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Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Seeing Blue During… 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 Cerulean blue meltwater flows through drainage channels on the Nivlisen Ice Shelf, Antarctica, in this image acquired on January 6, 2026, by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison Summer is a busy season at Schirmacher Oasis, a rocky, ice-free plateau in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica. Located near the grounding line of Nivlisen Ice Shelf and about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the open waters of the Lazarev Sea, the “oasis” of land amid an otherwise continuous expanse of ice is home to dozens of small ice-covered freshwater lakes and two research stations. It’s the season when all-white snow petrels are sometimes spotted soaring over the oasis, and fuzzy south polar skua and Wilson’s storm petrel chicks grow up in sheltered crevices on its cliffs and ridges. Under constant sunlight, the plateau’s freshwater lakes come to life, supporting cyanobacterial growth and teeming with microscopic tardigrades, rotifers, and nematodes. At times, groups of Adélie penguins toddle through the oasis and attempt to breed. The summer months are also when temperatures creep just above freezing long enough for expansive networks of seasonal melt ponds and drainage channels on and within the surrounding ice to fill with bright blue meltwater that flows north onto and across the Nivlisen Ice Shelf. The satellite image above shows seasonal melt on January 6, 2026, during the peak of the 2026 melt season. Lakes dot the rocky surface of Schirmacher Oasis in this image acquired on January 6, 2026, by the OLI on Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison The Nivlisen Ice Shelf is a floating tongue that forms as glacial ice flows off Antarctica and into the waters of the Lazarev Sea. The many blue ice areas found around the oasis are snow-free areas where old, compressed glacial ice with few air bubbles has been exposed by powerful katabatic winds and sublimation. This dense ice absorbs red wavelengths of light and reflects blue wavelengths, making it appear blue. Blue ice areas are rare in Antarctica, covering about 1 percent of the continent’s surface. “The image captures the Nivlisen Ice Shelf during a phase of strong, system-wide hydrological connectivity,” said Geetha Priya Murugesan, a remote sensing scientist with the Jyothy Institute of Technology in Bengaluru, India. Such features aren’t always visible in optical satellite imagery, she added, noting that they are often frozen, buried under snow, or drained. “This image is notable because the ‘cerulean veins’ we see on the surface align with a deeper, persistent plumbing system that we monitor with radar.” Surface drainage channels filled with meltwater flow across the Nivlisen Ice Shelf in this image acquired on January 6, 2026, by the OLI on Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison Murugesan and colleagues have analyzed decades of satellite data and conducted several years of field research in the area, including in 2026. Their work shows that since 2000, the surface melting caused by seasonal melt ponds and channels on the ice shelf has grown in depth, area, and volume. The depth and volume of melt features grew by a factor of 1.5, while their surface area increased by a factor of 1.2. Murugesan thinks that the visibility of the drainage network in images like these hints at a deeper vulnerability of the ice shelf. The drainage channels trace preexisting structural weaknesses, including crevasses, that act as “hydraulic pathways” that concentrate meltwater in vulnerable zones near the grounding line, where it can weaken the ice shelf, Murugesan said. The researchers have also linked peak melting periods like this one to atmospheric rivers and foehn winds that enhance surface melting and help route meltwater through the drainage networks. The dark color—low albedo—of the many blue ice areas surrounding the oasis contributes to drainage events by making ice surfaces less reflective, warmer, and thus more prone to summer melting, Murugesan added. While Murugesan and colleagues are currently conducting a detailed analysis of the 2026 melt season to determine how it compares to past years, she said it appears to be a “strong melt event consistent with elevated melt conditions.” NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland. Downloads January 6, 2026 JPEG (11.75 MB) References & Resources Chen, J., et al. (2026) Interannual and Seasonal Evolution of Supraglacial Channel Networks on Nivlisen Ice Shelf, East Antarctica. Egusphere, preprint. Chouksey, A., et al. (2021) Mapping and identification of ice-sheet and glacier features using optical and SAR data in parts of central Dronning Maud Land (cDML), East Antarctica. Polar Science, 30, 100740. EGU Blogs (2024, June 21) Blue ice in Antarctica: small extent, big science. Accessed March 26, 2026. Murugesan, G.P., et al. (2026) Decadal Evolution of Supraglacial Hydrology on the Nivlisen Ice Shelf: From Localized Ponding to Spatially Synchronized Hydrofracture Forcing (2015-2026). Earth ArXiv, preprint. Murugesan, G.P., et al. (2025) Surface Melt Assessment of Nivlisen Ice Shelf, East Antarctica via SAR Satellite Data Analysis During Austral Summer 2022-2023. In: Shukla, P.K., et al. Computer Vision and Robotics. CVR 2024. Algorithms for Intelligent Systems. (Springer, Singapore.) Murugesan, G.P., et al. (2024) Monitoring of Melt Ponds and Supra-Glacial Lakes over Nivlisen Ice Shelf, East Antarctica, Using Satellite-Based Multispectral Data. Civil Engineering Innovations for Sustainable Communities with Net Zero Targets. Murugesan, G.P., et al. (2023) Decoding the Dynamics of Climate Change Impact: Temporal Patterns of Surface Warming and Melting on the Nivlisen Ice Shelf, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. Remote Sensing, 15(24), 5676. Pande, A., et al. (2020) Past records and current distribution of seabirds at Larsemann Hills and Schirmacher Oasis, east Antarctica. Polar Record, 56, e40 Ryan, P.G. (2024) Notes on the birds of Schirmacher Oasis. Marine Ornithology, 52(2). Tollenaar, V., et al. (2024) Where the White Continent Is Blue: Deep Learning Locates Bare Ice in Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, 51(3), e2023GL106285. 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 Chesapeake Bay Locked in Ice 3 min read Nearly 50 years ago, the first Landsat satellite captured the rare sight of Mid-Atlantic waterways frozen over. Article Stonebreen’s Beating Heart 3 min read The glacier in southeastern Svalbard pulses with the changing seasons, speeding up and slowing its flow toward the sea. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data Open access to NASA’s archive of Earth science data View the full article

3 Min Read I Am Artemis: Erik Richards Erik Richards, mission manager for NASA’s Near Space Network, stands in front of the large antennas at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. Credits: NASA Listen to this audio excerpt from Erik Richards, Near Space Network Mission Manager: 0:00 / 0:00 Your browser does not support the audio element. For Erik Richards, supporting NASA’s first crewed Artemis mission to the Moon and back is the culmination of a career spent helping spacecraft communicate with Earth. Like many kids who grew up at the height of the Space Shuttle Program, Richards dreamed of spaceflight — a dream that eventually took him from the remote McMurdo Station in Antarctica to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. I’ve spent my entire career moving across NASA’s network. At its core, it's an organization of people and interactions. I always say it’s not what you know, but who you know that makes the network go. There are so many opportunities to learn. Erik Richards NASA Near Space Network Mission Manager Most recently, his work has taken him to the agency’s White Sands Complex in New Mexico — and into a key role in America’s return to the Moon. As mission manager for NASA’s Near Space Network, Richards ensures the Artemis II crew and Orion spacecraft can communicate with Earth during liftoff and early orbit, through re-entry and splashdown. Erik Richards at the White Sands Complex. The largest White Sands antennas are 18 meters (59 feet) in diameter. The Near Space Network consists of an interconnected web of relay satellites and more than 40 government and commercial ground stations stretching from Bermuda to South Africa. Together with NASA’s Deep Space Network, this global infrastructure is critical to keeping the Orion spacecraft and its four astronauts connected to mission control throughout their roughly 10-day mission. It’s Richards’ job to keep the many pieces of the Near Space Network operating in sync across multiple missions. He compares the system to a telephone network on Earth: invisible when everything works, critical when it doesn’t. Without communications, there’s no contact with home. A Near Space Network antenna at the White Sands Ground Terminal. The Near Space Network is supporting the Artemis II mission during liftoff, early orbit, re-entry, and splashdown.NASA Working with the Deep Space Network, Artemis II will rely on the Near Space Network for navigation, real-time voice communications, data transfer, and situational awareness. For Richards and the teams supporting NASA’s networks, having crew aboard makes their work more essential than ever. Richards’ professional journey across the Near Space Network has been key to coordinating communications across the Artemis’ three flight segments, dozens of ground stations, and hundreds of people supporting humanity’s return to the Moon. Artemis isn’t just one spacecraft. It’s multiple elements working together across every mission phase, each with its own communications demands. My role is making sure communications succeed for the rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and ultimately the crew. Erik Richards NASA Near Space Network Mission Manager In the months leading up to launch, Richards has supported extensive testing, requirements development, and readiness operations to prepare the network. During the mission, he will be on console, monitoring data flow and coordinating support across NASA and its partner sites worldwide. The support Richards and his team provide Artemis II will carry forward to Artemis III and NASA’s goal of a sustained human presence on the lunar surface. For Richards, being part of that progression — from shuttle to the Moon and eventually Mars — connects him to his childhood love of spaceflight. “The most exciting part about the Artemis campaign is being part of something greater,” said Richards. “You don’t have to be an astronaut to contribute to the future of human exploration.” About the AuthorKorine PowersLead Writer and Communications StrategistKorine Powers, Ph.D. is a writer for NASA's SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) Program office and covers emerging technologies, commercialization efforts, exploration activities, and more. Share Details Last Updated Mar 27, 2026 EditorJimi RussellContactKorine Powers*****@*****.tldLocationGoddard Space Flight Center Related TermsI Am ArtemisArtemis 2Communicating and Navigating with MissionsGoddard Space Flight CenterSpace Communications & Navigation Program Explore More 4 min read NASA Selects Participants to Track Artemis II Mission Article 2 months ago 5 min read Networks Keeping NASA’s Artemis II Mission Connected Article 2 months ago 4 min read NASA’s Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O) Article 3 years ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Artemis Near Space Network Communicating with Missions Laser Communications View the full article

