osteoporosis, and equipment to evaluate how red blood cells and the spleen change in space to protect future astronauts. The Dragon spacecraft also will carry a new instrument to study charged particles around the Earth that can impact power grids and satellites, an investigation that could provide a fundamental understanding of how planets form, and an instrument designed to take highly accurate measurements of sunlight reflected by Earth and the Moon. The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to remain at the space station until mid-June when it will depart the orbiting laboratory and return to Earth with time-sensitive research and cargo, ahead of splashing down off the coast of California. NASA’s mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations): Monday, May 11 11 a.m.: Prelaunch media teleconference with the following participants: Bill Spetch, operations and integration manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program Dr. Liz Warren, deputy chief scientist, NASA’s International Space Station Program Lee Echerd, senior mission manger, Government and Commercial Mission Management, SpaceX Brian Cizek, launch weather officer, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron Media who wish to participate by phone must request dial-in information by 10 a.m. on May 11, by emailing the NASA Kennedy newsroom at: ksc*****@*****.tld. Audio of the media teleconference will stream live on the agency’s YouTube channel. Tuesday, May 12 7 p.m.: Launch coverage begins on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. Launch coverage also will be available on the NASA website, and will include live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 7 p.m., and proceed as 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 NASA’s International Space Station blog for updates. 7:16 p.m.: Launch Thursday, May 14 8:20 a.m.: Arrival coverage begins on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. 9:50 a.m.: Docking Attend launch virtually Members of the public can 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. Watch, Engage on social media Let people know you’re watching the mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by following and tagging these accounts: X: @NASA, @NASASpaceOps, @NASAKennedy, @Space_Station, @ISS_CASIS Facebook: NASA, NASAKennedy, ISS, ISS National Lab Instagram: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @ISS, @ISSNationalLab Learn more about International Space Station operations and research at: [Hidden Content] -end- Jimi Russell Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 *****@*****.tld Danielle Sempsrott / Leejay Lockhart Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Sandra Jones / Joseph Zakrzewski Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 sandra.p*****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated May 06, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsCommercial ResupplyInternational Space Station (ISS)NASA HeadquartersSpaceX Commercial Resupply View the full article

A newly discovered object may be a key to unlocking the true nature of a mysterious class of sources that astronomers have found in the early universe in recent years.NASA/CXC/SAO/M. Weiss; adapted by K. Arcand & J. Major A new “X-ray dot” found by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory – which could look like this artist’s illustration released on April 28, 2026 – could explain what the hundreds or potentially thousands of these objects are. Shortly after NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope started its science observations, reports of a new class of mysterious objects emerged. Astronomers found small, red objects about 12 billion light-years from Earth or farther, which became known as “little red dots” (LRDs). The dot that Chandra found exhibits most of the features of an LRD, including being small, red, and located at a vast distance, but it glows in X-ray light, unlike other LRDs – hence the name “X-ray dot.” This object (officially known as 3DHST-AEGIS-12014), which is located about 11.8 billion light-years from Earth, may provide a crucial bridge between ****** hole stars and typical growing supermassive ****** holes. Read more about this mysterious dot. Image credit: NASA/CXC/SAO/M. Weiss; adapted by K. Arcand & J. Major View the full article

This artist’s concept shows an isolated neutron star as an ultra-dense stellar remnant, packing more mass than the Sun into a city-sized sphere and radiating energy as it slowly cools in the depths of space. NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will search for, and could measure the mass of, isolated neutron stars using astrometric microlensing.NASA, STScI, Ralf Crawford (STScI) Astronomers have long known that neutron stars, the crushed cores left behind after massive stars explode, should be scattered throughout the Milky Way galaxy. However, most of them are effectively invisible. A new study published in Astronomy and Astrophysics suggests NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope could spot them anyway. Using detailed simulations of the Milky Way and Roman’s future observations, researchers showed the flagship observatory may be able to identify and characterize dozens of isolated neutron stars through a subtle effect called gravitational microlensing. “Most