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2 Min Read Nicholas Houghton: Engineering Crew Safety for NASA’s Artemis Missions Nicholas Houghton, right, supports crew suit-up operations during Underway Recovery Training 12, an end-to-end practice recovery run conducted at sea to prepare for Artemis II. Nicholas Houghton always dreamed of working at NASA and one day becoming an astronaut. Today, he helps design systems that keep crews safe during missions aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft, including the successful Artemis II mission around the Moon. Nicholas Houghton in NASA’s Orion Crew Survival System Spacesuit. I hope someday people look back at Artemis and marvel at the technological achievement and collective dedication that it took to carry out these missions, just like we do now for Apollo. Nicholas Houghton Orion Crew Survival Systems Engineer After joining NASA as a Pathways intern, Houghton later became a full-time engineer on the Orion Crew Survival Systems (OCSS) team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The OCSS team designs and certifies the orange pressure suits that were worn by astronauts inside Orion during Artemis II, along with the survival hardware integrated into each suit system. Houghton manages key pieces of flight hardware that keep crew members safe during contingency scenarios before launch, in flight, and after landing, including the Orion Crew Survival Kits, Suit-Worn Survival Suite, and Life Preserver Units. He guides each system from design through testing and final certification to ensure it performs as required in flight. Nicholas Houghton, left, and two other suited subjects participate in Human Vacuum Chamber Testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center to help certify Orion’s environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) for Artemis II. The test lasts about 12 hours while fully suited. Like many complex engineering efforts at NASA, the work relies on close collaboration across disciplines. Houghton works alongside experts in electromagnetic interference, radiation, stress and loads, and materials to evaluate and refine each system. He also helps lead development of water survival and post-landing hardware, writing manufacturing and assembly procedures and troubleshooting issues during integration and testing. Nicholas Houghton gives U.S. Navy medical personnel space suit training aboard amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) during NASA Underway Recovery Test 12 in the Pacific Ocean, March 26, 2025. Beyond hardware development, Houghton prepares astronauts and recovery teams for real-world operations. He supports suit-up activities, helps train Department of Defense recovery forces, and participates in Underway Recovery Training alongside the U.S. Navy to rehearse post-splashdown operations. Ground testing plays a critical role in that preparation. During these tests, systems are pushed to their limits to uncover potential issues before flight. I have had my hardware fail during ground testing. It takes teamwork, quick thinking, technical understanding, and a willingness to dig into every detail to solve these kinds of problems. Nicholas Houghton Orion Crew Survival Systems Engineer Nicholas Houghton, right, supports crew suit-up operations during Underway Recovery Training 12, an end-to-end practice recovery run conducted at sea to prepare for Artemis II. Outside of his NASA career, Houghton gives back by volunteering as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. “Serving my community is something that I have always been passionate about,” he said. “I am thankful to have the opportunity to support those around me.” About the AuthorSumer Loggins Share Details Last Updated May 11, 2026 Related TermsJohnson Space CenterArtemisArtemis 2Orion Multi-Purpose Crew VehicleOrion ProgramPeople of Johnson Explore More 3 min read I Am Artemis: Anton Kiriwas Article 3 days ago 4 min read NASA Fuel Cell Tests Pave Way for Energy Storage on Moon Article 3 days ago 3 min read NASA Welcomes Paraguay as 67th Artemis Accords Signatory Article 4 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

Students from the United States Military Academy (West Point), dressed in safety gear, prepare to enter the mining arena with their robotic miner during NASA’s LUNABOTICS competition on May 24, 2022, at the Center for Space Education near the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. More than 35 teams from around the U.S. have designed and built remote-controlled robots for the mining competition. NASA/Kim Shiflett NASA will hold its 2026 Lunabotics Challenge Tuesday, May 19, to Thursday, May 21, at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Links to view the Lunabotics competition live can be found on the agency’s Lunabotics page. The competition is slated to run between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day. Media are invited to attend the competition event on Wednesday, May 20, and should RSVP by 4 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 18, to the Kennedy newsroom at: ksc*****@*****.tld. For this challenge, 50 college teams from across the country will