SpaceMan

2 Min Read NASA’s HiRISE Captures Perseverance Marking a Milestone on Mars PIA26726 Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona Photojournal Navigation Science Photojournal NASA’s HiRISE Captures… Photojournal Home Photojournal Search Latest Content Galleries Feedback RSS About Downloads NASA’s HiRISE Captures Perseverance Marking a Milestone on Mars JPEG (492.31 KB) PIA26726 Figure A PNG (12.89 MB) Description NASA’s Perseverance rover appears as a green speck on the Martian surface on June 13, 2026, a day before the robotic explorer marked a distance milestone, having traveled a full marathon (26.2 miles, or 42.195 kilometers) on the Red Planet. Perseverance reached that distance after five years and four months of driving — on the 1,890th Martian day, or sol, of its mission; the previous record holder, NASA’s Opportunity rover, took 11 years and two months to reach the same milestone. This image was taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) using its High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera. The rover’s tracks can be seen tracing the surface. The rover is in an area west of Jezero Crater that the science team is calling “Arbot.” Figure A Figure A is the same image with a yellow circle indicating Perseverance. Managed for NASA by Caltech, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California manages operations of the Perseverance rover and MRO on behalf of the agency’s Science Mission Directorate as part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program portfolio. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built MRO and supports its operations. The University of Arizona, in Tucson, operates HiRISE, which was built by BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado. To learn more about these missions, visit: [Hidden Content] Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From Photojournal Photojournal Search Photojournal Photojournal’s Latest Content Feedback View the full article

6 Min Read Euclid View of Milky Way Heart Previews Core Survey by NASA’s Roman This image by ESA’s (European Space Agency) Euclid (with color added using ground-based images) provides an earlier snapshot of a region of our galaxy that NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will repeatedly observe during the upcoming years. Credits: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, CFHT, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre and E. Bertin (CEA Paris-Saclay) This image by ESA’s (European Space Agency) Euclid (with color added using ground-based images) provides an earlier snapshot of a region of our galaxy that NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will repeatedly observe during the upcoming years. Euclid spent one day taking a series of nine individual images near the heart of the Milky Way. Its wider image has resolution similar to Roman’s, though it’s also shallower and lacks some of the colors Roman will see. At the right of the frame, Euclid looks through the dense foreground of the Milky Way’s galactic plane, where thick molecular clouds appear as dark patches that obscure parts of the galactic bulge beyond. Toward the left, the view rises to higher galactic latitudes: the yellow glow of the bulge becomes clearer, with fewer and more isolated foreground clouds interrupting the starlight. ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, CFHT, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre and E. Bertin (CEA Paris-Saclay) A new look at the heart of our Milky Way galaxy by Euclid, an ESA (European Space Agency) mission with NASA contributions, overlaps with a region scientists will observe with NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, launching later this summer. This sneak peek gives astronomers a major jumpstart on a core Roman survey, helping scientists learn more than they could from either telescope alone. “This is the only time Euclid has paused its normal sky survey, which is mainly geared toward cosmology,” said Jason Rhodes, a senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Rhodes serves as both the U.S. Euclid science lead and the NASA JPL Roman project scientist. “This takes a lot of work and planning, so it really has to be something with a high impact for science. Adding Euclid’s snapshot to Roman’s future survey will help us map our galaxy better and identify hard-to-find cosmic treasures like isolated ****** holes and rogue planets more easily.” Euclid took one day out from its six-year prime mission to preview the area of sky that will be targeted by Roman’s Galactic Bulge Time-Domain Survey, which will provide one of the deepest views ever into the center of our galaxy. Though Euclid’s one-time observation is shallower and lacks some of the color detail Roman will see, it has similar resolution and covers a larger region — about 5 square degrees, or the sky area covered by about 25 full moons — since Roman’s survey area hadn’t yet been determined when the observation took place in March 2025. This artist’s concept outlines the areas of the galactic core covered by Euclid (orange) and the future survey area of the Roman telescope (green). The Euclid observations more than cover Roman’s planned survey area because the Roman coverage wasn’t yet set in stone when Euclid imaged the area. The only exception is the portion right in the galactic center since Euclid’s visible light observations can’t pierce the thick dust in this region like Roman’s infrared vision will. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Over the course of its five-year primary mission, Roman will repeatedly image a smaller region (1.7 square degrees, or roughly the sky area covered by 8.5 full moons) to watch how hundreds of millions of stars and other objects change over short time periods. Monitoring these changes will reveal hordes of new planets, along with many other cosmic objects and phenomena. Stitching Euclid’s observation onto the front end of Roman’s collection will essentially extend the survey by two years (since Roman’s galactic bulge observations are set to begin in spring 2027), making even more science possible. Mining hidden gems Roman will watch for tiny surges in starlight that herald a microlensing event. This light-bending phenomenon occurs when a massive object like a star, planet, or ****** hole — any object with sufficient gravity — closely aligns with a background star from our vantage point. Light from the distant star curves as it travels through the warped space-time caused by the nearer object’s mass. This image from Euclid (with color added using ground-based images) zooms in on the center of our Milky Way galaxy. The region gets its golden tone from myriad old, cool stars that have yellowish hues. Stars in this region are heavily crowded, so observing in this direction increases the likelihood of catching microlensing events. ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, CFHT, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre and E. Bertin (CEA Paris-Saclay) If the alignment is especially close, the nearer object acts like a cosmic lens, focusing and magnifying light from the background star. “Most often, the lensing object is another star,” said Matthew Penny, an assistant professor at Louisiana State University, and co-lead of Euclid’s exoplanet science working group who has spent more than a decade simulating both Euclid and Roman data. “But Roman will also be able to detect planets orbiting them, and all kinds of weird objects that are nearly impossible to find any other way.” Among those strange objects are ****** holes left behind after the most massive stars die. Astronomers think there should be about 100 million of these stellar-mass ****** holes in the Milky Way, but so far they’ve almost exclusively detected the invisible objects when they interact with a companion star. Yet most are thought to wander the galaxy alone. Roman will find them even when there’s nothing nearby to reveal their presence. While microlensing events created by planets are typically hours or days long, ****** holes pack in so much mass that they can bend light over a larger region of space, creating much longer signals. That means astronomers may need to observe them for years to see the objects move out of alignment. “The extra two years provided by Euclid give astronomers more time to watch the lens and source star drift apart, making it easier to identify the lens and measure its mass,” said Himanshu Verma, a postdoctoral researcher at Louisiana State University who has been analyzing Euclid images to help scientists predict and better understand the microlensing events Roman is expected to observe. This image from the Advanced Camera for Surveys instrument on NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope is part of a 1.1-square-degree survey of the center of the Milky Way. Hubble’s full survey, which is made up of more than 350 individual images taken across about 14 months, is smaller but higher resolution than ESA’s Euclid observations and both overlap with the area Roman will cover. By capturing preview images years before Roman begins its microlensing search, Hubble and Euclid provide early reference points that will help astronomers measure the motions of stars and better characterize the planets and other objects Roman discovers.Adapted from Terry et al. 2026 While most planet-hunting methods are best at finding scorching worlds tightly hugging their host star, microlensing is better at detecting worlds in orbits larger than Earth’s. That includes planets that whirl around their stars farther away than Neptune orbits the Sun and ones that have been kicked out of their original star systems altogether, now destined to roam the galaxy all alone. “When Roman finds them, astronomers will be able to cross-reference Euclid’s earlier observations to look for stars near the lensing object, so we can confirm whether a planet is truly rogue or just orbiting very far from its host star,” said David Bennett, a senior research scientist and microlensing expert at the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Milky Way mapping Scientists will also pair Euclid data with Roman’s Galactic Plane Survey. This observation program will reveal our home galaxy in unprecedented detail over an area about 400 times larger than the galactic bulge survey. In one month of observations spread across two years, the Roman survey will unveil tens of billions of stars and explore previously uncharted structures. It’s tricky to study our own galaxy because it’s like trying to map the human body from inside a cell; there’s a lot of stuff in the way. Combining Euclid’s observations with Roman’s will let astronomers watch stars slowly move across the sky. Since stars in different parts of the Milky Way tend to follow different paths, this will help astronomers figure out which part of the galaxy those stars are in. “One of the most exciting aspects of the Euclid observations is that they give us the chance to test and improve Milky Way models,” Penny said. Euclid’s one-day detour offers a scientific payout that will last for years and shows how much more can emerge when telescopes team up. “We’ve shown that these two telescopes can work together to do science that surpasses what either was originally designed for,” Rhodes said. “In doing so, we’ve established a model for future coordinated observations that can unlock far more discoveries than either mission could make alone.” To learn more about the Roman mission, visit: [Hidden Content] Media contact: Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. 301-286-1940 About the AuthorAshley BalzerAshley is the lead science writer for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Share Details Last Updated Jun 24, 2026 EditorAshley BalzerContactAshley Balzer*****@*****.tldLocationGoddard Space Flight Center Related TermsNancy Grace Roman Space Telescope****** HolesExoplanetsGoddard Space Flight CenterStarsStellar-mass ****** HolesThe Universe Explore More 7 min read Journey to Center of Milky Way With Upcoming NASA Roman Core Survey Article 5 months ago 6 min read Why NASA’s Roman Mission Will Study Milky Way’s Flickering Lights Article 3 years ago 6 min read NASA’s Roman Mission Preps to Unveil New Populations of Faraway Worlds Article 4 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

