SpaceMan

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

Artemis II crew members (from left) CSA (********* Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman walk out of Astronaut Crew Quarters inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to the Artemis crew transportation vehicles prior to traveling to Launch Pad 39B as part of an integrated ground systems test at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sept. 20, 2023, to test the crew timeline for launch day.NASA/Kim Shiflett A variety of prelaunch, launch, and mission events for NASA’s Artemis II mission around the Moon will stream online. The agency is targeting no earlier than Wednesday, April 1, for the test flight during a two-hour window that opens at 6:24 p.m. EDT, with additional launch opportunities through Monday, April 6. Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission under the Artemis program and will launch from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It will send NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (********* Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen on an approximately 10-day journey around the Moon. Among objectives, the agency will test the Orion spacecraft’s life support systems for the first time with people and lay the groundwork for future crewed Artemis missions. Briefings, events, and 24/7 mission coverage will stream on the agency’s YouTube channel, and events will each have their own stream closer to their start time. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media. The date and/or time of all events are subject to change. A full listing of coverage activities for Artemis II is available online: [Hidden Content] The following highlighted prelaunch and launch events are all listed in Eastern time: Friday, March 27 2:30 p.m.: Agency leadership, including NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, along with CSA (********* Space Agency) President Lisa Campbell, and other leaders, will greet the astronauts as they arrive at NASA Kennedy. The Artemis II crew members will answer questions from media in attendance. Sunday, March 29 9:30 a.m.: The Artemis II crew members will virtually answer reporters’ questions from their quarantine facility. 2 p.m.: NASA will hold a news conference to provide a status update for launch. Monday, March 30 5 p.m.: Following a mission management meeting, NASA will host a news conference to provide an update on launch preparations. Tuesday, March 31 1 p.m.: NASA will hold a prelaunch news conference. Wednesday, April 1 7:45 a.m.: Coverage of tanking operations to load propellant into NASA’s (SLS) Space Launch System rocket begins, including views of the rocket and audio from a commentator. 12:50 p.m.: NASA+ coverage of launch begins. Coverage will continue on YouTube after Orion’s solar array wings deploy in space. Approximately two-and-a-half hours after launch, NASA will hold a postlaunch news conference after the SLS rocket’s upper stage performs a burn to send Orion and its crew to high Earth orbit. Mission coverage NASA’s real-time coverage will continue throughout the mission on YouTube. The agency also will provide a separate live stream of views from the Orion spacecraft as bandwidth allows. The agency will provide daily mission status briefings from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston beginning Thursday, April 2, except for April 6, due to lunar flyby activities. The crew will participate in live conversations throughout the mission. NASA will provide the exact times of each of these downlink events in the Artemis blog and on the agency’s launch events page. To participate virtually in briefings, media must RSVP no later than two hours before the start of each briefing to the NASA Johnson newsroom at: *****@*****.tld. NASA website launch, mission coverage Updates during the launch countdown and throughout the mission will be posted on the Artemis blog. All the latest imagery will be available at: Artemis II Multimedia To track Orion in space, visit: nasa.gov/trackartemis Attend launch virtually Members of the public may register to attend the launch virtually. NASA’s virtual guest program for this mission includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a stamp for the NASA virtual guest passport following launch. Audio-only launch coverage Media may listen to the audio-only coverage of the tanking and launch broadcast by dialing 256-715-9946, passcode 682 040 632. For those in Brevard County on the Space Coast, launch audio also will be available on Launch Information Service and Amateur Television System’s VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz and KSC Amateur Radio Club’s UHF radio frequency 444.925 MHz, FM mode. The deadline for media accreditation for in-person coverage of launch and mission events has passed. The agency’s media credentialing policy is available online. For questions about media accreditation at NASA Kennedy, please email: ksc*****@*****.tld. For questions about media accreditation at NASA Johnson, please email: *****@*****.tld. For information on obtaining feeds, email the NASA+ programming team: nasa-dl*****@*****.tld. As part of Golden Age of innovation and exploration, NASA will send Artemis astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars. Learn more about NASA’s Artemis program by visiting: [Hidden Content] -end- Cheryl Warner / Lauren Low Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / lauren.e*****@*****.tld Tiffany Fairley Kennedy Space Center, Florida 321-747-8306 *****@*****.tld Chelsey Ballarte Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 25, 2026 EditorJessica TaveauLocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsArtemis 2 View the full article

Artemis II crew members CSA (********* Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman walk out of the astronaut crew quarters inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to the Artemis crew transportation vehicles prior to traveling to Launch Pad 39B as part of an integrated ground systems test at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2025, to test the crew timeline for launch day.NASA/Kim Shiflett Editor’s note: NASA will continuously update this Artemis II briefings and mission events page throughout prelaunch, launch, and mission activities. NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch, launch, and mission events for the agency’s upcoming Artemis II crewed test flight around the Moon. Launch is targeted for no earlier than 6:24 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April with a two-hour launch window. Additional opportunities for launch run through Monday, April 6. Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission under the Artemis program and will launch from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It will send NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (********* Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen on an approximately 10-day journey around the Moon. Launching on NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, the agency will test the Orion spacecraft’s life support systems for the first time with humans aboard, helping lay the groundwork for future crewed Artemis missions. Briefings, events, and 24/7 mission coverage will be on the agency’s YouTube channel, and events will each have their own stream closer to their start time. Watch agency launch, lunar flyby, and splashdown coverage on NASA+ and Amazon Prime. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media. For information on obtaining feeds, email the NASA+ programming at team at: nasa-dl*****@*****.tld. The deadline for media accreditation for in-person coverage of launch and mission events has passed. The agency’s media credentialing policy is available online. For questions about media accreditation at NASA Kennedy, please email: ksc*****@*****.tld. For questions about media accreditation at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, please email: *****@*****.tld. A limited number of seats inside the Kennedy auditorium will be available during prelaunch briefings to previously credentialed journalists on a first-come, first-served basis. To participate by telephone, media must RSVP no later than two hours before the start of each briefing to: ksc*****@*****.tld. Beginning Thursday, April 2, briefings will occur from NASA Johnson. To participate by telephone in these briefings, media must RSVP no later than two hours before the start of each briefing to the Johnson newsroom at: *****@*****.tld. The time of events is subject to change. All events are listed in Eastern Time. Friday, March 27 2:30 p.m.: The Artemis II crew will arrive at Kennedy and answer questions from credentialed media in attendance. Agency leadership, including NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, also will attend, along with CSA (********* Space Agency) President Lisa Campbell. Available for questions are: Reid Wiseman, commander, NASA astronaut Victor Glover, pilot, NASA astronaut, Christina Koch, mission specialist, NASA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist, CSA astronaut Sunday, March 29 9:30 a.m.: The Artemis II crew members will virtually answer reporters’ questions from their quarantine facility. 2 p.m.: NASA will hold a status update on preparations for launch with the following participants: Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate Shawn Quinn, program manager, Exploration Ground Systems Howard Hu, manager, Orion Program Chris Cianciola, deputy manager, SLS Program Monday, March 30 5 p.m.: Following a key mission meeting, NASA will host a news conference to provide a status update on preparations for launch. NASA participants include: Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya John Honeycutt, chair, Mission Management Team Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, launch director Emily Nelson, chief flight director Tuesday, March 31 1 p.m.: NASA will hold a prelaunch news conference on countdown status with the following participants: Launch team representative Mark Burger, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Wednesday, April 1 7:45 a.m.: Coverage of tanking operations to load propellant into the SLS rocket begins, including views of the rocket and audio from a commentator. 12:50 p.m.: NASA+ coverage of launch begins. Coverage continues on YouTube after Orion’s solar array wings deploy in space. Approximately two-and-a-half hours after launch, NASA will hold a post-launch news conference after the SLS rocket’s upper stage performs a burn to send Orion and its crew to high Earth orbit. The start time is subject to change, based on the exact liftoff time. This postlaunch news conference will include the following participants: Administrator Jared Isaacman Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate John Honeycutt, chair, Mission Management Team Norm Knight, director, Flight Operations Directorate Mission Coverage NASA’s real-time coverage will continue throughout the mission on YouTube. The agency also will provide a separate live stream of views from the Orion spacecraft, as bandwidth allows. The agency will provide daily mission status briefings from NASA Johnson beginning April 2, except for April 6, due to lunar flyby activities. Times are subject to change based on the exact time of launch and mission operations. The crew will participate in live conversations throughout the mission, known as downlinks. NASA will provide the exact times of each of these downlink events in the Artemis blog and on this page. Times below are subject to change based on the exact time of launch and mission operations. Thursday, April 2 8:30 p.m.: Mission status media briefing after the translunar injection burn to send the crew in Orion toward the Moon. 10:24 p.m.: Live downlink event Friday, April 3 3:30 p.m.: Mission status briefing 8:44 p.m.: Live downlink event Saturday, April 4 12:59 a.m.: Live CSA downlink event 4:34 p.m.: Live downlink event 5:15 p.m.: Mission status briefing Sunday, April 5 12:14 a.m.: Live CSA downlink event 3:30 p.m.: Mission status briefing Monday, April 6 12:45 p.m.: NASA+ coverage of lunar flyby begins. 1:45 p.m.: For a launch on April 1, the crew is expected to surpass the record for human’s farthest distance from Earth previously set by Apollo 13, at 248,655 miles from Earth. Additionally, for a launch that day, video during the lunar flyby may be limited while the spacecraft flies through an eclipse. The crew also is expected to temporarily experience a loss of communications with Earth as the Orion flies behind the Moon’s far side. 10:39 p.m.: Live downlink event Tuesday, April 7 2:29 p.m.: The Artemis II crew will speak with the astronauts aboard the International Space Station in an audio-only conversation. 4 p.m.: Mission status briefing Wednesday, April 8 3:30 p.m.: Mission status briefing 7:09 p.m.: Live CSA downlink event Thursday, April 9 3:30 p.m.: Mission status briefing 5:59 p.m.: Crew news conference 7:54 p.m.: Live downlink event Friday, April 10 6:30 p.m.: NASA+ coverage of the crew’s return to Earth begins 8:06 p.m.: Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. NASA and U.S. Department of War personnel are expected to assist the crew out of Orion and fly them to a waiting recovery ship. 10:35 p.m.: Post-splashdown news conference at NASA Johnson Details on the astronauts’ return to Houston will be shared later. NASA website launch, mission coverage NASA will provide updates during the launch countdown and throughout mission on the Artemis blog. Throughout the mission, the latest imagery will be available at: Artemis II Multimedia To track Orion in space, visit: nasa.gov/trackartemis Attend launch virtually Members of the public may register to attend this launch virtually. NASA’s virtual guest program for this mission includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a stamp for the NASA virtual guest passport following launch. Audio-only launch coverage Media may listen to the audio-only coverage of the tanking and launch broadcast by dialing 256-715-9946, passcode 682 040 632. For those in Brevard County on the Space Coast, launch audio also will be available on Launch Information Service and Amateur Television System’s VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz and KSC Amateur Radio Club’s UHF radio frequency 444.925 MHz, FM mode. As part of Golden Age of innovation and exploration, NASA will send Artemis astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars. To learn more about the Artemis program, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- View the full article