convene to design, build, and operate their own lunar robot prototypes. The teams’ self-driving rovers must be capable of building a berm, a protective barrier, from soil and other material simulating lunar regolith to safeguard Artemis infrastructure on the Moon. In space, such berms could protect equipment from debris during lunar landings and launches, shade cryogenic propellant tank farms, help shield a nuclear power plant from space radiation, and serve other purposes. “The task of robotically building berm structures will be important for preparation and support of crewed lunar missions,” said Kurt Leucht, NASA software developer, In-Situ Resource Utilization researcher, and Lunabotics commentator located at Kennedy. “These competing teams are not only building critical engineering skills that will assist their future careers, but they are literally helping NASA prepare for our future Artemis missions to the Moon.” NASA’s Lunabotics Challenge was established in 2010. As one of the agency’s Artemis Student Challenges, the competition is designed to engage and retain students in STEM fields by expanding opportunities for student research and design in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. For more competition information, visit: [Hidden Content] –end– Amanda Griffin Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 *****@*****.tld View the full article

CSDA Menu CSDA Commercial Data Commercial Datasets End User License Agreements Commercial Satellite Data Explorer Satellite Data Evaluation CSDA Vendors Airbus BlackSky Capella Space GeoOptics GHGSat ICEYE MDA Space Pixxel Planet PlanetiQ Polar Geospatial Center Satellogic Spire Teledyne Brown Engineering Tomorrow.io Umbra Vantor Program Activities Pilot Research Projects FAQs News 3 min read Joint Earth Observation Mission Quality Assessment Framework – Optical Guidelines Documents Released Released on April 26, 2026, the Optical Guidelines document provides specific guidelines for the mission quality assessment of optical sensors as part of the implementation of the generic Earth observation mission quality assessment for the optical domain. NASA’s Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) program, in conjunction with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), has released the Joint Earth Observation Mission Quality Assessment Framework – Optical Guidelines. Created for the benefit of the Earthnet Data Assessment Project (EDAP) and the CSDA program as part of a collaboration between ESA and NASA, the document presents the methodology the agencies use to assess the quality of optical data from commercial satellite data providers. Released on April 26, 2026, the Optical Guidelines document provides specific guidelines for the mission quality assessment of optical sensors as part of the implementation of the generic Earth Observation (EO) mission quality assessment for the optical domain. Its contents include a summary of the Joint Earth Observation Mission Quality Assessment Framework and its aims, a review of optical mission quality as evidenced by its documentation, guidelines for verifying that a mission’s data quality is consistent with stated sensor performance, and appendices containing information on common practices for radiometric and geometric calibration and validation. “The release of these joint guidelines for EO data from optical missions both documents the rigorous standards we have for commercial data and bolsters the confidence of the user community in the CSDA’s commercial data acquisitions,” said CSDA Project Manager Dana Ostrenga. “By releasing this document to the public, we’re giving end-users the opportunity to review the approach for verifying whether the quality of commercial EO data is consistent with the stated performance of the mission.” These optical guidelines are part of a collaborative effort between NASA, the USGS, and the ESA known as the Joint Earth Observation Mission Quality Assessment Framework. This framework provides standardized, transparent, and repeatable data quality assessment processes and outputs to support mission selection, data integration, and the trusted use of commercial EO data for science and applications. Furthermore, the agencies intend to update the guidelines in step with the evolution of the market and the advancement of Earth sciences and applications of EO data products. About the Joint EO Mission Quality Assessment Framework The expanding range of applications for EO data products and the availability of low-cost launch services have resulted in a growing number of commercial EO satellite systems. This growth in the marketplace has prompted space agencies like NASA, ESA, and others to explore the acquisition of commercial EO data products and their potential to complement the capabilities and services currently available for scientific and operational purposes. To ensure that decisions regarding the acquisition of commercial data can be made with confidence, ESA, NASA, and other stakeholders agreed there was a need for an objective framework to assess the quality of data from commercial sources. To that end, ESA established the EDAP, which performs early assessments of EO