neutron stars are relatively dim and on their own,” said Zofia Kaczmarek of Heidelberg University in Germany, who led the study. “They are incredibly hard to spot without some sort of help.” Finding what’s invisible Neutron stars pack more mass than the Sun into a sphere about the size of a city. Studying them helps us understand how stars live, die, and spread heavy elements throughout the universe. They also provide a chance to study what happens under the most extreme conditions (pressures and densities) imaginable. Yet, unless they are pulsars that beam in radio wavelengths or glow in X-rays, they can remain hidden from even the most powerful telescopes. Roman can search for them in a different way. When a massive object like a neutron star moves in front of a distant background star, its intense gravity warps spacetime and deflects the background star’s light. This microlensing effect briefly makes the background star brighter and appear offset from its true position in the sky. While many telescopes can detect the temporary brightening, Roman can measure both the brightening (photometry) and the tiny positional shift (astrometry) of the lensed star with exceptional precision. Astrometric microlensing occurs when a foreground object, like a neutron star, passes in front of a more distant background star. The neutron star’s gravity bends the distant star’s light, splitting it into multiple paths that reach the telescope. Although these distorted images can’t be resolved, their combined light appears brighter and slightly shifted from the distant star’s true position. As the alignment between the two objects changes over time, this apparent shift traces a small elliptical pattern on the sky. The size of that ellipse depends on how strongly the light is bent, meaning more massive objects produce larger shifts, allowing astronomers to directly measure the mass of the otherwise invisible neutron star.NASA, STScI, Joyce Kang (STScI) Because neutron stars are relatively massive, they produce a larger astrometric signal than lighter objects, allowing missions like Roman to not only detect them, but also weigh them in some cases, something that is nearly impossible with photometry alone. “What’s really cool about using microlensing is that you can get direct mass measurements,” said paper co-author Peter McGill of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. “Photometry tells us that something passed in front of the star, but it’s the amount the star’s position shifts that tells us how massive that object is. By measuring that tiny deflection on the sky, we can directly weigh something that is otherwise unseen.” Roman’s measurements could help astronomers determine whether there is a true gap between the masses of neutron stars and ****** holes and how fast neutron stars are moving. Scientists are particularly interested in understanding the powerful “kicks” neutron stars receive when they are born in supernova explosions. These kicks can send them racing through the galaxy at hundreds of miles per second. Huge surveys, high chance of payoff The research team will utilize Roman’s future Galactic Bulge Time Domain Survey, which will monitor millions of stars at a time in vast images of the sky, taken at a high frequency. “We’re going to get to work as soon as the data start coming in,” said McGill. “Even in the first months after commissioning, we expect to start identifying promising events.” Even a relatively small number of confirmed detections could significantly improve models of stellar explosions and extreme matter. “We don’t know the mass distribution of neutron stars, ****** holes, or where one ends and the other begins with any certainty,” McGill said. “Roman will really be a breakthrough in that.” Although only a few thousand neutron stars have been detected so far, mostly as pulsars, scientists estimate there could be tens of millions to hundreds of millions in the Milky Way. Additionally, to date, researchers have only been able to measure the masses of neutron stars in binary pairings. “We’re seeing a small sample that’s not representative of the big picture,” Kaczmarek said. “Even a single mass measurement would be very powerful. If we found just one isolated neutron star, it would already be incredibly stimulating to our research.” Looking ahead The study also highlights a creative use of the mission’s capabilities. While Roman’s survey is designed primarily to find exoplanets using photometric microlensing, its powerful astrometric capabilities open the door to entirely new discoveries with astrometric microlensing. “This wasn’t part of the original plan,” said McGill. “But it turns out Roman’s astrometric capability is really good at detecting neutron stars and ****** holes, so we can add a whole new kind of science to Roman’s surveys.” If the predictions hold true, the mission could provide the first large sample of isolated neutron stars discovered through their gravity alone, revealing a hidden population that has remained out of reach until now. Roman is expected to transform the study of microlensing and the hidden populations of objects in our galaxy, from rogue exoplanets to stellar remnants like neutron stars. 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. To learn more about Roman visit: [Hidden Content] By Hannah Braun Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md. *****@*****.tld Media contacts: Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. 301-286-1940 Christine Pulliam Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md. *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated May 06, 2026 EditorAshley BalzerContactAshley Balzer*****@*****.tldLocationGoddard Space Flight Center Related TermsNancy Grace Roman Space TelescopeGoddard Space Flight CenterNeutron StarsStarsThe Universe Explore More 7 min read One Survey by NASA’s Roman Could Unveil 100,000 Cosmic Explosions Article 10 months ago 7 min read Core Survey by NASA’s Roman Mission Will Unveil Universe’s Dark Side Article 3 months ago 7 min read NASA Announces Plan to Map Milky Way With Roman Space Telescope Article 5 months ago View the full article