Explore This Section Science Science Activation Artemis Moon Tree Dedicated in… Overview Learning Resources Science Activation Teams SME Map Opportunities More Science Activation Stories Citizen Science Science Activation Opportunities 4 min read Artemis Moon Tree Dedicated in Honor of Mary W. Jackson Sign installed next to the planted Artemis Moon Tree. Credit: NASA On March 18, 2026, students, staff, and members of NASA’s Langley Research Center gathered at Mary W. Jackson Elementary School in Hampton to celebrate the dedication of a remarkable addition to the campus – an Artemis Moon Tree. Although formally dedicated on this day, the loblolly pine had already taken root months earlier, having been planted on November 21st, 2025, by students and staff. NASA eClips educators from the National Institute of Aerospace’s Center for Integrative STEM Education (NIA-CISE) applied for and received the Artemis Moon Tree through NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement. NASA eClips, part of NASA’s Science Activation Program, strives to deepen science literacy by engaging learners and educators in experiences and standards-aligned resources grounded in NASA science. The tree’s journey is as extraordinary as its setting. The seed orbited the Moon in 2022 as part of the Artemis I before returning to Earth, where it was nurtured into a sapling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. In late spring 2025, it arrived in Hampton and was cared for by NASA eClips educators at NIA-CISE until it could be planted by third- through fifth-grade students at Mary W. Jackson Elementary School. The planting site was chosen to honor the legacy of Mary W. Jackson, NASA’s first ****** female engineer. In addition to recognizing current and former members of NASA Langley Research Center in attendance, the ceremony highlighted the collaboration that brought the project to life. A short video showcased the teamwork behind the tree’s planting, reflecting the coordination essential to NASA missions. Students worked in groups – Earth Excavators, Compost Crew, Mulch Movers, and Water Brigade – to carefully plant the tree. Fifth-grader Caiden captured the experience best: “My job was putting soil around the tree, and at first, it seemed like a small task, but I realized it was actually one of the most important parts. The soil is what helps the tree stand strong and grow over time. It made me think about how, in life, the little things we do – like helping others, staying consistent, and doing our part – can make a big difference. Just like this tree came from a seed that traveled around the moon, we all have the potential to go far and do amazing things, but we need a strong foundation to grow…I’m proud that I helped give this tree its start, and I’ll always remember that even small actions can lead to something big.” The ceremony concluded at the planting site with an official ribbon cutting, marking the beginning of the tree’s life as a centerpiece of the school community. Mary W. Jackson Elementary School’s Artemis Moon Tree also serves as a “bookend” to an Apollo Moon Tree, a sycamore tree that was planted on April 30, 1976, at Albert W. Patrick Elementary School (formerly Booker Elementary School). Together, these trees represent generations of exploration, linking past and present NASA missions in a living timeline of discovery. Their presence in Hampton is especially meaningful, as the city was home to NASA’s earliest research efforts and to the astronauts of Project Mercury, as well as pioneering mathematicians and engineers including Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden – trailblazers who, like Mary W. Jackson, helped shape the nation’s journey into space. The Artemis Moon Tree stands as a living symbol of exploration, curiosity, and scientific discovery – hallmarks of NASA. Entrusted to the care of the students and staff at Mary W. Jackson Elementary, who represent the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and explorers, it will continue to serve as a source of learning and inspiration for years to come. Share Details Last Updated Mar 25, 2026 Editor NASA Science Editorial Team Location NASA Langley Research Center Related Terms Science Activation Artemis 1 Earth’s Moon Explore More 6 min read Science Through Shadows: How Astronomical Alignments Reveal the Universe When one celestial object passes in front of another, it can cast a shadow that… Article 2 days ago 5 min read Astronomy Activation Ambassadors: Embracing Multiple Perspectives The Astronomy Activation Ambassadors (AAA) project, part of the NASA Science Activation program, aims to… Article 1 month ago 4 min read March 2026 Total Lunar Eclipse: Your Questions Answered A total lunar eclipse will redden the Moon in the early morning hours of March… Article 2 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA James Webb Space Telescope Webb is the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It studies every phase in the… Perseverance Rover This rover and its aerial sidekick were assigned to study the geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient microbial… Parker Solar Probe On a mission to “touch the Sun,” NASA’s Parker Solar Probe became the first spacecraft to fly through the corona… Juno NASA’s Juno spacecraft entered orbit around Jupiter in 2016, the first explorer to peer below the planet’s dense clouds to… View the full article

NASA has selected Jennifer Lyons as acting program manager for the agency’s Launch Services Program (LSP) based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Pictured here is Lyons participating in rehearsal launch operations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) mission inside SpaceX’s Hangar X at NASA’s Kennedy in June 2024.SpaceX NASA has selected Jennifer Lyons as acting program manager for the agency’s Launch Services Program (LSP) based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, Lyons will lead NASA’s acquisition and management of domestic commercial launch services for science and robotic exploration missions beginning Wednesday, April 1. Lyons will oversee mission planning, launch vehicle selection, spacecraft integration, launch processing, launch campaigns, and postlaunch activities. The program matches spacecraft with the most suitable commercial rockets and ensures mission requirements are met from early planning through launch and mission completion. It supports NASA missions that observe Earth, explore the solar system, and expand understanding of the universe. “Jenny brings the kind of flight-readiness discipline and mission-assurance expertise that have defined the program’s 25‑year record of more than 100 successful flights across 15 commercial rocket types,” said Bradley Smith, director of NASA’s Launch Services Office at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “In addition to being the transportation cornerstone of NASA’s science and robotic exploration missions, commercial launch is also critically important to NASA’s Artemis architecture. Jenny’s experience in having worked across many NASA projects — from space shuttle to the International Space Station, to Commercial Crew, and partnering with commercial providers — will enable LSP to continue bringing its core launch vehicle capabilities to bear, ensuring successful outcomes.” Lyons brings nearly four decades of technical, operational, and program leadership experience to the role. She served as the launch services deputy program manager since March 2024 and previously was deputy manager for the Gateway Program’s Deep Space Logistics project. She has worked with launch services for nearly 20 years and led the Fleet and Systems Management Division for more than a decade, overseeing NASA insight and approval activities related to launch vehicle readiness, certification, and mission assurance across a diverse fleet of commercial rockets. “I am honored to take on this important role supporting NASA’s science and exploration missions,” said Lyons. “I am confident our team will remain focused on delivering safe, reliable launch services while strengthening a healthy commercial market that enables discoveries across the solar system and beyond.” Lyons has received numerous individual achievement, group, and leadership awards. She holds degrees in aerospace and ocean engineering, space technology, and engineering management. Her career includes a wide range of experiences, including serving as the first woman to act as NASA convoy commander for a space shuttle landing to chairing the source evaluation board for NASA Launch Services II, under which NASA has awarded multiple contracts that support many of the agency’s high-priority missions. Albert Sierra, program manager for NASA’s Launch Services Program who led LSP since March 2024 is retiring after 36 years of service with NASA. Pictured here is Sierra participating in rehearsal launch operations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) mission inside SpaceX’s Hangar X at NASA’s Kennedy in June 2024.SpaceX She succeeds Albert Sierra, who led the program since March 2024 and is retiring after 36 years of service with NASA. Sierra guided the program through five primary missions and numerous venture‑class launches that provided a steady cadence of flights for the agency. These missions ranged from major weather and Earth‑observing satellites to deep‑space probes, astrophysics and solar‑monitoring observatories, and many CubeSats. “Leading LSP has been one of the greatest privileges of my career, especially knowing the missions we’ve launched will fuel discovery for years to come,” said Sierra. “While it’s never easy to step away, I’m confident the program will continue its strong record of mission success under Jenny’s leadership.” View the full article

Captured Nov. 29, 2024 by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, this infrared view of Saturn shows its glowing icy rings and layered atmosphere. Several moons are visible, including Janus, Dione, and Enceladus.NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) Saturn’s icy rings glow in this infrared view from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released on March 25, 2026. Combining this image with another that NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured – also released on the same day – provides scientists with a richer, more layered understanding of the gas giant’s atmosphere. In Webb’s infrared image, the rings are extremely bright because they are made of highly reflective water ice. In addition, Saturn’s poles appear distinctly grey-green, indicating light emitting at wavelengths around 4.3 microns. This feature could come from a layer of high-altitude aerosols in Saturn’s atmosphere that scatters light differently at those latitudes. Another possible explanation is auroral activity, as charged molecules interacting with the planet’s magnetic field can produce glowing emissions near the poles. Read more about this image and what it, along with Hubble’s, can tell us about Saturn. Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) View the full article

5 min read NASA-JAXA’s XRISM Telescope Clocks Hot Wind of Galaxy M82 The cool wind of galaxy M82 drives gas and dust up to 40,000 light-years from its core, as shown here using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. The inset shows a Chandra view of the galaxy’s central region, where a cauldron of stellar activity kick-starts the larger-scale outflow. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/JHU/D.Strickland; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI/AURA/The Hubble Heritage Team; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of AZ/C. Engelbracht; XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026 For the first time, astronomers have directly measured the speed of superheated gas billowing from a cauldron of stellar activity at the heart of M82, a nearby galaxy undergoing an extraordinary burst of star formation. The material is moving more than 2 million miles (over 3 million kilometers) per hour and appears to be the primary force driving a cooler, well-studied, galaxy-scale wind. Researchers made the calculations using data from the Resolve instrument aboard the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft. “The classic model of starburst galaxies like M82 suggests that shock waves from star formation and supernovae near the center heat gas, kick-starting a powerful wind,” said Erin Boettcher, an astrophysicist at the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “Prior to XRISM, though, we didn’t have the ability to measure the velocities needed to test that hypothesis. Now we see the gas moving even faster than some models predict, more than enough to drive the wind all the way to the edge of the galaxy.” A paper about the result, led by Boettcher, published Wednesday, March 25, in Nature. The XRISM mission is led by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) in collaboration with NASA, along with contributions from ESA (European Space Agency). NASA and JAXA also codeveloped the Resolve instrument. This image of M82, captured by the Near-Infrared Camera aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, shows the center of the galaxy in such detail that astronomers can distinguish small bright sources that are either individual stars or star clusters. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Alberto Bolatto (UMD) Download high-resolution images from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio Sometimes called the Cigar galaxy, M82 is located 12 million light-years away in the northern constellation Ursa Major. Astronomers classify it as a starburst galaxy because it’s forming stars at a much higher rate than typical for its size — about 10 times faster than the Milky Way. M82 is well known for its extended, cool wind, which stretches out to 40,000 light-years and propels huge quantities of gas and dust. Scientists have studied it with many missions, including NASA’s Chandra, Webb, Hubble, and retired Spitzer space telescopes, trying to connect the dots between the stellar activity and the large-scale outflow. Researchers particularly want to understand the role of cosmic rays. These high-speed charged particles are found throughout the cosmos and are accelerated by some of the same events scientists think produce winds like in M82. There’s a possibility they are a main source of outward pressure on the gas. The XRISM Resolve instrument’s high resolution and sensitivity allowed Boettcher and her colleagues to accurately measure the speed of the hot wind by looking at an X-ray signal from superheated iron in the galactic center. The amount of X-ray light from iron and other elements told them the temperature — right within predictions at 45 million degrees Fahrenheit (25 million degrees Celsius). The heat exerts pressure on the gas and pushes it outward. This rushing from high pressure to low pressure forms the wind — the same reason winds blow through Earth’s atmosphere. The Resolve instrument aboard the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft captured data revealing the velocity of the hot wind at the center of starburst galaxy M82. The energy range of iron emission lines show that the gas moves around 2 million miles (about 3 million kilometers) per hour. Inset: XRISM Xtend instrument’s image of M82. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026 The broadness of iron spectral lines conveyed the hot wind’s speed. This works through Doppler shifting, the same phenomenon that causes the pitch of a sound, like a siren, to rise or fall due to the source’s motion toward or away from you. In the case of M82, the hot material near the center flies quickly in both directions, stretching out the iron’s spectral line. The amount of stretching reveals the iron’s velocity. The researchers found that the wind is a little faster than expected. Combined with the high temperature, it’s powerful enough to produce the cool wind without cosmic rays, although they may still be contributing. The researchers calculate that the center of M82 expels enough gas every year to form seven stars with the mass of our Sun. This presents another puzzle. “If the wind blows steadily at the speed we’ve measured, then we think it can power the larger, cooler wind by driving out four solar masses of gas a year. But XRISM tells us much more gas is moving outward,” said co-author Edmund Hodges-Kluck, an astronomer and XRISM team member at NASA Goddard. “Where do the three extra solar masses go? Do they escape out of the galaxy as hot gas some other way? We don’t know.” To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This animation shows the difference between iron-25’s spectral line in a laboratory setting compared to XRISM’s observations from the center of M82. The M82 line is broader than the lab version due to Doppler shifting, which is the same phenomenon that causes the pitch of a sound to rise or fall due to the source’s motion toward or away from you. In the case of M82, the hot material near the center flies quickly in both directions, stretching out the iron spectral line. The amount of stretch tells scientists the iron’s velocity. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026 The XRISM satellite’s observations of M82 will help improve models of starburst galaxies, which may help scientists answer these types of questions in the future. NASA’s contributions to international projects like XRISM are part of the agency’s efforts to innovate with ambitious science missions that will help us better understand how our cosmos works. “Some of our early models of starburst galaxies were developed in the 1980s, and we’re finally able to test them in ways that weren’t possible before XRISM,” said co-author Skylar Grayson, a graduate student at Arizona State University in Tempe. “It provides opportunities to figure out why the model might not be capturing everything that’s going on in the real universe.” By Jeanette Kazmierczak NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Media Contact: Claire Andreoli 301-286-1940 NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Facebook logo @NASAUniverse @NASAUniverse Instagram logo @NASAUniverse Share Details Last Updated Mar 25, 2026 Editor Jeanette Kazmierczak Location NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Related Terms XRISM (X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) Astrophysics Chandra X-Ray Observatory Cosmic Rays Galaxies Goddard Space Flight Center Hubble Space Telescope James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Spitzer Space Telescope Supernovae The Universe X-ray Astronomy View the full article

