SpaceMan

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

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

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

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory A Winter Blanket Covers North… Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Notes from the Field Blog Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search February 2, 2026 A potent winter storm in late January 2026 left much of North Carolina dealing with significant snow accumulations. Though the state is no stranger to snow, such widespread coverage is unusual. This image, acquired on February 2 with the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite, reveals a nearly continuous blanket of white stretching from mountain cities in the west to beachfront towns in the east. According to the North Carolina State Climate Office, measurable snow fell in all 100 counties for the first time in more than a decade. Snowfall in North Carolina typically requires cold air funneled in from the north to combine with moisture supplied by a low-pressure system. During the January 31 weekend event, Arctic air from earlier in the week lingered across the state as a storm approached along a near-shore track, setting the stage for widespread snow. Snow totals exceeded a foot in some of the state’s western, mountainous regions, following several years without significant snowfall events, though some locations such as Asheville saw smaller amounts. The storm even pushed south into Greenville, South Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the downtown area saw about 5 inches (13 centimeters) by the evening of January 31, according to the National Weather Service. In the Piedmont region, the hilly central part of the state, Charlotte received nearly a foot of snow—the most since 2004—while Raleigh saw a lighter accumulation of 2.8 inches, according to the state climate center. February 2, 2026 Even coastal parts of the state traded brown sandy beaches for a blanket of white, with more than a foot reported in parts of Carteret County. Beaufort, a mainland town in the southern Outer Banks area, experienced heavy blowing snow. Slightly inland, Greenville received 14 inches, an amount not seen since a large storm in March 1980. Though appearing serene from space, the storm posed real hazards on the ground. Dangerous road conditions snarled traffic and caused collisions, according to local news reports, while coastal areas saw high winds and waves. Overwash on Highway 12 in the Outer Banks coated parts of the road in standing water and sand, while several homes along the shore of Hatteras Island collapsed into the sea. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Kathryn Hansen. Downloads February 2, 2026 JPEG (3.08 MB) February 2, 2026 JPEG (3.08 MB) References & Resources The Charlotte Observer (2026, January 31) I-85 north of Charlotte reopens after 100+ vehicles stuck from collision and snow. Accessed February 5, 2026. Island Free Press (2026, February 1) Ocean overwash reported Sunday morning on Hatteras, Ocracoke Islands. Accessed February 5, 2026. National Weather Service Charleston SC (2026, February 1) January 31 – February 1, 2026 Winter Storm. Accessed February 5, 2026. National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC (2026, February 1) Total Snowfall Reports Through Noon. Accessed February 5, 2026. The New York Times (2026, February 1) A ‘Historic’ Snowfall Hits the Carolinas. Accessed February 5, 2026. North Carolina State Climate Office Large-Scale Winter Patterns. Accessed February 5, 2026. North Carolina State Climate Office (2026, February 2) Rapid Reaction: A Statewide Snowstorm for the Ages. Accessed February 5, 2026. The Washington Post (2026, February 1) ‘Historic storm’ delivers biggest snowfall in decades for North Carolina. Accessed February 5, 2026. You may also be interested in: Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet. Alaska’s Brand New Island 3 min read A landmass that was once encased in the ice of the Alsek Glacier is now surrounded by water. Article Greenland Ice Sheet Gets a Refresh 3 min read A moderately intense season of surface melting left part of the ice sheet dirty gray in summer 2025, but snowfall… Article Arctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record 3 min read Satellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data View the full article

Credit: NASA Two next-generation satellite missions announced Thursday will help NASA better understand Earth and improve capabilities to foresee environmental events and mitigate disasters. “NASA uses the unique vantage point of space to study our home planet to deliver life-saving data into the hands of disaster response and decision-makers every day for the benefit of all, while also informing future exploration across our solar system,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington. “By understanding Earth’s surface topography, ecosystems and atmosphere, while also enabling longer range weather forecasting, these missions will help us better study the extreme environments beyond our home planet to ensure the safety of astronauts and spacecraft as we return to the Moon with the Artemis campaign and journey onward to Mars and beyond.” These two missions were selected for continued development as part of NASA’s Earth System Explorers Program, which conducts principal investigator-led Earth science missions based on key priorities laid out by the science community and national needs. The program is designed to enable high-quality Earth system science investigations to focus on previously identified key targeted observables. The STRIVE (Stratosphere Troposphere Response using Infrared Vertically-resolved light Explorer) mission will provide daily, near-global, high-resolution measurements of temperature, a variety of Earth’s atmospheric elements, and aerosol properties from the upper troposphere to the mesosphere – at a much higher spatial density than any previous mission. It also will measure vertical profiles of ozone and trace gasses needed to understand the recovery of the ozone layer. The data collected from STRIVE would support longer-range weather forecasts, an important tool in protecting coastal communities, where nearly half the world’s population lives. The mission is led by Lyatt Jaeglé at the University of Washington in Seattle. The EDGE (Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer) mission will observe the three-dimensional structure of terrestrial ecosystems and the surface topography of glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice. The mission will provide an advancement beyond the measurements currently recorded from space by NASA’s ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite 2) and GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation). The data collected by EDGE will measure conditions affecting land and sea transportation corridors, terrain, and other areas of commercial interest. The mission is led by Helen Amanda Fricker at the University of California San Diego. The selected missions will advance to the next phase of development. Each mission will be subject to confirmation review in 2027, which will assess the progress of the missions and the availability of funds. If confirmed, the total estimated cost of each mission, not including launch, will not exceed $355 million with a mission launch date of no earlier than 2030. For more information about the Earth System Explorers Program, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Liz Vlock Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Feb 05, 2026 EditorJessica TaveauLocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsEarth Science DivisionScience Mission Directorate View the full article

3 Min Read Career Spotlight: Welder (Ages 14-18) What does a welder do? A welder uses tools that join two or more parts through forces such as heat or pressure. Metals are the materials most commonly used in welding, but it’s also possible to weld thermoplastics or wood. Welders use their hands, skills, and problem-solving abilities to create something new. At NASA, welders use different types of welding processes to assemble spacecraft and rocket components. Welders also put their expertise to work on equipment and facilities that make space exploration possible, such as launch pads, fuel tanks, propellant lines, and buildings where rockets are assembled. What are the different types of welding? Welding can be done in many different ways. Here are some of the types of welding used at NASA: Arc Welding: Uses electricity to melt metals and fuse them together. There are many types of arc welding, including TIG and MIG welding, described below. Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding: Uses a protective gas like argon or helium to keep the metal from reacting with air. TIG welding doesn’t leave behind splatter or residue, giving a clean, precise weld. Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding: While not as clean and precise as TIG welding, is used for fast, strong welds on thicker materials, like sheet metal. Laser Welding: Enables welders to create tiny, perfect joints for delicate components. Ultrasonic Welding: Uses sound and friction to create a solid-state bond between layers of metal. A technician at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans welds part of the Orion spacecraft that will carry astronauts to the Moon on the Artemis II mission.NASA How can I become a welder? After graduating from high school, there are a couple of pathways to choose from. You can pursue an associate’s degree in welding, typically a two-year program available through community colleges and technical schools. Another option is to obtain a certificate from a vocational school or trade school. An apprenticeship during or after this training is often the next step toward a career as a professional welder. A NASA welder working on the RS-25 engine.NASA How can I start preparing today to become a welder? Taking a welding class at your high school or local college is a great way to find out whether it’s a skill you enjoy. Research welding degrees and programs at colleges and schools to determine which one(s) fit your needs and interest. It’s also a good idea to research job vacancies to learn what employers are looking for. Finally, seek out opportunities for hands-on experience to help you practice and improve your welding skills. Michelle Bahnsen uses TIG welding techniques to join two metal sheets.NASA Once I tried it, I really, really enjoyed it. There’s just something about creating something with your hands. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. Michelle Bahnsen Research laboratory mechanic/welder at NASA’s Armstrong Test Facility, part of the agency’s Glenn Research Center A research laboratory mechanic and welder joins two metal sheets.NASA Advice from other NASA welders “Building your knowledge in math and science is always a helpful tool, as you’ll need to understand measurements, geometry, and materials.” – Spencer Wells, engineering technician, Kennedy Space Center “One of the best ways to set yourself up as a welder is by attending a vocational school for welding, and then working in an apprentice/internship to gain work experience and training.” – Enricque Lee, tool and die apprentice, NASA’s Glenn Research Center On Jan. 13, 2016, technicians at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans finished welding together the primary structure of the Orion spacecraft destined for deep space on Artemis I, marking another important step on the journey to Mars.NASA Additional Resources Occupational Outlook for Welders: Pay, Education, Job Outlook, and More (From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) NASA Careers Career Spotlight: Engineer Career Spotlight: Scientist Career Spotlight: Technologist Career Spotlight: Mathematician View the full article