Cryogenic engineer Adam Rice tests the Lunar Environment Structural Test Rig at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland to simulate the thermal-vacuum conditions of the lunar night on Thursday, May 22, 2025.NASA/Jef Janis As NASA looks to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond, researchers must develop materials capable of withstanding the extreme temperatures found in space and on other planets and their moons. In frigid conditions, rubber can shatter like glass, circuit boards may fail, and electrical connections can freeze and fracture. Gaining a deeper understanding of how materials respond to these temperature extremes is critical — especially as NASA looks to build its Moon Base at the lunar South Pole, where surface temperatures swing dramatically from blistering heat during the day to bitter cold at night. Researchers developed a ground-breaking method for testing how materials hold up in the extreme cold of space. Engineers at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland invented the Lunar Environment Structural Test Rig (LESTR), a machine that can test materials, electronics, and other flight hardware at temperatures as low as 40 Kelvin, or about –388 degrees Fahrenheit. “Just as no building ever gets built without knowing exactly how the construction materials behave, no space mission is complete without a robust structural design that hinges on knowing how the materials used within it behave,” said Ariel Dimston, technical lead for LESTR at NASA Glenn. Traditionally, NASA has used a process that involves super-cold liquids — called liquid cryogens — to test how materials respond to extreme cold. These liquids, like nitrogen, hydrogen, and helium, are some of the coldest materials on Earth and are stored in specialized tanks. Engineers use them to chill materials during testing and collect data to see how they perform. “What makes LESTR special is that the entire rig operates in a completely dry vacuum: no liquid nitrogen, no liquid helium, no liquid anything,” Dimston said. “This is the first mechanical test rig that escapes from all of the challenges involved with cryogenic fluids.” LESTR takes a new approach by using a high-powered refrigerator, called a cryocooler, to remove heat without using any liquid at all. This creates the first “dry” cryogenic test environment within the mechanical testing industry. This new test rig is safer and more affordable than traditional methods and allows scientists to test materials at a much wider range of temperatures, Dimston said. “By leaving behind the liquid cryogen, you no longer need specialized handling equipment such as dewers, wet heaters, nor valves,” Dimston said. “You no longer require oxygen displacement sensors and other safety systems that add time, complexity, and cost to the process since without these cryogens they are no longer needed.” Dimston and his team are working with NASA programs and projects to put materials through their paces using the new apparatus. The team has been testing yarns that may someday be woven into fabrics used for next-generation spacesuits and is looking to develop advanced materials for rover tires, including a new metal that can return to its original shape after being bent, stretched, heated, and cooled. This shape memory alloy technology could help future rovers travel across the uneven, rocky surfaces of the Moon and Mars without the risk of flat tires. The Lunar Environment Structural Test Rig at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland simulates the intense cold of the lunar night on Friday, June 6, 2025.NASA/Steven Logan NASA researchers spent more than two years designing and building the first version of the technology — LESTR 1 — and are currently building its twin, LESTR 2. In a partnership with Fort Wayne Metals, NASA delivered LESTR 1 to the company’s facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where experts there will use it to test shape memory alloy material for the extreme temperatures present on the Moon. “We are working to develop a next-generation shape memory alloy that is capable of functioning at temperatures down to 40 Kelvin, one of the coldest regions we could go to with rover capability,” said Dr. Santo Padula II, principal investigator for LESTR at NASA Glenn. “With this rig, we can test how shape memory alloys will behave in the coldest areas of the Moon and Mars. That will be a very big day for us: to be able to see what its properties look like at such low temperatures — something we’ve never seen before.” Beyond LESTR, NASA