5 Min Read Career Spotlight: Electrician (Ages 14-18) What does an electrician do? Electricity powers the world, and electricians are the ones who get it where it needs to go. An electrician is an expert who is trained to make sure electrical systems and equipment are installed safely and working correctly. Electricians are involved in a variety of systems, including power, lighting, communications, and more – anything that needs electricity to run. While electricians ensure systems and equipment have the power they need, electrical technicians focus on building, modifying, or testing electronic devices. What are some of the different types of work electricians and electrical technicians do at NASA? At NASA, electricians keep the lights on and the power flowing for rocket launches, scientific research, and everything in between. Their skills support engineers and scientists in building and testing spacecraft, aircraft, satellites, telescopes, and the equipment that makes human spaceflight possible. Electricians make sure all facilities and equipment have the power and functionality they need to be safe and ready to support NASA’s missions. Electrical technicians at the agency help bring big ideas to life. They might build and wire control systems, connect tiny sensors to circuit boards, or write the software to make a device work in a specific way. They also test instruments in conditions that mimic space – extreme temperatures, intense vibrations, and even a vacuum – to make sure they will survive and perform well during their missions. Technicians use specialized tools, earn certifications, and work with incredible precision. Being an electrician or electrical technician at NASA is careful, hands‑on work carried out with expertise. Because space hardware is headed to places like low-Earth orbit, the Moon, or even Mars, every detail has to be perfect. What are the different certification levels for electricians? The information below is a general overview of the career path of an electrician. Specific guidelines for these roles vary from state to state. It’s important to look up the license requirements in your state. Apprentice electrician: This four-year job training program provides an entry into the industry. An apprentice works as an assistant to an experienced supervisor, gaining vital hands-on experience to move ahead as an electrician. Journeyman electrician: A journeyman is an electrician who has finished an apprenticeship, then passed a test. At this stage, the electrician is licensed and allowed to work without supervision. Master electrician: This is the highest certification possible for an electrician. Typically, a master electrician is someone who has completed approximately 4,000 hours as a journeyman, then passed a licensing exam. These electricians are qualified to work on complicated projects. They can also serve as supervisors for apprentices or journeymen following in their footsteps. How can I become an electrician? There are many options that provide the training needed to get started as an electrician or electrical technician. Many community colleges, trade schools, and technical institutes offer a two-year program leading to an associate degree in electrical technology. Additionally, trade unions and apprenticeship programs provide real-world experience in the field. Additionally, all branches of the U.S. military offer electronics training that may be transferrable to college credits or civilian certifications. How can I start preparing today to become an electrician? It’s never too early to set the stage for an electrifying career! In high school, you can take courses in math, science, and technical education. At the same time, you can start learning about basic electrical concepts such as circuitry and safety. Begin researching associate degree programs and apprenticeship opportunities so you can consider which pathway seems right for you. Weighing these options now will help you understand program requirements and ensure you’re ready to take the next step. You can also gain useful experience through part-time work, or shadowing electricians on the job. What skills will I need to be a successful electrician? Technical skills focus on the basics – how electricity works, how to stay safe, and how to read schematics and wiring diagrams. Some jobs also call for special hands‑on abilities, like soldering tiny components, putting together cables, or even having some familiarity with chemistry. Being curious, open‑minded, and a good communicator matters, too. Any time you’re building or improving a device, you must understand who will use it and what they need it to do. Asking questions, sharing ideas, and being able to take feedback are essential to consistently building systems and devices that work well. David McClaeb, electronic technician, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland Advice from NASA electricians and electronic technicians “As an aerospace technician, you have the opportunity to make a big difference. You can make a really big impact.” – Christopher Johnson, aerospace electrical engineering technician, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida “What I wish I knew in high school is how many opportunities there are for electricians. I didn’t realize how big of a scale it really was. Everything needs electricity, and the sky’s the limit on what you can do with it. NASA needs electricians for everything from their testing campaigns to keeping their facilities running.” – Levi James, electrician apprentice, NASA’s Glenn Research Center at Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio “It’s so gratifying when somebody comes in and says, ‘Hey, we want to build this, but it looks really difficult,’ and we say, ‘Yeah, it looks difficult, but we can do it’ – and we build it and then we hand it over to them, and then we’re on to the next thing. It’s a challenge, and I’m telling you, it is just so fun.” – David McClaeb, electronic technician, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland Additional resources Occupational Outlook for Electricians: Pay, Education, Job Outlook, and More (From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) NASA Careers Career Spotlight: Welder Career Spotlight: Engineer Career Spotlight: Scientist Career Spotlight: Technologist Career Spotlight: Mathematician Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA For Students Grades 9-12 NASA STEM Opportunities and Activities For Students Next Gen STEM for Careers For Colleges and Universities View the full article