Pictured from left: Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot. Credit: NASA NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is preparing to launch for a long-duration science mission aboard the International Space Station. During the mission, select crew members will participate in human health studies focused on understanding how astronauts’ bodies adapt to the low-gravity environment of space, including a new study examining subtle changes in blood flow. The experiments, led by NASA’s Human Research Program, include astronauts performing ultrasounds of their blood vessels to study altered circulation and completing simulated lunar landings to assess disorientation during gravitational transitions, among other tasks. The results will help NASA plan for extended stays in space and future exploration missions. The new study, called Venous Flow, will examine whether time aboard the space station increases the chance of crew members developing blood clots. In weightlessness, blood and other bodily fluids can move toward the head, potentially altering circulation. Any resulting blood clots could pose serious health risks, including strokes. “Our goal is to use this information to better understand how fluid shifts affect clotting risk, so that when astronauts go on long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, we can build the best strategies to keep them safe,” said Dr. Jason Lytle, a physiologist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston who is leading the study. To learn more, crew members in this study will undergo preflight and postflight MRIs, ultrasound scans, blood draws, and blood pressure checks. During the flight, crew members also will capture their own jugular vein ultrasounds, take blood pressure readings, and draw blood samples for scientists to analyze after their return to Earth. In another study, called Manual Piloting, select crew members will perform multiple simulated Moon landings before, during, and after the mission. Designed to assess their piloting and decision-making skills, participants attempt to fly a virtual spacecraft toward the lunar South Pole region — the same area future Artemis crews plan to explore. “Astronauts may experience disorientation during gravitational transitions, which can make tasks like landing a spacecraft challenging,” said Dr. Scott Wood, a neuroscientist at NASA Johnson who is coordinating the investigation. While spacecraft landings on the Moon and Mars are expected to be automated, crews must be prepared to take over and pilot the vehicle if necessary. “This study will help us examine astronauts’ ability to operate a spacecraft after adapting from one gravity environment to another, and whether training near the end of their spaceflight can help prepare crews for landing,” said Wood. “We’ll monitor their ability to manually override, redirect, and control a vehicle, which will guide our strategy for training Artemis crews for future Moon missions.” The risk of astronauts experiencing disorientation from gravitational transitions increases the longer they’re in space. For this study, which debuted during the agency’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission, researchers plan to recruit seven astronauts for short-term private missions lasting up to 30 days and 14 astronauts for long-duration missions lasting at least 106 days. A control group performing the same tasks as the astronauts will provide a basis of comparison. A different study will investigate potential treatments for spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome, or SANS, which causes vision and eye changes. Researchers will examine whether taking a daily B vitamin supplement can help relieve SANS symptoms. After returning to Earth, select crew members will participate in a study that documents any injuries, such as scrapes or bruises that may occur during landing. Transitioning from weightlessness to Earth’s gravity can increase the injury risk without proper safeguards. The data will help researchers improve spacecraft design to better protect crews from landing forces. ____ 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 4 min read NASA Selects Participants to Track Artemis II Mission Article 2 weeks ago 5 min read Out of This World Discoveries: Space Station Research in 2025 Article 3 weeks ago 4 min read NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Wraps Up Space Station Science Article 3 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Living in Space Artemis Human Research Program Space Station Research and Technology View the full article

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 7722, a lenticular galaxy located about 187 million light-years away, features concentric rings of dust and gas that appear to swirl around its bright nucleus.ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. J. Foley (UC Santa Cruz), Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA; Acknowledgment: Mehmet Yüksek This new Hubble image, released on Jan. 30, 2026, is the sharpest taken of NGC 7722, a lenticular galaxy located about 187 million light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. A lenticular, meaning “lens-shaped,” galaxy is a type whose classification sits between more familiar spiral galaxies and elliptical galaxies. It is also less common than spirals and ellipticals — partly because these galaxies have a somewhat ambiguous appearance, making it hard to determine if it is a spiral, an elliptical, or something in between. Learn more about this observation. Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. J. Foley (UC Santa Cruz), Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA; Acknowledgment: Mehmet Yüksek View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Milano Cortina… 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 December 8, 2025 No Olympic competitions covers more ground than the 50-kilometer cross-country ski races. The grueling event takes more than 2 hours to complete, requiring competitors to ski a distance longer than a marathon. That’s still, however, less than an eighth of the distance between the two official host cities of the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics—Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. With events spread across more than 22,000 square kilometers (8,500 square miles) and eight cities or towns in northern Italy, these are the most geographically dispersed Games in Olympic history. The decentralized design was intentional, allowing planners to control costs and make the event more sustainable by using existing venues rather than constructing several expensive new facilities. More than 90 percent of the venues are existing or temporary facilities, including some refurbished facilities that were used in the 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo Games. About 2,900 athletes will compete across 116 events over 19 days in 13 venues in what will be the third time Italy has hosted the Games. Several of the key event venues are visible in these satellite images of the two largest host cities—Milan and Verona. The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 and 9 captured the images on December 8 and 9, 2025, respectively. Olympic festivities will kick off officially on February 6 at San Siro Stadium with performances by pop star Mariah Carey, classical singer Andrea Bocelli, classical instrumentalist Lang Lang, and Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini. Built in 1925, San Siro is Italy’s largest stadium and the longtime home of renowned football clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan. December 9, 2025 Milan will mostly host indoor ice events in several other venues around the city. Ice hockey will be spread across two venues, the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and the temporary Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. The former, located east of the city in the green and residential Santa Giulia district, is the only new permanent venue constructed for the Games. The latter, in Milano Ice Park, is a temporary transformation of the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition center, a complex of pavilions and a convention center northwest of the city center. Speed skating and figure skating will be in the Milano Ice Skating Arena, an 11,500-person stadium in Assago, a small town just outside of Milan. Outside of the Olympics, the multisport facility is used by a skating school and basketball team and as a venue for tennis, squash, swimming, and several other sports. The February 22 closing ceremonies will take place in Verona, a city of about 250,000 people 150 kilometers east of Milan, in Verona Arena, an ancient Roman amphitheater that was built between the 1st and 3rd centuries. What was once used for animal hunts and gladiator battles will serve as the backdrop for musicians, dancers, and artists in a ceremony that organizers say will honor the spirit of athletics and Italy’s rich cultural heritage. The arena, with a seating capacity of about 22,000, is the third-largest surviving amphitheater in Europe and unusually well-preserved. New events this year will include men’s and women’s ski mountaineering, skeleton mixed team relay, women’s doubles luge, freestyle skiing dual moguls, and women’s large hill ski jumping. The 2026 Olympic mascots are Tina and Milo, a brother-and-sister pair of cheerful, scarf-wearing animated stoats with names inspired by Milan and Cortina. Stoats, also called ermine, are fierce predators in the weasel family known for reportedly mesmerizing prey with energetic dances and for having fur that changes from dark brown in the summer to white in the winter. In Italy, stoats typically live in the mountains above 3,500 meters (11,500 feet). NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland. Downloads December 8, 2025 JPEG (4.63 MB) December 9, 2025 JPEG (3.22 MB) References & Resources ArchDaily (2026, February 6) Six Sites Host the Olympic Villages of Milano Cortina 2026 With a Focus on Existing Infrastructure. Accessed February 4, 2026. ESPN (2026, January 16) New events at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Accessed February 4, 2026. International Olympic Committee (2026, January 29) Key facts and figures about the upcoming Olympic Winter Games. Accessed February 4, 2026. International Olympic Committee (2026, January 9) Milano Cortina 2026: Reaching new heights in the heart of the Dolomites. Accessed February 4, 2026. International Olympic Committee (2025, October 23) Over 125 years of Olympic venues: post-Games use. Accessed February 4, 2026. National Park Stilfser Joch The Stoat or ermine. Accessed February 4, 2026. Nicoliello, M. (2024) A New Era for the Olympic Games Following a Sustainability Path: The Case of Milan-Cortina 2026. Business for Sustainability, 22, 163-181. Raco, M. & Di Vita, S. (2024) Replacing place with space: the influences and the challenges of the new norm on the Milan-Cortina Winter Games 2026. Planning Perspectives, 39,(3), 710-719. SportsTravel (2026, February 3) Olympic Winter Games Preview: Venue Guide. Accessed February 4, 2026. The New York Times (2023, July 3) GOATs Are Everywhere in Sports. So What Really Defines Greatness? Accessed February 4, 2026. You may also be interested in: Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet. Fire Burns Through Olympic Wilderness 2 min read The Bear Gulch fire spread through dense forest and filled skies with smoke in northwestern Washington state. Article Antarctic Sea Ice Saw Its Third-Lowest Maximum 2 min read Sea ice around the southernmost continent hit one of its lowest seasonal highs since the start of the satellite record. Article Arctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record 3 min read Satellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data View the full article