6 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) A rendering of the Intuitive Machines larger cargo class lunar lander is pictured above with the Honeybee Robotics lunar rover (lower right) and the *********** Space Agency’s Roo-Ver lunar rover (lower left).Intuitive Machines NASA has awarded Intuitive Machines of Houston, $180.4 million to deliver NASA-funded science and technology to the lunar surface as part of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis program. This lunar delivery, which includes seven payloads — five of them NASA’s — is expected to increase understanding of the chemical composition and structure of regolith, as well as the radiation environment in and around the South Pole region. This science will continue to build a sustainable human presence by future Artemis missions. “NASA continues to progress lunar science and exploration by enabling commercial lunar landings,” said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration, Science Mission Directorate, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “These science and technology investigations aim to support long-term sustainability and contribute to a deeper understanding of the lunar surface, test technologies, and prepare for future human missions at the South Pole.” Intuitive Machines is responsible for delivering end-to-end payload services to the lunar surface, targeted to land at the Moon’s South Pole region in 2030. This is the fifth CLPS contract for the company, which has delivered payloads to the Moon twice with their IM-1 and IM-2 missions. “As NASA prepares to send humans and more robotic missions to the Moon, regular CLPS deliveries will provide a better understanding of the exploration environment, accelerating progress toward establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon, setting the stage for eventual human missions to Mars,” said Adam Schlesinger, manager of the CLPS initiative at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The rovers and instruments, totaling 165 pounds (75 kilograms) in collective mass include: Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS) will use enhanced stereo imaging photogrammetry, active illumination, and ejecta impact detection sensors to capture the impact of the engine exhaust plume on lunar regolith as the lander descends on the Moon’s surface. This payload flew on both Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 and Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 and captured first of its kind imagery. The high-resolution stereo images will aid in creating models to predict lunar regolith erosion and ejecta characteristics, which is important as *******, heavier spacecraft and hardware are delivered to the Moon near each other. Lead organization: NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia Near-Infrared Volatiles Spectrometer System (NIRVSS) will observe light emitted or reflected by the lunar soil to help identify its composition. NIRVSS is designed to detect minerals and various types of ices that may be present. NIRVSS will also take high resolution images of the lunar soil and composition variability, which could help inform how ices interact with the lunar soil. The instrument successfully powered on and collected data while in flight on Astrobotic’s Peregrine Mission One in 2024. NIRVSS aims to measure the surface temperature at fine scales, which may help determine where ice can exist or remain stable. Lead organization: NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley Mass Spectrometer for Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo) will characterize the makeup of volatiles (things that easily evaporate) in the environment around the lander following touchdown. The mass spectrometer demonstrated its gas analysis capabilities in lunar conditions during Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission in 2025. MSolo measures low molecular weight volatiles, which can be used as resources on the lunar surface. Lead organization: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Lunar Vehicle Radiation Dosimeter system (LVRaD), a suite of four radiation detectors, is designed to quantify the radiation environment on the lunar surface and assess its potential impacts of radiation on biology and the human body in preparation for future human-related activities on the Moon. Additional sensors will investigate volatiles and geological resources that will help us plan for long-term exploration, as well as gain insights into the Moon’s formation and solar system evolution. Lead organization: Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute Multifunctional Nanosensor Platform (MNP) is a highly compact and sensitive chemical analysis instrument designed to advance understanding of the lunar environment. It will investigate how exhaust plumes from a lander’s engines interact with the lunar regolith by measuring volatile compounds over time and at varying distances from the landing site. These measurements will provide critical data to better understand plume-surface interactions and their effects, informing the design of safer, more sustainable landing systems and surface operations, directly supporting NASA’s broader lunar exploration objectives. To enable these measurements, the MNP instrument will be integrated into the *********** Space Agency’s rover (“Roo-ver”), a foundation services technology demonstration. The rover will showcase Australia’s robotics capabilities, with the ability to traverse complex terrain and operate with limited human intervention. In doing so, Roo-ver will validate key mobility and autonomy technologies in the lunar environment while serving as the enabling platform for MNP’s scientific objectives. Lead organization for MNP: NASA’ Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland Lead organization for Roover: *********** Space Agency NASA’s Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) is a small device that reflects laser beams transmitted by Moon orbiters or landing spacecraft to help them determine their orbit position or navigate to the surface. Made of eight quartz corner-cube prisms set into a dome-shaped aluminum frame, the array is passive, meaning it requires no power or maintenance. One LRA payload has already been delivered through CLPS to the surface of the Moon. These arrays will continue to be used to build a network of permanent location markers on the Moon for future exploration. Lead development organization: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center “Sanctuary on the Moon” is a lunar time capsule of 24 synthetic sapphire discs containing a curated archive of human civilization. The discs highlight over 100 billion micropixels of data including the history of science, technology, mathematics, architecture, culture, paleontology, art, literature, music, and the human genome. Sanctuary was developed in France. Lead organization: Grapevine Productions Through NASA’s CLPS initiative, lunar landing and surface operations services are purchased from American companies. By sending science and technology to the Moon, we continue to learn how to prepare for human exploration that could eventually take us to Mars. For more information about CLPS and Artemis: [Hidden Content] -end- Tiffany Blake Headquarters, Washington 202-358-2546 *****@*****.tld Kenna Pell / Ivry Artis Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld View the full article

2 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) The famous Blue Marble image taken by Apollo 17 astronauts on their way to the Moon in 1972 Category I: NASA Environmental Quality Award Recognizes excellence in environmental management and planning, including stewardship of natural and cultural resources. This category highlights achievements in compliance, conservation, remediation, communication, and environmental information management, and the development of strong stakeholder partnerships. Category II: NASA Award for Excellence in Project or Program Execution Honors efforts that reduce cost, time, or level of effort while achieving and maintaining compliance for projects or programs that directly support NASA’s mission. This category emphasizes operational efficiency, innovation, performance, and sustained compliance. Category III: NASA Excellence in Energy and Water Management Award Acknowledges significant achievements in energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable energy integration. This award highlights projects that demonstrate measurable improvements in resource management and sustainable practices across NASA facilities and operations. Category IV: NASA Excellence in Site Remediation Award Recognizes innovation in site remediation technologies, stakeholder engagement, exposure risk reduction, beneficial reuse, and expedited remediation efforts. This category celebrates projects that successfully address environmental challenges while maintaining safety and compliance. Category V: NASA Environmental Management Division Director’s Environment and Energy Award Selected by the director of the Environmental Management Divsion, this award honors exceptional leadership in advancing environmentally responsible mission success. It is reserved for individuals or teams demonstrating outstanding vision and commitment to environmental stewardship across NASA’s programs. Share Details Last Updated Mar 27, 2026 Related TermsGeneralEnvironmental Management Division (EMD)Office of Strategic Infrastructure (OSI) Explore More 2 min read NextSTEP-3 E: Network Extension for User Continuity and Sustainability (NEXUS) Ka-Band Backward-Compatible Relay Broad Article 3 hours ago 7 min read NASA Releases Artemis II Moon Mission Launch Countdown Article 24 hours ago 3 min read NASA Ames Experts Available for Artemis II Flight Test Interviews Article 2 days ago Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

2 Min Read NISAR’s View of Mount Rainier PIA26672 Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech Photojournal Navigation Science Photojournal NISAR’s View of Mount Rainier Photojournal Home Photojournal Search Latest Content Galleries Feedback RSS About Downloads PIA26672-NISAR’s View of Mount Rainier JPEG (2.05 MB) Description This image captured by U.S.-Indian Earth satellite NISAR on Nov. 10, 2025, shows Washington’s Mount Rainier. The image is cropped from a much larger swath spanning the Pacific Northwest on a cloudy day; NISAR’s L-band SAR instrument is able to peer through the clouds at the surface below. In Pacific Northwest imagery from the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar mission, some areas are dotted in magenta due to radar signals strongly reflecting off flat surfaces like roads and buildings, combined with the orientation of those surfaces relative to the satellite’s ground track. The yellow can be produced by a range of different factors, including land cover, moisture, and surface geometry. Yellow-green in the imagery generally indicates vegetation, such as the forests and wetlands covering the region. Relatively smooth surfaces, including water and — as is most likely the case in this image — vegetation-free clearings on the mountaintop, appear dark blue. Near the foot of the mountain are patches of purple squares cut into the lighter green vegetation. Their precise right angles show that they’re clearly man-made; they’re likely the effect of forests being thinned or possibly vegetation growing back after having been thinned in the past. A joint mission developed by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NISAR launched in July 2025 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on India’s southeastern coast. Managed by Caltech, JPL leads the U.S. component of the project and provided the satellite’s L-band SAR and antenna reflector. ISRO provided NISAR’s spacecraft bus and its S-band SAR..) The NISAR satellite is the first to carry two SAR instruments at different wavelengths and will monitor Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, collecting data using the spacecraft’s giant drum-shaped reflector, which measures 39 feet (12 meters) wide — the largest radar antenna reflector NASA has ever sent into space. To learn more about NISAR, visit: [Hidden Content] Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From Photojournal Photojournal Search Photojournal Photojournal’s Latest Content Feedback Downloads PIA26672-NISAR’s View of Mount Rainier JPEG (2.05 MB) View the full article

2 Min Read NISAR Views Mount St. Helens PIA26692 Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech Photojournal Navigation Science Photojournal NISAR Views Mount St. Helens Photojournal Home Photojournal Search Latest Content Galleries Feedback RSS About Downloads NISAR Views Mount St. Helens JPEG (13.62 MB) Description This image captured by U.S.-Indian Earth satellite NISAR on Nov. 10, 2025, shows Washington’s Mount St. Helens. The image is cropped from a much larger swath spanning the Pacific Northwest on a cloudy day; NISAR’s L-band SAR instrument is able to peer through the clouds at the surface below. In Pacific Northwest imagery from the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar mission, some areas are dotted in magenta due to radar signals strongly reflecting off flat surfaces like roads and buildings, combined with the orientation of those surfaces relative to the satellite’s ground track. The yellow can be produced by a range of different factors, including land cover, moisture, and surface geometry. Yellow-green in the imagery generally indicates vegetation, such as the forests and wetlands covering the region. Relatively smooth surfaces, including water and — as is most likely the case in this image — vegetation-free clearings on the mountaintop, appear dark blue. Near the foot of the mountain are patches of purple squares cut into the lighter green vegetation. Their precise right angles show that they’re clearly man-made; they’re likely the effect of forests being thinned or possibly vegetation growing back after having been thinned in the past. A joint mission developed by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NISAR launched in July 2025 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on India’s southeastern coast. Managed by Caltech, JPL leads the U.S. component of the project and provided the satellite’s L-band SAR and antenna reflector. ISRO provided NISAR’s spacecraft bus and its S-band SAR. The NISAR satellite is the first to carry two SAR instruments at different wavelengths and will monitor Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, collecting data using the spacecraft’s giant drum-shaped reflector, which measures 39 feet (12 meters) wide — the largest radar antenna reflector NASA has ever sent into space. To learn more about NISAR, visit: To learn more about NISAR, visit: [Hidden Content] Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From Photojournal Photojournal Search Photojournal Photojournal’s Latest Content Feedback Downloads NISAR Views Mount St. Helens JPEG (13.62 MB) View the full article

6 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Official insignia of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA Technology and science demonstrations, supported by various NASA industry collaborations and agency developments, are set to launch to low Earth orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the company’s Transporter-16 commercial rideshare mission. These demonstrations will test thermal protection systems, advance in-space communications, deepen our understanding of Earth’s atmosphere, and foster capabilities for NASA’s exploration, innovation, and research goals. The 57-minute launch window opens at 6:20 a.m. EDT (3:20 a.m. PDT) on Monday, March 30, from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. SpaceX will provide live coverage of the launch on its website and at @SpaceX on X, beginning about 15 minutes prior to liftoff. Making big impacts with small satellites Several demonstrations aboard this mission leverage small spacecraft technology to maximize flexibility, delivering greater value to the agency and its partners at a lower cost. The AEPEX (Atmosphere Effects of Precipitation through Energetic X-rays) CubeSat will study how high-energy particles from Earth’s radiation belts transfer energy into the upper atmosphere through a process known as energetic particle precipitation. Currently, limited monitoring capabilities make it difficult to observe this phenomenon across large regions of Earth. The AEPEX CubeSat, supported by NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative and integrated on the mission via Exotrail, aims to address this by imaging the X-rays produced during precipitation events, enabling scientists to study and map the process. A better understanding of this activity could improve space weather forecasting, which has direct implications for radio communications, satellites, and other critical technologies. As part of the MagQuest challenge, CubeSats will demonstrate novel solutions for measuring Earth’s magnetic field to inform the World Magnetic Model, which supports national security, commercial aviation, and everyday mobile devices. Launched in 2019 through NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, the agency supported the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in releasing the MagQuest challenge, which culminated in the development of three CubeSats built by three teams that advanced to the final phase of the competition. With testing done at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and additional support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this competition exemplifies successful cross-cutting agency collaboration. Aboard the TechEdSat23 CubeSat, integrated via Maverick Space Systems, NASA will test three key technologies: a radiation sensor called Radiation Shielding Efficacy Testbed funded by NASA’s Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems (SSDS) office, a miniaturized NOAA Data Collection System radio, and a device called an exo-brake for rapid deorbiting of spacecraft. These technologies will advance critical capabilities for radiation shielding, satellite communications, and space weather monitoring to better equip small spacecraft for operations in low Earth orbit and deep space while acting as a test bed for potential larger scale applications. The R5-S10 (Realizing Rapid, Reduced-cost high-Risk Research project Spacecraft 10) CubeSat, also supported by the SSDS office, will demonstrate technologies designed to expand the capabilities of small spacecraft in low Earth orbit. Deploying from the Vigoride orbital service vehicle operated by Momentus Space, the R5-S10 CubeSat will test proximity operations and formation flying techniques that allow spacecraft to safely operate at close distances, capabilities that could support future in-space inspection and servicing missions. The R5-S10 CubeSat will also carry a co-aligned event camera and star tracker proving a novel, high dynamic range, and high-rate tolerant star tracker, advancing technology to help spacecraft determine their orientation in space. Enabling Wi-Fi in space After deployment from the Vigoride orbital service vehicle, the R5-S10 CubeSat will transfer data from its various demonstrations via Wi-Fi to an in-space router developed by the Solstar Space Company. In partnership with Momentus, Solstar’s in-space Wi-Fi router enables the R5-S10 CubeSat data to be downlinked through the Vigoride orbital service vehicle and eventually transferred to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Solstar advanced its Wi-Fi technology for in-space use through suborbital testing with NASA’s Flight Opportunities program which is managed at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Powering in-space logistics Also hosted aboard the Vigoride orbital service vehicle is a power processing system from CisLunar Industries. The company’s Electric Power Intelligent Conversion technology is designed to transform power ranging from 1 to 100 kilowatts with greater than 95% efficiency in smaller, lighter designs than the current state-of-the-art. This holds the potential to advance technology for in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing while serving government and commercial markets for dynamic space operations, including electric, dual-mode, and other forms of electric propulsion. The demo also is the first hosted orbital flight test for NASA’s Flight Opportunities program. Advancing thermal protection technology NASA also will launch technology on this flight to gather data about hypersonic atmospheric entry using sensors on a capsule from Varda Space Industries. As the latest in a series of flight tests, Varda’s W-6 capsule heat shield is equipped with a pair of instrumented tiles, made at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, that will collect data about the heat and pressure experienced as the capsule returns to Earth. The sensors also will capture performance data about the heat shield, which is made of C-PICA (Conformal Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator), a material originally developed at NASA Ames that provides stronger, more efficient, and less expensive thermal protection, maximizing the safety and affordability of capsules returning to Earth. By flying alongside commercial innovations, NASA continues leveraging cost-effective rideshare opportunities to accelerate technology development, innovations, and scientific discovery. NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate manages the agency’s Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems office, Flight Opportunities program, and the Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation. NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative is managed by the agency’s Launch Services program based at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Facebook logo @NASATechnology @NASA_Technology Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate Flight Opportunities Get Involved Centers and Facilities Share Details Last Updated Mar 27, 2026 EditorLoura Hall Related TermsSpace Technology Mission DirectorateArmstrong Flight Research CenterCenter of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation (CoECI)Flight Opportunities ProgramKennedy Space CenterSmall Spacecraft Technology ProgramTechnology View the full article