Curiosity Navigation Curiosity Home Mission Overview Where is Curiosity? Mission Updates Science Overview Instruments Highlights Exploration Goals News and Features Multimedia Curiosity Raw Images Images Videos Audio Mosaics More Resources Mars Missions Mars Perseverance Rover Mars Curiosity Rover Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mars Odyssey More Mars Missions Mars Home 4 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4927–4933: Let’s Drive to That Smooth Area NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image showing a breathtaking diversity of polygons, veins, and other textural features waiting for investigation by the Mars Science Laboratory team. Curiosity captured the image using its Left Navigation Camera on June 17, 2026 – Sol 4928, or Martian day 4,928 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission – at 17:47:52 UTC. NASA/JPL-Caltech By Susanne P. Schwenzer, Professor of Planetary Mineralogy at The Open University, *** Earth planning date: Thursday, June 18, 2026 In the area Curiosity is currently exploring, the science team has mapped several areas with different-looking surface texture on the orbital images. If you wanted to have a look yourself at what there is to see, check the “Where is Curiosity?” map. You’ll discover different shades of orange and beige as well as more rough and more smooth-looking textures. This is what the geomorphologists in our team use to map the areas for exploration by the rover. Of course, we then supplement this all with ground-based images, including bespoke “drive direction imaging,” which is taken after each drive by the Mast Camera. Drive planning is done using a combination of all this information. So there shouldn’t be any surprises, right? On Monday the team planned three sols in preparation for a Thursday planning to account for the U.S. federal holiday weekend. The workspace turned out to be a little spiky, so we could not find an area we could DRT. APXS still found one good bedrock target, “Rio Baker,” which also had MAHLI documentation. In addition, ChemCam investigated “Rica Aventura,” a textured bedrock, and “Tabebuia,” a darker-looking individual block, using its LIBS and conducted a passive spectral observation on a second dark float block called “Lago Ranco.” Of course, the team also wanted to look into the distance with ChemCam remote imaging, extending our investigation of the Cordillera base outcrop. Imaging is always high on the list. In Monday’s plan Mastcam is looking into the modern dunes with the “Tacaza” mosaic, and with more mosaics looking forward to the future parking areas, some of which looked really smooth from that vantage point. We also continue our environmental and atmospheric observations looking for dust devils, the opacity of the atmosphere, and monitoring pressure and temperature. After all this, the rover drove about 35 meters (about 115 feet) to an area that looked really smooth in all images we had available at that point. So we were hoping for a good spot to deploy the DRT, but didn’t think we could be in for a surprise. The drive ended exactly as planned, spot-on in the middle of that — from a distance — smooth-looking area. But when we opened the post-drive images on Thursday morning, we were all reacting with a lot of surprise. From up close, the parking spot looks anything but smooth. You can see the surprise in the title image of this blog. There are polygons, veins, lamination, and probably more, once we inspect the higher-resolution images taken today. “Higher-resolution” is the key for why we were in for such a surprise! The features are quite small, a few centimeters across, and therefore we could not see them in the orbital images or from a distance in our navigation and mast camera images. The camera resolution from a distance just isn’t enough to see them. But up close, the terrain revealed all its beauty! And I am sure there will be more in the even higher resolution of today’s MAHLI and ChemCam RMI imager images! So, what did we plan after we caught our breath on Thursday? First, you guessed it, images, images, and more images. Mastcam takes a full panorama with its “left eye” and adds a range of closer-up mosaics with its higher-resolution “right eye.” In addition there is a ChemCam Remote Micro Imager image to document structures further afield at high resolution. ChemCam is investigating three targets using LIBS: “Rio Chimore” is a lighter-toned band; you can see some of those in the cover image of this blog, too. The other two LIBS targets are “Rio de Lava,” a vein target, and “Rio de Salta,” one of the polygons. APXS is also looking at the bedrock and the ridges, at the targets “Pampa Grande” and “Iquique Ridge.” MAHLI is having the above-mentioned close “hand lens” look. Let’s see what we will discover when we get those images. Finally, Curiosity drove up the hill along very smooth-looking terrain that is just littered with tiny polygons. Let’s see if we are in for another surprise reverberating around all our offices — and across two continents, as I had the good fortune to be among the first ones, here in England (Or maybe it was our French ChemCam colleagues, who are in a time zone one hour ahead of me?). Whichever it is, this terrain has a lot to say about the geologic history of Mars! Want to read more posts from the Curiosity team? Visit Mission Updates Want to learn more about Curiosity’s science instruments? Visit the Science Instruments page NASA’s Curiosity rover at the base of Mount Sharp NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Share Details Last Updated Jun 24, 2026 Related Terms Blogs Explore More 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4920-4926: Surveying the Bands Article 5 days ago 3 min read Curiosity Blog: Sols 4913-4919: Planetary Explorers, Freewheeling to the Yardang Unit! Article 2 weeks ago 5 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4908-4912: Goodbye Campo Marte, It’s Been Fun! Article 3 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and the seventh largest. It’s the only planet we know of inhabited… All Mars Resources Explore this collection of Mars images, videos, resources, PDFs, and toolkits. Discover valuable content designed to inform, educate, and inspire,… Rover Basics Each robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a… Mars Exploration: Science Goals The key to understanding the past, present or future potential for life on Mars can be found in NASA’s four… View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Playing the Moon Game 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 Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search September 29, 2025 In preparing to visit the Moon’s surface, soon-to-be lunar explorers in NASA’s Apollo program first ventured into a variety of unfamiliar landscapes on Earth. A couple of these trips, in the summers of 1965 and 1966, took astronauts to Alaska’s remote Katmai National Park for simulations of field geology in Moon-like environments. In one exercise, which they called “playing the Moon game,” pairs of astronauts were placed at unfamiliar field sites and asked to pretend as if they were on the Moon. By the account of William Phinney, Apollo’s science training coordinator, they were tasked with collecting representative geologic samples and practicing how to communicate their observations to scientists. September 29, 2025 The Alaskan setting for the Moon game was an unusual volcanic landscape called the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. The valley is full of debris deposited by the 1912 eruption of Novarupta—the largest volcanic event on Earth in the 20th century. The images above, acquired on September 29, 2025, with the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 9, show the massive ash flow deposited by Novarupta. The layer measures up to 660 feet (200 meters) thick and was emplaced at a searing 1,380 degrees Fahrenheit (750 degrees Celsius). The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, shown in the 1917 photo below, is so named because of the abundance of fumaroles—gas and steam-emitting vents—that filled the valley for a decade after the eruption. A few hundred persisted more than 10 years, with some lasting until the 1990s. 1917 Scientists initially suspected that the monster eruption occurred at Mount Katmai, a neighboring volcano with a large caldera located 6 miles (10 kilometers) east of Novarupta’s dome. However, they later determined that the eruption actually occurred at Novarupta—whose name means “new eruption”—after stealing magma from beneath Katmai. As the magma chamber emptied, Katmai collapsed, forming the 2.5-mile-wide (4-kilometer-wide) caldera present today. The volcanic landscape in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is far fresher than the ancient lava flows that formed the Moon’s volcanic features. But for the Apollo astronauts, it offered an “excellent opportunity to view volcanic materials and landforms in nearly pristine condition,” Phinney wrote. They studied evidence of fumaroles and examined vertical sections of the deposits where streams had eroded deep gorges. June 9, 1991 Researchers continue to visit this Alaskan wilderness in search of clues that could help decipher the geology of the Moon and Mars. In 2024, the Goddard Instrument Field Team (GIFT) trekked to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes to study its icy volcanic landscape. Like the valley, Mars contains glaciers and ice sheets layered with dust and ash, a dynamic and difficult-to-interpret environment. Advancing lunar science, the GIFT team also collected samples from rock formations comparable to the Moon’s Gruithuisen Domes. These mysterious features are made of hardened lava with a different composition than the surrounding rock. With more to learn about our nearest celestial neighbor, the spirit of the Moon game lives on in the 21st century. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Photos from National Geographic Society Katmai expeditions photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage, and from the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program. Story by Lindsey Doermann. Downloads September 29, 2025 JPEG (2.64 MB) References & Resources NASA Lunar Volcanism. Accessed June 23, 2026. NASA (2024, August 24) Into The Field With NASA: Valley Of Ten Thousand Smokes. Accessed June 23, 2026. NASA (2015, November) Science Training History of the Apollo Astronauts. Accessed June 23, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2024, August 22) Under the Ash: Glacier Science at a Volcano. Accessed June 23, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2016, May 14) Katmai National Park, Alaska. Accessed June 23, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2012, June 9) Remembering a Monster Eruption. June 23, 2026. National Park Service (2023, April 18) Fumaroles. Accessed June 23, 2026. National Park Service (2021, August 24) Following in the Footsteps of Astronauts. Accessed June 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. Scoria Cones on Earth and Mars 7 min read The hill-shaped features are a sign of explosive volcanic activity—a rarity on the Red Planet. Article A Volcanic Medley Near Mammoth Lakes 4 min read A massive, old caldera and more recently formed craters shape the landscape in the eastern Sierra Nevada. Article Restless Kīlauea Launches Lava and Ash 3 min read Episode 43 of the Hawaiian volcano’s current eruption was marked by high lava fountains and widespread ash dispersal. Article 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

Official NASA portrait of Sean Gallagher Credit: NASA NASA has selected Sean Gallagher as the agency’s chief information officer (CIO). In this role, he is responsible for the agency’s entire portfolio of Information Technology products and services. Gallagher has been serving in an acting capacity since January and his permanent role is effective immediately. “Sean Gallagher’s leadership has been instrumental in strengthening NASA’s IT foundation and ensuring our workforce has the secure, modern tools needed to enable groundbreaking missions every day,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson. “As CIO, Sean will continue advancing the agency’s technology capabilities to support discovery, innovation, and mission success across NASA.” Most recently, Gallagher also has served as the deputy chief information officer for Operations in the Office of the Chief Information Officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington, as well as a senior advisor for Transformation. This team provides services to tens of thousands of end users located in the U.S. and abroad in support of NASA missions, enabling discoveries, faster data sharing, increased workforce productivity, and more. Gallagher has worked with all NASA centers to implement efficient and effective IT operating models. Previously, Gallagher was the CIO of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, leading IT initiatives for aeronautics, space, research and engineering, and test missions. He joined NASA in 2012 as Glenn’s deputy CIO and previously worked at Booz Allen Hamilton as a senior associate supporting a variety of federal, defense, and commercial customers. Gallagher developed his leadership and management experience as a Signal Corps officer in the United States Army. He also served as a platoon leader managing the combat service support readiness of a tactical communications unit, a human resource manager for the 40th Signal Battalion, and as a network engineer for the 11th Signal Brigade. He has a bachelor’s degree in physics from John Carroll University and a master’s degree in computer information systems from the University of Phoenix. For more information about NASA’s missions, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Camille Gallo / Cheryl Warner Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Jun 23, 2026 EditorJennifer M. DoorenLocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsNASA Headquarters View the full article