Curiosity Navigation Curiosity Home Mission Overview Where is Curiosity? Mission Updates Science Overview Instruments Highlights Exploration Goals News and Features Multimedia Curiosity Raw Images Images Videos Audio Mosaics More Resources Mars Missions Mars Sample Return Mars Perseverance Rover Mars Curiosity Rover MAVEN Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mars Odyssey More Mars Missions Mars Home 2 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4788-4797: Welcome Back from Conjunction NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image using its Mast Camera (Mastcam); it shows the “Nevado Sajama” drill site from November, right next to the location of this weekend’s drill. The new drill site will be to the upper left of the existing hole. Curiosity captured the image on Jan. 25, 2026 — Sol 4789, or Martian day 4,789 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission — at 19:20:37 UTC. NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Written by Alex Innanen, Atmospheric Scientist at York University, Toronto Earth planning date: Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 Mars has emerged from its holiday behind the Sun, and we here on Earth have been able to reconnect with Curiosity and get back to work on Mars. Our first planning day last Friday gave Curiosity a full weekend of activities, which wrapped up with getting us ready for our next drill. We checked out a broken white rock in the workspace with APXS, MAHLI, and ChemCam’s laser spectrometer and finished up imaging a sandy area we’ve kept an eye on during conjunction to see if we could catch any wind motion, before taking a small drive to our drill location about 2 meters away (about 6 feet). This location may look familiar — our next drill will be only a few centimeters away from “Nevado Sajama,” which we drilled back in November. The reason we’ve returned here is to do a rare SAM experiment the instrument’s last container of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (or TMAH, for less of a mouthful). TMAH is a chemical that we can mix with our sample from Nevado Sajama to help identify any organic molecules. SAM had only two containers of TMAH (the first of which we used almost six years ago, so we want to be very certain that everything will go well with this experiment. As a result, we did a rehearsal of the handoff of the sample to SAM in Wednesday’s plan, before we drill this weekend. Want to read more posts from the Curiosity team? Visit Mission Updates Want to learn more about Curiosity’s science instruments? Visit the Science Instruments page NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity at the base of Mount Sharp NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Share Details Last Updated Feb 04, 2026 Related Terms Blogs Explore More 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4750-4762: See You on the Other Side of the Sun Article 1 month ago 3 min read Wind-Sculpted Landscapes: Investigating the Martian Megaripple ‘Hazyview’ Article 2 months ago 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4743-4749: Polygons in the Hollow Article 2 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and the seventh largest. It’s the only planet we know of inhabited… All Mars Resources Explore this collection of Mars images, videos, resources, PDFs, and toolkits. Discover valuable content designed to inform, educate, and inspire,… Rover Basics Each robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a… Mars Exploration: Science Goals The key to understanding the past, present or future potential for life on Mars can be found in NASA’s four… View the full article

NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and the University of Texas System (UT System) announced the signing of a collaborative Space Act Agreement on Jan. 9, 2026. The agreement expands research and workforce development partnership opportunities across NASA centers and UT System facilities. NASA’s Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche and University of Texas System Chancellor John M. Zerwas, participate in a ceremonial signing of a Space Act Agreement at Johnson Space Center in Houston on Jan. 9, 2026.NASA/Helen Arase Vargas The agreement builds upon decades of collaboration between NASA and the UT System by enabling additional research, teaching resources, and educational engagements that support human spaceflight and grow the pipeline of next-generation talent. It will leverage Johnson’s unique capabilities as the hub of human spaceflight and the UT System’s assets across its 13 institutions. “NASA’s Johnson Space Center has a long history of working with colleges and universities to help us achieve our human spaceflight missions,” said Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche. “We are eager to partner with the UT System to collaborate in vital research and technology development initiatives that will enable us to meet our nation’s exploration goals and advance the future of space exploration.” The agreement also reflects Johnson’s continued evolution through Dare Unite Explore – a set of commitments designed to ensure the center will remain the world leader in human space exploration. Those commitments include expanding partner access to the center’s world-class facilities and expertise, as well as establishing robust workforce development and recruitment programs. Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche and UT System Chancellor John Zerwas (center) stand with members of their respective leadership teams following the ceremonial agreement signing.NASA/Helen Arase Vargas Wyche and UT System Chancellor John M. Zerwas hosted a ceremonial signing event at Johnson. During the event, Wyche and Zerwas, along with the center’s leadership team and the UT System executives and faculty, strategized on potential partnership opportunities and next steps for stakeholders. Explore More 8 min read Station Nation: Erin Edwards, Deputy Branch Chief for Crew Operations and Capsule Communicator Article 3 hours ago 4 min read Preparing for Artemis II: Training for a Mission Around the Moon Article 5 days ago 3 min read NASA Johnson Celebrates 25 Years in Space with Community Day Article 6 days ago View the full article