mission data to evaluate their quality and the potential integration of these missions as third-party missions within ESA’s Earthnet program. The development of EDAP led to the Joint Earth Observation Mission Quality Assessment Framework, which was later customized for the different types of sensors used in atmospheric, synthetic aperture radar, thermal infrared, and now, optical EO missions. In addition to being a partner in this joint effort, NASA’s CSDA program has its own comprehensive evaluation process for ensuring the quality of commercial EO data. This process focuses on geometric and radiometric quality, validation against trusted reference datasets, ensuring the completeness and traceability of dataset documentation, and data accessibility and utility. Together, these efforts from NASA and ESA will help build trust in commercial partnerships, ensure scientific integrity and interoperability, and foster innovation within the EO community. Share Details Last Updated May 11, 2026 Related Terms Earth Science Explore More 3 min read Ahuachapán and Its Restive Neighbors From a geothermal hotspot to the one-time “Lighthouse of the Pacific,” the heat is on… Article 7 days ago 5 min read Record-Setting Retreat of Hektoria Glacier Scientists relied on satellite data to understand how the Antarctic glacier lost so much ice… Article 1 week ago 3 min read Fiery Fall Color in Southern Chile The beech forests of southern Patagonia put on vibrant autumn displays. Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

Share Details Last Updated May 11, 2026 Editor Andrea Gianopoulos Location NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Contact Media Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland *****@*****.tld Matthew Brown, Christine Pulliam Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland Related Terms Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Astrophysics Astrophysics Division Exoplanets Goddard Space Flight Center Gravitational Lensing Hubble Space Telescope Stars The Milky Way Related Links and Documents The science paper by S. Terry et al.

NASA/Josh Valcarcel NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir sits for a portrait at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Sept. 23, 2025. This photo was chosen as one of the 2025 NASA Photographer of the Year finalists. Meir launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station in February 2026 with fellow NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Meir was selected by NASA in 2013. Prior to becoming an astronaut, her career as a scientist focused on the physiology of animals in extreme environments. Meir served as flight engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 61 and 62 and participated in the first all-female spacewalks. Image credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel View the full article

NASA’s SpaceX 34th commercial resupply mission will launch on the company’s Dragon spacecraft on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to deliver research and supplies to the International Space Station.NASA NASA and SpaceX are targeting a mid-May launch to deliver scientific investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. Loaded with about 6,500 pounds of supplies, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will lift off aboard the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following its arrival to the orbital complex, Dragon will dock autonomously to the forward port of the space station’s Harmony module. Watch agency launch and arrival coverage on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and NASA’s YouTube channel. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media. NASA’s SpaceX 34th commercial resupply mission will launch from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.NASA For more than 25 years, the International Space Station has provided research capabilities used by scientists from more than 110 countries to conduct more than 4,000 experiments in microgravity. Research conducted aboard the station helps advance long-duration missions to the Moon as part of the Artemis program and to Mars, while providing multiple benefits to humanity. Science highlights: In addition to cargo for the crew aboard the space station, Dragon will deliver several new science experiments, including: ODYSSEY will evaluate how well Earth-based microgravity simulators recreate space conditions.NASA ODYSSEY will evaluate how well Earth-based microgravity simulators recreate space conditions. Researchers will examine bacterial behavior in space and compares the results to experiments conducted in microgravity simulators on Earth. STORIE will monitor charged particles in orbit around the Earth, which respond to space weather and can affect assets like power grids and satellites.NASA STORIE will monitor charged particles in orbit around the Earth, which respond to space weather and can affect assets like power grids and satellites. The instrument could help researchers gain knowledge to better predict and respond to these changes. Laplace will study the movement and collision of dust particles in microgravity to understand particle