NASA has selected 10 participating scientists to help shape a science plan for astronauts to complete on the lunar surface under the Artemis program – including deploying scientific instruments, making critical observations of the landing site, and collecting Moon rocks. “Congratulations to the scientists selected to participate in this important Artemis lunar surface science team,” said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The selected scientists will bring a wealth of expertise to this team to ensure we are supporting crews on the Moon to achieve the missions’ science objectives. Exploring the lunar surface and executing the U.S.’s science objectives is a major step toward sustained operations at the Moon and preparation for human exploration of Mars.” The selected scientists are: Kristen Bennett, Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff Aleksandra Gawronska, The Catholic University of America in Washington Timothy Glotch, State University of New York, Stony Brook Paul Hayne, University of Colorado, Boulder Erica Jawin, Smithsonian Institution in Washington Jeannette Luna, Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville Sabrina Martinez, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston Jamie Molaro, Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona Hanna Sizemore, Planetary Science Institute Catherine Weitz, Planetary Science Institute The participating scientists will join the first Artemis lunar surface science team, led by Noah Petro, project scientist, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and Padi Boyd, deputy project scientist, at NASA Headquarters. In this role, they will support the inaugural Artemis geology team, led by Brett Denevi of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. The larger team also includes deployed instrument teams and the Artemis internal science team. Members of NASA’s Artemis geology team discuss science objectives during a mission simulation at NASA’s Johnson Space Center on Oct. 22, 2025. Credits: NASA/Robert Markowitz “Artemis is enabling the kind of scientific work that will reshape our understanding of the Moon and open the door to discoveries we’ve only imagined,” said Lakiesha Hawkins, acting deputy associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. “The work these scientists will contribute before, during, and after the mission will help us make the most of every step astronauts take on the lunar surface and ensure we’re learning as much as possible from this new era of human exploration.” During the mission, astronauts will land near the Moon’s South Pole, a landscape of extremes with dark craters that contain may contain ice and mountain peaks in near-constant illumination. The scientific research during the first crewed Artemis lunar landing mission will provide critical data to support further exploration while digging deeper into questions that have intrigued scientists since the Apollo era – such as the impact history of the Moon or the locations of shallow ice deposits. In addition, the processes that the science team develops and tests during the first Artemis landed lunar mission will provide the framework for science operations during increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon’s surface and subsurface. The selected participants will engage in pre-mission planning, science mission operations, and work preparing the post-mission reports to address these questions. Through Artemis, NASA will address high priority science questions in a Golden Age of exploration and discovery, focusing on those best accomplished by human explorers on and around the Moon and by using the unique attributes of the lunar environment. The Artemis missions will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars. For more information on Artemis, visit: [Hidden Content] Alise Fisher / Molly Wasser Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld View the full article

3 Min Read I Am Artemis: Michael Guzman Listen to this audio excerpt from Michael Guzman, Artemis II main propulsion systems engineer: 0:00 / 0:00 Your browser does not support the audio element. A clue to what Mike Guzman, main propulsion systems engineer at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, loves most can be found in the signature of his work email: a complex string of equations for rocket thrust, specific impulse, and the physics behind cooling liquid oxygen with helium bubbles. I'm a huge nerd. I love math, science, and physics. Even in my free time, I'll find myself watching physics lectures. MiKE Guzman Artemis II main propulsion systems engineer Born in New York to a family from the Dominican Republic, Guzman moved to Florida where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Florida International University and a master’s degree in space systems from the Florida Institute of Technology. His path to NASA Kennedy began after being handpicked for a summer internship in 2013, an opportunity that would ultimately change the course of his career. During his internship, Guzman was inspired to build his own rocket. He purchased a textbook and began building a model rocket in his free time. The drive and passion he put into the project did not go unnoticed. Just three days after the model rocket launched, he was offered a job and has worked for America’s space agency ever since. Mike Guzman, main propulsion systems engineer, participates in a wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis II mission on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, inside Firing Room 1 at the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The wet dress rehearsal allows the Artemis II launch team to run through operations to load propellant, conduct a full launch countdown, demonstrate the ability to recycle the countdown clock, and drain the tanks to practice timelines and procedures for launch. NASA/Kim Shiflett Guzman began his work with a model rocket, and now, as part of Exploration Ground Systems, is part of the team launching the rocket that will carry astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years: the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for Artemis II. Guzman joined the propulsion team in 2019. Early in his role, he focused on hydrogen systems at Launch Pad 39B, including the large liquid hydrogen sphere at the pad and the piping that delivers propellant to the rocket. Today, he works on the main propulsion system inside the rocket itself, a role that will put him in the firing room for the Artemis II test flight, at the center of launch operations. From left, NASA astronauts Bob Hines and Stan Love talk with Mike Guzman, Artemis launch team member, inside Firing Room 1 of the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center during the Artemis II rollout of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, March, 20, 2026. NASA/Amber Jean Notvest At the heart of Guzman’s work is the “brain book,” a comprehensive binder that contains every drawing, requirement, procedure, and launch commit criteria an engineer might need. It’s a roadmap for efficiency. By studying it in advance, Guzman and his colleagues know exactly where to find what they need and how to respond to unexpected issues. The key to a successful launch relies on teamwork. On launch day, hundreds of engineers come together in the firing room to monitor every system on the spacecraft. Each console operator’s actions influence the others’, creating a constant interplay where observation, communication, and anticipation are key to mission success. It has to be a team sport. We’re all sitting in different parts of a whole, that ‘one whole’ being the spacecraft. We all have to work together. We all must have a sense of what the other individuals are doing and what their roles are, because at the end of the day, it’s all interconnected. MiKE Guzman Artemis II main propulsion systems engineer For Guzman, Artemis II represents the culmination of years of preparation, study, and collaboration. “It’s not something that happens every day, and it’s not something that you get to be a part of every day,” Guzman said. “To see it finally happen, it’s going to be incredible.” About the AuthorGabriella BattenfieldStrategic Communications Intern Share Details Last Updated Mar 27, 2026 Related TermsArtemis 2ArtemisExploration Ground SystemsKennedy Space CenterSpace Launch System (SLS) Explore More 7 min read NASA Releases Artemis II Moon Mission Launch Countdown Article 22 hours ago 3 min read NASA Ames Experts Available for Artemis II Flight Test Interviews Article 2 days ago 7 min read NASA Sets Coverage for Artemis II Moon Mission Article 2 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

Synopsis | 03/23/26 [Hidden Content] NASA intends to release a BAA under Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-3), Appendix E, for Project NEXUS, Ka-band Backward- Compatible Relay. As the aging Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS) declines, NASA’s objective is to acquire an end-to-end Ka-band relay service, including space, ground, launch, integration, and operations elements, that is backward compatible with legacy TDRS users for a minimum of fifteen years. This capability is needed to support select on-orbit missions that cannot feasibly modify flight hardware or transition to non-compatible commercial services. To reduce growing continuity risk in the 2029- 2031 timeframe, industry is asked to develop and demonstrate this end-to-end capability. The BAA will be a phased competitive Research and Development (R&D) acquisition. NASA anticipates multiple initial Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) awards with progressive downselects based on demonstrated performance, technical credibility, and commercial viability. NASA does not anticipate being the sole commercial customer and anticipates proposed solutions to be supported by a broader commercial business case beyond NASA. NASA seeks to accelerate maturation of commercially viable capabilities through competitive research demonstrations to support transition to future operational services, while preserving full and open competition for those services. All proposed satellite orbit solutions are acceptable notwithstanding that the proposed solutions will be expected to include all elements necessary for industry to develop, deliver and sustain the end-to-end relay service capability, including, but not limited to: Space segment, associated launch services, as applicable, ground and network infrastructure, and service operations and maintenance. Accordingly, NASA may use knowledge gained through this BAA, including demonstration results, technical data, and operational insight, to inform future acquisition strategies for operational services. View the full article

NASA/Joel Kowsky The Orion Crew Survival System suits that Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (********* Space Agency) will wear on the Artemis II test flight are seen in the suit-up room of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Artemis II test flight will be NASA’s first mission with crew aboard the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft. Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars. Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Satellite Spots a Spawn 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 Water along the coast of Vancouver Island is brightened by a herring spawn in this image acquired on February 19, 2026, by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory/Lauren Dauphin Spawning season has sprung for Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) in the waters off British Columbia, Canada. From mid-February through early May each year, thousands of the small, silvery fish congregate in shallow coastal areas around Vancouver Island and create a spectacle sometimes visible to satellites. Sheltered waters in Barkley Sound, on the southwestern side of Vancouver Island, are regular sites for spawn events. On February 19, 2026, the Landsat 9 satellite caught a glimpse of early-season activity underway along the shore near Forbes Island. In these events, female herring produce eggs that stick to a variety of materials, from kelp and seagrass to rock surfaces. Males release a ******-containing fluid called milt into the water, giving it a cloudy green or turquoise look. A herring spawn clouds the water along the coast of Vancouver Island near the village of Salmon Beach on February 19, 2026. Photo by Ryan Cutler Spawns near Forbes Island have been observed most years since the 1970s, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) records. “Herrings prefer spawning locations that are more protected, have rocky substrate, and allow them to select areas with reduced salinity,” said Jessica Moffatt, biologist with the Island Marine Aquatic Working Group (IMAWG), which works to strengthen First Nations fisheries through traditional knowledge, modern science, and management guidance. “Barkley Sound hits the sweet spot” in many of these regards, she said, adding that collective memory, predation pressure, and other factors also play a role in spawn size and location. Spawning events last from several hours to several days. At Forbes Island in 2026, local observers saw that fish were staging in the area by February 13 (schools can arrive up to two weeks before spawning, Moffatt noted), and activity was reported to IMAWG from February 19 to February 21. Along with changes in water color, spawns often come with increased wildlife presence, which can include whales and sea lions swimming nearby and eagles, wolves, and bears lurking on shore. After spawning, the fish will migrate back to summer feeding areas in deeper, more nutrient-rich waters, sometimes sticking with their same large school for several years. A herring spawn event near Forbes Island in Barkley Sound brightens nearshore waters on February 19, 2026. Photo by Ryan Cutler Records of spawn activity have historically been constrained by the timing of aerial and dive surveys, the availability of reports from remote locations, and fisheries priorities. But observations by satellites, including Landsat, can help monitor herring activity over larger areas and longer periods of time. Researchers at the University of Victoria in Canada have used decades of satellite observations to augment historical spawn records and develop methods to streamline future detections. Herring and their roe are valuable both as a cultural food source and harvest practice by First Nations and for British Columbia’s commercial fisheries. As a forage fish species, Pacific herring are vital to salmon and other marine life, and a fuller picture of the locations of spawning areas could provide clues about changes in the marine ecosystem. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Photos by Ryan Cutler. Story by Lindsey Doermann. Downloads February 19, 2026 JPEG (6.60 MB) References & Resources California Marine Species Portal (2024) Pacific Herring Enhanced Status Report. Accessed March 26, 2026. CBC (2026, February 25) First signs of herring spawn spark excitement on Vancouver Island. Accessed March 26, 2026. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2026, January 20) Pacific herring fisheries. Accessed March 26, 2026. Ha-Shilth-Sa (2024, November 29) No commercial catch in 2025, despite herring population growth, say Ha’wiih – but spawn-on-kelp being explored. Accessed March 26, 2026. IMAWG (2026) Island Marine Aquatic Working Group. Accessed March 26, 2026. Island Marine Aquatic Working Group, via Facebook (2026) Pacific Herring Spawn Reporting – IMAWG. Accessed March 26, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2025, May 5) Spawning Spectacle. Accessed March 26, 2026. Spectral and Remote Sensing Laboratory, University of Victoria, Herring Spawn Habitat: Spatiotemporal analysis of historical spawning sites using satellite remote sensing. Accessed March 26, 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. Showy Swirls Around Jeju Island 2 min read Winds blowing past the volcanic landmass near the Korean Peninsula created a trail of spiraling clouds, while murky water churned… Article Puerto Rico From Above 4 min read An astronaut photographed the island’s striking mix of mountains, forests, and expanding urban areas. Article Blooming Seas Around the Chatham Islands 2 min read A vibrant display of phytoplankton encircled the remote New Zealand islands. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data Open access to NASA’s archive of Earth science data View the full article