As a member of the Crew Operations Office, Erin Edwards and her team manage astronaut candidate training schedules, including field medical exercises, land survival, and underwater operations at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston. She also develops and tests new training programs to keep crews mission-ready. Along with her role as a crew operations officer, Edwards works in the International Space Station Mission Control Center as a capsule communicator, or capcom, and instructor. As a capcom, she must be fluent in the language of the spacecraft and its operations to clearly relay important information to the crew, especially during dynamic operations. Read on to learn about Edwards’ career with NASA and more! Erin Edwards serves as a capsule communicator, or capcom, in the International Space Station Mission Control Center in Houston.NASA/James Blair Where are you from? Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada. How long have you been working for NASA? I’ve been at NASA for two years. My term here with the military is three years. What was your path to NASA? Super random! I’m a ********* military pilot, previously working in the ********* Special Operations Forces Command as an aircraft commander on the CH-146 Griffon. While we use a lot of space-based assets in aviation, the leap to human spaceflight was unexpected. An opportunity for an officer to work in the astronaut office as a capcom arose a few years ago. As a lifelong space nerd, I figured it would be an amazing opportunity. I applied and was interviewed, and before long, was posted to NASA’s Johnson Space Center as the first ********* non-astronaut to be posted as a capcom and later as an operations officer. How would you describe your job to family or friends that may not be familiar with NASA? My team and I organize the unassigned crew and astronaut candidates’ work lives! As a capcom, I help translate what the engineers are saying in the flight control room for the astronauts aboard the station, and I help with the station activities as call sign Houston. More recently I’ve been assigned as the TH57 Helicopter Project Pilot at AOD to help get that fleet integrated for more lunar-focused Space Flight Readiness Training. What advice would you give to young individuals aspiring to work in the space industry or at NASA? Just go for it! You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, as Wayne Gretzky said. My background as a military helicopter pilot, Navy diver, and mining engineer may appear to have no relevance to NASA, but that diverse experience has turned out to be useful here as an operations officer for astronaut training. I wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t thrown my hat in the ring. No matter your technical background, there’s probably a place for it in spaceflight. Your experience has unique ways of benefiting such complex, multifaceted programs like spaceflight—so give it a shot! Is there a space figure you’ve looked up to or someone that inspires you? Spaceflight isn't something we can do on our own, there are many integrated teams comprised of many different types of people all pulling together to make the impossible happen. Erin Edwards Deputy Branch Chief for Crew Operations and Capsule Communicator Honestly, there isn’t a single person, but I think what NASA and my own country’s space program, like others, have committed themselves to as a giant team is what has inspired me over the years. I think I was inspired by that, the mission, and the culture of a united effort of so many to do hard things. What is your favorite NASA memory or the most meaningful project you’ve worked on during your time with NASA? There are two! After only a few months at NASA, I was told by my soon-to-be boss, James ‘Vegas’ Kelly, that I was selected to take over NASA astronaut Jonny Kim’s operations job. This was a huge vote of confidence for me as a new team member from Canada. The second was sending my first transmission to the station as a qualified capcom, which was incredibly cool. I am just a big nerd from a small town in Canada, and never in a million years did I think I would be at NASA at that console, so it was a little mind blowing. Erin Edwards during diving operations at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in front of the Canadarm2 mock-up.NASA/Tess Caswell What do you love sharing about station? Everyone is playing their part to accomplish important science and experiments that we can't do anywhere else. Erin Edwards Deputy Branch Chief for Crew Operations and Capsule Communicator People always seem surprised at how big the teams are that support the station and how collaborative of an effort it is. It stretches across disciplines, centers, and even countries. That information is critical for solving problems here on Earth. November 2, 2025, marked 25 years of continuous human presence. What does this milestone mean to you? A quarter century of science and partnership aboard the orbital laboratory is a testament to what we can do as a global society when we really want to. To me personally, being able to be here with people who have worked in space or help train the people going next is such a full circle situation. I dreamed of working on a team like this, and it happened 20 years later. That opportunity to fulfill a dream and represent Canada as part of the ISS program means a lot to me! If you could have dinner with any astronaut, past or present, who would it be? I was never able to meet Sally Ride. I think I would have loved to ask her some questions and hear her story in person. Do you have a favorite space-related memory or moment that stands out to you? Dr. Robert Thirsk, a ********* astronaut, spoke to my elementary school in 1996, which he had attended years earlier. I was in sixth grade, and it was a formative interaction. Hearing him talk so passionately about his shuttle mission and life with his team aboard the orbiter was absolutely lifechanging. I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but I decided then that I wanted to work in space. That set my course for life. I’ll likely never get to space, but I got pretty close, and it is really something to pursue a goal like that for so long and have it work out, almost What are some of the key projects you have worked on during your time at NASA? What have been your favorite? Being able to put my operational helicopter background to use in helping to build the helicopter flight program here has been a really cool and unexpected opportunity! I happened to be the right person at the right time with the right skill set to make a difference in that aspect of training. I’m proud of that. Erin Edwards pictured in her role as a Royal ********* Air Force helicopter pilot, where she built skills that she leverages in her work at NASA.********* Armed Forces/Erin Edwards What are your hobbies/things you enjoy doing outside of work? I’m in my forties, but still really like playing contact rugby, which is such a fun sport. Between the tactics, teamwork, bashing into people on the pitch, and a cheeky beer after a game, it’s a great way to spend a weekend. I run a lot and, when I can, climb – any kind of climbing, sport, bouldering, trad, ice climbing. All of it! Day launch or night launch? Night launch! Favorite space movie? Apollo 13. Obviously. NASA Worm or Meatball logo? Meatball! The NASA Meatball logo NASA and its partners have supported humans continuously living and working in space since November 2000. After 25 years of continuous human presence, the space station remains a training and proving ground for the future of commercial space stations, deep space missions, enabling NASA’s Artemis campaign, lunar exploration, and future Mars missions. Every day, we are conducting exciting research aboard our orbiting laboratory that will help us explore farther into space and bring benefits back to people on Earth. You can keep up with the latest news, videos, and pictures about space station science on the Station Research & Technology news page. It is a curated hub of space station research digital media from Johnson and other centers and space agencies. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to get the updates delivered directly to you. Follow updates on social media at @Space_Station on X, and on the space station accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Explore More 2 min read NASA Honor Awards for Cold Atom Lab Team Members NASA OUTSTANDING PUBLIC LEADERSHIP MEDAL Awarded for notable leadership accomplishments that have significantly influenced NASA’s… Article 5 days ago 4 min read Preparing for Artemis II: Training for a Mission Around the Moon Article 5 days ago 3 min read NASA Johnson Celebrates 25 Years in Space with Community Day Article 6 days ago View the full article

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) conducted a technical assessment to evaluate alternatives to dichloromethane, traditionally used for bonding transparent polymeric materials. This effort was initiated in response to potential regulatory restrictions under the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which could impact critical bonding processes used in spaceflight hardware and experimental systems. Download PDF: Evaluation of Adhesive and Solvent Alternatives for PolymericBonding Applications View the full article