Glenn has other world-class ground test facilities that mimic environments like the vacuum of space, the microgravity aboard the International Space Station, the sulfuric pressure cooker that is Venus, or the terrain of the Moon and Mars. Glenn leads the agency in both advanced materials testing and in-space cryogenic fluid management, playing a vital role in developing technologies for future space exploration. For more information on Glenn’s new test rig, visit LESTR’s web page. View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Melting Snow Off Shivelyuch 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 Snow has melted from warm volcanic deposits of ash and soil on the flanks of Shivelyuch on April 23, 2026, in this image captured by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin Shivelyuch (also called Shiveluch), the most northerly active volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. On a near-daily basis, satellites detect new signs of activity within its horseshoe-shaped caldera, including thermal anomalies, hot avalanches and debris flows, and ash deposits that darken the surrounding landscape. The Landsat 9 satellite captured this image of the towering volcano—one of the largest and tallest on the peninsula—on April 23, 2026, a day when fresh activity left its mark on the snowy, late-spring landscape. A multi-lobed plug of viscous lava called a lava dome—appearing as a dark patch in the caldera—has been actively growing in recent months, according to reports from the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT). Dome-building lava is typically extruded slowly and piles up into lobed, sloped, or spine-like shapes akin to those that form when toothpaste is squeezed from a tube. The caldera contains a growing lava dome and signs of block-and-ash flows in channels radiating outward in this detailed image, acquired April 23, 2026, by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin On Shivelyuch, lava domes cycle through periods of growth and collapse, frequently producing explosive bursts of ash and launching avalanches of hot ash and soil called pyroclastic flows when they collapse. Debris slides through structures that Alina Shevchenko, a volcanologist with the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, called “avalanche chutes” and “lahar channels” radiating outward from the caldera. Collapses can trigger events geologists call “block-and-ash flows,” which typically contain coarse, blocky chunks of cooled volcanic rock along with powdery volcanic ash and soil. Such flows often produce thick, insulating deposits that retain heat for long periods, sometimes even months or years, melting snow in the winter months. As seen in the Landsat images above, this activity leaves dark channels and exposed patches that contrast with the surrounding snow cover. Satellites have regularly detected thermal anomalies within the caldera and near the growing lava dome in recent months, as well as warm land surface temperatures along the network of channels. On the day the image was acquired, KVERT reported that the “explosive-extrusive eruption” of the volcano continued, accompanied by “powerful gas-steam activity.” An unusually large eruption and flank collapse in April 2023 sent massive pyroclastic flows barreling tens of kilometers down the mountain, destroying vast swaths of forest and leaving large deposits and flow channels near the foot of the mountain that are still visible today. “It’s quite possible that those deposits still retain some heat from that event,” said Janine Krippner, a geologist based in New Zealand. Krippner noted that when she did field research on Shivelyuch block-and-ash flows in 2015, she could still feel the heat within deposits that were five years old. “Shivelyuch is an incredible volcano that has collapsed over and over again, on several scales, ranging from enormous flank collapses to more modest dome-collapse events,” Krippner said. “It goes through cycles of collapse but then builds itself up again and again through constant volcanic activity,” she added. “It should really be on a motivational poster.” NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland. Downloads April 23, 2026 JPEG (7.84 MB) References & Resources Global Volcanism Program (2026) Sheveluch. Accessed May 5, 2026. Grishin, S.Y., et al. (2025) Impact of the Major Eruption of the Shiveluch Volcano (April 2023, Kamchatka) on Ecosystems: The Extent of Forest Burial and Damage Based on Satellite Data. Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics, 61, 1129–1136. Krippner, J.B., et al. (2018) Parametric analysis of lava dome-collapse events and pyroclastic deposits at Shiveluch volcano, Kamchatka, using visible and infrared satellite data. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 354, 115-129. Krippner, J.B., et al. (2018) Exceptionally large block-and-ash flows: a detailed study of the 2005 and 2010 eruption deposits of Shiveluch volcano. EarthArXiv preprint. NASA Earth Observatory (2023, April 12) Kamchatka Erupts. Accessed May 5, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2011, January 25) Activity at Shiveluch Volcano. Accessed May 5, 2026. Shevchenko, A., et al. (2021) Constructive and Destructive Processes During the 2018–2019 Eruption Episode at Shiveluch Volcano, Kamchatka, Studied From Satellite and Aerial Data. Frontiers in Earth Science Volcanology, 9, 680051. Zharinov, N.A. & Demyanchuk, Y.V. (2024) The April 11, 2023 Catastrophic Explosive Eruption of Sheveluch Volcano, Kamchatka. Journal of Volcanology and Seismology, 18, 1–9. 