motion in space.NASA Laplace will study the movement and collision of dust particles in microgravity to understand particle motion in space. Researchers hope to learn more about Earth’s origins and provide fundamental understanding of how planets in our solar system and beyond came into existence. Green Bone will observe how bone cells grow and develop in space on a bone scaffold made from wood. NASA Green Bone will observe how bone cells grow and develop in space on a bone scaffold made from wood. Microgravity results could help researchers improve products that treat fragile bone conditions such as osteoporosis. SPARK will evaluate how red blood cells and the spleen change in space for future astronauts.NASA SPARK will evaluate how red blood cells and the spleen change in space for future astronauts. Researchers will observe human samples and imagery taken before, during, and after spaceflight to identify ways to protect astronaut health during long-duration space missions. Arrival and return: NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot will monitor the arrival of the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft from the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot will monitor the spacecraft’s arrival. Dragon will remain docked to the orbiting laboratory for about a month before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, returning critical science and hardware to teams on Earth. Cargo highlights: NASA’s SpaceX 34th commercial resupply mission will launch on the company’s Dragon spacecraft on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to deliver research and supplies to the International Space Station Launch European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device Power Cable – A replacement power cable is launching for installation on the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device. Catalytic Reactor – A vital component of the Water Recovery and Management System, the catalytic reactor oxidizes volatile organics from wastewater that are removed by the Gas Separator and Ion Exchange Bed orbital replacement units. This part is launching to maintain on orbit sparing. Universal Pretreat Concentrate Tank – This is a passive tank to provide alternate pretreat concentrate to the Universal Waste Management System (UWMS) and Waste Hygiene Compartment (WHC). Two units are launching to maintain this hardware, in tandem with Russian pretreat tanks currently used. A universal pretreat concentrate tank adapter will accompany the tanks to connect with the Russian hose. Additional equipment launching includes an Ultraprobe to replace a worn ultrasonic inspection tool, a Remote Sensor Unit to restore spares for the station’s vibration monitoring system, and flexible repair patches for sealing the pressure hull if needed. The mission also will deliver an updated ARMADILLO (AOGA ReMediation, Advanced DeIonization and Limited Life Optimization) cartridge and hose assemblies to improve water processing for oxygen generation, along with a nitrogen recharge tank assembly to help maintain the station’s gas reserves. Return When Dragon returns in mid‑June, it will bring back an ocular imaging device used to monitor crew eye health, a sorbent bed that filters trace contaminants from cabin air, and a separator pump from the Waste and Hygiene Compartment. The Advanced Plant Habitat, which supported long-duration plant biology studies, also will return for eventual museum display. A pressure management device that recovers vestibule air during depressurization will come back for repair and storage as a ground spare. View the full article

2 Min Read NASA’s Psyche Mission Captures Mars During Gravity Assist Approach PIA26750 Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/**** Photojournal Navigation Science Photojournal NASA’s Psyche Mission… Photojournal Home Photojournal Search Latest Content Galleries Feedback RSS About Downloads NASA’s Psyche Mission Captures Mars During Gravity Assist Approach JPEG (132.38 KB) PIA26750 Figure A JPEG (105.92 KB) Description This colorized image of Mars was captured by NASA’s Psyche mission on May 3, 2026, about 3 million miles (4.8 million kilometers) from the planet. The spacecraft is approaching the planet for a gravity assist on May 15 that will give it a boost in speed and adjust its trajectory toward asteroid Psyche for eventual arrival in 2029. The spacecraft is approaching Mars from a high-phase angle, meaning that the planet appears only as a thin crescent, like our own crescent Moon seen around its new Moon phase. From this viewing geometry, the Sun is out of frame and “above” both Mars and Psyche. Figure A Figure A is a zoomed-out view from the imager. No stars are visible in the background since they are much dimmer than the sunlight being reflected by Mars. The observation was acquired by the multispectral imager instrument’s panchromatic or broadband filter, with an exposure time of just 2 milliseconds. Even with this very short exposure time, the crescent is extremely bright and parts of the image are oversaturated. The light seen here is sunlight reflected off the surface of Mars and also scattered by dust particles in