5 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA is leveraging expertise, capabilities, and partnerships across its centers to make Artemis campaign and deep space exploration safer, more reliable, and efficient. At NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, contributions include technical leadership, unique flight-testing capabilities, and management of a key technology program that advances critical exploration concepts. Artemis II is an upcoming challenging test flight, and the lessons learned will directly prepare NASA to return humans to the surface of the Moon on Artemis III and beyond, as well as send the first astronauts – Americans – to Mars. Gulfstream G-III aircraft collects heat shield data A NASA Gulfstream G-III aircraft lifts off from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. Modifications were made to the aircraft to enable it to join three others flying at different altitudes to capture a complete view of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. This effort is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery project.NASA/Carla Thomas As preparations continue for the Artemis II launch, NASA Armstrong technicians modified a Gulfstream G-III to collect heat shield data during Orion’s reentry. As part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery, the G-III will join other aircraft to capture Orion’s thermal protection data. “Before the Artemis II mission begins, the aircraft will complete a dress rehearsal over the Pacific Ocean to verify the airborne system performance,” said Robert Navarro, NASA Armstrong support aircraft fleet project manager. Technicians at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston installed sensors and special windows for the imagery mission with assistance from NASA Armstrong technicians. Measuring Orion’s reentry heat Inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, from left, technicians Kenny Leidner, Diamond ScharSenstine, Russ Novak and Darlene Beville with ASRC Federal, inspect AVOCAT block bonding on the Artemis II heat shield on July 2, 2020. The heat shield is one of the most critical elements of Orion and will protect the capsule and astronauts during reentry through Earth’s atmosphere. Artemis II is the first crewed mission in a series of missions to the Moon and on to Mars. Artemis II will confirm all of the Orion spacecraft’s systems operate as designed in the actual environment of deep space with astronauts aboard. NASA/Isaac Watson NASA Armstrong also assists with the Orion heat shield spectrometer system for Artemis II. The system is designed to collect shock layer radiation data from the heat shield during atmospheric entry, data that will be used to enhance astronaut safety. NASA Armstrong’s expertise in integrating technologies, high reliability flight test instrumentation, and flight operations are a match for some Artemis and deep space projects. “There is nothing that can go to space or come back without going through the atmosphere, so our mission of atmospheric flight research and test is very relevant,” said Brad Flick, NASA Armstrong center director. “We specialize in testing technologies and working through the challenges of flight.” Testing Orion’s launch abort system Under the watchful eyes of technicians, a crane positions the Orion Pad Abort-1 Abort Flight Test module for mass properties testing in the Flight Loads Laboratory at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.NASA/Tony Landis Teamwork was on full display at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Aug. 13, 2009, as engineers and technicians prepared the Pad Abort-1 vehicle – the Orion launch abort system development test article. After assembly and integration, the mock crew capsule was transported to the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico where it successfully completed its test on May 6, 2010.NASA/Tony Landis NASA Armstrong demonstrated that approach when it tested a system to enable Artemis astronauts to escape harm in the event of an emergency on the ground, or in the boost phase of the Orion spacecraft. “We proved the system could get the astronauts to safety,” said Cathy Bahm, project manager for NASA’s Low ***** Flight Demonstrator. Earlier in her career, she played key roles in engineering, integration, and management for Pad Abort-1 and Ascent Abort-2 that validated the Orion spacecraft’s launch abort system. Armstrong integrated and tested the capsule and abort system and operations at the launch abort pad at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico for the Pad Abort-1 test. “Hopefully we’ll never need it, but knowing I contributed to the safety of future astronauts is a highlight of my career,” Bahm said. “Looking back on it, it was a tremendous accomplishment for the center, the team, and a contribution to the future of space travel.” Flight Opportunities program advances space tech A NASA F/A-18 research aircraft flies near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Feb. 24, 2025, testing a commercial precision landing technology for future space missions. The Psionic Space Navigation Doppler Lidar (PSNDL) system is installed in a pod located under the right wing of the aircraft.NASA Another contributor to future space travel is the Flight Opportunities program, which matures capabilities needed for NASA missions and commercial applications while strategically investing in the growth of the U.S. commercial spaceflight industry. NASA Armstrong manages the program, which supports flight testing of promising technologies, instruments, and experiments aboard commercial vehicles. Part of the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, the program identifies the best ideas – from industry, academia, and NASA researchers – for flight testing. Flight Opportunities advanced precision landing and optical communications technologies for future lunar missions. “Landing safely in shadowed lunar regions is critical,” said Greg Peters, Flight Opportunities program manager. Another deep space technology Flight Opportunities supported was a vibration isolation platform that helped provide extremely precise pointing for the Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration. That instrument used lasers to transmit data between Earth and the Psyche spacecraft from more than 215 million miles away, which could benefit future missions to Mars. NASA Armstrong tested Doppler Lidar system navigation on an F/A-18 to prepare for Moon and Mars missions. Contributions to Artemis, deep space exploration April Torres and Angelo De La Rosa remove wire harnesses for signal input for the Orion Ascent Abort-2 vehicle from electrostatic discharge protective covers at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. NASA/Lauren Hughes NASA Armstrong’s work supporting Artemis and future deep space exploration missions also includes: A NASA F/A-18 based at NASA Armstrong tested an autopilot for the SLS (Space Launch System) that proved sensors would work at the trajectory needed for landing on Mars. NASA Armstrong researchers advanced a Fiber Optic Sensing System that flew in space for the first time on the Low Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator mission. NASA Armstrong researchers developed a cryogenic FOSS, called CryoFOSS, to support future deep space missions. CryoFOSS was used during testing of a system designed to liquefy oxygen – as it would on the Moon or Mars – for use as return-trip fuel. By producing fuel on-site, missions could avoid carrying return fuel from Earth, significantly reducing launch weight and overall mission cost. NASA Armstrong staff were in the control rooms when the Orion spacecraft launch abort system was demonstrated. Before the Ascent Abort-2 tests could advance, NASA Armstrong assisted with component testing and integration work. NASA Armstrong photographers and videographers documented the Orion parachute tests in Yuma, Arizona. Under the Artemis campaign, NASA is returning humans to the Moon for economic benefits, scientific discovery, and to prepare for crewed missions to Mars. Share Details Last Updated Feb 04, 2026 EditorDede DiniusContactTeresa Whiting*****@*****.tldLocationArmstrong Flight Research Center Related TermsArmstrong Flight Research CenterArtemis 2Flight InnovationFlight Opportunities Program Explore More 4 min read Preparing for Artemis II: Training for a Mission Around the Moon Article 5 days ago 3 min read NASA Heat Shield Technology Enables Space Industry Growth Article 6 days ago 3 min read I Am Artemis: Doug Parkinson Article 6 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Aircraft Flown at Armstrong Artemis Flight Opportunities View the full article

Varda Space Industries/William Godward This Jan. 29, 2026, photo captures the streak the Varda Space Industries W-5 capsule made while returning to Earth. The capsule uses a protective heat shield Varda produced made of cutting-edge material it licensed from NASA. The material, known as C-PICA (Conformal Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator), provides a stronger, less expensive, and more efficient thermal protection coating to capsules, allowing them – and their valuable contents – to return to Earth safely. Developed at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, C-PICA sets the standard for heat shields, reflecting the decades of expertise that NASA brings to designing, developing, and testing innovative thermal protection materials. This flight test of Varda-produced C-PICA was supported by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program. Image credit: Varda Space Industries/William Godward View the full article

2 Min Read NASA’s SPHEREx Examines Comet 3I/ATLAS’s Coma PIA26720 Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech Photojournal Navigation Science Photojournal NASA’s SPHEREx Examines… Photojournal Home Photojournal Search Latest Content Galleries Feedback RSS About Downloads NASA’s SPHEREx Examines Comet 3I/ATLAS’s Coma PNG (1.87 MB) Description These observations by NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) show the infrared light emitted by the dust, water, organic molecules, and carbon dioxide contained within comet 3I/ATLAS’s coma. The comet brightened significantly during the December 2025 ******* when SPHEREx made the observations — about two months after the icy body had passed its closest distance to the Sun in late October. The space telescope has the singular capability of seeing the sky in 102 colors, each representing a wavelength of infrared light that provides unique information about galaxies, stars, planet-forming regions, or other cosmic features, including the various gases and dust seen in the coma of 3I/ATLAS. The information gathered by SPHEREx helps scientists better understand what materials 3I/ATLAS contains and how the interstellar object’s pristine ices react to the Sun’s heating as the comet journeys through the solar system. The mission is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California for the agency’s Astrophysics Division within the Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The telescope and the spacecraft bus were built by BAE Systems. The science analysis of the SPHEREx data is being conducted by a team of scientists at 13 institutions across the U.S., and in South Korea and Taiwan, led by Principal Investigator Jamie Bock, based at Caltech with a joint JPL appointment, and by JPL Project Scientist Olivier Dore. Data is processed and archived at IPAC at Caltech in Pasadena, which manages JPL for NASA. The SPHEREx dataset is freely available to scientists and the public. For more information about the SPHEREx mission visit: [Hidden Content] Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From Photojournal Photojournal Search Photojournal Photojournal’s Latest Content Feedback View the full article