Skywatching Skywatching Home What’s Up Meteor Showers Eclipses Daily Moon Guide More Tips & Guides Skywatching FAQ Night Sky Network Mercury shines extra bright, the Lyrid meteor shower peaks, and a comet soars into view Mercury shines at its brightest for the year, the Lyrid meteor shower peaks, and a bright new comet makes an appearance in April’s night sky. Skywatching Highlights April 3: Mercury at greatest elongation April 17: Best chance to see Comet C/2025 R3 April 21 to 22: Lyrid meteor shower peak April 27: Comet C/2025 R3 makes closest approach to Earth Transcript Mercury shines extra bright, the Lyrid meteor shower peaks, and a comet soars into view. That’s What’s Up this April. On April 3rd, Mercury will be at its most visible all year. On this date, the planet will be at its greatest elongation, or its furthest distance from the Sun, as we see it from Earth, making it easier to see the often hard-to spot-planet. To find Mercury, look east before the Sun begins to rise. The planet will be very low on the horizon, just above Mars. The Lyrid meteor shower peaks April 21st to 22nd. This meteor shower comes from debris left behind by Comet Thatcher. When this debris hits and then burns up in our atmosphere, we see the “shooting stars” of a meteor shower. To experience the peak of the April Lyrids, look to the east starting at around 10 p.m. on April 21st and through the night into April 22nd. The meteor shower takes place nearby the star Vega, the fifth brightest star in the night sky, which can be found in the constellation Lyra, the Harp. April 17th might be your best chance to see the Comet C/2025 R3, which some think could be the brightest comet of the year. This comet will make its closest approach to Earth on April 27th, coming within 44 million miles of our planet. Experts estimate that the comet will likely reach magnitude eight, which means you would need access to a telescope or binoculars to see it. The comet will be visible in the eastern sky in the constellations Pegasus and above Pisces. You’ll be able to spot the comet in the predawn hours from mid-April through the end of April in the Northern Hemisphere, and in the evenings in early May for viewers in the Southern Hemisphere. Here are the phases of the Moon for April. You can stay up to date on all of NASA’s missions exploring the solar system and beyond, at science.nasa.gov. I’m Chelsea Gohd from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and that’s What’s Up for this month. Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA What’s Up Skywatching Galaxies Stars View the full article

El telescopio espacial Nancy Grace Roman de la NASA se muestra completamente montado, tras la integración de sus dos segmentos principales, en la sala limpia del Centro de Vuelo Espacial Goddard de la agencia, en Greenbelt, Maryland. El lanzamiento de la misión está previsto para mayo de 2027, pero el equipo de Roman va bien encaminado para un posible lanzamiento tan pronto como en otoño de 2026.NASA/Jolearra Tshiteya Se invita a los medios de comunicación el martes 21 de abril al Centro de Vuelo Espacial Goddard de la NASA en Greenbelt, Maryland, para conocer el telescopio espacial Nancy Grace Roman de la agencia, cuya construcción terminó recientemente y el cual se encuentra ultimando las pruebas previas a su lanzamiento. Esta será una de las últimas oportunidades para ver este telescopio insignia, totalmente integrado, antes de que sea trasladado al Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA en Florida para su lanzamiento. El despegue está previsto para no antes de este otoño boreal. **** la sala limpia más grande del centro Goddard de la NASA como telón de fondo, el evento incluirá una conferencia de prensa a las 4:00 p.m. EDT (hora del este) que será transmitida en el canal de YouTube de la NASA (en inglés). Descubra cómo puede ver el contenido de la NASA a través de diferentes plataformas en línea, incluyendo las redes sociales. Los participantes de la NASA en la sesión informativa serán: • Jared Isaacman, administrador de la NASA • Nicky Fox, administradora asociada, Dirección de Misiones Científicas, sede central de la NASA en Washington • Jamie Dunn, gerente del proyecto del telescopio Roman, centro Goddard de la NASA • Julie McEnery, científica principal del proyecto del telescopio Roman, centro Goddard de la NASA Los medios de comunicación interesados en participar por teléfono deben confirmar su participación, a más tardar, dos horas antes del inicio del evento **** Alise Fisher: *****@*****.tld. Una copia de la política de acreditación de medios de la NASA se encuentra disponible en línea (en inglés). Los medios de comunicación acreditados que participen en persona también tendrán la oportunidad de visitar otras instalaciones del centro y hacer entrevistas **** expertos sobre temas tales como la carga útil candidata para la Estación de Monitoreo del Entorno Lunar de la NASA para el programa Artemis, la misión DAVINCI a Venus, el concepto de misión del Observatorio de Mundos Habitables y la misión Dragonfly a la luna Titán de Saturno. Para ser considerados para su acreditación presencial, los medios de comunicación extranjeros deben registrarse antes del miércoles 1 de abril; los medios estadounidenses deben registrarse antes del viernes 10 de abril. Todas las confirmaciones de asistencia de los medios deben ser enviadas a Rob Garner: *****@*****.tld. Nombrado en honor a la primera astrónoma jefa de la NASA, el telescopio espacial Nancy Grace Roman ofrecerá una visión profunda y panorámica del cosmos, generando imágenes nunca antes vistas que revolucionarán nuestra comprensión del universo. Este observatorio marcará el comienzo de una nueva era de sondeos cósmicos, revelando una gran cantidad de objetos celestes y arrojando luz sobre algunos de los misterios más profundos del universo, incluyendo aquellos fenómenos que no podemos ver. Roman también exhibirá tecnología de vanguardia, incluyendo la prueba de tecnología más avanzada jamás enviada al espacio para obtener imágenes directas de planetas que orbitan estrellas cercanas, lo cual representa un paso clave en la búsqueda de vida en otros mundos por parte de la NASA. El telescopio Roman es gestionado en el centro Goddard de la NASA en Greenbelt, Maryland, **** la participación del Laboratorio de Propulsión a Chorro (JPL) de la agencia en el sur de California; Caltech/IPAC en Pasadena, California; el Instituto de Ciencias del Telescopio Espacial en Baltimore y un equipo científico compuesto por investigadores de diversas instituciones académicas. Los principales socios industriales son BAE Systems Inc. en Boulder, Colorado; L3Harris Technologies en Rochester, Nueva York, y Teledyne Scientific & Imaging en Thousand Oaks, California. También aportan sus contribuciones a la misión de Roman la ESA (Agencia Espacial Europea), la JAXA (Agencia Japonesa de Exploración Aeroespacial), la agencia espacial francesa CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales) y el Instituto Max Planck de Astronomía en Alemania. Para obtener más información acerca del telescopio Roman de la NASA, visite el sitio web: [Hidden Content] -fin- Bethany Stevens / Alise Fisher / María José Viñas Sede central, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Claire Andreoli / Rob Garner Centro de Vuelo Espacial Goddard, Greenbelt, Md. 301-286-1940 / 301-286-5687 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 26, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsNASA en español View the full article

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope stands fully assembled, following the integration of its two major segments, in the clean room at the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The mission is slated to launch by May 2027, but the team is on track for launch as early as fall 2026.NASA/Jolearra Tshiteya Media are invited Tuesday, April 21, to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for a look at the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which recently completed construction and is wrapping up prelaunch testing. This will be one of the last opportunities to view the fully integrated flagship telescope before it ships to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of a launch planned as early as this fall. With NASA Goddard’s largest clean room as a backdrop, the event will include a news conference at 4 p.m. EDT, which will stream on NASA’s YouTube channel. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media. NASA participants in the briefing include: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington Jamie Dunn, Roman telescope project manager, NASA Goddard Julie McEnery, Roman telescope senior project scientist, NASA Goddard Media interested in participating by phone must RSVP no later than two hours prior to the start of the briefing to Alise Fisher, *****@*****.tld. A copy of NASA’s media accreditation policy is online. Credentialed media in attendance also will have the opportunity to visit other center facilities and conduct interviews with subject matter experts on topics such as NASA’s Lunar Environment Monitoring Station candidate payload for the Artemis program, the DAVINCI mission to Venus, the Habitable Worlds Observatory mission concept, and the Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan. To be considered for on-site credentials, foreign national media must register by Wednesday, April 1; U.S. media must register by Friday, April 10. Any media RSVPs must be sent to Rob Garner, *****@*****.tld. Named after NASA’s first chief astronomer, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will have a deep, panoramic view of the cosmos, generating never-before-seen pictures that will revolutionize our understanding of the universe. The observatory will usher in a new era of cosmic surveys, unveiling troves of celestial objects and shedding light on some of the universe’s most profound mysteries, including phenomena we can’t see. Roman will also showcase cutting-edge technology, including a test of the most advanced technology ever flown in space to directly image planets around nearby stars, a key step in NASA’s search for life on other worlds. The Roman telescope is managed at NASA Goddard with participation by the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California; Caltech/IPAC in Pasadena, California; the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore; and a science team comprising scientists from various research institutions. The primary industrial partners are BAE Systems Inc. in Boulder, Colorado; L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York; and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging in Thousand Oaks, California. Contributions to Roman also are made by ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), the French space agency CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales), and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany. For more information about NASA’s Roman telescope, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Bethany Stevens / Alise Fisher Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Claire Andreoli / Rob Garner NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. 301-286-1940 / 301-286-5687 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 26, 2026 Related TermsMissionsNancy Grace Roman Space TelescopeScience & ResearchScience Mission Directorate View the full article