its atmosphere. Because the quantity of dust in the atmosphere can vary rapidly over time, the anticipated brightness of the crescent was hard to predict before this early image was acquired. The dustiness of Mars leads to sunlight being scattered by its atmosphere, making the crescent appear to extend farther around the planet than if it had no atmosphere (as with our Moon).Of note, on the right side of the extended crescent, there appears to be a gap, which coincides with the planet’s icy north polar cap. The cap is currently in winter and mission specialists hypothesize that seasonal clouds and hazes may be forming in that region, possibly blocking the atmospheric dust’s ability to scatter sunlight like it does elsewhere around the planet. The Psyche mission’s imager team will be acquiring, processing, and interpreting similar images in the lead-up to the close approach on May 15. The images are primarily designed to calibrate the cameras and to characterize their performance in flight as a practice run for the approach to asteroid Psyche in 2029. For more information about the Psyche mission, read: [Hidden Content] Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From Photojournal Photojournal Search Photojournal Photojournal’s Latest Content Feedback View the full article

3 Min Read I Am Artemis: Anton Kiriwas Listen to this audio excerpt from Anton Kiriwas, senior technical integration manager for NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program: 0:00 / 0:00 Your browser does not support the audio element. When Anton Kiriwas first spotted an image of the Moon and Mars hanging over a job fair booth while in college, it captured his imagination, yet felt like a dream too distant to chase. He had no way of knowing that years later he would play a critical role in NASA’s Artemis missions, helping launch humans back to the Moon for the first time in more than half a century. Kiriwas’ journey to NASA began during the Space Shuttle Program, while he was working for United Launch Alliance, the same organization behind the memorable Moon and Mars booth that he passed by in college. Not long after, he joined NASA as a civil servant, designing electrical systems that set him on a path toward his current role with Exploration Ground Systems as senior technical integration manager. In simpler terms, Kiriwas is a problem solver. My official title is way too long – what I do is pretty simple: I solve problems for the ground systems. Our goal is to process, launch, and recover the spacecraft. There are a lot of ground systems that are used to go do that and a lot of people involved. A big part of my job is to go solve all the problems that come. Anton Kiriwas Senior Technical Integration Manager, Exploration Ground Systems Program A core part of Kiriwas’s role is to serve as a launch project engineer. Strategically positioned at the integration console in the center of Firing Room 1 of the Launch Control Center at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, he acts as a bridge for the test management and engineering teams. Kiriwas, along with the other launch project engineers, reports directly to the launch director, making the final technical recommendation on any issues that may arise during launch countdown. From this seat, he works across all engineering disciplines, united under one mission: launch the spacecraft and crew safely. Anton Kiriwas, senior technical integration manager and senior launch project engineer with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program participates in an Artemis II launch countdown simulation inside Firing Room 1 in the Launch Control Center at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The simulations go through launch day scenarios to help launch team members test software and make adjustments if needed during countdown operations. NASA/Glenn Benson Despite the intensity of launch day, Kiriwas describes it can often feel easier than the hundreds of rehearsals and simulations leading up to it. The team trains rigorously, preparing for every scenario imaginable. The ideal day is smooth and uneventful, but when it’s not, he and the team are ready. I’m in my element when there is a problem. Anton Kiriwas Senior Technical Integration Manager, Exploration Ground Systems Program When an issue arises, Kiriwas and his team begin asking the basic questions: ‘What are the requirements? Which systems are affected? Who needs to be involved?’ He pulls the technical community together to work through the situation, come up with any troubleshooting, and ultimately give the recommendation for a “go” or “no-go” for launch. It takes clarity, experience, and discipline, especially in moments when excitement is running high. “There is adrenaline to get to launch, but you want to be careful to never let that turn into ‘launch fever,’” said Kiriwas. “We need to launch exactly when we’re ready and not a moment before.” Anton Kiriwas, a launch project engineer for the Artemis I mission, monitors operations from his position in Firing Room 1 as Artemis teams conduct a launch simulation for the Artemis I launch inside the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 27, 2022. NASA/Ben Smegelsky With Artemis II complete, Kiriwas continues applying his problem‑solving expertise, analyzing lessons learned, and shaping future mission requirements. Artemis III hardware is currently being processed at NASA Kennedy, and the teams are carefully preparing the next steps of NASA’s return to the lunar surface. “There’s a million little pieces that go into this, and I get to be a part of it,” said Kiriwas. About the AuthorLaura SasaninejadStrategic Communications Specialist Share Details Last Updated May 08, 2026 EditorJason Costa Related TermsArtemisArtemis 1Artemis 2Exploration Ground SystemsI Am ArtemisKennedy Space Center Explore More 4 min read NASA Fuel Cell Tests Pave Way for Energy Storage on Moon Article 4 hours ago 3 min read NASA Welcomes Paraguay as 67th Artemis Accords Signatory Article 21 hours ago 3 min read Industry Moon Lander Training Cabin Lands at NASA for Artemis Article 23 hours ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) High Performance Spaceflight Computing System on ChipNASA/Ryan Lannom For decades, NASA has advanced on-board spacecraft computer processors that coordinate and execute the functions needed to support mission success. Space computing originated in the 1960s with the Apollo Guidance Computers, which were pivotal for guidance, navigation, and control computations during NASA’s first Moon missions. For decades, radiation-hardened processors have been the backbone of the agency’s space exploration missions. NASA has landed computers on other planets and operated them for years in extreme conditions, as demonstrated by the Mars rovers. These computer processors have also powered several NASA orbiters, capsules, and space telescopes. While legacy processors have enabled some of NASA’s greatest achievements, the next generation of space missions will increase in complexity and length, which will benefit from greater computing power, autonomy, and resilience. To meet the needs of this challenge, NASA and industry leader Microchip Technology Inc. entered a public, private partnership combining agency and commercial investments to develop a new solution: High-Performance Spaceflight Computing. Advanced Computing The High-Performance Spaceflight Computing project is a next-generation system-on-chip that delivers over 100 times the computing capability of current space processors. By integrating computing and networking into a single device, this technology significantly reduces system cost and power consumption. Its scalable architecture allows unused functions to power down, optimizing energy efficiency for critical operations. The High-Performance Spaceflight Computing family of processors includes multiple distinct but compatible technologies for scalable mission needs. The radiation-hardened version of the processor is built for geosynchronous, deep-space, and long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, capable of operating in harsh environments while supporting real-time autonomous tasks. Tailored for the commercial space sector, the radiation-tolerant version of the processor provides fault tolerance and cybersecurity for low Earth orbit satellites. High Performance Spaceflight Computing System on ChipNASA/Ryan Lannom Using advanced Ethernet to connect multiple sensors or cluster several chips, High-Performance Spaceflight Computing technology allows spacecraft to process massive amounts of data onboard and autonomously make real-time decisions, such as driving rovers at high speeds or filtering scientific images. Continuous system health monitoring and an integrated security controller ensure these complex operations remain safe and reliable. Computing power for Golden Age of Exploration The High-Performance Spaceflight Computing technology is a nationwide, public-private development effort anchored by NASA, Microchip, and a broad ecosystem of academic and industry partners. This collaboration reinforces U.S. leadership in spaceflight computing, strengthens supply chain resilience and security, stimulates regional economies, and drives innovation and high-tech workforce development across the nation. This new technology has the potential for use on all future space missions, but unlike traditional space-specific chips, High-Performance Spaceflight Computing has a design platform for other Earth-based uses. Adopting the same high-performance computing, network switching, high-reliability and cybersecurity technologies, the company’s processors enable mission-critical edge computing for Earth-based industries such as automotive, aviation, consumer electronics, industrial systems, and aerospace. These potential applications include drones, energy grids, medical equipment, communication services, artificial intelligence, and data transmission. By leveraging a common technology base across space and terrestrial markets, High-Performance Spaceflight Computing helps strengthen domestic industrial capabilities and reduce risk and cost for both government and commercial users. The Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Game Changing Development program based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory led the end-to-end maturation