Share Details Last Updated Mar 25, 2026 Editor Andrea Gianopoulos Location NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Contact Media Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland *****@*****.tld Ann Jenkins, Christine Pulliam Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland Related Terms Hubble Space Telescope Astrophysics Division Goddard Space Flight Center

This image captured by the L-band SAR instrument on the U.S.-Indian NISAR mission on Nov. 10, 2025, shows Seattle in the center of the image with Bainbridge Island at left. The satellite can peer through clouds to view Earth’s surface below.NASA/JPL-Caltech Seattle and Portland, Oregon, are among the cloudiest cities in the United States. But that infamous cloud cover is no match for the U.S.-Indian Earth satellite NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), which is designed to peer straight through clouds. Doing so allows scientists to study the Pacific Northwest’s natural landmarks and bustling port cities like never before. Comparing the highly detailed imagery from the NISAR mission over time can reveal subtle changes in forests, wetlands, urban areas, and infrastructure. Radar images from the satellite — a joint effort between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) — can also detect subtle motions associated with volcanic activity, glacier movement, slips along faults, and slow-moving landslides. Captured through clouds by NISAR on Nov. 10, 2025, this image shows Portland, Oregon, and the Columbia River to its north.NASA/JPL-Caltech “The Pacific Northwest is home to millions of people and supports major industries from tech and aerospace to agriculture and forestry,” said remote sensing technologist Brandi Downs of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, who helped process the NISAR imagery. “This recent imagery highlights how NISAR data can support resource management, natural-hazard monitoring, and environmental decision-making.” Built by JPL, NISAR’s L-band radar uses microwaves that can pass uninterrupted through clouds and, thanks to its 39-foot (12-meter) antenna reflector, provides a high level of detail for anyone who wants to understand how a region’s surface and natural resources are changing. These radar signals, sent toward the Earth’s surface, are reflected off the ground and back to the spacecraft, a phenomenon called backscatter. By measuring changes in the reflected signal, scientists can identify properties on the surface like moisture, vegetation, and variations in terrain. Closer look Radar images don’t capture true color the same way photographs do. Instead, the colors seen here represent different combinations and intensities of radar signals or their orientation. The latter is called polarization. Captured Nov. 10, 2025, the Pacific Northwest imagery shows the waterways around Portland and Seattle, with the roadways and cityscapes built alongside them. Some of these areas are dotted in magenta due to radar signals strongly reflecting off flat surfaces like roads and buildings. The small areas of yellow may be produced by a range of factors, including land cover, soil moisture, and surface geometry. With radar images like these, scientists can look for changes in backscatter over time to tell where trees and plants have been removed, regrown, or destroyed, and to estimate how much carbon is stored in forests. Monitoring the boundaries of water and wetlands provides insight into flood risks or shifts in river channels. Yellow-green in the imagery indicates the forests and wetlands covering the region. Those are interrupted by the dark blue peaks of Mount Rainier and Mount Saint Helens, two of the best-known natural landmarks in the Pacific Northwest. Dark blue is representative of relatively smooth surfaces, including both water and exposed mountaintops. Near the foot of each mountain are patches of purple squares cut into the lighter-green vegetation. Their precise right angles indicate that they’re human-made, and most likely the effect of forests being thinned or vegetation growing back after having been thinned in the past. “A single radar image is a snapshot of the surface conditions,” Downs said. “But scientists typically rely on a time series of images to understand what’s happening. One of NISAR’s strengths is it observes the same areas twice every 12 days, producing a sequence of radar measurements that tells a full story.” More about NISAR A joint mission developed by NASA and ISRO, NISAR was 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, with a wavelength of 9 inches (24 centimeters), and antenna reflector. The spacecraft bus, the S-band SAR, which operates at a wavelength of 4 inches (10 centimeters), as well as the launch vehicle and launch services were provided by ISRO. The NISAR satellite is the first to carry two SAR instruments at different wavelengths and monitors Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, collecting data using the spacecraft’s giant drum-shaped reflector, the largest radar antenna reflector NASA has ever sent into space. To learn more about NISAR, visit: [Hidden Content] Media Contacts Andrew Good / Andrew Wang Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-393-2433 / 626-379-6874 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld 2026-019 Explore More 3 min read Kona Storms Flood Oʻahu Back-to-back subtropical cyclones in March fueled destructive flash flooding on several of the Hawaiian Islands. Article 12 hours ago 2 min read NASA Research Proposes Technology to Seek Earth-Like Exoplanets Article 1 day ago 3 min read Tropical Cyclone Narelle Crosses Australia The powerful storm lashed the northern edge of the continent with damaging winds and drenching… Article 2 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA NISAR NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) systematically maps Earth, measuring changes of our planet’s surface as small as a centimeter. Climate Change NASA is a global leader in studying Earth’s changing climate. NISAR and Water A large percentage of the world’s population resides near the coasts and derives its livelihood from the coastal environment, and… NISAR News & Updates View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Kona Storms Flood Oʻahu Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Notes from the Field Blog Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search January 25, 2026 March 14, 2026 Coastal towns and green farmland are unaffected by floodwater, and the ocean is mostly blue. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin The same area, with brown floodwater pooling across farmland between Mokuleia and Waialua, with a red-brown plume spreading into the coastal ocean. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin January 25, 2026March 14, 2026 Coastal towns and green farmland are unaffected by floodwater, and the ocean is mostly blue. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin The same area, with brown floodwater pooling across farmland between Mokuleia and Waialua, with a red-brown plume spreading into the coastal ocean. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin January 25, 2026 March 14, 2026 January 25, 2026 – March 14, 2026 CurtainToggle2-Up Image Details Floodwaters pool in neighborhoods and on farmland, while a plume of sediment spreads into the coastal ocean (right) on March 14, 2026, after the first of two kona lows dropped copious rain on O’ahu, Hawaii. The same location is pictured free of floodwater (left) on January 25, 2026. Both images were acquired with the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 9. Back-to-back low-pressure systems struck Hawaii in March 2026, delivering some of the worst flooding the state has seen in decades. The subtropical weather systems—called kona lows near Hawaii—siphoned moisture from the tropics, fueling slow-moving thunderstorms with torrential, destructive rains. The National Weather Service reported rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches (13 to 26 centimeters) throughout the state between March 11 and 15, with some areas seeing more than 30 inches. Weather stations in Honolulu, Hilo, Līhuʻe, and Kahului all broke daily rainfall records. The satellite image on the right shows swamped neighborhoods and farmland between Mokuleia and Waialua on the island of O’ahu on March 14, 2026, after the first and more destructive storm system hit the island. Plumes of suspended sediment have discolored waters in and around Kaiaka Bay. Hawaii’s volcanic Hilo soils are known for being red due to the high levels of iron and aluminum oxide that accumulate as they weather. For comparison, the image on the left shows the same area on January 25, 2026, before the deluge. Preliminary assessments indicate that hundreds of homes in O’ahu sustained damage. Farmers on the island and across the state reported millions of dollars in damage, according to news reports. The storm produced widespread wind gusts between 60 and 75 miles (97 and 121 kilometers) per hour, with gusts in some places reaching 100 miles per hour. As many as 115,000 O’ahu residents faced power outages in the storm’s aftermath. While the most intense rains had subsided by March 24, forecasters are continuing to monitor unsettled weather and the possibility of more flash floods in the coming days. NASA’s Disasters Response Coordination System has been activated to support the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency’s response to the storms. The team will be posting maps and data products on its open-access mapping portal as new information becomes available. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland. Downloads January 25, 2026 JPEG (3.99 MB) March 14, 2026 JPEG (3.18 MB) References & Resources Associated Press (2026, March 24) Here’s what to know as the scope of damage from Hawaii’s floods becomes clearer. Accessed March 24, 2026. City and County of Honolulu (2026) Kona Low Storm Recovery. Accessed March 24, 2026. County of Maui (2026) March Kona Storm Informational Page. Accessed March 24, 2026. FEMA, via Esri (2026) Flooding: Hawaii. Accessed March 24, 2026. Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (2026, March 16) March 2026 Kona Low. Accessed March 24, 2026. Honolulu Civil Beat (2026, March 23) Mud, Mud And More Mud: Residents Of Oʻahu’s North Shore Start To Dig Out. Accessed March 24, 2026. NASA (2026) Disasters Mapping Portal. Accessed March 24, 2026. NASA Earthdata (2025) Floods Learning Resources. Accessed March 24, 2026. National Weather Service (2026, March 16) Rainfall and wind summaries from March 10-16. Accessed March 24, 2026. National Weather Service (2026, March 16) State Forecast. Accessed March 24, 2026. USA Today (2026, March 24) Wild scenes from Hawaii’s worst flooding in 20 years. Accessed March 24, 2026. You may also be interested in: Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet. A Winter Blanket Covers North Carolina 3 min read In late January 2026, a strong, moisture-laden storm dropped snow across nearly the entire state, spanning from the Appalachians to… Article Wave of Dust Rolls Through Texas 3 min read An advancing cold front kicked up a sharp line of sand and other small particles that swept over the high… Article Snow Buries the U.S. Interior and East 2 min read Satellites observed a frozen landscape across much of the country after a massive winter storm. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data Open access to NASA’s archive of Earth science data View the full article