Landsat Navigation Landsat Home Missions Landsat Next Landsat 9 Landsat 8 Landsat 7 Landsat 6 Landsat 5 Landsat 4 Landsat 3 Landsat 2 Landsat 1 News Latest News People of Landsat Q&As Newsletter Publications Data Overview Cal/Val Open Data Benefits Overview Agriculture & Food Security Disaster Management Ecosystems & Biodiversity Energy Resources Forest Management Human Health Urban Development Water Resources Wildfires Case Studies Outreach Multimedia About An animation shows glaciers in the Karakoram range of Pakistan with monthly ice-velocity measurements overlaid from January through December. On Baltoro Glacier, red areas, indicating high ice velocities, propagate slowly downslope throughout the melting season. NASA/Chad Greene For the first time, scientists have created a comprehensive global dataset revealing how the world’s glaciers speed up and slow down with the seasons. Published in Science in November 2025, this groundbreaking study analyzed over 36 million satellite image pairs—including decades of Landsat data—to track the seasonal “pulse” of every major glacier on Earth. The research, built off the ITS_LIVE ice velocity dataset from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), reveals that seasonal glacier dynamics are becoming more pronounced as our planet warms, with the strongest seasonal variations occurring where annual maximum temperatures exceed freezing. Armed with this global perspective, researchers can continue to tease out patterns in glacial dynamics, identifying how factors including geology and hydrology impact seasonal melting. Alex Gardner, a scientist at NASA JPL and a co-author on this study, explains how combining Landsat and radar data makes this research possible. What makes this research unique from other studies of glacial dynamics? While many past studies have investigated seasonal changes in glacier flow, they have typically focused on single glaciers or specific regions. This localization makes it difficult to extrapolate findings to the rest of the world. This study is the first to characterize seasonal flow changes for all the world’s glaciers. By applying a consistent methodology globally, we were able to isolate the universal relationships that drive seasonal fluctuations in glacier flow. Why did you use Landsat in this work? Did it give you any insight that would have been difficult to get otherwise? We utilized data from Landsat 4/5/7/8/9, as well as ESA’s Sentinel 2 (optical) and Sentinel 1 (radar). Landsat offers an unmatched historical record with dense temporal sampling, particularly following the launch of Landsat 8 in 2013. Three factors make Landsat imagery ideal for detecting “surface displacements” (the subtle pixel shifts used to estimate flow): Near-exact repeat orbits: The satellite returns to the exact same position. Nadir viewing: The instrument looks directly downward. Stable instrument geometry: Distortion is minimized. An animation shows glaciers in southeastern Alaska with monthly ice-velocity measurements overlaid from January through December. Red areas, indicating high ice velocities, begin to expand across Malaspina Glacier in spring. NASA/Chad Greene Why does the ITS_LIVE tool use the Landsat panchromatic band? Which bands from Landsats 4-5 are used? We measure surface displacement using a technique called feature tracking, which tracks the movement of specific surface details between a primary and a secondary image. This approach works best with high-resolution imagery because there are more “features” to track. Therefore, we utilize the 15m panchromatic band. For the older Landsat 4/5 data, we use Band 2 (visible red) because it provides the best contrast over bright glacier surfaces. You used Landsat data in combination with radar data to track ice velocity. What did each of these datasets contribute? Optical and Radar imagery are highly complementary and allow us to reconstruct a complete timeline of glacier flow: Radar (Active Sensor): Can image the surface day or night, regardless of cloud cover, but struggles with feature tracking when the surface is melting (wet snow/ice). Optical (Passive Sensor): Requires sunlight and clear skies, but performs significantly better than radar when the surface is melting. How did you use radar data to validate uncertainties? We characterized uncertainty by analyzing retrieved velocities over stationary surfaces, such as bedrock. If our data showed high variability or movement in areas we know are not moving (like rock), we knew those measurements carried a higher uncertainty. You found that glacier dynamics vary by region and glacier type. Why is it important to understand these global differences? A glacier’s response to external forces—such as meltwater lubricating the bedrock or changes in frontal melting—is highly dependent on local factors (e.g., the material beneath the glacier or the shape of the fjord). This makes it risky to assume that findings from one glacier apply to another. Our study identified general patterns by observing nearly every glacier on Earth. A key finding was the relationship between temperature and flow: Seasonal variability becomes prominent when annual maximum temperatures exceed 0°C. The amplitude of that seasonal cycle increases with every degree of warming above that threshold. Are there plans to incorporate Landsat 9 data into future studies? How would improvements in remote sensing technology (increased temporal revisit, spatial resolution, etc.) impact glacial velocity analyses? We are already ingesting Landsat 9 data into the ITS_LIVE project, which is designed to scale quickly with new sensors. Future sensor improvements offer a trade-off: Increased Spatial Resolution: Allows us to track a higher number of surface features, improving flow estimates. Increased Temporal Frequency: Reduces data gaps caused by surface changes (loss of features), but can potentially increase error rates. This is because displacement is an accumulated signal; features move half the distance in an 8-day pair compared to a 16-day pair, making the movement harder to distinguish from background noise. Are there any research questions you’re interested in that build off this work? This study is just the tip of the iceberg. The dataset is rich with insights on glacier mechanics that are waiting to be uncovered. While we hope to make new discoveries in the coming years, we are equally excited to see what breakthroughs come from the wider scientific community exploring this open data. An animation shows an ice cap in the ********* Arctic with monthly ice-velocity measurements overlaid from January through December. Red areas, indicating high ice velocities, expand across the ice cap during the summer months. NASA/Chad Greene Explore More Tracking Glacial Change with Landsat and Radar 5 min read NASA Scientist Alex Gardner highlights how Landsat made his research into the dynamics of glacial flow possible. Feb 4, 2026 Article Chilled New York City 3 min read Ice in the Hudson River hugged the shore of Manhattan amid a deep freeze. Feb 4, 2026 Article Cracking Antarctic Sea Ice 4 min read Icebreakers play a critical role in delivering supplies to America’s largest research base in Antarctica. Feb 3, 2026 Article 1 2 3 … 292 Next View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Chilled New York City Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Notes from the Field Blog Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search January 28, 2026 The New York metropolitan area was showing the effects of a prolonged cold spell in late January 2026. During a stretch of frigid weather, ice choked the Hudson River along Manhattan’s western shore. The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 captured this image of the wintry landscape around midday on January 28. The image is false-color (bands 5-4-3) to distinguish ice (light blue) from open water and snow. Vegetation appears red. Ice is abundant in the Hudson River and visible in smaller amounts in the East River, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park, and waterways in New Jersey. Temperatures in New York City dropped below freezing on January 24 and stayed there for over a week. The high on January 28, the date of the image, was 23 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 5 degrees Celsius). Low temperatures and harsh wind chills gripped much of eastern North America over this ******* amid a surge of Arctic air. Much of the ice in the image likely floated there from farther upriver, where tidal currents are weaker and salinity is lower. These conditions allow water to freeze sooner and at higher temperatures than the faster-flowing, brackish water near the river’s mouth, shown here. A complete freeze of the Hudson around Manhattan is unlikely, experts say, although it did occur back in 1888. Still, the ice buildup was substantial enough for NYC Ferry to suspend services for several days. Iced-up rivers can have other implications, from flooding and infrastructure damage to changes in hydrologic processes that affect water quality and aquatic habitats. Scientists, government agencies, and emergency responders are increasingly turning to remote sensing technologies such as synthetic aperture radar and hyperspectral imaging to track river ice. Improved monitoring can aid in water resource management and mitigate ice’s effects on infrastructure and ecosystems. In addition to the river ice, other signs of winter were visible across New York. A fresh layer of snow coated the landscape following a winter storm, in which a weather station in Central Park recorded nearly 12 inches (30 centimeters) of accumulation on January 25. And the low angle of the midwinter Sun caused the tall buildings in Midtown and Lower Manhattan to cast long shadows. In a neighboring borough on February 2, a shorter shadow was cast—this one by the weather-prognosticating groundhog known as Staten Island Chuck. Folklore holds that the sighting signals six more weeks of winter. When compared with data from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, the New York rodent was deemed the most accurate of his peer weather “forecasters.” This year, Chuck might be right, at least in the near term: the National Weather Service forecast called for below-average temperatures to persist, with Arctic air returning to the city by the weekend. NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Lindsey Doermann. Downloads January 28, 2026 JPEG (11.11 MB) References & Resources AccuWeather (2026, January 28) Hudson River ice suspends NYC ferry service as deep freeze grips the Northeast. Accessed February 3, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2026, January 30) Extreme January Cold. Accessed February 3, 2026. National Weather Service (2026) New York, NY, Climate. Accessed February 3, 2026. The New York Times (2026, January 30) What Would It Take to Actually Freeze the Hudson River? Accessed February 3, 2026. Zakharov, I., et al. (2024) Review of River Ice Observation and Data Analysis Technologies. Hydrology, 11(8), 126. 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. Arctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record 3 min read Satellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025. Article Greenland Ice Sheet Gets a Refresh 3 min read A moderately intense season of surface melting left part of the ice sheet dirty gray in summer 2025, but snowfall… Article Antarctic Sea Ice Saw Its Third-Lowest Maximum 2 min read Sea ice around the southernmost continent hit one of its lowest seasonal highs since the start of the satellite record. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data View the full article