of NASA’s High-Performance Spaceflight Computing by developing mission requirements, funding competitive industry studies, selecting and contracting with Microchip, and guiding the project through design reviews and the project life cycle to delivery. To learn more about these chips, visit: [Hidden Content] By: Jessica Jelke Explore More 3 min read NASA Developing AI to Steer Using Landmarks – On the Moon A NASA engineer is teaching an AI machine to use features on the Moon’s horizon… Article 3 years ago 3 min read NASA to Test Solution for Radiation-Tolerant Computing in Space Article 1 year ago 2 min read NASA Ames to Host Supercomputing Resources for UC Berkeley Researchers Article 2 years ago Share Details Last Updated May 08, 2026 EditorLoura Hall Related TermsSpace Technology Mission DirectorateGame Changing Development ProgramHigh-Tech ComputingJet Propulsion LaboratoryLangley Research CenterTechnologyTechnology for Space Travel View the full article

NASA/Chris Williams NASA astronaut Chris Williams captured the Milky Way rising above Earth’s atmospheric glow on April 13, 2026, while aboard a SpaceX Dragon docked to the International Space Station. This atmospheric glow is also called airglow. It occurs when atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, excited by sunlight, emit light to shed their excess energy. Alternatively, it can happen when atoms and molecules that have been ionized by sunlight collide with and capture a free electron. In both cases, they eject a particle of light — called a photon — in order to relax again. The phenomenon is similar to auroras, but where auroras are driven by high-energy particles originating from the solar wind, airglow is energized by ordinary, day-to-day solar radiation. Image credit: NASA/Chris Williams View the full article

During his tenure as chief of staff, NASA’s Brian Hughes is seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington.Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls NASA announced Friday that Brian Hughes will return to the agency as senior director of launch operations, based at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, Hughes will provide enterprise-level leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for NASA’s launch infrastructure. Reporting to NASA Headquarters in Washington, Hughes will have direct responsibility for launch operations at NASA Kennedy, as well as the agency’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. He will work across government, industry, and local leadership to strengthen coordination among stakeholders supporting NASA’s spaceports, enable increased launch cadence, and support execution of the President’s National Space Policy to ensure continued American leadership in space. “Brian brings a unique combination of operational expertise, strategic leadership, and public service experience at the highest levels of government,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “His track record leading complex organizations and executing high-stakes missions makes him exceptionally well-suited to help shape the future of NASA’s launch operations as we accelerate into a new era of exploration and innovation.” Most recently, Hughes served as NASA’s chief of staff, where he helped drive agencywide priorities and decision-making. Prior to NASA, he served as deputy national security advisor for Strategic Communications at the White House, helping shape policy and communications on national security matters. Hughes also served as chief administrative officer for the City of Jacksonville, overseeing a workforce of more than 7,000 employees and managing a multi-billion-dollar budget across public safety, infrastructure, and emergency management operations. Earlier in his career, he served as chief of staff to former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and as chief executive officer of the Downtown Investment Authority, leading economic development initiatives across the city. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Hughes served as a KC-135 aircrew member during operations over the Middle East in support of the Gulf War. His return comes as NASA continues advancing a growing portfolio of civil, commercial, and national security launch activities across its spaceport infrastructure. Learn more about NASA’s mission at: [Hidden Content] -end- Bethany Stevens / George Alderman Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated May 08, 2026 EditorCheryl WarnerLocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsPeople of NASAKennedy Space CenterLaunch Services OfficeLaunch Services ProgramLeadershipNASA Centers & FacilitiesNASA HeadquartersSpace Operations Mission Directorate View the full article