2 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Kurt Blankenship, a NASA pilot from NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, walks out of a NASA Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, tail number 606. This aircraft arrived at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Feb. 11, 2026. The PC-12 is now housed at NASA Armstrong to continue supporting research at NASA’s Glenn, among other agency efforts. NASA/Christopher LC Clark A Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, tail number 606, is being towed and pushed by a crew at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Feb. 11, 2026. This aircraft is now housed at NASA Armstrong to continue supporting research at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, among other agency efforts.NASA/Christopher LC Clark A NASA Pilatus PC-12 aircraft will now be based at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, in order to support flight research efforts across the agency. The PC-12 was acquired in 2022 by NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland for use in advanced technology development. The PC-12 will continue to support research at NASA Glenn while also helping expand flight research capability by supporting other agency efforts. “NASA Armstrong is proficient in supporting a deployed aircraft concept, where our aircraft goes to another part of the country or world to complete a specific mission,” said Darren Cole, capabilities manager for the Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project at NASA Armstrong. “That’s exactly what we are going to do with the PC-12, to continue a wide range of flight research.” Troy Asher, director for flight operations at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, shakes hands with Jeremy Johnson, a pilot with NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. The two stand in front of a NASA Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, tail number 606, which arrived at the center Feb. 11, 2026. This aircraft is now housed at NASA Armstrong to continue supporting research at NASA Glenn, among other agency efforts.NASA/Christopher LC Clark Over four years of service at Glenn, the PC-12 has proven a valuable research asset, with contributions such as supporting a communications relay experiment with the International Space Station. Using a portable laser terminal, the PC-12 sent a 4K video stream relayed through a ground network and a satellite to the space station, which was able to send information back. The system helped effectively penetrate cloud coverage. The aircraft also was used to study surveillance systems that could help handle the air traffic demands of future air taxis flying in cities. From its new home at NASA Armstrong, the plane will support a variety of agency, industry, and academic research, including continued technology development research led by Glenn and conducted in conjunction with Glenn’s Aerospace Communications Facility. A NASA T-34 aircraft, tail number 602, arrived at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Feb. 14, 2026. This aircraft was flown from NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, to NASA Armstrong, to be evaluated for use as a flight research and pilot training platform for the center.NASA/Carla Thomas A NASA T-34 aircraft from Glenn also arrived at Armstrong in February to be evaluated for use. The T-34 can allow NASA pilots to either conduct flight research or train to fly the PC-12 when that larger aircraft is undergoing maintenance or modifications. “The T-34’s design allows for future pod-mounted flight research efforts,” Cole said. “This could include ideas in development by researchers within NASA or through external partnerships — to get something quickly into the air for flight testing at a low cost.” The T-34 from Glenn joins another already housed at NASA Armstrong, part of a fleet that has recently grown with new assets, including two F-15s. These help Armstrong remain the agency’s home base for breakthrough flight research and test projects. The aircraft are supported through NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. Share Details Last Updated Mar 24, 2026 EditorDede DiniusContactTeresa Whiting*****@*****.tld Related TermsAeronauticsArmstrong Flight Research CenterGlenn Research CenterNASA Aircraft Explore More 4 min read NASA Selects Finalists in Student Aircraft Maintenance Competition Article 2 hours ago 2 min read NASA’s X-59 Experimental Supersonic Aircraft Makes Second Flight Article 4 days ago 2 min read NASA Simulations Improve Artemis II Launch Environment Article 4 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Glenn Research Center NASA Aircraft Aircraft Flown at Armstrong View the full article

NASA/Bill Ingalls Three Moon rocks are on display during a March 24, 2026, event where NASA announced a series of transformative agencywide initiatives designed to achieve the National Space Policy and advance American leadership in space. NASA leadership provided updates on mission priorities, including sending the first astronauts to the lunar surface in more than 50 years, establishing the initial elements of a permanent lunar base, getting America underway in space on nuclear propulsion, and other objectives. Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls View the full article

3 Min Read 3 Ways Students Can Get Involved With Artemis NASA’s Artemis program will establish a sustainable lunar presence, unlock new scientific discoveries, and develop technologies for spaceflight to Mars and beyond – and students can help shape this new era of space exploration. As America launches this new Golden Age of innovation and exploration, NASA and its partners offer exciting opportunities for students to get involved in the mission and strengthen the future workforce through internships, competitions, and more. Michael Svara is an intern in the Exploration Propulsion Systems Group in the Flight Operations Division at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Turn Skills Into Impact With NASA Internships NASA Internships enable U.S. college students to contribute to Artemis through their work on projects supporting lunar exploration, spacecraft systems, and the cutting-edge technology development that makes deep space missions possible. As NASA interns, students gain hands-on experience that builds technical skills, connections, and career readiness. Interns collaborate with agency professionals and receive guidance from supportive mentors, all while tackling authentic challenges posed by advanced spaceflight. NASA internships go beyond learning experiences to provide a launch pad into the workforce. Want to learn more? Explore the NASA Internships website, follow NASA Internships on Instagram, and check out our 5 Tips to Craft a Standout Internship Application. Inside the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, a professional diver tests a student-designed tool created for the Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams (Micro-g NExT) challenge. Innovate Solutions Through NASA Student Design Challenges NASA’s student design challenges offer hands-on STEM experience and an introduction to the skills needed for aerospace careers. These challenges build technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and confidence, preparing participants for roles in the nation’s STEM workforce while giving them a chance to make an impact on the agency’s most ambitious goals. Here are the NASA student challenges focusing on Artemis and related technologies: Human Exploration Rover Challenge: Teams of high school and college students from around the world build and then race pedal-powered rovers over a lunar-like obstacle course at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams (Micro-g NExT): U.S. undergraduate teams are tasked with designing, building, and testing space exploration tools in simulated microgravity at Johnson Space Center’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. NASA Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students (NASA SUITS): This challenge engages college students nationwide in the design of next-generation spacesuit user interfaces – technologies supporting future human exploration on the Moon or Mars. NASA’s Student Launch: U.S. student teams are challenged to design, build, and launch a high-powered rocket with a scientific payload, culminating in an annual final launch at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Dive into the Artemis program inside the Minecraft universe through a partnership between Minecraft Education and NASA. Engage With Artemis Through the World of Minecraft Student teams can dive into the Artemis program inside the Minecraft universe. Since 2023, players have been building rockets, launching missions to the Moon, and creating bases on the lunar surface through a partnership between Minecraft Education and NASA. This April, the collaboration’s Artemis adventures will expand to include the new Minecraft Education Build Challenge, Mission Control: Artemis. Students will step into NASA’s Mission Control, use block-based code to guide a spacewalk on the lunar surface, and dream up the ultimate control center for the next generation of space explorers. Students put their designs to the test during the NASA Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students (NASA SUITS) challenge. Be Part of the Next Giant Leap NASA and the nation are embarking on a new era in human spaceflight, and students are invited to get involved, increase their knowledge, and learn how they can transform a passion for STEM into a rewarding role in the aerospace workforce. Ready to be part of NASA’s next giant leap? Check out NASA’s Learning Resources website to learn more about current student opportunities and career resources from NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement. Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Join the Artemis Mission to the Moon For Students Grades 9-12 For Colleges and Universities Artemis II View the full article

NASA’s IXPE observed the outer rim of the supernova remnant highlighted in purple in the inset. Data from IXPE is combined with data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM-Newton. 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 (NOILab).NASA/ X-ray: Chandra: NASA/CXC/SAO, XMM: ESA/XMM-NEWTON, IXPE: NASA/MSFC; Optical: NSF/NOIRLab; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. NASA’s IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) mission has taken a new observation of a supernova, RCW 86, helping fill in a fuller picture of what other telescopes have observed. When astronomers using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory previously targeted RCW 86, they discovered that a large “cavity” region around the system led the supernova to expand more rapidly than expected. The low-density cavity region could have led to RCW 86’s unique shape as well. Now, IXPE has observed the outer rim of this supernova, where its expansion is suspected to have halted at the edge of the “cavity,” creating the reflected shock effect highlighted in purple. 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). More about IXPE The IXPE mission, which continues to provide unprecedented data enabling groundbreaking discoveries about celestial objects across the universe, is a joint NASA and Italian Space Agency mission with partners and science collaborators in 12 countries. It is led by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. BAE Systems, Inc., headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, manages spacecraft operations together with the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder. Learn more about IXPE’s ongoing mission here: science.nasa.gov/mission/ixpe Share Details Last Updated Mar 24, 2026 EditorLee MohonContactJoel Wallace*****@*****.tld Related TermsChandra X-Ray ObservatoryIXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer)Marshall Space Flight CenterSupernova RemnantsSupernovaeThe UniverseXMM-Newton (X-ray Multi-Mirror Newton) Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is a space observatory built to discover the secrets of some of the most… Chandra X-ray Observatory Launched on July 23, 1999, it is the largest and most sophisticated X-ray observatory to date. NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory… XMM-Newton James Webb Space Telescope Webb is the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It studies every phase in the… View the full article