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. Eruption at Mayon 3 min read Activity at the volcano in the Philippines sent lava and pyroclastic flows down the volcano’s flanks and prompted evacuations in… Article Restless Kīlauea Launches Lava and Ash 3 min read Episode 43 of the Hawaiian volcano’s current eruption was marked by high lava fountains and widespread ash dispersal. Article Scoria Cones on Earth and Mars 7 min read The hill-shaped features are a sign of explosive volcanic activity—a rarity on the Red Planet. 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

Explore This Section Science Science Activation NASA eClips and GLOBE… Overview Learning Resources Science Activation Teams SME Map Opportunities More Science Activation Stories Citizen Science Science Activation Opportunities 3 min read NASA eClips and GLOBE Educators Strengthen a Regional STEM Ecosystem in Coastal Virginia Jessica Taylor, Physical Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center and Principle Investigator for GLOBE Clouds and the My NASA Data project, explains calibration of an infrared thermometer. Thirty-eight science educators representing seven school districts across Virginia’s Tidewater region joined forces with community organizations, such as the Elizabeth River Project, to deepen their instructional practice through a dynamic collaboration between NASA eClips and the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) Program. Together, these groups are cultivating a regional STEM ecosystem that connects classrooms, community science, and NASA resources in meaningful and lasting ways. As part of NASA’s Science Activation Program, NASA eClips engages educators and learners with standards-aligned resources grounded in authentic NASA science. Complementing this work, the GLOBE Program empowers participants to contribute to citizen science through environmental data collection and analysis. The partnership between these two programs creates a powerful bridge between content knowledge and real-world application – bringing Earth Systems science to life for both educators and learners. Educators gathered for a three-hour professional learning experience on March 7 or April 18, 2026 at the National Institute of Aerospace in Hampton, Virginia. Through hands-on investigations, participants explored how land cover influences surface temperature, how clouds impact atmospheric conditions, and how soil plays a critical role in environmental systems. These experiences were anchored in NASA eClips resources and GLOBE protocols, offering practical strategies for teaching key Virginia Science Standards of Learning related to weather, climate, land covering, and Earth’s energy budget. Participants calibrated and used scientific instruments such as infrared thermometers and multi-day minimum/maximum thermometers, gaining confidence in collecting accurate environmental data. They examined the urban heat island effect, engaged in interactive activities including an energetic cloud dance and a cloud opacity demonstration, and learned how to contribute observations through practice of using the GLOBE Observer app. These immersive experiences not only strengthened content knowledge but also modeled how authentic science practices can be integrated into classroom instruction. This initiative builds on two years of intentional collaboration among the NASA eClips Educators from the National Institute of Aerospace’s Center for Integrative STEM Education (NIA-CISE); GLOBE scientists from NASA Langley Research Center; and regional school divisions and community organizations that laid the foundation for a sustainable regional STEM ecosystem. Support from the Coastal Virginia STEM Hub, funded through the Virginia General Assembly, has been instrumental in expanding access to these opportunities. Grant funding provided educator stipends and enabled the purchase of essential equipment, including weather instrument shelters and soil kits. In a powerful example of cross-sector collaboration, the instrument shelters were constructed by Career and Technical Education (CTE) students in Hampton City Schools and Norfolk Public Schools using GLOBE specifications, further connecting students to the scientific process while supporting their peers’ learning. As participating school divisions and community organizations integrate NASA eClips and GLOBE resources into their curricula and outreach efforts, they are ensuring that all learners have access to authentic, data-driven science experiences. Together, this network of educators, students, and partners is not only enhancing science education, but also building a connected, collaborative STEM ecosystem where learning extends beyond the classroom and into the community. NASA eClips, led by NIA-CISE, is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AB91A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: [Hidden Content] Share Details Last Updated May 05, 2026 Editor NASA Science Editorial Team Related Terms Science Activation Opportunities For Educators to Get Involved Explore More 3 min read New NASA HEAT Coloring Book Blends