Lead research engineer Dr. Kerrigan Cain adjusts tubes connected to a fuel cell inside NASA Glenn Research Center’s Fuel Cell Testing Laboratory in Cleveland on Feb. 23, 2026. His team is testing a system that could revolutionize power generation and energy storage for future Moon and Mars missions.NASA/Jef Janis With a small blue crane, four researchers hoist a cylindrical fuel cell, which looks like a stack of flattened silver and gold soda cans bundled together, into the air and lower it into a rectangular cart on wheels. A tangle of tubes and wires spiral away from the system, where nearly 270 sensors and 1,000 components are nestled inside. “It’s a behemoth; it’s a researcher’s dream,” said Dr. Kerrigan Cain, lead engineer for the team at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland preparing to test this technology, known as a regenerative fuel cell system, over the next few months. The system, about as long as a sedan and as tall as a person, operates like a rechargeable battery and could revolutionize the way NASA stores energy during future Moon missions through the Artemis program. When power is needed, it’s designed to combine hydrogen and oxygen gas into water, heat, and electricity, and then “recharge” by splitting the water back into hydrogen and oxygen — all on the lunar surface. “It is an ideal technology for habitats, exploration with rovers, and many of the systems that are envisioned under Artemis,” Cain said. “Developing a sustainable, long-term human presence on the Moon requires power and energy storage solutions that fit those needs. Regenerative fuel cells fit into that puzzle perfectly.” From left to right, Dr. Kerrigan Cain, Jessica Cashman, Dr. Devon Powers, and Ryan Grotenrath install a fuel cell onto the regenerative fuel cell system inside NASA Glenn Research Center’s Fuel Cell Testing Laboratory in Cleveland on Feb. 23, 2026. NASA/Jef Janis This technology can weigh less but store the same amount of energy as comparable battery systems and could even operate during cold, dark, nearly two-week-long lunar nights. Its recharging capability also would ensure astronauts make the most of their resources and energy on the lunar surface without needing new supplies delivered from Earth. The upcoming tests are the culmination of over five years of work. The system was designed and assembled at NASA Glenn. Researchers completed initial testing in 2025 to understand the basics of how the technology functions and make modifications. Now, the team is passing a major milestone as they get ready to operate the complete system, storing the hydrogen and oxygen gas generated during recharge for the first time. They hope to gather essential data, identify any additional challenges, and further advance the technology toward a lunar mission. On an average test day, researchers will secure the thick double doors to the test cell where the system is located in NASA Glenn’s Fuel Cell Testing Laboratory, head to a nearby control room, and begin to run the system remotely. Once it is powered up and a test has started, the technology can operate on its own without researcher intervention. From left to right, Jessica Cashman, Dr. Kerrigan Cain, Dr. Mathew McCaskey, and Dr. Devon Powers discuss operation of the regenerative fuel cell system inside the control room of NASA Glenn Research Center’s Fuel Cell Testing Laboratory in Cleveland on Feb. 23, 2026. NASA/Jef Janis “This testing is going to generate crucial data, so every day is exciting,” Cain said. “This effort was made possible by countless hours of work. The desire for fuel cell technology is so high, it makes it very easy to get up every morning and go, ‘All right, we have to keep moving forward so that we can be ready for Artemis.’” Researchers will use lessons learned from testing to continue advancing regenerative fuel cell technology. Before the system can launch to the Moon, researchers will put it through its paces outside of the lab. “We want to simulate being on the lunar surface and prove the system can work under much harsher conditions compared to a controlled laboratory environment,” Cain said. Cain and his team noted working on the complex regenerative fuel cell system is both rewarding and challenging as they consider the impacts their research could have on NASA’s future deep space missions. “Creating a sustainable presence on the Moon is a team effort requiring a lot of collaboration between NASA and industry,” Cain said. NASA’s Regenerative Fuel Cell project is funded by the Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Game Changing Development Program, managed at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. From left to right: Jessica Cashman, Dr. Kerrigan Cain, and Dr. Devon Powers work with the regenerative fuel cell system inside NASA Glenn Research Center’s Fuel Cell Testing Laboratory in Cleveland on Feb. 23, 2026.NASA/Jef Janis Ryan Grotenrath adjusts components of the regenerative fuel cell system inside NASA Glenn Research Center’s Fuel Cell Testing Laboratory in Cleveland on Feb. 23, 2026.NASA/Jef Janis Dr. Devon Powers adjusts components of the regenerative fuel cell system inside NASA Glenn Research Center’s Fuel Cell Testing Laboratory in Cleveland on Feb. 23, 2026.NASA/Jef Janis Researchers work with the regenerative fuel cell system inside NASA Glenn Research Center’s Fuel Cell Testing Laboratory in Cleveland on Feb. 23, 2026.NASA/Jef Janis The regenerative fuel cell system seen inside NASA Glenn Research Center’s Fuel Cell Testing Laboratory in Cleveland on Feb. 23, 2026.NASA/Jef Janis View the full article

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