NASA’s Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition program (CSDA) announced contract awards with eight commercial satellite data providers offering a range of data types to support the agency’s Earth science research and application goals. The CSDA program On-Ramp 2 Multiple Award contract is a firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) multiple-award contract with a maximum cumulative value of $476 million and a performance ******* through November 2028. The CSDA IDIQ contract includes an on‑ramp provision that allows NASA to periodically reopen the solicitation, giving new vendors the opportunity to submit proposals. This mechanism also enables existing CSDA vendors to propose new data products, whether newly developed or derived from new instruments, that were not available during the original proposal *******. Newly Added Contract Holders Vendor Sensor HydroSat Thermal Infrared Ororatech Thermal Infrared (Medium Wave Infrared (MWIR) and Longwave Infrared (LWIR)) ImageSat Optical Multispectral Instrument (MSI) Satlantis Optical MSI / Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Kuva Space Hyperspectral (Visible and Near-Infrared (VNIR) and Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) Wyvern Hyperspectral Orbital Sidekick Hyperspectral (VNIR-SWIR) Muon Space Global Navigation Satellite System – Radar (GNSS-R) Current CSDA Contract Holders with New Products Vendor Sensor Airbus Optical MSI / Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) ICEYE SAR GHGSat GHG Emissions Planet Labs Optical MSI / Hyperspectral PlanetiQ Global Navigation Satellite System – Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) Tomorrow.io Microwave Sounder “NASA’s Earth science community relies on a diverse suite of observations from spaceborne, airborne, and in situ assets to better understand our changing planet,” said CSDA Project Manager Dana Ostrenga. “The commercial providers added through this latest CSDA contract on-ramp complement NASA’s existing Earth observation capabilities and our current portfolio of commercial partners, expanding the range of data available for evaluation and use. Together, these observations provide researchers with a more comprehensive view of Earth’s atmosphere, land, oceans, cryosphere, and solid Earth, helping advance scientific discovery and applications that benefit our communities.” Following issuance of the contract awards, the selected vendors’ data products will be made available to authorized CSDA data users via the Satellite Data Explorer (SDX), CSDA’s web-based data discovery and data access tool that allows approved users to search, discover, access, task, and download the data the program has acquired from its commercial partners. The Vendor Selection Process The award process begins with the CSDA issuing a request for proposals that is posted on Sam.gov, the U.S. government’s official system for managing federal contract proposals. Interested companies then submit proposals to enter into an IDIQ contract with CSDA. A Solicitation Evaluation Board is formed to determine whether the proposals are competitive and meet the CSDA’s technical requirements for continuous observations, orbit platforms, and data that aligns with NASA Earth Science Division (ESD) goals. The CSDA makes its selections from the proposals that meet the requirements and then submits them to NASA leadership for approval. Once approved, the contracts are then awarded and the companies are able to get their data evaluated by CSDA. Once the evaluations are complete, the commercial data providers can then compete for competitive task orders through CSDA. About the CSDA Program NASA’s Earth Science Division (ESD) established the CSDA Program as the agency’s central mechanism for identifying, acquiring, and evaluating commercial Earth observation (EO) data. The program augments NASA’s and partner agencies’ Earth-observing capabilities by acquiring commercial satellite data that offer higher spatial resolution, increased revisit frequency, complementary measurement capabilities, and taskable observations. To learn more about the program, its commercial partners, data evaluation process, and more, visit the CSDA website. Become an Authorized Data User Commercial data discoverable through the SDX is made available to CSDA authorized data users. To become an authorized user, fill out the CSDA Program Data Authorization Form. Note: Use of SDX also requires an Earthdata Login. View the full article

58th Girl Scouts Unite Event, July 23-25, 2026 Join NASA in the Exhibit Hall (Booth #206) for Hyperwall Storytelling by NASA experts. Full Hyperwall Agenda below. Thursday, July 23 11:00AM – 11:15 AM From Daisy to NASA Engineer Barbara Hilton 11:15AM – 11:30 AM Exploring Mars, The Planet Next Door Lindsay Hays 11:30AM – 11:45 AM Get Ready With Me: Going to the Moon Naoma McCall 11:45Am – 12:00 PM NASA Is for Everyone! (talk about careers at NASA beyond science and engineering) Amy Kaminski 12:00PM – 12:15 PM Finding Asteroids Before They Find Us: Planetary Defense at NASA Kelly Fast 2:15 PM – 2:30 PM How to Nerd Your Way Into Science Communications Karen Romano Young 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM Earth: Exploring our home planet is a team effort Lesley Ott 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM TBD Jenny Mottar 3:00 PM – 3:15 PM The Journey Starts HERE: One CREW, Your HOME, Our MISSION Kaitlin Harbeck 3:15 PM – 3:30PM TBD – Artemis Overview Dominique Brewer 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM Social Media… For Science! Sofie Bates : View the full article

2 min read 2026 ALA Hyperwall Schedule American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference, June 25-29, 2026 Join NASA in the Exhibit Hall (Booth #2243) for Hyperwall Storytelling by NASA experts. Full Hyperwall Agenda below. FRIDAY, JUNE 26 5:45 PM ——Roman Space Telescope Quiz! —— Peter Sooy 6:00 PM ——NASA’s Next Flagship is Launching Soon! Share in the Excitement with Roman Community Events —— Martha Irene Saladino 6:15 PM ——Open Science Resources for Libraries ——Amanda Adams 6:30 PM ——Launching NASA Earth Science Exhibits in Libraries Across America ——Eleanor Stokes 6:45 PM ——NASA Citizen Science Projects——Sarah Kirn SATURDAY, JUNE 27 10:00 AM——Heliophysics Jeopardy!——Erin Mahoney 10:15 AM——NASA’s Next Flagship is Launching Soon! Share in the Excitement with Roman Community Events——Martha Irene Saladino 10:30 AM——Nancy Grace Roman: The Person——Courtney Lee 10:45 AM——Cosmic Canvas: Exploring the Process of Science Through Art and Astronomy——Tim Rhue 12:30 PM——Roman Space Telescope Quiz! —— Peter Sooy 1:00 PM——“Our Friend Orion” Children’s Book Reading——Lane Polak 2:30 PM——Heliophysics Jeopardy!——Erin Mahoney 3:00 PM——”The Adventure of Echo the Bat” Book Reading——Ginger Butcher 3:30 PM——Bring a NASA Solar System Ambassador to YOUR Library!——Danielle Diamond 3:45 PM——Journey Through the Heliosphere: The Sun-Earth System in Color——Christine Milotte SUNDAY, JUNE 28 10:00 AM——Webb Space Telescope Quiz!——Peter Sooy 10:15 AM——Journey Through the Heliosphere: The Sun-Earth System in Color——Christine Milottet 10:30 AM——Science Explorer (SciX) Demo——Daniel Chivvis 10:45 AM——NASA Data and Open Science Quiz!——Adam Farragut 12:30 PM——Heliophysics Jeopardy!——Erin Mahoney 1:00 PM——“There and Back with EGS” Children’s Book Reading——Lane Polak 2:30 PM——Real NASA Research Projects Open to Everyone——Sarah Kirn 3:00 PM——Cosmic Canvas: Exploring the Process of Science Through Art and Astronomy——Tim Rhue 3:30 PM——NASA’s Next Flagship is Launching Soon! Share in the Excitement with Roman Community Events—— Martha Irene Saladino 3:45 PM——Journey Through the Heliosphere: The Sun-Earth System in Color——Milotte MONDAY, JUNE 29 9:45 AM——Webb Space Telescope Quiz!——Peter Sooy 10:00 AM——“Hooray for SLS” Children’s——Lane Polak 10:30 AM——Bring a NASA Solar System Ambassador to YOUR Library!——Mark Benson View the full article