Concepto artístico de la fase 3 de la base lunar de la NASA.Credit: NASA Read this news release in English here. Como parte de su evento “Ignition” (Encendido) celebrado el martes, la NASA anunció una serie de iniciativas transformadoras a nivel de toda la agencia, diseñadas para cumplir **** la Política Espacial Nacional del presidente Donald J. Trump y promover el liderazgo estadounidense en el espacio. Estas acciones reflejan la urgencia del momento, pero también la tremenda oportunidad que se ofrece para la ciencia y los descubrimientos capaces de transformar el mundo. “La NASA tiene el compromiso de lograr, una vez más, lo casi imposible: regresar a la Luna antes de que finalice el mandato del presidente Trump, construir una base lunar, establecer una presencia permanente y llevar a ***** las demás acciones necesarias para garantizar el liderazgo estadounidense en el espacio. Por ello, resulta esencial que salgamos de un evento como Ignition **** una total alineación en torno al imperativo nacional que constituye nuestra misión colectiva. El reloj avanza en esta competencia entre grandes potencias, y el éxito o el fracaso se medirán en meses, no en años”, dijo el administrador de la NASA, Jared Isaacman. “Si concentramos los extraordinarios recursos de la NASA en los objetivos de la Política Espacial Nacional, eliminamos los obstáculos innecesarios que frenan el progreso y liberamos el potencial de nuestra fuerza laboral y el poderío industrial de nuestra nación y de nuestros socios, entonces el regreso a la Luna y la construcción de una base parecerán insignificantes en comparación **** lo que seremos capaces de lograr en los próximos años.” El Administrador Asociado de la NASA, Amit Kshatriya, dijo: “Hoy estamos alineando a la NASA en torno a esta misión. En la Luna, estamos adoptando una arquitectura enfocada y por fases que desarrolla capacidades un alunizaje tras otro, de manera incremental y en consonancia **** nuestros socios industriales e internacionales. En la órbita terrestre baja [LEO, por sus siglas en inglés], estamos identificando en qué áreas se encuentra el mercado y dónde no, reconociendo el inmenso valor de la Estación Espacial Internacional y desarrollando una transición que fomente un ecosistema comercial competitivo, en lugar de imponer un resultado único que el mercado no pueda sostener. En nuestras misiones científicas, estamos creando oportunidades en la superficie lunar para investigadores y estudiantes de todo el país y, **** el Reactor Espacial 1 Freedom (SR-1 Freedom, por sus siglas en inglés), estamos finalmente situando la propulsión nuclear en una trayectoria que la lleva fuera del laboratorio y hacia el espacio profundo. Y todo esto es posible invirtiendo en nuestra gente, reincorporando habilidades críticas a la agencia, poniendo a nuestros equipos allí donde se construyen las máquinas y creando vías reales para la siguiente generación de líderes de la NASA. Nuestra fuerza laboral es la joya de la NASA y, por parte de sus líderes, necesita objetivos claros para sus misiones, las herramientas para ejecutarlas y que se les deje trabajar sin interferencias. De esto trata Ignition.” El regreso a la Luna Estos anuncios se basan en las recientes actualizaciones del programa Artemis, las cuales incluyen la estandarización de la configuración del cohete Sistema de Lanzamiento Espacial, la incorporación de una misión adicional en 2027 y la realización de al menos un alunizaje en la superficie cada año a partir de entonces. En el marco de esta arquitectura previamente actualizada, la misión Artemis III —programada para 2027— se centrará en poner a prueba los sistemas integrados y las capacidades operativas en la órbita terrestre, como paso previo al alunizaje de Artemis IV. Más allá de Artemis V, la NASA anunció el 24 de marzo que comenzará a incorporar más hardware adquirido comercialmente y reutilizable para llevar a ***** misiones tripuladas a la superficie lunar frecuentes y a un costo asequible, **** el objetivo inicial de efectuar alunizajes cada seis meses, y el potencial de aumentar esta frecuencia a medida que maduren las capacidades. Para lograr una presencia humana duradera en la Luna, la NASA también anunció un enfoque por fases para la construcción de una base lunar. Como parte de esta estrategia, la agencia tiene la intención de poner en pausa el proyecto Gateway en su forma actual y reorientar su enfoque hacia una infraestructura que permita mantener operaciones continuas en la superficie. A pesar de los desafíos que presentan algunos componentes del hardware existente, la agencia reutilizará el equipamiento utilizable y aprovechará los compromisos de sus socios internacionales para apoyar estos objetivos. En los próximos días, la NASA publicará Solicitudes de Información y borradores de Solicitudes de Propuestas (RFI y RFP, respectivamente, por sus siglas en inglés) para garantizar el avance continuo en el cumplimiento de los objetivos nacionales. Construcción de la base lunar El plan de la NASA para establecer una presencia lunar sostenida se desarrollará en tres fases preconcebidas. Fase uno: Construir, ensayar, aprender La NASA pasará de la ejecución de misiones **** diferentes objetivos puntuales y poco frecuentes hacia un enfoque modular y repetible. Mediante los transportes del programa de Servicios Comerciales de Carga Útil Lunar (CLPS, por sus siglas en inglés) y el programa de vehículos para terreno lunar, la agencia aumentará el ritmo de la actividad lunar, enviando rovers, instrumentos y demostraciones tecnológicas que impulsen la movilidad, la generación de energía (incluyendo unidades de calefacción por radioisótopos y generadores termoeléctricos de radioisótopos), las comunicaciones, la navegación, las operaciones en la superficie y una amplia gama de investigaciones científicas. Fase dos: Establecimiento de la infraestructura inicial **** base en las lecciones aprendidas de las misiones anteriores, la NASA avanza hacia la obtención de una infraestructura semi-habitable y una logística permanente. Esta fase respalda las operaciones recurrentes de los astronautas en la superficie e incorpora importantes contribuciones internacionales, entre las que se encuentra el vehículo explorador presurizado de la JAXA (Agencia de Exploración Aeroespacial de Japón) y, potencialmente, otras cargas útiles científicas, rovers y capacidades de infraestructura y transporte de los socios colaboradores. Fase tres: Habilitar una presencia humana de larga duración A medida que entren en funcionamiento los sistemas de aterrizaje humano **** capacidad de carga, la NASA enviará la infraestructura más pesada necesaria para establecer una presencia humana continua en la Luna, marcando de esta manera la transición de expediciones periódicas a una base lunar permanente. Esto incluirá los Hábitats Multiuso de la ASI (Agencia Espacial Italiana), el Vehículo Utilitario Lunar de la CSA (Agencia Espacial Canadiense) y oportunidades para hacer contribuciones adicionales en los ámbitos de habitabilidad, movilidad en la superficie y logística. Garantizar la presencia estadounidense en la órbita terrestre baja A la vez que desarrolla una arquitectura lunar sostenible, la NASA también reafirma su compromiso **** la órbita terrestre baja. Durante más de dos décadas, la Estación Espacial Internacional ha servido como un laboratorio orbital de clase mundial, haciendo posibles más de 4.000 investigaciones científicas, brindando apoyo a más de 5.000 investigadores y recibiendo a visitantes de 26 países. El diseño, desarrollo y construcción de la estación espacial requirieron 37 vuelos de transbordadores espaciales, 160 caminatas espaciales, dos décadas de trabajo y más de 100.000 millones de dólares. Este laboratorio orbital no puede operar indefinidamente. La transición hacia estaciones comerciales debe ser reflexiva, deliberada y estructurada para apoyar el éxito a largo plazo de esta industria. La NASA busca presentar y solicitar la opinión de la industria sobre una estrategia adicional para la órbita terrestre baja que mantiene todas las vías actuales, al tiempo que incorpora un enfoque por fases, anclado a la Estación Espacial Internacional, **** el fin de evitar allí cualquier interrupción en la presencia humana estadounidense y consolidar un ecosistema comercial robusto. En el marco de este enfoque alternativo, la NASA adquiriría un Módulo Central de propiedad gubernamental que se acoplaría a la estación espacial, seguido de módulos comerciales que serían validados utilizando las capacidades de la Estación Espacial Internacional para, posteriormente, desacoplarse y operar en vuelo libre. Una vez consolidadas las capacidades técnicas y operativas, y que se materialice la demanda del mercado, las estaciones se desacoplarían y la NASA pasaría a ser uno de los muchos clientes que adquieren servicios comerciales. Para estimular la economía orbital, la NASA ampliaría las oportunidades para la industria, incluyendo misiones de astronautas privados, la venta de asientos de comandante, misiones conjuntas, concursos para el desarrollo de diferentes módulos y premios basados en competencias. El miércoles 25 de marzo se dará inicio a un proceso de RFI dirigido a la industria, **** el objetivo de orientar la definición de las estructuras de colaboración, financiación y mitigación de riesgos. Avances en descubrimientos transformadores **** misiones científicas actuales y en desarrollo En una edad de oro de exploración y descubrimiento, la NASA aprovecha al máximo cada oportunidad para llevar la ciencia al espacio. El telescopio espacial James Webb continúa transformando nuestra comprensión del universo primitivo; la sonda solar Parker ha volado a través de la atmósfera del Sol; la NASA ha demostrado su capacidad para defender el planeta mediante la desviación de asteroides; y los datos de ciencias de la Tierra son utilizados ampliamente por las empresas de Estados Unidos, el sector agrícola estadounidense y en labores de socorro en caso de desastres. En la Estación Espacial Internacional, la NASA lleva a ***** experimentos pioneros en el ámbito de la ciencia cuántica. Las oportunidades futuras impulsarán el liderazgo de Estados Unidos en la ciencia espacial. El telescopio espacial Nancy Grace, cuyo lanzamiento está previsto para tan pronto como este otoño boreal, ampliará nuestra comprensión de la energía oscura y ha establecido un nuevo estándar para la gestión de grandes misiones científicas. La misión Dragonfly lanzará en 2028 un octocóptero de propulsión nuclear que llegará a Titán —una de las lunas de Saturno— en 2034 para explorar su complejo entorno, rico en compuestos orgánicos. En 2028, la NASA lanzará y enviará a Marte el rover Rosalind Franklin de la ESA (Agencia Espacial Europea), el cual llevará el espectrómetro aportado por la NASA para el instrumento Analizador de moléculas orgánicas en Marte; esto podría dar lugar a la detección y el análisis de materia orgánica más avanzados que se hayan llevado a ***** en el planeta rojo. Una nueva misión de ciencias de la Tierra, cuyo lanzamiento está programado para el próximo año, medirá por primera vez la evolución de la dinámica interna de las tormentas convectivas **** el fin de mejorar la predicción de eventos meteorológicos extremos **** hasta seis horas de antelación. La agencia ha dado detalles de cómo los avances en la ciencia lunar también se verán propiciados por la construcción de la Base Lunar y sustentarán la futura exploración de la Luna y Marte. **** un ritmo acelerado del programa de CLPS —el cual tiene como objetivo efectuar hasta 30 alunizajes robóticos a partir de 2027—, la NASA está agilizando el envío de ciencia y tecnología a la superficie lunar. Habrá numerosas oportunidades para el transporte de cargas útiles —incluyendo rovers, vehículos exploradores propulsados por cohetes o hoppers, y drones— y se recibirán **** agrado las contribuciones de la industria, el ámbito académico y los socios internacionales. Entre las cargas útiles a corto plazo se encuentran el rover VIPER y la misión LuSEE Night. El 24 de marzo se publicará una RFI en la que se requerirán cargas útiles capaces de dar apoyo a los objetivos científicos y tecnológicos de la NASA para los vuelos adicionales previstos para 2027 y 2028. Esto permitirá a estudiantes e investigadores de todo el país trabajar en instrumentos científicos destinados a ser utilizados en la superficie de la Luna en los próximos años. Esta RFI también solicitará cargas útiles para su incorporación en futuras misiones a Marte, que incluyen el establecimiento de la Red de Telecomunicaciones de Marte y una misión de demostración de tecnología nuclear. La agencia tiene planes de asociarse **** organizaciones de investigación filantrópicas y **** financiamiento privado que compartan objetivos en el campo de las ciencias del espacio. Otras RFI que han sido publicadas el 24 de marzo reforzarán las asociaciones bajo el modelo de “La ciencia como un servicio” y las capacidades comerciales, lo que permitirá a la NASA optimizar las operaciones de su legado y concentrar sus inversiones en aquellas misiones transformadoras que solo la agencia puede liderar. Por último, la NASA revelará un par de imágenes inéditas captadas por los telescopios espaciales James Webb y Hubble. Estas imágenes, tanto en longitudes de onda infrarrojas como visibles, muestran el planeta Saturno **** un nivel de detalle sin precedentes. Estados Unidos avanza en el uso de energía nuclear en el espacio Además de estas misiones científicas, tras décadas de estudio y en respuesta a la Política Espacial Nacional, la NASA anunció un importante paso adelante para llevar la energía y la propulsión nucleares de los laboratorios al espacio. La NASA lanzará hacia Marte el SR-1 Freedom, la primera nave espacial interplanetaria de propulsión nuclear, antes de finales de 2028, demostrando así sus avances en la propulsión eléctrica nuclear en el espacio profundo. La propulsión eléctrica nuclear ofrece una capacidad extraordinaria para el transporte eficiente de masa en el espacio profundo y hace posible misiones de alta potencia más allá de Júpiter, donde los paneles solares no son eficaces. Cuando la astronave SR-1 Freedom llegue a Marte, desplegará la carga útil Skyfall —compuesta por helicópteros de la clase Ingenuity— para continuar explorando el planeta rojo. SR-1 Freedom dará inicio a un historial de vuelo para hardware nuclear, sentará precedentes regulatorios y para el lanzamiento, y activará la base industrial para futuros sistemas de energía por fisión nuclear destinados a misiones de propulsión, de superficie y de larga duración. La NASA y su socio, el Departamento de Energía de Estados Unidos, desbloquearán las capacidades necesarias para una exploración sostenida más allá de la Luna y para futuros viajes a Marte y al sistema solar exterior. Ninguno de estos proyectos puede tener éxito sin la fuerza laboral de la NASA. Tal como se anunció anteriormente, la agencia está reconstruyendo sus competencias básicas, transformando miles de puestos de contratistas en cargos de la función pública y restableciendo las capacidades de ingeniería, técnicas y operativas que se esperan de la organización espacial líder en el mundo. La NASA está ampliando las oportunidades para pasantes y profesionales al inicio de su carrera y, en colaboración **** la Oficina de Gestión de Personal de Estados Unidos y NASA Force, está creando nuevas vías de acceso para que el talento experimentado de la industria preste servicio mediante nombramientos de duración determinada. Asimismo, la agencia busca crear oportunidades para que los empleados de la NASA adquieran una experiencia valiosa trabajando dentro de la industria espacial más avanzada tecnológicamente de la historia. Los cambios anunciados el 24 de marzo serán implementados durante los próximos meses, y los equipos de personal de toda la agencia garantizarán una transición fluida mientras se impulsan programas y alianzas clave. La NASA integrará a expertos en la materia a lo largo de toda la cadena de suministros —en cada proveedor principal, subcontratista y componente de ruta crítica— para cuestionar supuestos, resolver problemas, acelerar la producción y ayudar a garantizar que se logren los resultados adecuados. Mediante estas reformas, la NASA está fortaleciendo su capacidad para cumplir **** la Política Espacial Nacional del presidente y garantizar la continua superioridad estadounidense en el espacio. Obtén más información (en inglés) sobre las noticias del plan Ignition en línea: [Hidden Content] Camille Gallo / George Alderman / María José Viñas Sede central de la NASA, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 24, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsNASA en español View the full article