Art, Science, and Cultural Perspectives A new Sun-centered and science-focused coloring book produced by NASA in partnership with the University… Article 7 hours ago 4 min read Breaking Barriers at 3rd Annual Findings from the Field Symposium This year’s Findings from the Field Student Research Symposium welcomed 106 students, grades four through… Article 1 day ago 4 min read Artemis Moon Tree Dedicated in Honor of Mary W. Jackson Article 1 month ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA James Webb Space Telescope Webb is the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It studies every phase in the… Perseverance Rover This rover and its aerial sidekick were assigned to study the geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient microbial… Parker Solar Probe On a mission to “touch the Sun,” NASA’s Parker Solar Probe became the first spacecraft to fly through the corona… Juno NASA’s Juno spacecraft entered orbit around Jupiter in 2016, the first explorer to peer below the planet’s dense clouds to… View the full article

Photojournal Navigation Science Photojournal NASA’s Perseverance Mars… Photojournal Home Photojournal Search Latest Content Galleries Feedback RSS About 2 Min Read NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover Surveys ‘Crocodile Bridge’ PIA26699 Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/****/MSSS Description NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z camera system to capture this 360-degree panorama of a region nicknamed “Crocodile Bridge” on Jezero Crater’s rim. The panorama is made up of 980 images, 971 of which were taken on Dec. 18, 2025, the 1,717th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. An additional nine were taken on Jan. 25, 2026, Sol 1,754. This natural-color view has been processed to show the landscape as the human eye would see it. Jezero Crater’s rim and the regions around it hold some of the oldest rocks anywhere in the solar system; they serve as time capsules of the Red Planet’s early history, when its crust and atmosphere were still forming. No terrain this ancient exists on Earth, where tectonic plates constantly recycle the surface. (Mars lacks tectonic plates, allowing some of this very old material to be preserved.) “Crocodile Bridge” represents a transition into an area nicknamed “Lac de Charmes,” which Perseverance will explore for several months later this year. [Full-resolution image versions of figures A through E can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.] Figure A (low resolution) Figure A is the natural-color view panorama. Figure B (low resolution) Figure B is the same panorama in an enhanced-color view, which brings out subtle details. Figure C (low resolution) Figure C is an anaglyph (3D) version of the natural-color view of the panorama. Figure D (low resolution) Figure D is an anaglyph red-color view of the enhanced version of the panorama. Figure E (low resolution) Figure E is an anaglyph blue-color view of the enhanced version of the panorama. Managed for NASA by Caltech, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover on behalf of the agency’s Science Mission Directorate as part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program portfolio. Arizona State University leads the operations of the Mastcam-Z instrument, working in collaboration with Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, on the design, fabrication, testing, and operation of the cameras, and in collaboration with the Niels Bohr Institute of the University of Copenhagen on the design, fabrication, and testing of the calibration targets. To learn more about Perseverance, visit: science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-2020-perseverance Downloads PIA26699 Figure A TIFF (4.13 GB) PIA26699 Figure B TIFF (4.16 GB) PIA26699 Figure C TIFF (4.42 GB) PIA26699 Figure D TIFF (3.66 GB) PIA26699 Figure E TIFF (3.53 GB) Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From Photojournal Photojournal Search Photojournal Photojournal’s Latest Content Feedback 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 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4879-4885: Struggle at Atacama NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image, of its drill (above, now free of the Atacama block) and the stubborn stone block, again back on the surface (below), on May 2, 2026. Curiosity captured the image using its Mast Camera (Mastcam) on Sol 4883, or Martian day 4,883 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission, at 09:14:58 UTC. NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Written by William Farrand, Senior Research Scientist, Space Science Institute Earth planning date: Friday, May 1, 2026 Chile’s Atacama desert is the driest mid-latitude desert in the world, receiving only 15 millimeters (0.59 inches) of precipitation per year. Only the dry valleys of Antarctica receive less precipitation. These environmental conditions have made the Atacama a challenging place to survive in. Like its namesake, the Atacama drill target on Mars presented a challenge to the Curiosity rover and to the rover team. The planning week began with the downlinked data indicating that a successful drill hole was made in the Atacama target, but the rock being drilled into was a detached block and as the arm was raised to extract the drill, the