3 Min Read This is How NASA Flight Tests New Technology An F-15 aircraft flies above the world’s largest compass rose above NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Monday, April 20, 2026. NASA’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) test article is attached to the bottom of the F-15. The project aims to lower fuel costs for future commercial aircraft by testing a scale-model wing designed to improve laminar flow. Credits: NASA/Jim Ross Flight tests are a big part of how NASA turns breakthrough ideas into reality. From flying humans faster than the speed of sound to proving designs that helped shape the space shuttle, flight testing transforms bold concepts into safer, more efficient technologies that benefit the public. “Flight tests are a way to safely and effectively prove new technology, which helps certification authorities certify equipment,” said Wayne Ringelberg, chief pilot at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. “It helps industry iterate and make systems better, and it promotes research in areas where new ideas can be developed.” For nearly 80 years, teams at NASA Armstrong have used flight testing in the Southern California desert to push the limits of aerodynamics and advance aviation. Thanks to that work, NASA-developed innovations are aboard every U.S. commercial aircraft and inside every control tower today. “The space side of NASA uses flight test, too. Every mission, like Artemis II, is never routine,” Ringelberg said. “Everything we’re doing when flying a test mission is something new or different.” NASA test pilots Jim Less, left, and Nils Larson walk away from a hangar at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2026. The pilots support the agency’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) project, which aims to lower fuel costs for future commercial aircraft by testing a scale-model wing designed to improve laminar flow.NASA/Christopher LC Clark Every NASA test flight — whether it’s studying new software, hardware, or the revolutionary technology of an experimental X-plane — relies on engineers, researchers, pilots, maintenance crew, control room operators, and many others working together. “Experienced operators and engineers evaluate how things work in flight,” Ringelberg said. “Most new technologies are designed to work in a lab or can be tested in a wind tunnel or other facility, but you never really know how they’ll perform until you fly them.” Preflight tests often include computer analysis, simulation, wind tunnel testing, and ground tests focused on an aircraft’s ability to withstand the forces of flight and the environments through which it may fly. After hardware or software is deemed safe to fly, researchers turn the mission over to the flight test team. To support testing, NASA Armstrong maintains an aircraft fleet modified to create space for new hardware or instruments, as well as the ability to integrate new software. These aircraft are flying laboratories, and pilots are trained to accomplish experimental missions. An F-15 research aircraft sits on the ramp at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. NASA pilots Jim Less, front seat, and Carrie Worth prepare for the flight. The agency’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) test article is attached to the bottom of the F-15. The project aims to lower fuel costs for future commercial aircraft by testing a scale-model wing designed to improve laminar flow.NASA/Carla Escamilla For example, flight testing recently helped NASA gather critical data on laminar flow, or the smooth flow of air, over a wing. The work could lower fuel costs for future airliners. Computer modeling, wind tunnel tests, and other methods helped advance the research, but to find out even more about how the wing concept could reduce drag for future airliners, NASA used a scale model in actual flight. NASA researchers strapped the Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) model wing to the belly of one of NASA Armstrong’s F-15s. The arrangement allowed them to collect all the information they would need without doing the extensive, costly modifications required to install a full-scale wing on an aircraft. After a flight series is complete, engineers and researchers analyze the data. Did the instrument work as designed? Did the experimental aircraft perform safely at a high altitude? Did the software operate as planned? Each test raises its own set of questions to evaluate. NASA continues working with academia, the Department of War, and industry partners to advance U.S. aviation through flight test and bring new benefits to the flying public. Share Details Last Updated Jun 22, 2026 EditorDede DiniusContactTeresa Whiting*****@*****.tld Related TermsArmstrong Flight Research CenterAeronauticsFlight InnovationNASA AircraftSupersonic Flight Explore More 9 min read ARMD Research Solicitations (Updated June 23) Article 1 hour ago 3 min read NASA’s Experimental Fabrication Branch Fuels Aircraft Innovation Article 23 hours ago 5 min read NASA, USGS Scientists Go Rock Hounding in California’s High Desert Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

The Moon’s rocky, uneven, and otherworldly surface features are highlighted by the terminator – the difference between light and darkness.NASA The Moon appears half-illuminated in this photo captured by the Artemis II crew on flight day 6. The terminator – the difference between light and darkness – provides a stark contrast and even greater perspective of the Moon’s rocky, uneven, and otherworldly surface features. The near side, which is what we can see from Earth, appears in the dark gray regions at the top of this image. Revisit imagery from the Artemis II mission. Image credit: NASA View the full article

4 Min Read I Am Artemis: Jason Peterson NASA’s Jason Peterson is the range operations manager at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. For Artemis II, he supported the team responsible for delivering video and communication feeds for launch and splashdown. Credits: NASA/Danny Nowlin Jason Peterson’s responsibilities for NASA’s Artemis II mission went beyond his usual role as the range operations manager at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. For Peterson, working at NASA is a surreal full-circle moment. “I grew up in DeLisle, Mississippi, right down the road from NASA,” said Peterson. “You would hear NASA testing, the windows would shake, and you knew they were out there. Not in a million years would I have ever dreamed I would work with NASA.” His career journey took a few turns before reaching the space agency. “I got out of school, welded, went to college and then to the Air Force. The path to NASA really started to develop from there,” said Peterson. Peterson spent 24 years in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, working in airfield and air-to-ground range operations, followed by a few years working as an aircraft dispatcher at Airbus Final Assembly Line. Peterson credits his military experience with preparing him for the 12-to-16-hour workdays that helped bring the Artemis II test flight around the Moon and into view for audiences around the world. He supported the team responsible for delivering video and communication feeds for the launch of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Artemis II crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, and then splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. During the nearly 10-day mission, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (********* Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen completed a record-setting lunar flyby, taking them 252,756 miles at their farthest distance from Earth. Aboard the USS John P. Murtha, Peterson was the first on the ship to spot the capsule returning with the crew. “The sonic ***** was the moment it truly hit me. Even though I was tracking the capsule, it did not fully register until then. Chills went down my neck and back. You realize our astronauts are coming home. It was an incredible and emotional moment.” JASON PETERSON Range Operations Manager for NASA Stennis Jason Peterson, NASA Stennis range operations manager, is shown with the Orion spacecraft aboard the USS John P. Murtha on April 13, 2026. Peterson was the first to spot the capsule returning with the Artemis II crew as he supported the team responsible for delivering video and communication feeds during splashdown operations. Credits: NASANASA Peterson operated one of six cameras providing live coverage by using a high‑resolution, multi‑sensor system with thermal capabilities. Using the ship’s heading and Orion’s predicted trajectory, he located the capsule within minutes and began tracking it. Orion entered Earth’s atmosphere at about 400,000 feet above the planet’s surface, traveling nearly 35 times the speed of sound and about 1,956 statute miles from its splashdown point off the coast of California. Peterson tracked Orion from the release of the small parachutes that first slow and steady the capsule, through the main parachutes opening, and all the way to splashdown. “You are fully locked in, keeping it centered, in focus, and steady,” said Peterson. Peterson’s focus on the mission began weeks earlier at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the days leading to launch, Peterson worked with the team running full systems checks, staging communications gear, and preparing drones and fixed‑wing camera assets. He helped configure and operate the systems that ensured live video flowed from the launch pad, the crowds, and surrounding air and ground platforms. On April 1, the launch day of Artemis II, the team unloaded and set up high‑resolution sensors, connection terminals, routers, monitors, fiber lines, and drone equipment. They flew drones to capture crowd scenes and aerial views before liftoff. As the SLS rocket launched, Peterson’s full attention was on positioning the drone and maintaining the shot. “There is not much time to step back and take in the moment, as you are concentrating on precision,” said Peterson. As the mission got underway, Peterson and the team packed up, returned to the facility, and downloaded the day’s footage. The Artemis II crew were more than halfway to the Moon as Peterson arrived in San Diego on April 4. In the days leading to splashdown, the team loaded and installed high‑fidelity cameras and supporting equipment, all to help the world witness a historic milestone when the Artemis II crew returned to Earth on April 10. Next up will be Artemis III. NASA will launch four astronauts from NASA Kennedy aboard the Orion spacecraft on the SLS rocket. Building on the successful Artemis II crewed test flight in April, Artemis III will pave the way for future surface missions, with experts like Peterson helping every step of the way. About the AuthorBo ******Communications Strategist Share Details Last Updated Jun 23, 2026 EditorCatherine Ragin Williams Related TermsHumans in SpaceArtemisArtemis 2I Am Artemis Explore More 2 min read NASA Astronauts to Answer Questions from New Jersey Students Article 1 week ago 3 min read I Am Artemis: Elkin Norena Article 2 weeks ago 5 min read NASA’s Artemis II Moon Mission Research Continues on Earth Results from Artemis II’s science investigations will help support safe human exploration of deep space… Article 3 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

Share Details Last Updated Jun 23, 2026 Editor Andrea Gianopoulos Location NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Contact Media Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland *****@*****.tld Claire Blome, Christine Pulliam Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland Related Terms Hubble Space Telescope Astrophysics Astrophysics Division Galaxies Goddard Space Flight Center James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Origin & Evolution of the Universe Related Links and Documents The science paper by Ilias Goovaerts et al. This release on the ESA/Hubble website.