NASA’s crawler-transporter carries the powerful SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft on the Mobile Launcher from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in preparation for the Artemis II mission on Jan. 17, 2026.Credit: NASA/Brandon Hancock Before NASA sends its astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (********* Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen on their Artemis II mission around the Moon, the launch team at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and teams across the country will begin counting down about two days before liftoff. A launch countdown contains “L Minus” and “T Minus” times. The “L minus” indicates how far away liftoff is in hours and minutes. The “T minus” time is a sequence of events built into the launch countdown. Pauses in the countdown, or “holds,” are built in to allow the launch team to target a precise launch window, and to provide a cushion of time for certain tasks and procedures without impacting the overall schedule. During planned holds in the countdown process, the countdown clock is intentionally stopped and the T- time also stops. The L- time, however, continues to advance. Below are some of the key events that take place at each milestone after the countdown begins. All times are approximate for when these milestones occur. L-49 hours 50 minutes and counting L-49H50M – Launch team arrives to stations L-49H40M – Countdown clock begins L-49H40M – L-42H30M: Liquid oxygen (LOX)/Liquid hydrogen (LH2) system preparations for vehicle loading L-45H30M – L-44H: Orion spacecraft powered up L-42H20M – L-41H: Core stage powered up L-42H10M – L-40H30M: Interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) powered up L-39H45M – L-35H30M: Final preparations of the four RS-25 engines L-35 hours and counting L-34H45M – L-34H10M: ICPS is powered down L-33H30M – L-29H30M: Charge Orion flight batteries to 100% L-31H30M – L-24H30M: Charge core stage flight batteries L-20H15M – L-18H45M: ICPS is powered up for launch L-16 hours and counting L-15H30M – L-14H: All non-essential personnel leave Launch Complex 39B L-14H15M – L-12H05M: Air-to-gaseous nitrogen (GN2) changeover and rocket cavity inerting L-13H15M – L-11H45M: Ground launch sequencer (GLS) activation L-13 hours and counting L-12H35M – L-9H50M: 2-hour 45-minute built in countdown hold begins L-10H50M – Launch team decides “go” or “no-go” to begin tanking L-10H50M – L-9H35M: Orion cold soak L-10H40M – L-10H35M: Core stage LOX transfer line chilldown L-10H40M – L-9H55M: Core stage LH2 chilldown L-10H25M – L-9H40M: Core stage LOX main propulsion system chilldown L-10 hours and counting L-9H55M – L-9H25M: Core stage LH2 slow fill start L-9H50M – Resume T-Clock from T-8H10M L-9H40M – L-9H30M: Core stage LOX slow fill L-9H30M – L-6H40M: Core stage LOX fast fill L-9H25M – L-8H: Core stage LH2 fast fill L-9H05M – L-8H30M: ICPS LH2 chilldown L-8H30M – L-7H45M: ICPS LH2 fast fill start L-8H – L-7H55M: Core stage LH2 topping L-7H55M – terminal count: Core stage LH2 replenish L-7H45M – L-7H20M: ICPS LH2 vent and relief test L-7H20M – L-7H10M: ICPS LH2 tank topping start L-7H05M – terminal count: ICPS LH2 replenish L-6H40M – L-6H10M: Orion communications system activated (radio frequency to mission control) L-6H40M – L-6H05M: Core stage LOX topping L-6H40M – L-6H30M: ICPS LOX main propulsion system chilldown L-6H30M – L-5H45M: ICPS LOX fast fill L-6H10M – Stage pad rescue L-6H10M: – Closeout crew assemble L-6H05M – terminal count: Core stage LOX replenish L-6 hours and counting L-6H – Flight crew weather brief L-5H45M – L-5H30M: ICPS LOX vent and relief test L-5H30M – L-5H10M: ICPS LOX topping L-5H10M – terminal count: ICPS LOX replenish L-5H10M – All stages replenish L-5H10M – Start 1-hour 10-minute built in hold L-5H10M – L-4H55M: Closeout crew to white room L-4H40M – L-4H10M: Flight crew deployment to pad L-4H: Flight crew board Orion L-3H40M – L-3H10M: Crew module hatch preps and closure L-3H10M – L-2H45M: Counterbalance mechanism hatch sealpress decay checks L-2H20M – L-1H40M: Crew module hatch service panel install/closeouts L-1H40M – L1H30M: Launch abort system (LAS) hatch closure for flight L-1H10M – Launch director brief – rocket & thermal protection system scan results with the imagery console L-50M – L-40M: Closeout crew departs Launch Complex 39B L-50M – Final NASA test director briefing is held L-40 minutes and holding L-40M – Built in 30-minute countdown hold begins L-25 minutes and holding L-25M – Transition team to Orion to Earth communication loop following final NTD briefing L-17M – Launch director polls team to ensure they are “go” for launch L-15M – Flight crew visors down L-14M – Flight crew short purge verification T-10 minutes and counting T-10M – GLS initiates terminal count T-8M – Crew Access Arm retract T-6M – GLS go for core stage tank pressurization T-6M – Orion ascent pyros are armed T-6M – Orion set to internal power T-5M57S – Core stage LH2 terminate replenish T-5M20S – LAS capability is available T-5M20S – NTD lets commander knows LAS capability is available T-4M40S – GLS go for LH2 high flow bleed check T-4M30S – Flight termination system armed T-4M – GLS is go for core stage auxiliary power unit (APU) start T-4M – Core Stage APU starts T-4M – Core stage LOX terminate replenish T-3M30S – ICPS LOX terminate replenish T-3M10S – GLS go for purge sequence 4 T-2M02S – ICPS switches to internal battery power T-2M – Booster switches to internal batter power T-1M30S – Core stage switches to internal power T-1M20S – ICPS enters terminal countdown mode T-50S – ICPS LH2 terminate replenish T-33S – GLS sends “go for automated launch sequencer” command T-30S – Core stage flight computer to automated launching sequencer T-12S – Hydrogen burn off igniters initiated T-10S – GLS sends the command for core stage engine start T-6.36S– RS-25 engines startup T-0 Booster ignition, umbilical separation, and liftoff Inside the terminal countdown, teams have a few options to hold the count if needed. The launch team can hold at 6 minutes for the duration of the launch window, less the 6 minutes needed to launch, without having to recycle back to 10 minutes. If teams need to stop the clock between T-6 minutes and T-1 minute, 30 seconds, they can hold for up to 3 minutes and resume the clock to launch. If they require more than 3 minutes of hold time, the countdown would recycle back to T-10. If the clock stops after T-1 minute and 30 seconds, but before the automated launch sequencer takes over, then teams can recycle back to T-10 to try again, provided there is adequate launch window remaining. After handover to the automated launch sequencer, any issue that would stop the countdown would lead to concluding the launch attempt for that day. Launching the Artemis II Moon rocket will lift off the agency’s first crewed mission under the Artemis program, testing the systems that will return astronauts to the Moon for an enduring presence, and paving the way to human exploration of Mars. To learn more about the Artemis program, visit: [Hidden Content] View the full article

As a member of the Crew and Thermal Systems Division, Aaron Rose supports critical cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station. In this role, he works with payload developers to safely transport temperature-controlled science experiments to and from station with portable coolers, freezers, and refrigerators. For the full flight cycle, Rose and his team members ensure all cold stowage hardware, operations, and personnel are coordinated to ensure science experiments are handled safely and securely – all the way from launch to landing. These experiments are vital to unlocking discoveries that are not possible on Earth, improving life on our home planet and helping pave the way for the return to the Moon and future journeys to Mars. Read on to learn about Rose’s career with NASA and more! Aaron Rose in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during the build of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for Artemis I. Aaron Rose Where are you from? I’m from Canton, Ohio (Home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame) How long have you been working for NASA? I have been working at Johnson Space Center for 18 years. What was your path to NASA? I started as a co-op with Jacobs Engineering in 2008 while attending The Ohio State University. In 2007, retired NASA astronaut Nancy Currie gave a talk at my school and she shared that there were opportunities for students to work at Johnson as a co-op or intern. Upon hearing this, I reached out to her, and she helped me apply to a co-op program. I was accepted and went on to complete several co-op semesters. After graduating with an undergraduate degree in industrial and systems engineering, I joined Jacobs Engineering as a full-time team member and moved to Houston to be a test engineer on a new docking system. How would you describe your job to family or friends that may not be familiar with NASA? I work on a team that specializes in temperature-controlled transportation. We receive domestic and international science experiments and pack them into coolers, freezers, or refrigerators. We also make sure those items are correctly installed into the spacecraft and work as expected. After splashdown, we receive the science samples and return them to the researchers as soon as possible. I also have some sway in what ice cream we launch and provide for the crew! Aaron Rose and his colleague Jessie Jackson pictured with a Falcon 9 rocket at SpaceX in Hawthorne, California.Aaron Rose What advice would you give to young individuals aspiring to work in the space industry or at NASA? Don't be afraid to expand your network. It always helps to meet new people and make connections. Aaron rose Cold Stowage Mission Manager You never know who you might meet that could recommend you for an open position. It definitely worked for me! Also, don’t give up on engineering if you struggle with higher level mathematics. There are a lot of engineering positions that don’t require frequent use of differential equations, linear algebra, etc. You can still work at NASA with other strengths. Is there a space figure you’ve looked up to or someone that inspires you? Retired NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson inspired me to follow my dreams and encouraged me to work at Johnson full time after I graduated from college. I had the pleasure of having lunch with Stephen, where he shared his journey to becoming an astronaut and it resonated with me. After talking to him, I was even more motivated to finish my degree and get back to Houston. There were so many fun and interesting experiences waiting for me that I couldn’t miss! What is your favorite NASA memory or the most meaningful project you’ve worked on during your time with NASA? It is a pleasure knowing that my job is directly playing a role in the purpose of the International Space Station. Aaron rose Cold Stowage Mission Manager The first SpaceX mission I supported was NASA’s SpaceX CRS-3 return. I had recently joined the Cold Stowage Team and was still learning the ropes when I was selected to travel to Long Beach, California, and help the team. It was such a thrill to work out of a cargo airplane while handling science experiments that had just returned from space. Another favorite memory is watching the movie “Apollo 13” in the historic Mission Control Center. It was so surreal to sit at a workstation where the actual events of Apollo 13 occurred while watching the movie. It felt like I was transported back to April 1970, and I was in the movie. The space nerd in me was ecstatic! What do you love sharing about station? I like to talk about cargo resupply missions. People genuinely want to know what work is being done on the space station and how we utilize microgravity to develop new technology and fight diseases. I usually share about the different science experiments we fly and explain the steps it takes to safely transport delicate equipment and samples to and from station. Aaron and Nicole Rose support a NASA outreach event in Houston. Aaron Rose November 2, 2025, marked 25 years of continuous human presence. What does this milestone mean to you? It stands as a testament to what we can achieve when working together. Building and maintaining the space station takes thousands of people working together to unlock the mysteries of the universe. Aaron rose Cold Stowage Mission Manager I’m excited for the future of our industry and can’t wait to see how we continue to raise the bar to achieve NASA’s ambitious goals for deep space exploration. Ad astra! If you could have dinner with any astronaut, past or present, who would it be? I would have dinner with former NASA astronaut and fellow Ohioan Neil Armstrong. I met him once and I’d love to ask him some more questions. Do you have a favorite space-related memory or moment that stands out to you? Either watching the movie “IMAX: Hubble 3D” with a big group of fellow co-ops at the Houston Museum of Natural Science or seeing my first up-close space shuttle launch. One summer as a co-op, I tested and certified the IMAX camera equipment that was used by the crew of STS-125 to film part of this movie. It was wonderful to see the final product of my efforts on the big screen. In 2010, my friend and I drove through the night from Ohio to Florida to see the launch of STS-130 and it was well worth it. This was an especially meaningful launch because it was one of the final shuttle missions, the amazing cupola was on board, and I knew retired astronaut Stephen Robinson, who was a mission specialist for STS-130. What are some of the key projects you have worked on during your time at NASA? What have been your favorite? I’ve had the privilege of working on several key projects at NASA, including: – “IMAX: Hubble 3D” – The potable water dispenser – Cold stowage My favorite focus has been cold stowage. It has given me the chance to support multiple SpaceX, Axiom, and Northrup Grumman missions every year. Through my work in cold stowage, I’ve seen many rocket launches, frequently handled space-flown hardware, and directly contributed to the success of over 50 flights to station. I’ve also cultivated life-long friendships and developed a meaningful career supporting NASA’s core mission. What are your hobbies/things you enjoy doing outside of work? I enjoy weightlifting, playing video games, traveling around the world, engaging in car culture, attending comedy shows, and watching movies. Aaron Rose and his Fiat 124 Spider Abarth soaking up some rays.Aaron Rose Day launch or night launch? Night! Favorite space movie? “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” NASA Worm or Meatball logo? Worm! 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 3 min read Arctic Winter Sea Ice Ties Record Low, NASA, NSIDC Scientists Find For the second consecutive year, winter sea ice in the Arctic reached a level that… Article 3 hours ago 4 min read NASA’s Hubble Detects First-Ever Spin Reversal of Tiny Comet Astronomers using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have found evidence that the spinning of a small… Article 6 hours ago 3 min read NASA Ames Experts Available for Artemis II Flight Test Interviews Article 21 hours ago View the full article