rock came along with it! Not being in the sample collection business, like her twin rover Perseverance, Curiosity’s rover planners went to work to develop a plan to extract the drill bit from the rock. These included efforts at changing the orientation of the drill bit, and attached block, as well as carrying out percussion to try to vibrate the rock off. Ultimately, as a result of activities like these in the Sol 4883-4885 plan, we freed the drill from the Atacama block. With in-situ science activities precluded due to the efforts to free the drill bit from the Atacama block, the science at that time instead focused on remote sensing. The Sol 4879-4880 plan included ChemCam LIBS measurements of a dark cobble, “Pichiacani,” and a dark pebble, “Poco a Poco.” ChemCam also attempted passive reflectance measurements of white blocks on the slope of the distant Paniri butte and RMI imaging of Valle Grande. Mastcam collected documentation images of the ChemCam targets and also carried out change detection imaging of the target “Playa los Metales.” The Sol 4881-4882 plan consisted of LIBS scanning of bedrock targets “El Plomo” and “El Turbio.” Mastcam change detection on the Playa los Metales regions continued. Mastcam also extended the previously collected “Kimsa Chata” mosaic. In the Sol 4883-4885 plan, the team was able to take advantage of the efforts to remove the Atacama block by carrying out ChemCam LIBS observations of the granular material below where the block had been. This included the target “Cuturipa,” below where the block had been, and a profile of the wall of the cavity where the block had been, which was given the target name “Chaitén.” ChemCam also observed a light-toned block, “Chiloé,” that had been covered by the Atacama block. ChemCam RMI imaging was planned for the layering of the Mishe Mokwa butte and of “Azul Pampa,” a rock with prominent polygonal patterns. The plan also included a Navcam dust-****** survey, ChemCam passive-sky measurements, and an APXS atmospheric observation. Future activities involve wrapping up the drill campaign on Atacama and, nominally, seeking a more firmly rooted drill target in order to collect drill tailings for analysis, which were lost from Atacama as part of the effort to dislodge the drill bit from the rock. Learn more, and watch as the Atacama target rock gets stuck and unstuck 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 Curiosity rover at the base of Mount Sharp NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Share Details Last Updated May 05, 2026 Related Terms Blogs Explore More 2 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4873-4878: Welcome to the Atacama Drill Target Article 6 days ago 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4867-4872: Sand Fill In Antofagasta Crater and Finding Our Next Drill Target Article 2 weeks ago 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4859-4866: One Small Crater and Thousands of Polygons Article 3 weeks 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

After a recent count, NASA Citizen Science is proud to report that more than 650 people who have volunteered to participate in NASA citizen science projects have co-authored peer-reviewed research papers with scientists on those project teams. These volunteers made incredible contributions like: Spotting comets, gamma-ray bursts, and brown dwarfs in data collected by space telescopes. Observing auroras, sprites, and noctilucent clouds from here on Earth. Using their backyard telescopes to gather data on exoplanets or their cell phones to report mosquito breeding habitat. Using their ham radios to study Earth’s ionosphere. And all of them saw their passion and dedication translated into lasting contributions to the scientific literature that will inform generations of researchers to come. Explore these frequently asked questions and discover how you, too, can be a part of scientific discovery and become a co-author. Why do peer-reviewed research papers matter? When scientists make a discovery, they write up the details of their research and its results in a manuscript and submit it to a scientific journal. The journal’s editors subject the manuscript to the ‘peer-review’ process, in which they invite other scientists to verify and validate the methods used and the novelty and importance of the results. Peer-reviewed research papers are the primary way scientists document what they discover or learn and share it with each other and the world. Once a paper passes the peer-review process, it is published where other scientists can read it, criticize it, and build on it. Contributing to published scientific literature is an important and celebrated part of a scientific career – for PhD scientists and citizen scientists alike. A list of published papers is the core of any scientist’s resume, and any budding scientist’s first publication is widely considered a milestone worth celebrating. Three cheers for each and every one of the 650 published citizen science project volunteers! How can I get involved in writing a scientific paper through NASA citizen science? Sometimes, volunteers get lucky – they’re simply notified by the project science team that their contributions have made it into a scientific paper. However, if you are determined to become a published author, it helps to choose your project carefully and then