Share Details Last Updated Jun 23, 2026 Location NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Contact Media Laura Betz NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland laura.e*****@*****.tld Abigail Major Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland Christine Pulliam Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland Related Terms James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Astrophysics Galaxies Goddard Space Flight Center Science & Research The Universe

Explore More 2 min read Frontiers Forum Speaker Series Article 1 week ago 3 min read NASA’s Career Technical Education Day Highlights Technical Careers Article 2 weeks ago 6 min read Spacewalking With Scott Wray, Artemis EVA Training Lead Article 3 weeks ago View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Rising Waters Swamp Lake Naivasha 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 Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search January 30, 2010 January 26, 2026 Lake Naivasha’s area grew substantially between 2010 (left) and 2026 (right), as seen in these images captured by the TM (Thematic Mapper) on Landsat 5 and OLI (Operational Land Imager) and Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin Lake Naivasha’s area grew substantially between 2010 (left) and 2026 (right), as seen in these images captured by the TM (Thematic Mapper) on Landsat 5 and OLI (Operational Land Imager) and Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin January 30, 2010January 26, 2026 Lake Naivasha’s area grew substantially between 2010 (left) and 2026 (right), as seen in these images captured by the TM (Thematic Mapper) on Landsat 5 and OLI (Operational Land Imager) and Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin Lake Naivasha’s area grew substantially between 2010 (left) and 2026 (right), as seen in these images captured by the TM (Thematic Mapper) on Landsat 5 and OLI (Operational Land Imager) and Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin January 30, 2010 January 26, 2026 CurtainToggle2-Up Image Details Lake Naivasha’s area grew substantially between 2010 (left) and 2026 (right), as seen in these images captured by the TM (Thematic Mapper) on Landsat 5 and OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 9. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin. Kenya’s Lake Naivasha has long been a place of change and reinvention. In precolonial times, the nomadic Maasai people used the lake and surrounding grasslands to water and raise cattle during the dry season. The Maasai were eventually displaced by British colonists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including a group of free-thinking aristocrats who arrived in large numbers in the 1920s through 1940s. Known as the Happy Valley set, these newcomers cultivated lavish estates and were notorious for reveling in a culture of excess. Their influence faded in the 1950s and 1960s amid scandal and the overthrow of colonial rule, allowing the area to transform into a center of wildlife tourism, flower farming, and geothermal energy production. Now the lake faces another major change: rapidly fluctuating water levels. The name Naivasha comes from a Maasai word meaning “that which heaves,” an apt description of the freshwater lake over the past 25 years. Satellite altimetry measurements of the lake’s depth indicate an increase of about 7 meters (23 feet) since 2010, roughly the height of a two-story building. Over the same *******, Landsat observed a roughly 40 percent increase in the lake’s area, adding 50 square kilometers (19 square miles) of water, equivalent to roughly 15 Central Parks. Altimeters on Jason-2, Jason-3, and Sentinel-6 measured up to a 7-meter (23-foot) increase in water levels at Lake Naivasha between 2010 and 2026. NASA Earth Observatory/Lauren Dauphin The human and economic toll of the rising water levels is considerable, said Mathew Herrnegger, a hydrologist at BOKU University in Vienna, Austria. Homes, flower farms, and roads along the shores have all flooded in recent years, displacing large numbers of people. Lake Oloidien, once a separate lake, has effectively merged with Naivasha, bringing an influx of saline, alkaline water to Naivasha’s freshwater system. The Landsat images above compare the same area in January 2010 (left) and January 2026 (right), illustrating the scope of the changes. Neighborhoods in the southwestern part of the town of Naivasha have been particularly hard hit. Flooding has been widespread in the neighborhood of Kihoto, with entire town blocks inundated, including police stations, churches, hotels, restaurants, electrical power substations, and sewer systems. “Increased rainfall is the primary driver,” Herrnegger said. Mean annual rainfall rose by about 30 percent between 2010 and 2020 compared to the preceding decade, with a 318 percent increase in high-intensity rainfall, he said. Because the lake lies in a closed basin and has no surface outflow, it is especially sensitive to even modest changes in the water balance. Herrnegger and colleagues estimate that a 0.4–2.0 percent increase in annual rainfall is sufficient to explain the dramatic rises. “It is a system that, once tipped, responds strongly,” he said. The flower industry around the lake, which produces hundreds of millions of dollars in exports per year, is losing greenhouses, farmland, packing sheds, and worker housing on a significant scale. In communities such as Sulmac Village, Karagita, and Kasarani, many greenhouses that just a decade ago were set back a kilometer or more from the water now have lakeshore views. Crescent Island—once a peninsula along the lake’s southern shore near several former Happy Valley estates and country clubs—is now primarily a game sanctuary and wildlife tourism destination. Hundreds of hippos live in the lake, and people, especially commercial fishermen, are encountering them with more frequency as waters rise. The images also show the expansion of aquatic vegetation, especially water hyacinth. Remote sensing scientists and journalists have documented a rapid proliferation of the plant over the past two decades, which has interfered with fishing and tourism and possibly contributed to the lake’s rising water levels by slowing evaporation. Other researchers have pointed to tectonic influences changing the rate of groundwater recharge into the lake as a possible contributing factor. In addition, the accumulation of sediment may be filling shallow areas and reshaping the lake floor such that water levels may be rising and increasing the lake extent even though the volume of water held by the lake may be unchanged, explained Jamie Shutler, a professor of earth and environmental science at the University of Exeter in England. “Given the large number of people who rely on this lake for food and their livelihoods, the change we’re seeing from the satellite imagery combined with the stories of displacement is alarming,” Shutler said. “We need more research to assess exactly how much the volume of water is changing each year and why.” NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and water level data from Global Water Measurements. Story by Adam Voiland. Downloads January 30, 2010 JPEG (2.65 MB) January 26, 2026 JPEG (2.65 MB) References & Resources Africa is a Country (2026) The human cost of Kenya’s expanding lakes. Accessed June 18, 2026. Aguta, P., et al. (2018) An Assessment of the Role of Water Hyacinth in the Water Level Changes of Lake Naivasha Using GIS and Remote Sensing. American Journal of Remote Sensing, 6(2), 74-88. Al Jazeera (2025, November 20) Kenyan lake flood displaces thousands, ruins homes and schools. Accessed June 18, 2026. AP News (2025, December 22) Scientists and data explain why Kenya’s lakes are rising as thousands face an uncertain future. Accessed June 18, 2026. Daily Nation (2026, January 7) Sh81bn at risk as climate crisis drowns flower farms. Accessed June 18, 2026. Freshwater Biological Association (2024, November 13) The sad tale of Lake Naivasha, Kenya; a mountain of underused knowledge. Accessed June 18, 2026. The Guardian (2022, March 17) A drowning world: Kenya’s quiet slide underwater. Accessed June 18, 2026. Guto, K.C., et al. (2023) Seasonal variations of water quality parameters and their effect on the phytoplankton along a salinity in the Lake Naivasha-Oloiden. Accessed June 18, 2026. Herrnegger, M., et al. (2021) Hydroclimatic analysis of rising water levels in the Great Rift Valley Lakes of Kenya. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 36,100857. NASA Earth Observatory (2020, September 7) Rising Waters on Kenya’s Great Rift Valley Lakes. Accessed June 18, 2026. National Geographic (2021, January 21) Human-hippo conflicts are exploding in this pristine patch of Kenya. Accessed June 18, 2026. Republic of Kenya (2021) Water Levels In Kenya’s Rift Valley. Accessed June 18, 2026. SEI (2023, May 1) Revisiting the rising Rift Valley lakes: a glimpse into Kihoto’s struggles. Accessed June 18, 2026. The Standard (2025, December 10) How water hyacinth has paralyzed fishing activities in Lake Naivasha. Accessed June 18, 2026. Utterly Interesting, The Happy Valley Set: Colonial Debauchery in Kenya’s Highlands. Accessed June 18, 2026. Walker, D., et al. (2022) Quantifying water storage within the north of Lake Naivasha using sonar remote sensing and Landsat satellite data. Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology, 22(1), 12-20. 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 Most Unusual Lake 4 min read Lake Unter-See in Antarctica, sealed beneath thick ice, has unusual water chemistry and cone-shaped microbial structures resembling some of Earth’s… Article Farming in Ancient Lake Agassiz 3 min read The glacial lake left a layer of silt and clay in southeastern Manitoba, creating fertile farmland that was divided during… Article Low Water at San Carlos Reservoir 4 min read Drought and water releases drained the Arizona reservoir to levels that have led to widespread fish deaths. 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

Credit: NASA NASA will begin processing the awards of multiple contracts for the Solutions for Enterprise‑wide Procurement (SEWP) VI Government-wide Acquisition Contract. The contract provides streamlined access to commercial products and services, including hardware, software, cloud services, cybersecurity tools, engineering and consulting services, and data intensive mission support capabilities. This competitive acquisition was conducted within three categories: Category A, IT Solutions; Category B, Enterprise-wide IT Service Solutions; and Category C, IT Mission-Based Services. A full list of SEWP VI awardees and additional program details are available at: [Hidden Content] All awards are indefinite‑delivery/indefinite‑quantity contracts with the ability to issue firm‑fixed‑price, labor‑hour, time‑and‑materials, and other pricing arrangement task orders. The effective ordering ******* is 10 years, beginning Nov. 1, through Oct. 31, 2036, and each contract has a maximum value of $20 billion. For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Jennifer Dooren / Jessica Taveau Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld View the full article