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video After growing through the fall and winter, sea ice in the Arctic reached its annual maximum extent on March 15, 2026, peaking at coverage area of 5.52 million square miles (14.29 million square kilometers). Trent Schindler/NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio For the second consecutive year, winter sea ice in the Arctic reached a level that matches the lowest peak observed since satellite monitoring began in 1979. On March 15, Arctic sea ice extent reached 5.52 million square miles (14.29 million square kilometers), very close to the 2025 peak of 5.53 million square miles (14.31 million square kilometers). Scientists with NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado, Boulder, note that the two years are statistically tied. Along with the overall extent, researchers are also observing changes in ice thickness. “Based on what we’re seeing with NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite, much of the ice in the Arctic is thinner this year, especially in the Barents Sea northeast of Greenland.,” said Nathan Kurtz, chief of the Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “The Sea of Okhotsk that borders northern Japan and Russia also had relatively low ice this year — a region that naturally experiences significant year-to-year variability.” Scientists with NASA and NSIDC found that this winter’s peak Arctic ice coverage continues the long-term trend observed over the past several decades. This year, peak ice cover was below the average levels between 1981 and 2010 by roughly half a million square miles (about 1.3 million square kilometers). Sea ice extent is defined as the total area of the ocean with at least 15% ice concentration. The area of the Arctic Ocean covered in ice expands in the cold of winter. Although much of the sea ice melts in warmer months, some ice remains throughout the year. Recently, less new ice has been forming. As a result, less multi-year ice has accumulated. “A low year or two don’t necessarily mean much by themselves,” said NSIDC ice scientist Walt Meier. But viewed within the long‑term downward trend since 1979, Meier added, they add to the overall picture of change in Arctic sea ice throughout the seasons. In the Antarctic, summer sea ice reached an annual low of 996,000 square miles (2.58 million square kilometers) on Feb. 26. This year’s coverage represents an increase compared to the unusually low levels of the past four years. Although 100,000 square miles (260,000 square kilometers) lower than the 1981–2010 average, the Antarctic sea ice minimum was well above the record low set on Feb. 21, 2023, of 691,000 square miles (1.79 million square kilometers). Scientists at NSIDC previously tracked sea ice extent primarily using satellites in the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. In recent years, the NSIDC has relied on JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 for real-time sea ice data. Researchers also compare ice coverage to historical sources, such as the data collected between 1978 and 1985 with the Nimbus-7 satellite that was jointly operated by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. By James Riordon NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Media contact: Elizabeth Vlock NASA Headquarters, Washington Explore More 3 min read Antarctic Sea Ice Plunged in Summer 2025 The region’s ice extent on March 1 tied for the second-lowest minimum observed in the… Article 12 months ago 4 min read Arctic Sea Ice Reaches Annual Low With the end of summer approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, the extent of sea ice… Article 6 months ago 4 min read 10 Things to Know About ICESat-2, NASA’s Latest Space Laser Did somebody say space laser? NASA is set to launch ICESat-2, our most advanced laser… Article 8 years ago View the full article

X-ray: Chandra: NASA/CXC/SAO, XMM: ESA/XMM-NEWTON, IXPE:NASA/MSFC; Optical: NSF/NOIRLab; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt NASA’s IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) mission has taken a new observation of a supernova, RCW 86, seen here in an image released on March 24, 2026. This observation helps fill in a fuller picture of what other telescopes have seen. The full image combines IXPE’s data with legacy observations from two other X-ray telescopes: NASA’s Chandra and the ESA (European Space Agency) XMM-Newton telescope. The yellow represents low-energy X-rays, while blue shows high-energy X-rays detected by Chandra and XMM-Newton. The starfield in the image comes from the National Science Foundation’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab). Learn more about this image. Image credit: X-ray: Chandra: NASA/CXC/SAO, XMM: ESA/XMM-NEWTON, IXPE:NASA/MSFC; Optical: NSF/NOIRLab; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt 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 4 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4838-4844: Wrapping Up the Boxwork Terrain NASA’’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image, of one of the many magnificent ridges seen from the rover’s telescopic Remote Micro-Imager camera (RMI) on its Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam) instrument, on March 20, 2026. ChemCam is an instrument that first uses a laser to vaporize rocks and soil, creating a plasma of their component gases, then later analyzes their elemental composition using an on-board spectrograph. The laser and RMI, which captures detailed images of the area illuminated by the laser beam, sit on Curiosity’s mast (its “forehead”), while the spectrometer is located in the rover’s body. Curiosity captured this image on Sol 4841, or Martian day 4,841 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission, at 03:02:35 UTC. NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/CNRS/IRAP/IAS/LPG Written by Deborah Padgett, MSL Operations Product Ground System Task Lead at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Earth planning date: Friday, March 20, 2026 Curiosity has just concluded a very intense week of science observations and engineering activities, as it wraps up its monthslong investigation of the Martian boxwork terrain. Three days of planning this week by the MSL science and engineering team has led to three rover drives, three sets of targets for detailed study by instruments on Curiosity’s arm, and a vast array of in-situ data characterizing the southern reaches of the boxwork terrain on the shoulder of Mount Sharp on Mars. As the week began on Mars sol 4838, Curiosity used cameras on Mastcam and ChemCam to image ridge and butte targets “Salar de Maricunga,” “El Misti,” “Saipina” ridges and the “Paniri” butte. Mastcam also looked at bedrock fractures on target “Sajta.” The laser spectrometer on ChemCam examined the composition of the target “Tacitas.” After brushing away a great deal of dust off the bedrock target “Toro Wharku” with the DRT, then MAHLI and APXS studied it in detail. MAHLI also performed detailed imaging of the nearby ledge “Rincodillas.” In the afternoon, Mastcam Tau and Navcam line-of sight observations measured the amount of dust in the Martian atmosphere. On sol 4839 Curiosity finished up investigation of Toro Wharku with ChemCam laser spectroscopy and Mastcam imaging. A long-distance ChemCam RMI 10×1 mosaic was obtained on the Paniri butte, and Navcam took cloud and dust-****** movies. The rover then drove 35 meters (about 115 feet) toward the southern contact of the boxwork terrain with the adjacent sulfate unit, and performed post-drive photography of a 360-degree panorama around the vehicle using Navcam. On Sol 4840, those images allowed selection of a uniquely shaped rock formation dubbed “Llisa” for laser spectrometer study with ChemCam and Mastcam. Although no reachable bedrock was smooth enough for DRT brushing, MAHLI obtained microscopic images of “Chusumayo” and APXS target “Sierra Gorda,” in bedrock showing very intriguing sedimentary layers. Mastcam also imaged these layers at targets “Limbaba” and “Limbaba2.” The ChemCam telescope RMI camera looked back along Curiosity’s path at the now distant Mishe Mokwa butte, viewing its stratigraphy from a different angle. Atmospheric studies included a Mastcam sky survey, Mastcam tau, and Navcam dust-****** movie. The following sol, 4841, concluded the study of Chusumayo with ChemCam LIBS observations of nearby target “La Troya.” On Sol 4841, Curiosity drove 39 meters (about 128 feet) farther south. In Friday’s plan for sols 4842 through 4844, the sol starts with ChemCam laser spectrometer composition and Mastcam imaging studies of outcrop “San Julien,” followed by telescopic RMI images of the “Santa Rita” dark ridge material. Mastcam will then obtain a series of mosaics documenting the southern contact between the boxwork structures and the sulfate unit, from nearby bedrock to the more distant hillsides of the Paniri butte. Mastcam imaging will also investigate the possibility of regolith movement in a trough. A supra horizon cloud movie, dust-****** movie, and line-of-sight dust observations with Navcam will integrate atmospheric investigations into the morning science block. Curiosity will then unstow the arm, performing a DRT brushing, MAHLI imaging, and APXS measurement on target “Challapata.” Another Navcam line-of-sight plus a Mastcam tau will complete atmospheric dust measurements for the sol. The following sol, 4843, will see ChemCam laser spectroscopy and Mastcam imaging of dark ridge target “Santa Laura.” Mastcam will then obtain additional mosaics of the southern contact (“Yungas de Arepucho”), as well as a “Limbaba lookback” target. ChemCam’s RMI telescope will image the upper reaches of Paniri butte, complementing the Mastcam coverage. Morning and evening studies by Navcam and Mastcam will continue the time series of dust and dynamics in the Martian atmosphere, accompanied by an overnight APXS atmospheric observation. On the morning of sol 4844, ChemCam will complete the study of Challapata with laser spectroscopy, and Mastcam will document the changes in the target after it is zapped. After a ChemCam passive sky observation and Navcam dust-****** survey, Curiosity will drive 11 more meters to the south (36 feet), most likely crossing the long-awaited boundary between the Martian boxwork structures and the sulfate unit beyond. During the drive, MAHLI will perform a full set of wheel imaging to track the wear on the rover’s wheels. In concert with the post-drive imaging, ChemCam and Navcam will perform an AEGIS investigation, allowing the on-board processing of Navcam data to choose a ChemCam LIBS target before our human team sees the images. The plan concludes on the morning of sol 4845 with ChemCam laser spectroscopy of this new AEGIS target, in addition to atmospheric studies with Navcam and Mastcam. Next week, Curiosity leaves the Martian boxwork terrain behind in its quest for new discoveries. Want to read more posts from the Curiosity team? Visit Mission Updates Want to learn more about Curiosity’s science instruments? Visit the Science Instruments page NASA’s Curiosity rover at the base of Mount Sharp NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Share Details Last Updated Mar 26, 2026 Related Terms Blogs Explore More 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4832–4837: Driving the (Contact) Line! Article 1 week ago 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4825-4831: Exploring the Borderlands Article 2 weeks ago 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4818-4824: Thinking Out of the Boxwork Article 3 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and the seventh largest. It’s the only planet we know of inhabited… All Mars Resources Explore this collection of Mars images, videos, resources, PDFs, and toolkits. Discover valuable content designed to inform, educate, and inspire,… Rover Basics Each robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a… Mars Exploration: Science Goals The key to understanding the past, present or future potential for life on Mars can be found in NASA’s four… View the full article