2 Min Read NASA Research Proposes Technology to Seek Earth-Like Exoplanets Caltech Keck Institute of Space Studies (KISS) team during a March 2026 workshop. Credits: Kiss As NASA seeks to understand the mysteries of the universe, the agency is advancing technologies to locate and explore Earth-like planets far beyond our solar system. A key element of this research involves observing reflected light from exoplanets, which can reveal indicators of Earth-like features such as water and oxygen. However, detecting this faint reflected light with current telescope technology remains a significant challenge due to the overwhelming brightness of nearby stars and other celestial objects. NASA’s Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets (HOEE) concept presents a potential solution by combining an orbiting starshade with a large ground-based telescope to suppress starlight and enable direct imaging of exoplanets. We have pioneered a transformative approach to the search for life beyond our solar system by deploying a space-borne starshade to cast a near perfect shadow over Earth’s largest telescopes, we suppress stellar glare before it ever enters the atmosphere. Dr. John Mather HOEE principal investigator at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland Recent research, published earlier this year and featured on the cover of Monday’s Nature Astronomy March issue, suggests the HOEE concept could produce much sharper images allowing us to see entire exoplanetary systems and to clearly separate planet images from each other as well as from interference of dust clouds, the host star, and from the starshade itself. Its extreme sensitivity could enable the detection of small planets, and even large dwarf planets. Most notably, it could enable high-fidelity, wide-band spectroscopy, a scientific technique that can be used to study the interaction between matter and light, improving the path to identifying the chemical signatures of life. For decades, the starshade was a novel concept. Now, NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (*****) program is turning that idea into a buildable reality. Through a series of targeted studies, NASA researchers are investigating whether it could be practical to build and develop an engineering roadmap. Team leading NASA’s Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets concept pictured with the cover of Nature Astronomy featuring their research “The observation of Earth-like exoplanets with ground-based telescopes and a shared orbiting starshade.” From left NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center researchers Dr. John Mather and Dr. Eliad Peretz, followed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory researchers Dr. Ahmed Soliman and Dr. Stuart Shaklan.KISS NASA’s Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets (HOEE) is a three-time ***** award recipient, having received Phase I awards in 2022 and 2025. The HOEE concept is supported by researchers at NASA Goddard, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, and NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. Latest Related Research Dynamically Stable Large Space Structures via Architected Metamaterials Inflatable Starshade for Earthlike Exoplanets Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets (HOEE) Ultralight Starshade Structural Design Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts NASA Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Solar System Share Details Last Updated Mar 24, 2026 Related TermsSpace Technology Mission DirectorateAmes Research CenterGoddard Space Flight CenterJet Propulsion LaboratoryNASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (*****) ProgramTechnology View the full article

Apollo 17 geologist and astronaut Harrison Schmitt next to a large bolder on the Taurus-Littrow landing site on the Moon. NASA NASA is joining international partners to hunt for ice on the Moon in support of future human exploration. The agency is providing a water-detecting instrument, the Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS), to the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission led by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). The instrument, which detects ice under the lunar surface, will be installed on LUPEX’s lunar rover planned to arrive at the Moon no earlier than 2028. NASA’s support of LUPEX is part of an ongoing effort to identify and characterize lunar water and other materials that easily evaporate near the Moon’s South Pole. Water is a critical material for NASA’s plans to develop an enduring presence on the Moon. Instead of relying solely on resources carried from Earth, astronauts could use the Moon’s water for breathable air, rocket fuel, and more. The first step is to find deposits of meaningful quantities of water close to the surface to mark potential landing areas for future astronauts. The water on the Moon is mostly found as molecules within lunar regolith, the dusty and rocky material that covers the Moon’s surface, but there may be ice deposits below the surface of the lunar South Pole. Once we better understand the quantity and quality of the available resources, we can learn how to harness it for exploration. “There is currently a gap in our understanding of how lunar ice is distributed at small scales, from 10s of centimeters up to 10s of kilometers,” said Rick Elphic, NSS lead at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, where the instrument was developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, California. “The only way to understand the ‘where’ and ‘how much’ of lunar ice is by exploring on the surface at these scales.” How neutrons signal water NASA’s Neutron Spectrometer System instrument will search for signs of water ice on the Moon’s surface aboard a lunar rover belonging to the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission led by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). NASA/Warren Davis Scientists can search for water on the Moon without drilling into the surface. Instead, they hunt for concentrations of hydrogen, the H in H₂O. Past missions in lunar orbit have found signs of water at the Moon’s poles, but ground missions are needed to build detailed maps of location and quantity. Instruments like NSS can infer the presence of hydrogen by detecting interactions with particles called neutrons. Neutrons are constantly rattling around in the lunar soil, and they’re about the same size as hydrogen atoms. When these two particles interact, fewer medium-energy neutrons are ejected from the soil. The absence of medium-energy neutrons suggests more of the particles are interacting with hydrogen underground, a deficit that can be measured with the right tools. The NSS instrument uses a “gas proportional counter” to detect neutrons bouncing out of the lunar soil. It features two tubes that contain a rare gas called helium-3 that is very sensitive to neutrons. When neutrons strike the helium-3 gas atoms, the gas produces electrical pulses that can be counted to infer the presence and quantity of hydrogen up to three feet underground. Series of water-hunters Ongoing investigation of the Moon’s water will inform how astronauts might access it in the future. To that end, NASA researchers at Ames have developed a series of NSS instruments intended to ride aboard different missions to investigate sites at the Moon’s South Pole. The first Moon-bound NSS instrument in the series was carried aboard Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander, Astrobotic Peregrine Mission One, which launched in January 2024. That mission came to an end without touching down on the lunar surface, but the NSS aboard powered on and operated on multiple days over the course of the 10-day mission. These operations successfully captured data about the particle background of deep space, which strongly supported NSS operations on future missions. NASA’s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) mission, part of the agency’s Artemis campaign, will carry another NSS. As part of NASA’s ongoing Commercial Lunar Payload Services effort, a fourth NSS instrument will ride aboard the MoonRanger “micro rover” developed by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. “The three upcoming NSS rover expeditions will tell us what kinds of places on the Moon are most likely to host ice,” Elphic said. “Missions to the lunar surface can then be planned to similar sites where ice can be found.” The Neutron Spectrometer System was jointly developed by NASA’s Ames Research Center and Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, California.   For more information on the science of water on the Moon, visit: [Hidden Content] Karen Fox / Molly Wasser Headquarters, Washington 240-285-5155 / 240-419-1732 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Arezu Sarvestani Ames Research Center, Silicon Valley  650-613-2334 *****@*****.tld View the full article