2 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia is scheduled to launch a sounding rocket carrying student-developed experiments for the agency’s RockSatX and RockOn programs Wednesday, June 24, between 5:30 and 9:30 a.m. EDT, with a backup day on Thursday, June 25. Students watch as their experiments launch aboard a sounding rocket for the RockSat-X program from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Aug. 11, 2022, at 6:09 p.m. EDT. The Terrier-Improved Malemute rocket carried the experiments to an altitude of 99 miles before descending via a parachute and landing in the Atlantic Ocean.NASA Wallops/Terry Zaperach The RockSat and RockOn programs provide technical training and hands-on experiences that prepare and equip students to enter the United States aerospace industry. For the first time, NASA will combine both the RockSat and RockOn missions into one rocket, which will carry experiments developed by nearly 250 participants from 38 university and community college teams. “The challenge was finding ways to fit as many experiments onto one sounding rocket as we could,” said Victoria Stoffel, workforce development lead at NASA Wallops. “The Sounding Rocket Program Office team found creative ways to fit nearly 50 experiments into one rocket. We are grateful to the Wallops teams for making this happen for the students to get the most from this experience.” The RockOn teams work together to build their experiment onsite, getting hands-on experience putting together a circuit board from scratch and launching it into space. The more advanced RockSat program teams design and build their experiments, going through design reviews modeled on larger NASA missions. Each team can experience what it’s like working on a real NASA mission, from development to launch. The RockSat student experiments range from taking measurements of weather and radiation in Earth’s upper atmosphere to testing technologies, such as heat shields, space-debris tracking, and robotic servicing, that could help future NASA missions. The Terrier-Improved Malemute suborbital sounding rocket, which will carry the experiments, is expected to reach an altitude of about 100 miles before descending by parachute into the Atlantic Ocean to be recovered. The launch may be visible in the Chesapeake Bay region. A launch visibility map for a Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket launching from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.NASA The Wallops Visitor Center’s launch viewing area will open June 24 at 4:30 a.m. for viewing. A livestream will begin approximately 10 minutes before launch on the Wallops YouTube channel. Launch updates also are available via the center’s Facebook page. For more information about NASA’s Sounding Rocket Program, visit: [Hidden Content] By Jamie Adkins NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia Share Details Last Updated Jun 22, 2026 EditorJamie AdkinsContactAbbey Interrante*****@*****.tld Related TermsWallops Flight FacilitySounding Rockets Explore More 1 min read NASA Wallops to Host Public Information Session May 13 Article 2 months ago 5 min read How NASA is Collecting Explosion Data for Next Generation Rockets Article 3 months ago 3 min read NASA’s DiskSat Technology Demo Launches to Low Earth Orbit Article 6 months ago View the full article

Credit: NASA The Republic of Botswana will sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony at 9:30 a.m. EDT Thursday, June 25, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will host Botswana’s Minister of Communications and Innovation David Tshere and U.S. Department of State Senior Advisor for Space Gregory Autry for the event. This event is in person only. Media interested in attending must RSVP no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, to: *****@*****.tld. NASA’s media accreditation policy is online. In 2020, during the first Trump Administration, the United States, led by NASA and the State Department, joined with seven other founding nations to establish the Artemis Accords, responding to the growing interest in lunar activities by both governments and private companies. The accords introduced the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing the safety, transparency, and coordination of civil space exploration on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Botswana will be the 68th country to sign the Artemis Accords. Learn more about the Artemis Accords at: [Hidden Content] -end- Camille Gallo / Jennifer Dooren Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Jun 22, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsArtemis AccordsArtemisOffice of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR) View the full article

3 Min Read NASA’s Experimental Fabrication Branch Fuels Aircraft Innovation An engineering technician works in the Experimental Fabrication Branch at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Thursday, March 14, 2023. The branch transforms engineering concepts into hardware for research aircraft and technology development, supporting advances in aviation safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Credits: NASA/Steve Freeman At NASA, innovation begins well before an aircraft takes flight. The Experimental Fabrication Branch at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, transforms engineering concepts into mission‑ready hardware for research aircraft and technology development. This capability helps the agency deliver advancements that benefit the public by improving aviation safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The branch serves as a full‑service manufacturing, modification, and repair center for NASA Armstrong’s fleet of research and science aircraft. The team specializes in precision machining, sheet‑metal forming, aircraft tubing, welding, additive manufacturing, composite fabrication, and structural repairs and modifications. Their broad expertise allows them to build custom hardware for both aerospace and ground‑based applications. Ron Harris, an engineering technician, works in the Experimental Fabrication Branch at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Thursday, March 14, 2023. The branch transforms engineering concepts into hardware for research aircraft and technology development, supporting advances in aviation safety, efficiency, and sustainability. NASA/Steve Freeman Engineering technicians in the branch bring decades of experience as master fabricators. They design and build unique components, rapid prototypes, and flight‑critical structures that meet NASA’s rigorous safety and performance standards. Whether shaping composite structures by hand or producing precision‑milled parts, the team builds every component with mission success in mind. Experimental Fabrication supports a wide range of NASA research efforts. When teams at NASA Armstrong designed the AIRVUE (Airborne Instrumentation for Real‑world Video of Urban Environments) sensor pod to support autonomous‑flight research, the fabrication team converted digital designs into a fully functional structure. They ensured the pod met strict safety requirements before deploying it for test flights. An engineering technician works in the Experimental Fabrication Branch at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Thursday, March 14, 2023. The branch transforms engineering concepts into hardware for research aircraft and technology development, supporting advances in aviation safety, efficiency, and sustainability.NASA/Steve Freeman Beyond mission support, the Experimental Fabrication Branch contributes to NASA’s STEM engagement efforts. During local robotics competitions, technicians use mobile fabrication equipment to repair student‑built robots and demonstrate machining and welding techniques. These demonstrations introduce students to NASA’s technical career paths and show how advanced manufacturing supports aerospace research. The branch uses modern computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing tools, including Pro E/Creo, MasterCam, and SolidWorks, to convert digital models into hardware. This early integration of engineering and fabrication helps shorten development timelines and reduce design‑to‑hardware mismatches. Unlike environments where work transitions between multiple contractors, NASA Armstrong includes the fabrication team from early design through final assembly and aircraft installation. This continuous involvement strengthens coordination with engineering teams and flight operations. Alexis Moreno, an engineering technician, works with a fabrication machine in the Experimental Fabrication Branch at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. The branch transforms engineering concepts into hardware for research aircraft and technology development, supporting advances in aviation safety, efficiency, and sustainability. NASA/Genaro Vavuris Recent projects, such as advanced wing‑model fabrication and custom lightweight aircraft floorboards, highlight the branch’s essential role in NASA Armstrong’s mission. Whether supporting experimental aircraft, enabling new technology demonstrations, or guiding students through hands‑on fabrication, the Experimental Fabrication Branch helps advance NASA’s mission for the benefit of all. Share Details Last Updated Jun 22, 2026 EditorDede DiniusContactSarah Mann*****@*****.tldLocationArmstrong Flight Research Center Related TermsArmstrong Flight Research Center Explore More 5 min read NASA, USGS Scientists Go Rock Hounding in California’s High Desert Article 2 weeks ago 4 min read NASA’s X-59 Aircraft Flies Supersonic for First Time Article 2 weeks ago 6 min read NASA’s X-59 Prepares for First Supersonic Flight  Article 4 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Aircraft Flown at Armstrong Armstrong Flight Operations Armstrong Mission Operations View the full article

Using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers may have found a supernova remnant in an intriguing neighborhood in the middle of our galaxy.X-ray: NASA/CXC/UCLA/Z. Zhu et al.; ESA/XMM-Newton; Optical: PanSTARRS; Radio: MeerKAT; Infrared (JWST): NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare and P. Edmonds Using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers may have found a supernova remnant – seen in this June 11, 2026, image – in an intriguing neighborhood in the middle of the Milky Way galaxy. Supernova remnants are the expanding remains of exploded stars and provide elements like iron, oxygen, and silicon that are critical for the formation of planets and for life as we know it to form and flourish. This new supernova remnant, if confirmed, would be one of the closest ever discovered to the supermassive ****** hole at the central region of our home galaxy, an exotic region crammed with massive stars, long threads of magnetic fields and dense clouds of gas orbiting rapidly around the Galactic Center. Read more about this discovery. Image credit: -ray: NASA/CXC/UCLA/Z. Zhu et al.; ESA/XMM-Newton; Optical: PanSTARRS; Radio: MeerKAT; Infrared (JWST): NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare and P. Edmonds View the full article