to take initiative. First, find a project that interests you. In the words of citizen scientist Michael Primm, “pick one or more [projects that] appeal to you, and try them out for size. If you don’t like them, try other ones.” Once you have a project you like, do the task frequently enough to get comfortable and confident. Read all the project material you can, including any frequently asked questions and blog posts the team may have written. Many of the extraordinary breakthroughs in these projects come from participants noticing patterns in the data that are unusual – you can’t do this unless you’ve developed a good sense of what’s “normal.” “Find a project where you can communicate directly with the scientists involved,” said Marc Kuchner, citizen science officer, NASA Headquarters in Washington. “That way, you can get the coaching and mentorship you need to learn the paper-writing process.” A good place to start is with the projects listed on the publications by NASA citizen scientists webpage, since these projects have track records of involving volunteers in papers. “After you’ve followed the instructions and participated in a project, it’s all about asking questions!” said Kuchner. “Ask other participants first, and read the project’s FAQ and Research pages. Dig into scientific journal articles, if you can. Before long, you’ll find yourself with a novel and meaningful question nobody knows the answer to. Then you’ll have an excellent reason to start a conversation with the science team.” Second, look for ways to interact with project scientists and teams and stay informed and involved. Many NASA citizen science project teams have regular calls or meetings with participants. They also sometimes give participants the option to sign up for an email list, through which they share additional opportunities to interact with the scientists leading the projects. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help, either from your fellow citizen scientists or even the pros of the project you’re working on,” said citizen scientist Les Hamlet, co-author of three papers and counting. NASA partner SciStarter also hosts a series of Do NASA Science Live virtual events, which offer another way to meet scientists. These virtual events, held roughly once a month, feature experts from NASA citizen science projects who are eager to interact with volunteers. You can see the schedule and sign up here for the next Do NASA Science Live event. Many projects have virtual bulletin boards, like the “TALK” boards of Zooniverse-hosted projects, which can facilitate discussions with the science team. Or you can reach out by email to the science team by looking them up on the project’s team page. Just remember these science teams are busy, so do your homework first by reading all the project materials before you reach out. NASA volunteer Michiharu Hyogo offered some tips to help others get started on the journey toward becoming a published author. There are also numerous online resources and guides for anyone new to writing scientific papers. What if I’m still a student? Can I get involved in writing a paper? Yes, the same advice above applies to students. There’s no better way to explore whether or not you’d like to pursue a career in science or a new scientific field of study than to do the work of a scientist and get involved in the process of publishing your findings. If you become a published co-author, you’ll also have the added advantage of listing your publication on your resume for internship, undergraduate, or graduate school applications. Several high school students and many undergraduate or graduate students have written papers with NASA citizen science project teams, including Matteo Kimura, Emily Burns-Kaurin, Darcy Wenn, and Michaela B. Allen. A few NASA citizen scientists who have co-authored scientific papers present their findings. Clockwise from the upper left: Peter Jalowiczor, Michael Hunnekul, Danny Roylance, Michaela Allen, and Svetoslav Alexandrov. Ride the rollercoaster! Science can be unpredictable, which can make writing papers feel like a roller-coaster ride at times. “Don’t give up if your first try was not successful,” said published citizen scientist Michael Hunnekuhl. Most projects take years to produce results. Sometimes, nature doesn’t cooperate, and a science team must change directions instead of writing the paper they initially imagined. But with 42 citizen science projects online, NASA has plenty of room for your science ambitions. Go to [Hidden Content], pick a project, and start your science journey today. Facebook logo @nasascience_ @nasascience_ Instagram logo @nasascience_ Linkedin logo @nasascience_ Share Details Last Updated May 05, 2026 Editor NASA Science Editorial Team Related Terms Citizen Science Science & Research Uncategorized Explore More 5 min read NASA Research Shows Early Life Relied on Rare Metal Article 3 hours ago 3 min read New NASA HEAT Coloring Book Blends Art, Science, and Cultural Perspectives A new Sun-centered and science-focused coloring book produced by NASA in partnership with the University… Article 4 hours ago 2 min read NASA Volunteers Double Known Population of Brown Dwarfs A new paper from NASA’s Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project announces that volunteers have essentially… Article 5 hours ago View the full article