Los miembros de la tripulación de Artemis II —el astronauta de la CSA (Agencia Espacial Canadiense) Jeremy Hansen y los astronautas de la NASA Christina Koch, Victor Glover y Reid Wiseman— salen de los alojamientos de la tripulación de astronautas, situados en el Edificio de Operaciones y Comprobación Neil Armstrong, y se dirigen a los vehículos de transporte de la tripulación de Artemis antes de desplazarse a la plataforma de lanzamiento 39B, como parte de una prueba integrada de los sistemas de tierra en el Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA, en Florida, el 20 de septiembre de 2023, para poner a prueba probar el cronograma de la tripulación para el día del lanzamiento.NASA/Kim Shiflett Diversos eventos previos al lanzamiento, del lanzamiento y de la misión Artemis II de la NASA alrededor de la Luna se transmitirán en línea. La agencia tiene como fecha objetivo no antes del miércoles 1 de abril para este vuelo de prueba, **** una ventana de lanzamiento de dos horas que se abre a las 6:24 p.m. EDT (hora del este), y **** oportunidades de lanzamiento adicionales hasta el lunes 6 de abril. Artemis II es la primera misión tripulada de la NASA en el marco del programa Artemis y despegará desde el Centro Espacial Kennedy de la agencia en Florida. La misión llevará a los astronautas de la NASA Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover y Christina Koch, junto **** el astronauta de la CSA (Agencia Espacial Canadiense) Jeremy Hansen, en un viaje de aproximadamente 10 días alrededor de la Luna. Entre los objetivos de la agencia está poner a prueba los sistemas de soporte vital de la nave espacial Orion por primera vez **** personas a bordo y sentar las bases para futuras misiones tripuladas de Artemis. Las ruedas de prensa, los eventos y la cobertura de la misión durante las 24 horas del día, los siete días de la semana, se transmitirán en el canal de YouTube de la agencia, y cada evento tendrá su propia transmisión a medida que se acerque su hora de inicio. Descubra cómo ver el contenido de la NASA a través de diversas plataformas en línea, incluidas las redes sociales. La fecha y/u hora de todos los eventos están sujetas a cambios. Una lista completa de las actividades de cobertura de Artemis II está disponible en línea en: [Hidden Content] Los siguientes eventos destacados previos al lanzamiento y del día del lanzamiento se indican en hora del este de Estados Unidos: Viernes, 27 de marzo 2:30 p.m.: Dirigentes de la agencia, entre ellos el administrador de la NASA, Jared Isaacman, junto **** la presidenta de la CSA, Lisa Campbell, y otros líderes, darán la bienvenida a los astronautas a su llegada al Centro Kennedy de la NASA. Los miembros de la tripulación de Artemis II responderán a preguntas de los medios de comunicación presentes en el centro. La tripulación de Artemis II llegará al Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA y responderá a las preguntas de los medios de comunicación que estén en persona en el centro. Domingo, 29 de marzo 9:30 a.m.: Los tripulantes de la misión Artemis II responderán virtualmente a preguntas de periodistas desde su centro de cuarentena. 2 p.m.: La NASA ofrecerá una rueda de prensa para informar sobre el estado actual del lanzamiento. Lunes, 30 de marzo 5 p.m.: Tras una reunión de gestión de la misión, los responsables de la agencia, entre ellos el administrador de la NASA, Jared Isaacman, ofrecerán una rueda de prensa para informar sobre los últimos avances en los preparativos del lanzamiento. Martes, 31 de marzo 1 p.m.: La NASA ofrecerá una conferencia de prensa previa al lanzamiento. Miércoles, 1 de abril 7:45 a.m. Comienza la transmisión (en inglés) de las operaciones de llenado de combustible del cohete Sistema de Lanzamiento Espacial (SLS, por sus siglas en inglés), **** imágenes del cohete y comentarios en directo. 12:40 p.m.: Comienza la cobertura de NASA+ (en inglés) del despegue. La transmisión continúa en YouTube tras el despliegue de los paneles solares de Orion en el espacio. 4:45 p.m.: Comienza la cobertura del lanzamiento en español en el canal de YouTube en español de la NASA y en NASA+, la cual continuará hasta aproximadamente 15 minutos después del despegue. Aproximadamente dos horas y media después del lanzamiento, la NASA ofrecerá una rueda de prensa tras el encendido de la etapa superior del cohete SLS para enviar a Orion y a su tripulación a la órbita terrestre alta. Cobertura de la misión La cobertura en tiempo real de la NASA continuará durante toda la misión a través de YouTube. La agencia también proporcionará otra transmisión en vivo **** vistas desde la nave espacial Orion, siempre que el ancho de banda lo permita. La agencia proporcionará informes diarios sobre el estado de la misión desde el Centro Espacial Johnson de la NASA en Houston a partir del jueves 2 de abril (excepto el 6 de abril, debido a las actividades del sobrevuelo lunar). La tripulación participará en conversaciones en vivo durante toda la misión. La NASA comunicará las horas exactas de cada uno de estos eventos en el blog de Artemis y en la página de eventos de lanzamiento de la agencia, ambos en inglés. Para participar virtualmente en las ruedas de prensa, los medios de comunicación deben confirmar su asistencia a más tardar dos horas antes del inicio de cada conferencia, escribiendo en inglés a la sala de prensa del centro Johnson de la NASA a: *****@*****.tld. Cobertura del lanzamiento y la misión en el sitio web de la NASA Las actualizaciones durante la cuenta regresiva del lanzamiento y a lo largo de la misión se publicarán en el blog de Artemis, en inglés. Todas las imágenes más recientes estarán disponibles en: Artemis II Multimedia Para seguir la posición de Orion en el espacio, visite: nasa.gov/trackartemis Asista al lanzamiento de forma virtual Los miembros del público pueden registrarse para asistir al lanzamiento de forma virtual. El programa de invitados virtuales de la NASA para esta misión incluye recursos seleccionados sobre el lanzamiento, notificaciones sobre oportunidades relacionadas o cambios, y un sello para el pasaporte de invitado virtual de la NASA después del lanzamiento, todo en inglés. Cobertura del lanzamiento solo en audio Los medios de comunicación pueden escuchar la cobertura solo en audio de la carga de combustible y el lanzamiento marcando el +1 256-715-9946, código de acceso 682-040-632. Para quienes se encuentren en el condado de Brevard en la Costa Espacial, el audio del lanzamiento también estará disponible en la frecuencia de radio VHF 146.940 MHz —a través del Servicio de Información de Lanzamientos y Sistema de Televisión de Aficionados— y en la frecuencia de radio UHF de 444.925 MHz del Club de Radioaficionados del centro Kennedy de la NASA, en modo FM. El plazo para la acreditación de medios de comunicación para la cobertura presencial del lanzamiento y los eventos de la misión ya ha vencido. La política de acreditación de medios de la agencia está disponible en línea. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre la acreditación de medios en el centro Kennedy de la NASA, envíe un correo electrónico en inglés a: ksc*****@*****.tld. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre la acreditación de medios en el centro Johnson de la NASA, envíe un correo electrónico en inglés a: *****@*****.tld. Para obtener información sobre cómo acceder a las transmisiones, envíe un correo electrónico en inglés al equipo de programación de NASA+: nasa-dl*****@*****.tld Como parte de una edad de oro de innovación y exploración, la NASA enviará a los astronautas de Artemis en misiones cada vez más complejas para explorar más de la Luna **** fines de descubrimiento científico, beneficios económicos, y para sentar las bases de las primeras misiones tripuladas a Marte. Para obtener más información sobre el programa Artemis de la NASA, visite: [Hidden Content] (inglés) [Hidden Content] (español) -fin- Cheryl Warner / Lauren Low / María José Viñas Sede central, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / lauren.e*****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Tiffany Fairley Centro Espacial Kennedy, Florida 321-747-8306 *****@*****.tld Chelsey Ballarte Centro Espacial Johnson, Houston 281-483-5111 *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 26, 2026 EditorJessica TaveauLocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsNASA en español View the full article

Share Details Last Updated Mar 26, 2026 Editor Andrea Gianopoulos Location NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Contact Media Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland *****@*****.tld Hannah Braun, Ann Jenkins Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland Related Terms Hubble Space Telescope Astrophysics Division Comets Goddard Space Flight Center Planetary Science Small Bodies of the Solar System The Solar System

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory A Hot Start to Spring in the… Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Notes from the Field Blog Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search Extreme heat lingers over the U.S. Southwest and Mexico on March 20, 2026, in this visualization based on GEOS-FP data. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison In March 2026, the first official day of the Northern Hemisphere’s spring felt more like summer across much of the southwestern United States. Numerous high-temperature records fell that day amid a bout of extreme heat. The extent and severity of the heat are represented on this map, which shows air temperatures on the afternoon of March 20, modeled at 2 meters (6.5 feet) above the ground. It was produced with a version of the GEOS (Goddard Earth Observing System) model, which integrates meteorological observations with mathematical equations that represent physical processes in the atmosphere. The darkest reds are where the model indicates temperatures reaching or exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). Measurements from weather stations on March 20 pinpointed some of the highest U.S. temperatures in Arizona and California. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Yuma, Arizona, reached a record high of 109°F, which is 28 degrees above the 1991-2020 climatological normal for that date. Four other locations—near Yuma and Martinez Lake in Arizona and Ogilby and Winterhaven in California—tied for the highest temperatures in the U.S. that day, reaching 112°F (44°C). Several other U.S. states saw temperatures soar in late March. In Texas, Lubbock experienced several days in the mid to upper 90s. Sweltering temperatures extended into Mexico as well. A new March record was set in Hermosillo, for example, where temperatures reached 108°F (42°C), according to news reports. The heat was driven by a persistent high-pressure system, which the NWS noted was similar in strength to conditions seen in summer. It remained over the region for more than a week, keeping the air dry and skies clear across a vast stretch of the U.S. and Mexico. The heat was expected to spread east into the U.S. Midwest and Southeast by the following week. NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using GEOS-FP data from the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at NASA GSFC. Story by Kathryn Hansen. Downloads March 20, 2026 JPEG (1.65 MB) References & Resourses EarthSky (2026, March 20) U.S. heatwave breaks multiple all-time highs. Accessed on March 25, 2026. Mexico News Daily (2026, March 20) Spring arrives and brings scorching heat across Mexico, with 12 states passing 105 F (40 C). Accessed on March 25, 2026. National Weather Service (2026, March 20) National High and Low Temperature Archive. Accessed on March 25, 2026. The Washington Post (2026, March 23) Where summer-like heat has shattered records — and where it will spread next. Accessed on March 25, 2026. Yale Climate Connections (2026, March 23) Mind-blowing March heat wave crests; records melt from Arizona to Minnesota. Accessed on March 25, 2026. You may also be interested in: Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet. Extreme January Cold 3 min read Following a significant winter storm, frigid temperatures lingered in late January 2026 across a vast swath of the U.S. Article Summer Heat Hits Southeastern Australia 4 min read January brought blistering extremes Down Under as record temperatures scorched the nation’s southeast. Article Winter Grips the Michigan Mitten 3 min read A blanket of snow spanned Michigan and much of the Great Lakes region following a potent cold snap. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data Open access to NASA’s archive of Earth science data View the full article