Artist’s concept of Phase 3 of NASA’s Moon Base.Credit: NASA As part of its “Ignition” event on Tuesday, NASA announced a series of transformative agencywide initiatives designed to achieve President Donald J. Trump’s National Space Policy and advance American leadership in space. These actions reflect the urgency of the moment, but also the tremendous opportunity ahead for world-changing science and discovery. “NASA is committed to achieving the near‑impossible once again, to return to the Moon before the end of President Trump’s term, build a Moon base, establish an enduring presence, and do the other things needed to ensure American leadership in space. This is why it is essential we leave an event like Ignition with complete alignment on the national imperative that is our collective mission. The clock is running in this great‑power competition, and success or failure will be measured in months, not years,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “If we concentrate NASA’s extraordinary resources on the objectives of the National Space Policy, clear away needless obstacles that impede progress, and unleash the workforce and industrial might of our nation and partners, then returning to the Moon and building a base will seem pale in comparison to what we will be capable of accomplishing in the years ahead.” NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said, “Today we are aligning NASA around the mission. On the Moon, we are shifting to a focused, phased architecture that builds capability landing by landing, incrementally, and in alignment with our industrial and international partners. In low Earth orbit (LEO), we are recognizing where the market is and where it isn’t, recognizing the incredible value of the International Space Station, and building a transition that builds a competitive commercial ecosystem rather than forcing a single outcome the market cannot support. In our science missions, we are opening the lunar surface to researchers and students nationwide, and with Space Reactor‑1 Freedom, we are finally putting nuclear propulsion on a trajectory out of the laboratory and into deep space. And this is all possible by investing in our people, bringing critical skills back into the agency, putting our teams where the machines are being built, and creating real pathways for the next generation of NASA leaders. Our workforce is the jewel of NASA, and from their leaders, they need clear mission goals, the tools to execute, and to get out of their way. This is what Ignition is about.” Going back to the Moon The announcements build on recent updates to the Artemis program, including standardizing the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket configuration, adding an additional mission in 2027, and undertaking at least one surface landing every year thereafter. Under this previously updated architecture, Artemis III – scheduled for 2027 – will focus on testing integrated systems and operational capabilities in Earth orbit in advance of the Artemis IV lunar landing. Looking beyond Artemis V, NASA announced March 24 it will begin to incorporate more commercially procured and reusable hardware to undertake frequent and affordable crewed missions to the lunar surface, initially targeting landings every six months, with the potential to increase cadence as capabilities mature. To achieve an enduring human presence on the Moon, NASA also announced a phased approach to building a lunar base. As part of this strategy, the agency intends to pause Gateway in its current form and shift focus to infrastructure that enables sustained surface operations. Despite challenges with some existing hardware, the agency will repurpose applicable equipment and leverage international partner commitments to support these objectives. In the coming days, NASA will release Requests for Information (RFIs) and draft Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to ensure continued progress in meeting national objectives. Building the Moon Base NASA’s plan for establishing a sustained lunar presence will roll out in three deliberate phases. Phase One: Build, Test, Learn NASA shifts from bespoke, infrequent missions to a repeatable, modular approach. Through CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) deliveries and the LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) program, the agency will increase the tempo of lunar activity, sending rovers, instruments, and technology demonstrations that advance mobility, power generation (including radioisotope heater units and radioisotope thermoelectric generators), communications, navigation, surface operations, and a wide range of scientific investigations. Phase Two: Establish Early Infrastructure With lessons from early missions in hand, NASA moves toward semi‑habitable infrastructure and regular logistics. This phase supports recurring astronaut operations on the surface and incorporates major international contributions, including JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) pressurized rover, and potentially other partner scientific payloads, rovers, and infrastructure/transportation capabilities. Phase Three: Enable Long‑Duration Human Presence As cargo‑capable human landing systems (HLS) come online, NASA will deliver heavier infrastructure needed for a continuous human foothold on the Moon, marking the transition from periodic expeditions to a permanent lunar base. This will include ASI’s (Italian Space Agency) Multi-purpose Habitats (MPH), CSA’s (********* Space Agency) Lunar Utility Vehicle, and opportunities for additional contributions in habitation, surface mobility and logistics. Ensuring American presence in low Earth orbit While building a sustainable lunar architecture, NASA is also reaffirming its commitment to low Earth orbit. For more than two decades, the International Space Station has served as a world‑class orbital laboratory, enabling more than 4,000 research investigations, supporting more 5,000 researchers, and hosting visitors from 26 countries. The space station required 37 shuttle flights, 160 spacewalks, two decades, and more than $100 billion to design, develop, and build. The orbital laboratory cannot operate indefinitely. The transition to commercial stations must be thoughtful, deliberate, and structured to support long‑term industry success. NASA is introducing and seeking industry feedback on an additional LEO strategy that preserves all current pathways while adding a phased, International Space Station‑anchored approach to avoid any gap in U.S. human presence and mature a robust commercial ecosystem. Under this alternative approach, NASA would procure a government‑owned Core Module that attaches to the space station, followed by commercial modules that are validated using International Space Station capabilities and later detach into free flight. After maturing technical and operational capabilities and market demand is realized, the stations would detach and NASA would be one of many customers purchasing commercial services. To stimulate the orbital economy, NASA would expand industry opportunities, including private astronaut missions, commander seat sales, joint missions, multiple module competitions, and prize‑based awards. An industry RFI opens Wednesday, March 25, to inform partnership structures, financing, and risk mitigation. Advancing world-changing discovery with current, developing science missions In a Golden Age of exploration and discovery, NASA takes full advantage of every opportunity to get science into space. The James Webb Space Telescope continues to transform our understanding of the early universe, Parker Solar Probe has flown through the atmosphere of the Sun, NASA has shown it can defend the planet by deflecting asteroids, and Earth science data is used extensively by American companies, U.S. agriculture, and disaster relief. On the International Space Station, NASA is conducting groundbreaking experiments in quantum science. Future opportunities will advance U.S. leadership in space science. The Nancy Grace Space Telescope, launching as early as this fall, will advance our understanding of dark energy, and has created a new standard for the management of large science missions. Dragonfly will launch a nuclear-powered octocopter in 2028, arriving at Saturn’s moon Titan in 2034 to explore its complex, organic-rich environment. In 2028, NASA will launch and deliver ESA’s (European Space Agency) Rosalind Franklin Rover to Mars, with NASA’s contributed mass spectrometer for the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument, which may result in the most advanced detection and analysis of organic matter ever conducted on Mars. A new Earth science mission launching next year will measure for the first time the evolution of the dynamics within convective storms to improve the prediction of extreme weather events up to six hours before the storm occurs. The agency detailed how advancements in lunar science also will be afforded by the build out of the Moon Base and underpin future Moon and Mars exploration. With an accelerated CLPS cadence, targeting up to 30 robotic landings starting in 2027, NASA is expediting delivery of science and technology to the lunar surface. There will be many opportunities for payload delivery including rovers, hoppers, and drones with contributions welcomed from industry, academia, and international partners. Near-term payloads include the VIPER rover and the LuSEE‑Night mission. An RFI will be released March 24 that calls for payloads capable of supporting NASA’s science and technology goals for additional 2027 and 2028 flights. It will enable students and researchers across the country to work on scientific instruments for use on the surface of the Moon in the years ahead. This RFI also will solicit payloads incorporated on future missions to Mars including the Mars Telecom Network (MTN) and a nuclear technology demonstration mission. The agency intends to partner with philanthropic and privately funded research organizations with shared objectives in space science. Other RFIs released March 24 will strengthen “Science as a Service” partnerships and commercial capabilities, allowing NASA to streamline legacy operations and focus investment on the transformational missions only the agency can lead. Finally, NASA will unveil a previously unseen pair of images from the James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes. These images show the planet Saturn in unprecedented detail in both infrared and visible wavelengths. America underway on nuclear power in space In addition to these scientific missions, after decades of study and in response to the National Space Policy, NASA announced a major step forward in bringing nuclear power and propulsion from the lab to space. NASA will launch the Space Reactor‑1 Freedom, the first nuclear powered interplanetary spacecraft, to Mars before the end of 2028, demonstrating advanced nuclear electric propulsion in deep space. Nuclear electric propulsion provides an extraordinary capability for efficient mass transport in deep space and enables high power missions beyond Jupiter where solar arrays are not effective. When SR-1 Freedom reaches Mars, it will deploy the Skyfall payload of Ingenuity‑class helicopters to continue exploring the Red Planet. SR-1 Freedom will establish flight heritage nuclear hardware, set regulatory and launch precedent, and activate the industrial base for future fission power systems across propulsion, surface, and long‑duration missions. NASA and its U.S. Department of Energy partner will unlock the capabilities required for sustained exploration beyond the Moon and eventual journeys to Mars and the outer solar system. None of these endeavors can succeed without the NASA workforce. As previously announced, the agency is rebuilding its core competencies, converting thousands of contractor positions to civil service, and restoring the engineering, technical, and operational strengths expected of the world’s premier space organization. NASA is expanding opportunities for interns and early‑career professionals and, in partnership with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and NASA Force, is creating new pathways for experienced industry talent to serve through term‑based appointments. The agency also is seeking to open opportunities for NASA employees to gain valuable experience working within the most technologically advanced space industry in history. The changes announced on March 24 will be implemented during the coming months, with teams agencywide ensuring a smooth transition while advancing key programs and partnerships. NASA will embed subject‑matter experts across the supply chain – at every major vendor, subcontractor, and critical‑path component – to challenge assumptions, solve problems, accelerate production, and help ensure the right outcomes are achieved. Through these reforms, NASA is strengthening its ability to deliver on the President’s National Space Policy and ensure continued American superiority in space. Learn more about NASA’s Ignition news online: [Hidden Content] -end- Camille Gallo / George Alderman Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 24, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsArtemisInternational Space Station (ISS)NASA Headquarters View the full article