NASA/Sam Lott A full moon is seen shining over NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the early hours of February 1, 2026. The agency concluded a wet dress rehearsal for the agency’s Artemis II test flight early Tuesday morning, successfully loading cryogenic propellant into the SLS (Space Launch System) tanks, sending a team out to the launch pad to closeout Orion, and safely draining the rocket. The wet dress rehearsal was a prelaunch test to fuel the rocket, designed to identify any issues and resolve them before attempting a launch. To allow teams to review data and conduct a second wet dress rehearsal, NASA now will target March as the earliest possible launch opportunity for the flight test. Read more about the wet dress rehearsal. Image credit: NASA/Sam Lott View the full article

NASA/JPL-Caltech Rapid advances in commercial space, artificial intelligence, and edge computing are transforming what is possible for Earth observation. By pushing more intelligence onboard, missions can move from passively collecting data to actively interpreting and responding to changing surface conditions in near-real time, enabling more targeted observations and dramatically improving the value of data returned to the ground. Within this context, land-focused applications such as regenerative agriculture, sustainable forestry, and broader land resilience efforts stand to benefit enormously from satellites that can adapt what, when, and how they sense based on dynamic environmental signals and algorithmic insight rather than fixed schedules or static acquisition plans. NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) invites participants to design small satellite (SmallSat) mission concepts that leverage adaptive sensing and onboard processing to enhance regenerative agriculture, forestry, or a similar land resilience objective.​ Participants must work within onboard power, compute, and bandwidth constraints characteristic of SmallSat missions, focusing on how to orchestrate existing land observation algorithms into an efficient, responsive onboard intelligence layer.​ Both hardware-oriented and software-oriented solutions—or combinations of the two—are encouraged. NASA’s primary objective for this challenge is to advance computational and systems approaches for adaptive sensing or onboard processing on SmallSat missions. The goal is not to develop new agricultural or forestry science but rather to improve how SmallSats sense, process, and deliver information to enable these applications. Award: $400,000 in total prizes Challenge Open Date: January 30, 2026 Submission Close Date: May 4, 2026 For more information, visit: [Hidden Content] View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Cracking Antarctic Sea Ice Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Notes from the Field Blog Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search January 19 January 20 NASA Earth Observatory NASA Earth Observatory January 19January 20 NASA Earth Observatory NASA Earth Observatory January 19 January 20 CurtainToggle2-Up Image Details ‘Tis the season for long and ruler-straight cracks in McMurdo Sound’s sea ice. Though natural breaks in sea ice are called leads, the better term for the human-made fracture seen in these satellite images is a ship channel. In the austral summer, usually in January, an icebreaker rams a path through the fast ice—a type of sea ice that is anchored to the shore—that often covers McMurdo Sound. This annual effort allows cargo ships to reach McMurdo Station, a research base operated by the United States Antarctic Program. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star completed the task in January 2026, arriving after breaking a path through several miles of ice between the Ross Sea and an ice pier at McMurdo. Most of the channel was cut between January 19 and 20. January 2 – January 27, 2026 The animation above, made of images captured by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 and 9, offers satellite views of the icebreaker’s work. Images were captured on January 2, 7, 19, 20, 23, 25, and 27. The nearly 120-meter (400-foot) vessel weighs 13,500 tons and has thick steel-plated hulls. With 75,000 shaft horsepower, it’s the world’s most powerful non-nuclear icebreaker. The ship sometimes conducts search-and-rescue missions as well. On January 17, the day marking its 50th year of service, the Polar Star responded to a call from an *********** cruise ship in the Ross Sea hampered by thick, pack ice—a type of sea ice unattached to the shoreline that drifts. After making two close passes to break up the ice and clear a path, the Polar Star escorted the cruise ship 4 nautical miles (7 kilometers) to open water in the Ross Sea, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Established in 1955, McMurdo Station is the southernmost point on Earth accessible by ship. With a population that swells to 1,200 in the summer, it is the largest research station in Antarctica, hosting a harbor, two airfields, and a helicopter pad. Though once powered by a portable nuclear reactor known as “Nukey ****,” the base now runs on energy from diesel electric generators and a wind farm on Crater Hill. With the ship passage open, McMurdo Station is slated to receive two large deliveries this summer. The Stena Polaris, a tanker, arrived on January 20 with 5 million gallons of diesel fuel. Plantijngracht, a cargo ship, will arrive later with food, supplies, and parts of a new floating pier that will replace the traditional ice pier that military engineers have constructed each winter to give ships somewhere to unload cargo. The U.S. National Science Foundation manages McMurdo Station and much of the science conducted there. NASA has also been involved in several projects at the base over the years. For instance, NASA’s McMurdo Ground Station, a Near Space Network facility, is used to download data from polar-orbiting satellites such as Landsat 9 and SMAP. The agency also flew its Operation Ice Bridge airborne campaign from McMurdo in 2013 and regularly launches research balloons from the station as part of its scientific ballooning program. The Polar Star typically remains at McMurdo through March to keep the ship passage clear and returns to its home port of Seattle in April. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland. Downloads January 2, 2026 JPEG (347.10 KB) January 7, 2026 JPEG (371.12 KB) January 19, 2026 JPEG (396.28 KB) January 20, 2026 JPEG (406.54 KB) January 23, 2026 JPEG (390.37 KB) January 25, 2026 JPEG (426.85 KB) References & Resources Atlas Obscura (2024, March 20) McMurdo Ice Pier. Accessed February 2, 2026. Cruise Industry News (2026, January 24) Scenic Statement Regarding Scenic Eclipse II Ross Sea Operations. Accessed February 2, 2026. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (2026, January 30) MSC Chartered Ship Completes Fuel Delivery for Operation Deep Freeze 2026. Accessed February 2, 2026. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (2026, January 21) USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) escorts motor vessel Stena Polaris through the ice-covered Ross Sea to McMurdo Station during Operation Deep Freeze 2026. Accessed February 2, 2026. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (2026, January 21) First MSC Chartered Ship Arrives at McMurdo Station Antarctica in Support of Operation Deep Freeze 2026. Accessed February 2, 2026. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (2026, January 7) MSC Completes Southern California Cargo Operations in Support of Operation Deep Freeze 2026. Accessed February 2, 2026. The Maritime Executive (2026, January 15) U.S. Antarctic Resupply Mission Underway with Chartered Dutch Ship. Accessed February 2, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2025) World of Change: Antarctic Sea Ice. Accessed February 2, 2026. U.S. Antarctic Program (2025, April 29) Preparations Underway for a new Barge Pier at NSF McMurdo Station. Accessed February 2, 2026. U.S. Coast Guard (2026, January 23) U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star marks 50 years of service, begins Operation Deep Freeze 2026. Accessed February 2, 2026. U.S. Department of War Navy (2026, January 6) Reservists Support Operation Deep Freeze 2026. The Washington Post (2026, January 27) Coast Guard called to help luxury cruise stuck in Antarctica. Accessed February 2, 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. Antarctic Sea Ice Saw Its Third-Lowest Maximum 2 min read Sea ice around the southernmost continent hit one of its lowest seasonal highs since the start of the satellite record. Article Arctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record 3 min read Satellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025. Article Greenland Ice Sheet Gets a Refresh 3 min read A moderately intense season of surface melting left part of the ice sheet dirty gray in summer 2025, but snowfall… Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data View the full article

NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Zena Cardman, both Expedition 74 Flight Engineers, work on spacesuit maintenance inside the International Space Station’s Quest airlock on Dec. 16, 2025.Credit: NASA NASA astronaut Chris Williams will connect with students in Pennsylvania to answer prerecorded science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) questions while aboard the International Space Station. The Earth-to-space call will begin at 12:20 p.m. EST Thursday, Feb. 5, and will stream live on the agency’s Learn With NASA YouTube channel. Media interested in covering the event must RSVP by 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4, to Tamara Krizek at: 917-692-5038 or *****@*****.tld. The Da Vinci Science Center will host this event in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for students in kindergarten through grade 12, and members of the community. This unique opportunity aims to deepen understanding of space exploration and inspire young people to pursue a future career in STEM. For more than 25 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts communicate with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through SCaN’s (Space Communications and Navigation) Near Space Network. Research and technology investigations taking place aboard the space station benefit people on Earth and lay the groundwork for other agency deep space missions. As part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars, inspiring the world through discovery in a new Golden Age of innovation and exploration. See more information on NASA in-flight calls at: [Hidden Content] -end- Gerelle Dodson Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 gerelle.q*****@*****.tld Sandra Jones Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 sandra.p*****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Feb 02, 2026 EditorJessica TaveauLocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsIn-flight Education DownlinksHumans in SpaceInternational Space Station (ISS)NASA STEM Projects View the full article

NASA/Brandon Hancock NASA’s Orion spacecraft, which will carry the Artemis II crew around the Moon, sits at the launch pad on Jan. 17, 2026, after rollout. It rests atop the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. Orion can provide living space on missions for four astronauts for up to 21 days without docking to another spacecraft. Advances in technology for deep space travel such as life support, avionics, power systems, and state-of-the-art thermal protection will support the crew during launch, landing, and recovery. Image credit: NASA/Brandon Hancock View the full article

The Moon is seen shining over the SLS (Space Launch System) and Orion spacecraft, on top of the mobile launcher on Feb. 1, 2026. The rocket is currently at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as teams are preparing for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for the launch of Artemis II.Credit: NASA/Sam Lott Following a fueling test of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket at the launch pad for the Artemis II Moon mission, leaders will discuss initial results during a news conference at 12 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 3. The agency’s SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft arrived at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 17. Since then, engineers have been conducting a variety of tests prior to launch. Underway now is a wet dress rehearsal, which requires filling the rocket with the 700,000 gallons of propellant. Call to stations began Jan. 31, and teams are counting down to a simulated launch window opening at 9 p.m. Monday. If more work is needed, NASA may rollback SLS and Orion into the Vehicle Assembly Building after the wet dress rehearsal. The agency will stream the news conference live on its YouTube channel. A 24/7 live stream of the rocket remains online, as well as a separate feed for coverage of the wet dress rehearsal. Look for individual streams for these events to watch on YouTube. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media. Participants in the news conference include: NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate John Honeycutt, chair, Artemis II Mission Management Team Representative, Exploration Ground Systems Program Following a successful wet dress rehearsal, NASA leaders will make a final call to send the Artemis II astronauts to Kennedy. The four crew members have been in quarantine in Houston since Jan. 21. If teams need more time to work on Artemis II hardware, crew can remain in Houston or exit quarantine. If the crew members are sent to Kennedy, they are expected to fly NASA’s T-38s to Florida, arriving on the center about 3 p.m. on Feb. 3. They will participate in a media gaggle immediately following landing. Their gaggle also will stream live on NASA’s YouTube channel. Participants include all four Artemis II crew members: Reid Wiseman, commander, NASA astronaut Victor Glover, pilot, NASA astronaut Christina Koch, mission specialist, NASA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist, CSA (********* Space Agency) astronaut Media previously credentialed for launch may join these events in person. To participate in the news conference virtually, media must RSVP no later than two hours prior to the start of the call to Lauren Low in the Office of Communications at: lauren.e*****@*****.tld. NASA’s media credentialing policy is online. As part of a Golden Age of innovation and exploration, Artemis will pave the way for new U.S. crewed missions on the lunar surface in preparation to send the first astronauts to Mars. To learn more about the Artemis campaign, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Cheryl Warner / Rachel Kraft Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / rachel.h*****@*****.tld Tiffany Fairley Kennedy Space Center, Florida 321-747-8306 *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Feb 02, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsArtemisArtemis 2Humans in Space View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Seasons Change in Southwest… 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 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video October 4–December 6, 2025 As the seasons sweep through southwest Virginia, the lush summer landscape transforms, fading into fall and winter. From October 4 to December 6, 2025, the forests in this animation turn from green to orange to brown before being blanketed by white snow. The animation is composed of images from Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS), a NASA product that combines imagery from the NASA/USGS Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites and the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2A, 2B, and 2C satellites. The animation showcases the Valley and Ridge province of the Appalachian Mountains, named for its characteristic parallel ridges and valleys. When the supercontinent Pangea formed, the region was compressed, one of the factors producing this folded landscape. The region’s forests, largely deciduous, undergo color change in the fall before shedding their leaves. Certain species change color earlier, while others lose their green pigment later in the season. Because of Virginia’s rich tree diversity—nearly 100 species of deciduous trees are native to the state—the landscape becomes a patchwork of shifting colors. December 6, 2025 Paige Williams, an assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability at Virginia Commonwealth University, identified several notable landscape changes captured in the video. Price Mountain, with nearly entirely deciduous forests, appears bright orange in early November and then fades to brown by mid-month. Northeast of Price Mountain, Blacksburg—home of Virginia Tech—maintains a backdrop of green and gray. Ellet Valley, east of town, stays green until early December, long after surrounding ridgelines fade to brown, due to irrigated agricultural fields, cattle grazing, and golf courses. Evergreens, which retain their foliage year-round, dot the scene with dark green and thrive most on north-facing slopes. Nearly 80 percent of Virginia’s forests are deciduous or a mix of deciduous and pine trees. Deciduous trees lose their leaves every fall in a process called senescence. As days get shorter and temperatures drop, chlorophyll (which gives leaves their green color) begins to break down, revealing other carotenoid plant pigments, usually yellow and orange hues hidden during the spring and summer. Some trees produce new pigments that turn leaves red. Before the leaves fall, the trees absorb as many of their nutrients as possible, recycling them for future growth. In early December, a rare early-season snowstorm visited Virginia. Snow covered the landscape, sliding off steeper slopes and collecting in valleys and flatlands. The National Weather Service reported that by the month’s end, Blacksburg had collected a total of 8.6 inches (22 centimeters) of snow—nearly 4 inches more than the 1991–2020 average for December. Animation by Ross Walter/Landsat Science Office Support, using data from the Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) product. Still image by Lauren Dauphin/NASA Earth Observatory using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Madeleine Gregory/Landsat Project Science Support. Downloads December 6, 2025 JPEG (5.01 MB) October 4–December 6, 2025 MP4 (43.69 MB) References & Resources National Park Service (2018, May 1) Valley and Ridge Province. Accessed January 28, 2026. National Weather Service, Blacksburg, VA. Accessed January 28, 2026. Smithsonian (2021, September 21) Why do leaves change color in the fall? Accessed January 28, 2026. Virginia Department of Forestry, Hardwood Management. Accessed January 28, 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. Autumn in the Ozarks 3 min read Late-season reds and browns swept across the Ozark Highlands in the south-central U.S. Article Rewilding South Africa’s Greater Kruger 5 min read Satellites are helping land managers track ecological shifts as reserves reconnect and landscapes return to a more natural state. Article Color Along the Anadyr 2 min read Across the northeastern Siberian tundra, summer greens shift to vibrant reds, yellows, and browns as temperatures drop and days shorten. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data View the full article