Los miembros de la tripulación de Artemis II —el astronauta de la CSA (Agencia Espacial Canadiense) Jeremy Hansen y los astronautas de la NASA Christina Koch, Victor Glover y Reid Wiseman— salen de los aposentos de la tripulación, situados en el Edificio de Operaciones y Comprobación Neil Armstrong, y se dirigen a los vehículos de transporte de la tripulación de Artemis antes de partir hacia la plataforma de lanzamiento 39B, como parte de una prueba integrada de los sistemas de tierra. Esta prueba fue realizada en el Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA, en Florida, el miércoles 20 de septiembre, **** el fin de poner a prueba el calendario de la tripulación para el día del lanzamiento.NASA/Kim Shiflett Nota del editor: La NASA actualizará continuamente esta página de sesiones informativas y eventos de la misión Artemis II a lo largo de las actividades previas al lanzamiento, el lanzamiento y las operaciones de la misión. La NASA ofrecerá cobertura en vivo de los eventos previos al lanzamiento, el lanzamiento y las actividades de la misión para el próximo vuelo de prueba tripulado de la agencia alrededor de la Luna: Artemis II. La agencia tiene como fecha objetivo llevar a ***** el lanzamiento de la misión no antes del miércoles 1 de abril, dentro de una ventana de dos horas que se abrirá a las 6:24 p.m. EDT (hora del este). Habrá oportunidades de lanzamiento adicionales hasta el lunes 6 de abril. Artemis II es la primera misión tripulada de la NASA en el marco del programa Artemis y despegará desde el Centro Espacial Kennedy de la agencia en Florida. Esta misión llevará a los astronautas de la NASA Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover y Christina Koch, junto **** el astronauta Jeremy Hansen de la CSA (Agencia Espacial Canadiense), en un viaje de aproximadamente 10 días alrededor de la Luna. Al despegar a bordo del cohete Sistema de Lanzamiento Espacial (SLS, por sus siglas en inglés) de la NASA, la agencia pondrá a prueba por primera vez los sistemas de soporte vital de la nave espacial Orion **** seres humanos a bordo, ayudando a sentar las bases para futuras misiones tripuladas del programa Artemis. Las sesiones informativas, los eventos y la cobertura continua de la misión las 24 horas del día (en inglés) serán transmitidas en el canal de YouTube de la agencia; además, cada evento contará **** su propia transmisión independiente a medida que se acerque su hora de inicio. Siga la cobertura que ofrecerá la agencia sobre el lanzamiento, el sobrevuelo lunar y el amerizaje a través de su canal NASA+ y Amazon Prime. Descubra cómo ver el contenido de la NASA mediante diferentes de plataformas en línea, incluyendo las redes sociales. Para obtener información sobre cómo acceder a las transmisiones, envíe un correo electrónico (en inglés) a nasa-dl*****@*****.tld. Ha vencido el plazo para la acreditación de medios de comunicación para la cobertura presencial de los eventos de lanzamiento y de la misión. La política de acreditación de medios de la agencia está disponible en línea (en inglés). Para consultas sobre la acreditación de medios en el Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA, por favor envíe un correo electrónico (en inglés) a: ksc*****@*****.tld. Para consultas sobre la acreditación de medios en el Centro Espacial Johnson de la agencia en Houston, por favor envíe un correo electrónico a: *****@*****.tld. Un número limitado de asientos dentro del auditorio Kennedy estará disponible durante las sesiones informativas previas al lanzamiento para los periodistas acreditados previamente, por orden de llegada. Para participar por teléfono, los medios de comunicación deben confirmar su asistencia a más tardar dos horas antes del inicio de cada sesión informativa, enviando un correo electrónico en inglés a: ksc*****@*****.tld. A partir del jueves 2 de abril, las sesiones informativas se llevarán a ***** desde el centro Johnson de la NASA. Para participar por teléfono en estas sesiones, los medios de comunicación deben confirmar su asistencia a más tardar dos horas antes del inicio de cada sesión informativa, contactando a la sala de prensa del Centro Johnson por siguiente el correo electrónico: *****@*****.tld. La fecha y hora de los eventos están sujetos a cambios. Todos los eventos están indicados en la hora del este de Estados Unidos. Viernes, 27 de marzo 2:30 p.m.: La tripulación de Artemis II llegará al Centro Kennedy y responderá preguntas. También asistirán los directivos de la agencia, incluyendo el administrador de la NASA, Jared Isaacman, junto **** la presidenta de la CSA, Lisa Campbell. Estarán disponibles para responder preguntas: Reid Wiseman, comandante, astronauta de la NASA Victor Glover, piloto, astronauta de la NASA Christina Koch, especialista de misión, astronauta de la NASA Jeremy Hansen, especialista de misión, astronauta de la CSA Domingo, 29 de marzo 9:30 a.m.: La tripulación de Artemis II responderá virtualmente a preguntas de periodistas desde su centro de cuarentena. 2:00 p.m.: La NASA ofrecerá una rueda de prensa para informar sobre el estado de los preparativos para el lanzamiento, **** los siguientes participantes: Lori Glaze, administradora asociada interina, Dirección de Misiones de Desarrollo de Sistemas de Exploración Shawn Quinn, gerente del programa de Sistemas Terrestres de Exploración Howard Hu, gerente del programa Orion Chris Cianciola, subgerente del programa SLS Lunes, 30 de marzo 5:00 p.m.: Tras una reunión clave sobre la misión, la NASA ofrecerá una conferencia de prensa para proporcionar una actualización sobre el estado de los preparativos para el lanzamiento. Entre los participantes de la NASA se encuentran: El administrador asociado Amit Kshatriya John Honeycutt, presidente del Equipo de Gestión de la Misión Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, directora de lanzamiento Emily Nelson, directora principal de vuelo Martes, 31 de marzo 1:00 p.m.: La NASA celebrará una conferencia de prensa previa al lanzamiento para informar sobre el estado de la cuenta regresiva, **** los siguientes participantes: Representante del equipo de lanzamiento Mark Burger, oficial meteorológico del lanzamiento, 45.o Escuadrón Meteorológico, Estación de la Fuerza Espacial de ***** Cañaveral Miércoles, 1 de abril 7:45 a.m.: Comienza la cobertura de las operaciones de carga de combustible en el cohete SLS, incluyendo vistas del cohete y comentarios de un narrador. 12:40 p.m.: Comienza la cobertura del lanzamiento en NASA+. La cobertura continuará en YouTube una vez que se desplieguen los paneles solares de la nave Orion en el espacio. 4:45 p.m.: Comienza la cobertura del lanzamiento en español a través de la cuenta de YouTube en español de la NASA y en NASA+, y continuará hasta aproximadamente 15 minutos después del despegue. Aproximadamente dos horas y media después del lanzamiento, la NASA celebrará una conferencia de prensa posterior al lanzamiento, una vez que la etapa superior del cohete SLS haya realizado una maniobra orbital para llevar a Orion y a su tripulación a una órbita terrestre alta. La hora de inicio está sujeta a cambios, dependiendo de la hora exacta del despegue. Esta conferencia de prensa posterior al lanzamiento contará **** la participación de las siguientes personas: El administrador Jared Isaacman El administrador asociado Amit Kshatriya Lori Glaze, administradora asociada interina de la Dirección de Misiones de Desarrollo de Sistemas de Exploración John Honeycutt, presidente del equipo de gestión de la misión Norm Knight, director de la Dirección de Operaciones de Vuelo Cobertura de la misión La cobertura en tiempo real de la NASA continuará a lo largo de toda la misión a través de YouTube. La agencia también ofrecerá una transmisión en vivo independiente **** vistas desde la nave espacial Orion, siempre que el ancho de banda lo permita. La agencia proporcionará informes diarios sobre el estado de la misión desde el Centro Espacial Johnson de la NASA, a partir del jueves 2 de abril (a excepción del 6 de abril, debido a las actividades del sobrevuelo lunar). Los horarios están sujetos a cambios en función de la hora exacta del lanzamiento y de las operaciones de la misión. La tripulación participará en conversaciones en vivo durante la misión, conocidas como “downlinks” (transmisiones de aire a tierra). La NASA comunicará los horarios exactos de cada uno de estos eventos de enlace de aire a tierra en el blog de Artemis y en la página de eventos de lanzamiento de la agencia, ambos en inglés. Los horarios indicados a continuación están sujetos a cambios en función de la hora exacta del lanzamiento y de las operaciones de la misión. Jueves, 2 de abril 8:30 p.m.: Sesión informativa para los medios sobre el estado de la misión, tras la maniobra orbital de la inyección translunar para llevar a la tripulación de Orion hacia la Luna. 10:24 p.m.: Evento de transmisión en directo Viernes, 3 de abril 3:30 p.m.: Sesión informativa sobre el estado de la misión 8:44 p.m.: Evento de transmisión en directo Sábado, 4 de abril 12:59 a.m.: Evento de transmisión en directo **** la CSA 4:34 p.m.: Evento de transmisión en directo 5:15 p.m.: Sesión informativa sobre el estado de la misión Domingo, 5 de abril 12:14 a.m.: Evento de transmisión en directo **** la CSA 3:30 p.m.: Sesión informativa sobre el estado de la misión Lunes, 6 de abril 12:45 p.m.: Comienza la cobertura del sobrevuelo lunar de NASA+. 1:45 p.m.: En caso de que el lanzamiento se lleve a ***** el 1 de abril, se espera que la tripulación supere el récord de la mayor distancia de la Tierra alcanzada por seres humanos, establecido anteriormente por el Apolo 13 **** 400.171 kilómetros (248.655 millas) desde la Tierra. Además, en caso de que el lanzamiento se lleve a ***** el 1 de abril, la transmisión de video durante el sobrevuelo lunar podría verse limitada mientras la nave espacial atraviesa un eclipse. También se espera que la tripulación experimente una pérdida de comunicaciones **** la Tierra mientras la nave Orion vuela por detrás del lado lejano de la Luna. 10:39 p.m.: Evento de transmisión en directo. Martes, 7 de abril 2:29 p.m.: La tripulación de Artemis II conversará **** los astronautas a bordo de la Estación Espacial Internacional en una comunicación exclusivamente de audio. 4:00 p.m.: Sesión informativa sobre el estado de la misión Miércoles, 8 de abril 3:30 p.m.: Sesión informativa sobre el estado de la misión 7:09 p.m.: Evento de transmisión en directo **** la CSA Jueves, 9 de abril 3:30 p.m.: Sesión informativa sobre el estado de la misión 5:59 p.m.: Conferencia de prensa de la tripulación 7:54 p.m.: Evento de transmisión en directo Viernes, 10 de abril 6:30 p.m.: Comienza la cobertura de NASA+ para el regreso de la tripulación a la Tierra. 8:06 p.m.: Amerizaje en el océano Pacífico. Se espera que personal de la NASA y del Departamento de Guerra asista a la tripulación para salir de la nave Orion y los traslade por vía aérea a un buque de recuperación que estará a la espera. 10:35 p.m.: Conferencia de prensa posterior al amerizaje en el Centro Espacial Johnson de la NASA. Los detalles sobre el regreso de los astronautas a Houston se darán a conocer en una fecha posterior. Cobertura del lanzamiento y la misión en el sitio web de la NASA La NASA proporcionará actualizaciones (en inglés) durante la cuenta regresiva del lanzamiento y a lo largo de la misión en el blog de Artemis. Durante toda la misión, las imágenes más recientes estarán disponibles en: Artemis II Multimedia Para seguir la trayectoria de Orion en el espacio, visite: Nasa.gov/trackartemis Asista al lanzamiento de forma virtual El público general puede registrarse para asistir al lanzamiento de forma virtual. El programa de invitados virtuales de la NASA para esta misión incluye recursos seleccionados sobre el lanzamiento, notificaciones sobre oportunidades relacionadas o cambios, y un sello para el pasaporte de invitado virtual de la NASA después del lanzamiento, todo en inglés. Cobertura del lanzamiento solo en audio Los medios de comunicación pueden escuchar la cobertura de la carga de combustible y el lanzamiento, transmitidos únicamente en audio, marcando el +1-256-715-9946 e ingresando el código de acceso 682-040-632. Para quienes que se encuentren en el condado de Brevard, en la Costa Espacial, el audio del lanzamiento también estará disponible en la frecuencia de radio VHF de 146.940 MHz —a través del Servicio de Información de Lanzamientos y Sistema de Televisión de Aficionados— y en la frecuencia de radio UHF de 444.925 MHz del Club de Radioaficionados del centro Kennedy de la NASA, en modo FM. Como parte de una edad de oro de innovación y exploración, la NASA enviará a los astronautas de Artemis en misiones cada vez más complejas para explorar más de la Luna **** fines de descubrimiento científico, beneficios económicos, y para sentar las bases de las primeras misiones tripuladas a Marte. Para obtener más información sobre el programa Artemis de la NASA, visite: [Hidden Content] (inglés) [Hidden Content] (español) Share Details Last Updated Mar 25, 2026 EditorJessica TaveauLocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsNASA en español View the full article

NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley invites media to interview local subject matter experts on Friday, March 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ahead of the agency sending astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years with the Artemis II flight test. NASA teams are gearing up for the final stretch of prelaunch preparations ahead of launch as soon as Wednesday, April 1. Artemis II will send four astronauts on an approximately 10-day mission around the Moon to test the systems that will return astronauts to the lunar surface and prepare for crewed missions to Mars. NASA Ames has continued to build on its contributions to the Artemis program, helping to advance research, engineering, science, and technology for Artemis II. Ways Ames is contributing to Artemis II: Engineers and researchers collaborated across the agency to validate technologies using Ames’ advanced testing facilities such as the Arc Jet Complex. The center has multiple scientists who will participate on the Artemis II science team, working to guide the mission’s lunar observations. Researchers helped the SLS (Space Launch System) team increase airflow around the rocket and reduce vibration, resulting in a smoother ascent into space. The center also supports mission assurance through system testing, software verification, and fault management, and will participate in post-flight analysis of Artemis II performance. Media requesting a virtual interview with one of the subject matter experts below should email the Ames Office of Communications at arc-dl*****@*****.tld by 5 p.m. on March 26. A media resource reel is available upon request. NASA Ames experts available for interview: Eugene Tu, NASA Ames center director Anthony Colaprete, NASA Ames acting director of science Parul Agrawal, engineering project manager, Orion at NASA Ames Artemis II will be the first crewed mission under NASA’s Artemis program, which will send astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to lay the foundation to the Red Planet. To learn more about NASA’s Artemis campaign, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Tiffany Blake Ames Research Center, Silicon Valley 650-604-4789 *****@*****.tld To receive local NASA Ames news, email [email protected] with “subscribe” in the subject line. To unsubscribe, email the same address with “unsubscribe” in the subject line.   View the full article