A team of NASA researchers is developing new types of optical masks that could help enable the many orders of magnitude of starlight suppression needed for future space observatories to pick out very faint habitable exoplanets from the far brighter glare of their stellar hosts. Artist’s conception of an exoplanet reflecting the light from its nearby star. NASA One of the goals of NASA’s Astrophysics Division is to carry out a census of nearby solar systems to search for habitable worlds around nearby stars, and ultimately, to determine whether life might be present outside our own solar system. Because other stars are so far away, we must rely on remote observations of these systems, and in particular, on the spectroscopy of any planets present (i.e., on the examination of their color characteristics to determine their atmospheric characteristics). NASA’s future Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) mission will be the first telescope designed specifically to search for signs of life on planets orbiting other stars. Significant progress has been made over the past couple of decades in observing the brightest and often largest exoplanets, especially those that happen to pass in front of their stars, allowing us to see the planet’s atmospheric constituents that absorb particular colors of the host star’s light. However, most exoplanets are not so favorably aligned; to detect them, HWO must be able to distinguish the very small bit of light coming from an exoplanet from the overwhelming glare of the very bright nearby host star. For example, an Earth-like planet orbiting a star similar to our Sun would be only about 1 ten billionth as bright as its host star. An apt analogy is the light from a firefly flying right next to a lighthouse! To see faint potentially habitable worlds in nearby solar systems, we must remove the incoming starlight to such an extent that the much smaller bit of light arriving from the exoplanet can be distinguished. Unfortunately, telescopes don’t produce perfect point-like images of stars. Two contributing factors–scattering and diffraction—blur and spread the starlight across the region of the image where exoplanets are likely to be found. Scattering of starlight is caused by surface irregularities in the mirrors that make up the telescope’s optical system. These irregularities can be mitigated by using a high-performance adaptive optics system to correct the wavefront errors. But even with a perfectly corrected optical system, diffraction must also be mitigated. Diffraction is the angular spread of a light beam (or of any type of wave, including water or sound waves) that occurs as the wave passes through an aperture, such as a telescope’s light-collecting mirror. Diffraction causes the starlight to spread across the focal plane into a ringed light distribution called an Airy pattern (see figure below). Since this Airy pattern can be many times brighter than the light emitted from an exoplanet, it also needs to be removed. A logarithmically scaled simulation of the image of a star with two nearby exoplanets, as seen by a telescope with a circular aperture. The centered multi-ringed Airy pattern is due to diffraction of the starlight. Off-axis exoplanets fainter by 100 times and 1000 times are seen at 3 o’clock on the 3rd Airy ring, and at 12 o’clock on the 4th Airy ring, respectively. An Earth-like exoplanet would be 10 million times fainter than the dimmer of the two exoplanets shown. Gene Serabyn, NASA JPL Suppression of the Airy pattern’s rings is usually done with an optical instrument known as a coronagraph. The coronagraph was invented a century ago to allow astronomers to see the faint solar corona that surrounds the Sun. When applied to other stars, a coronagraph can enable us to see faint exoplanets near their much brighter stars. The core component of most coronagraphs is an optical mask—a small piece of glass with a special surface coating or surface shape that is designed to either selectively attenuate or delay the light distribution making up the stellar image. One particularly promising type of optical mask is the optical vortex phase mask, which applies a phase delay that increases in proportion to the azimuthal angle around the center of the mask (see figure below). When centered on the stellar Airy pattern, the mask thus applies delays that increase along the Airy rings. The colors in this image depict the phase delay pattern that a vortex phase mask applies to the incoming starlight in the focal plane: the phase delay increases azimuthally around the center of the mask. The colors indicate a phase delay range from -2 pi to 2 pi (-6.28 to 6.28) radians. Gene Serabyn, NASA JPL This delay pattern, which is somewhat analogous to the helical surface of a ****** thread, causes the starlight to destructively interfere in such a way that if one reimages the telescope aperture downstream of the vortex mask, no starlight remains inside that aperture image. Instead, the starlight is only seen outside of where the filled telescope aperture image is expected to be, where it can then be easily blocked by a simple aperture stop, as is used in photography. (The figure below depicts images of a telescope aperture in advance of and downstream of the vortex mask.) Since the light from the exoplanet typically hits the vortex mask off-center, it propagates unchanged through the aperture stop to reach the detector, where it can be successfully imaged. The left-hand panel shows a normal image of a telescope aperture that is filled with starlight. After passing through the vortex phase mask, the starlight is expelled from that circular region (as shown in the right-hand image) where it can be blocked by an aperture stop, leaving only exoplanet light inside the bright rim of starlight. Gene Serabyn, NASA JPL Fabricating vortex masks is challenging since they must be able to simultaneously reject starlight over a wide range of wavelengths. A team of technologists at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is investigating a number of different technologies that could be used make optical vortex masks with the desired characteristics. To date, the most promising approach uses a flat layer of a specially prepared liquid crystal polymer (LCP) to provide the required optical delay pattern. The long molecular polymer chains making up the LCP layer can be specifically oriented to induce different delays in the two polarization directions of light. (Polarization refers to the direction of oscillation of the electric field vector in a propagating light wave, i.e., whether it is up-down or left-right). Depending on whether the electric field vector lies along or perpendicular to the long LCP axis, the light experiences different delays. Moreover, if the LCP layer is laid down in a pattern wherein the long LCP axis rotates while following a circular path around the mask’s center (reaching a multiple of a full molecular rotation in a full circuit around the center), the desired delay pattern can be achieved (see figure below). The main advantage of such masks is that since their phase delays are induced geometrically (i.e., by a purely geometric orientation pattern) they are wavelength-independent to first order, and can reject starlight over a wide range of wavelengths. The JPL team has recently advanced these masks to the point where the light from an artificial “star” can be rejected in the laboratory to about one part in a billion (with the single-wavelength rejection even better), which is within about an order of magnitude of the ultimate 10 billion-to-one rejection needed for the HWO. The team is currently working on further mask improvements to achieve that last factor of ten. Orientation pattern of the liquid crystal polymer (LCP) molecules in an optical vortex layer. Center: The output electric (E) field directions such a mask produces. Right, an LCP vortex mask seen through crossed polarizers. Note that the mask is dark at all angles at which the output light is horizontally polarized (horizontal lines in the center panel), verifying its functionality. Gene Serabyn, NASA JPL At the same time, the team is also looking into alternative mask approaches with different advantages and disadvantages. In particular, they have been revisiting the idea of shaping the surface of a piece of glass to look like a helical turn of a ******. However, this design will only work across multiple wavelengths if one combines several different pieces of glass, each with its own ****** height, and if further deformations of the surface shape are also implemented. Moreover, since only a rather small number of materials seem to have the characteristics required for this design, it is not yet clear what ultimate performance can be achieved by this technique. As a result, the team is also looking into fabricating their own artificial materials (i.e., metamaterials) for use in such masks. Metamaterials are thin layers of tiny nanoposts (see figure below) in which the nanopost heights, widths, shapes, and spacings can be selected to generate material properties that do not exist in nature. While this approach is very new, it is conceivable that it could be used to tailor materials that have the characteristics needed to make optical vortex masks work over a wide range of wavelengths. Electron microscope image of nanoposts. Lorenzo König, NASA JPL Optical vortex coronagraphs are becoming increasingly popular in the hunt for larger (brighter) exoplanets using ground-based telescopes, but seeing dimmer Earth-like exoplanets with a space-based telescope such as HWO will require vortex masks with vastly improved starlight rejection capabilities. While the liquid crystal polymer approach is the clear frontrunner, such masks also have limitations, so it is good that other possibilities are being investigated. These candidate technologies will be fully vetted and tested over the next few years to enable the fabrication of the optical vortex masks needed to be able to pick out and characterize nearby Earth-like exoplanets with HWO. For additional details, see the entry for this project on NASA TechPort. Project Lead(s): Eugene Serabyn, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, and Dimitri Mawet, California Institute of Technology Sponsoring Organization(s): NASA Astrophysics Division Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) and Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) programs. Part of this research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with NASA (80NM0018D0004) Share Details Last Updated Mar 24, 2026 Related Terms Technology Highlights Astrobiology Astrophysics Astrophysics Division Science-enabling Technology View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Tropical Cyclone Narelle… 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 Tropical Cyclone Narelle approaches northern Queensland, Australia, in this image acquired on March 19, 2026, with the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-21 satellite. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison Tropical Cyclone Narelle traced a long path across the northern edge of Australia, bringing damaging winds and rain to areas already saturated with abundant precipitation. The system made separate landfalls in three different states and territories between March 20 and 23, 2026. These satellite images show Narelle at about 2 p.m. local time (04:00 Universal Time) on March 19. By that time, the tropical cyclone was poised to make its first and most powerful landfall after intensifying over the Coral Sea. Sea surface temperatures along its path were 0.5–1.0 degrees Celsius above average, experts noted, which helped fuel its rapid intensification. As it approached Queensland, the storm intensified to a category 5 on Australia’s tropical cyclone scale with maximum sustained winds up to 225 kilometers (140 miles) per hour—equivalent to a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale. However, because Narelle’s structure was compact by cyclone standards, the most damaging winds extended a relatively short distance from its core. Narelle reached the Cape York Peninsula, a sparsely populated region in northern Queensland, on the morning of March 20. Tropical Cyclone Narelle churns over the Coral Sea in this image acquired on March 19, 2026, with the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-21 satellite. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison Narelle re-emerged over the Gulf of Carpentaria as a weakened cyclone, and wind speeds continued to decline as it neared the Northern Territory’s coast. The storm made its second landfall on the afternoon of March 21 with maximum sustained winds up to 148 kilometers (92 miles) per hour. It traversed the territory’s “Top End” until March 22. More than 100 millimeters (4 inches) of rain fell across a wide area of the Northern Territory during Narelle’s passage, according to news reports. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warned of minor to major flooding of several rivers. The storm arrived amid a severe wet season in the region that had already caused damaging floods and prompted evacuations. After exiting the Northern Territory, the storm briefly crossed water and reached the northern Kimberley region of Western Australia as a tropical low on March 23. Even after Narelle’s multiple strikes in northern Australia, the storm may keep going. On March 23, the BOM said Narelle could potentially re-intensify into a tropical cyclone off the coast of Western Australia, curve south, and track along the coastline toward Perth. Cyclones with several landfalls on mainland Australia are rare but not unheard of. In 2005, Ingrid followed a similar path to Narelle. That “triple-strike” storm, however, made landfall each time as a category 3 tropical cyclone or higher. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). Story by Lindsey Doermann. Downloads March 19, 2026 JPEG (2.66 MB) March 19, 2026, detail JPEG (1.96 MB) References & Resources *********** Broadcasting Corporation (2026, March 17) Cyclone Narelle could be the first storm in 21 years to make landfall three times. Accessed March 23, 2026. Bureau of Meteorology, via YouTube (2026, March 23) Severe Weather Update 23 March 2026: Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle impacting WA this week. Accessed March 23, 2026. The Conversation (2026, March 19) Cyclone Narelle: ‘compact’, dangerous and unusually predictable. Accessed March 23, 2026. The Guardian (2026, March 22) Saturated NT braces for Tropical Cyclone Narelle to dump another 300mm of rain. Accessed March 23, 2026. The New York Times (2026, March 19) Remote Part of Australia Braces for ‘Significant’ Tropical System. Accessed March 23, 2026. Weather Underground (2026, March 23) Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Accessed March 23, 2026. You may also be interested in: Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet. A Second Cyclone Slams Madagascar 3 min read Widespread flooding affected tens of thousands of people after cyclones Fytia and Gezani drenched the island. Article Australia’s “Red Centre” Turns Green 3 min read Abundant rainfall in February and March 2026 transformed the desert landscape of Central Australia. Article Imelda and Humberto Crowd the Atlantic 3 min read The tropical cyclones are close enough in proximity that they may influence one another. 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

On Jan. 31, students, library staff, researchers, and community members gathered at the University of Florida’s (UF) Marston Science Library for the Environmental Monitoring through Education, Research, and Geospatial Engagement (EMERGE) NASA Data Hackathon. This initiative empowers libraries, educators, and individuals to engage in public health and environmental science using real-world data tools and citizen science. At the center of EMERGE is NASA’s Global Learning & Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Observer app, which allows anyone with a smartphone to collect and explore data on mosquito habitats, land cover, clouds, and more. From morning workshops to an end-of-day sprint, participants spent the day transforming real environmental data into maps, dashboards, infographics, and practical insights supporting public health and environmental decision-making. The event was hosted by the Geospatial Digital Informatics Lab (part of the Geography Department at UF), SciStarter (the world’s largest citizen science database), and Florida Community Innovation (a civic technology nonprofit), with support from NASA and UF Libraries. The hackathon gave participants a chance to work directly with these volunteer-collected datasets and see how local observations connect to global research. Participants had access to a digital textbook created by the GeoDI Lab that explains how to download, process, visualize, and analyze GLOBE Observer data. At the hackathon, 13 teams came together to build projects analyzing GLOBE data or reenvisioning data collection for the app. You can explore the gallery of projects online here! Celebrating Hackathon Winners The following participants won honors in their categories. APP IMPROVEMENT TRACK Winner — Mosquito Tracker Matheus Kunzler Maldaner Hoang Anh Mai Luana Kunzler Maldaner Nicolas Murguia Alfred Navarro Honorable Mention — App Improvement Brief Kelly Muma Seth Paul User Interface Recognition — GLOBE Observer, Simplified Kaushal Thota Sparsh Mogha ADVANCED TRACK Winner — Epidemiological Vector Mapping System Aseel Ismail Shreya Shanmugam Devadarshini Dhandapani Shivani Chandrasekar Winner — GeoDude Siddharth Nahar Anushri N R Avantika Holla Matthew Losito Honorable Mention — Mosquito Habitat Observations and Wildfire Hazard in Florida Nancy Murphy Philippa Burgess Mapping Recognition — Mosquitos Worldwide Project Ayesha Malligai M. INTERMEDIATE TRACK Winner — Swarm Sense Isabella Bodea Evan Mullins Aashita Rai Honorable Mention — Mosquito Risk Mapping RamyaLakshmi KS Delilah Penate Thomas Barbato Amit Rajpurkar Data Analysis Recognition — Bias and Uncertainty in Reported Mosquito Habitat Data Gabriel Dos Santos Satyabrata Das Matthew White Dylan Aaron BEGINNER TRACK Winner — Beginner Track EMERGE Project Breanna Blackwood Demitri Tu Masha Belyaeva Elizabeth Nguyen Tommy Lin Honorable Mention — Mosquito Predicting with Globe Observer Data Novaarcoid Rajpurkar FIELD TRACK Winner — Field Track Data Collection for Mosquito Habitat Wei Liu Yichan Li How You Can Get Involved If you’re interested in civic tech, public-interest data, and community-centered research, you’re invited to get involved with Florida Community Innovation (FCI), one of the Hackathon partners. The FCI works year-round with students and community partners to build accessible tools, maps, and public resources and welcomes new collaborators from a wide range of backgrounds. Get started with FCI by visiting floridainnovation.org, and email *****@*****.tld to join one of their Wednesday meetings at 6 p.m. EDT to be matched with a project (like building games for Miami-Dade’s Recyclepedia app, helping create an AI tool for social workers in Orlando, and more). Interested in shaping future EMERGE events? Apply to join a planning committee to help design the next hackathon! Committee members will help think through formats, tracks, accessibility, and community partnerships, with the goal of keeping future events welcoming, practical, and responsive to local needs. Organizers will receive a small honorarium. For more information, send an email to Caroline Nickerson: *****@*****.tld To start doing NASA science from your own neighborhood or backyard, you can also download the GLOBE Observer app! This app makes it possible for anyone to collect and explore data on mosquito habitats, land cover, and more! The EMERGE program is made possible with the support of NASA through the Citizen Science Seed Funding Program, with the goal of enabling more scientists to develop and use citizen science techniques in their work. From left: Olivia Zhang, Joe Aufmuth, Natya Hans, Yichan Li, Wei Liu, and Caroline Nickerson. Caroline Nickerson [Hidden Content] Learn More and Get Involved GLOBE Observer Choose from several different projects to help scientists learn about planet Earth. For anyone with a smartphone. Kid friendly! Facebook logo @nasascience_ @nasascience_ Instagram logo @nasascience_ Linkedin logo @nasascience_ Share Details Last Updated Mar 23, 2026 Editor NASA Science Editorial Team Related Terms Citizen Science Community Partners Earth Science Division Explore More 2 min read Hail Yeah! NASA Researchers Use Volunteer Observations for Hail Estimates The ******* the hailstone, the more damage it can cause. But scientists find that predicting… Article 6 days ago 2 min read Volunteers Find Oddly High Solar Flare Rates Article 1 week ago 2 min read Extra Extra! Extra Data Stream Added to the Daily Minor Planet! The Daily Minor Planet citizen science project is expanding! In addition to data received nightly… Article 1 week ago View the full article