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir waves at the camera during a seven-hour, two-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station on March 18, 2026. Credit: NASA NASA astronauts will venture outside the International Space Station on Tuesday, June 30, to replace a wrist joint on the orbital complex’s Canadarm2 robotic arm. The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at approximately 8 a.m. EDT. Experts from NASA and CSA (********* Space Agency) will preview the upcoming spacewalk during a news conference at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, on the agency’s YouTube channel. The briefing will take place at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media. Participants include: Bill Spetch, operations and integration manager, International Space Station Program, NASA Johnson Fiona Antkowiak, spacewalk flight director, NASA Johnson Jason Dyer, deputy liaison manager, CSA United States-based media interested in attending in person must contact the Johnson newsroom no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, at: *****@*****.tld. Media joining by phone should request dial‑in details by the same deadline. To ask a question, media must dial in no later than 15 minutes before the start of the news conference. Tuesday, June 30 NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir will exit the station’s Quest airlock to replace a wrist joint that malfunctioned during normal Canadarm2 operations on May 27 after the arm drew elevated motor current and did not move as expected. Watch NASA’s live U.S. spacewalk 95 coverage beginning at 6:30 a.m. EDT on NASA+, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and the agency’s YouTube channel. The spacewalk is expected to last roughly six-and-a-half hours. NASA worked alongside CSA to understand the issue and determined a spacewalk was required to replace the joint using a spare already aboard the space station. Repairs to robotics, like Canadarm2, are normal and expected after more than 25 years of continuous operations, as the system was designed with replaceable components and planned maintenance in mind. This spacewalk will be the second for Williams and the fifth for Meir. Williams will serve as spacewalk crew member 1 and will wear a suit with red stripes. Meir will serve as crew member 2 and will wear an unmarked suit. It will be the 280th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. To learn more about International Space Station research, operations, and its crews, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Jimi Russell Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 *****@*****.tld Sandra Jones Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 sandra.p*****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Jun 22, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsInternational Space Station (ISS)Humans in SpaceJohnson Space CenterNASA Headquarters View the full article

Share Details Last Updated Jun 22, 2026 Location NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Contact Media Laura Betz NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland laura.e*****@*****.tld Leah Ramsay Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland Christine Pulliam Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland Related Terms James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Astrophysics Comets Goddard Space Flight Center Science & Research Small Bodies of the Solar System The Solar System The Universe

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Signs of Thaw in the Bering Sea 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 Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search natural color false color Two large, partly snow-covered islands lie west of mainland Alaska. Sea ice fragments form swirling patterns in the ocean, and brown water lines part of the Alaskan coastline. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison A false-color satellite image shows two large islands west of mainland Alaska. Sea ice fragments appear light blue and form swirling patterns in the ocean. The land appears mostly light green, interrupted by many small ponds and a large river delta. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison natural colorfalse color Two large, partly snow-covered islands lie west of mainland Alaska. Sea ice fragments form swirling patterns in the ocean, and brown water lines part of the Alaskan coastline. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison A false-color satellite image shows two large islands west of mainland Alaska. Sea ice fragments appear light blue and form swirling patterns in the ocean. The land appears mostly light green, interrupted by many small ponds and a large river delta. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison natural color false color CurtainToggle2-Up Image Details Sea ice fragments drift near Alaska’s Saint Lawrence and Nunivak islands and colorful water surrounds the Yukon Delta in natural-color (left) and false-color (right) images acquired with the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite on June 3, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison. When clouds parted in early June 2026, satellites glimpsed hints of summer’s approach in the Bering Sea off Alaska’s coast. Sea ice, broken into small fragments, took a few final spins on its way to melting completely, while rivers swollen with snowmelt washed sediment and organic material out to sea. These images, acquired with the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite on June 3, 2026, capture the seasonal transition. A false-color view of the area (right) brings out features of the landscape that are more subtle in the natural-color scene (left), as human eyes would see it. In false color, the tundra and marsh vegetation appear green, and ice-free rivers and thermokarst lakes are dark blue. Sea ice and snow, where they still linger, appear light blue. Amid the seasonal phenomena playing out in the images stand Saint Lawrence and Nunivak islands. Both have volcanic origins and are among the largest islands in the United States. They contain extensive basaltic lava flows forming small shield volcanoes, along with other features such as cinder cones and maars, or low-lying volcanic craters. Saint Lawrence Island lies about 150 miles (240 kilometers) directly south of the Bering Strait, separating Alaska and the Russian Far East. It is one of the few pieces of the land bridge that connected Asia and North America during the Pleistocene that remain above water. Pack ice persisted along the northeast side of the island in early June, while other sea ice drifted and curled into intricate patterns with the winds and currents. The smaller the ice fragments, the wispier their swirling patterns appear when observed by satellites. Brownish water, likely containing a mixture of suspended sediment and colored dissolved organic matter, lines the coast of mainland Alaska. The colorful water appears to enter the sea around the Yukon Delta, a vast wetland where the Yukon River branches into many circuitous channels. Sediment concentrations in this area typically increase starting in late May or early June. That’s after river ice has broken up and runoff from rain and snowmelt carries eroded material downstream. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Lindsey Doermann. Downloads June 3, 2026: Natural color JPEG (2.37 MB) June 3, 2026: False color JPEG (2.56 MB) References & Resources Alaska Volcano Observatory, Nunivak Island. Accessed June 18, 2026. Chikita, K. A., et al. (2021) Effects of River Discharge and Sediment Load on Sediment Plume Behaviors in a Coastal Region: The Yukon River, Alaska and the Bering Sea. Hydrology, 8(1), 45. NASA Earth Observatory (2021, June 21) Yukon-Kuskokwim in Colorful Transition. Accessed June 18, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2008, February 14) Sea Ice in the Bering Strait. Accessed June 18, 2026. Patton, W.W., et al. (2011) Geologic map of Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3146. 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. Barents Sea Tied to Low Arctic Sea Ice 4 min read Patches of open water in the region contributed to low sea ice extent across the Arctic in March 2026, which… Article Ice Moves Out of Aniak 3 min read Spring melt along Alaska’s Kuskokwim River caused ice jams and flooding. Article Cañon Fiord’s Whirling Waters 3 min read During the 2022 summer melt season, sediment plumes and fractured sea ice traced swirling eddies in a branch of the… 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

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Tropical Storm Arthur 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 Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search Natural color brightness temperature Tropical Storm Arthur’s white storm clouds cover the waters off the U.S. Gulf Coast. Some clouds extend inland over parts of Texas and Louisiana. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison White and purple areas of cloud off the Gulf Coast indicate the cooler areas of cloud tops associated with Tropical Storm Arthur. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison Natural colorbrightness temperature Tropical Storm Arthur’s white storm clouds cover the waters off the U.S. Gulf Coast. Some clouds extend inland over parts of Texas and Louisiana. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison White and purple areas of cloud off the Gulf Coast indicate the cooler areas of cloud tops associated with Tropical Storm Arthur. NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison Natural color brightness temperature CurtainToggle2-Up Image Details Images from the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite show Tropical Storm Arthur on the morning of June 17, 2026. The left image is natural color; the right shows infrared signals known as brightness temperature. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison. Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, brought high winds and heavy rain to the U.S. Gulf Coast in mid-June. NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image (left) at 10:30 a.m. Central Time (15:30 Universal Time) on June 17. The second image (right) depicts infrared signals known as brightness temperature, which help distinguish cooler cloud tops (white and purple) from the warmer surface below (yellow and orange). Around the time these images were acquired, the system had just recently been designated a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Though Arthur stayed below hurricane strength, it still delivered strong winds to parts of the Gulf Coast as it tracked northeast. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 miles (65 kilometers) per hour around the time these images were captured. Tropical-storm-force winds extended 175 miles (280 kilometers) from the storm’s center, the NHC reported. Measurements at Galveston, Texas, for instance, showed a gust of 48 miles per hour. The storm also produced heavy rainfall that the National Weather Service warned could lead to life-threatening flash flooding. Estimates from IMERG (the Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals for GPM), a product of the GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) mission, showed high rainfall rates over Gulf waters and extending inland on June 17. As Arthur weakened and became less organized, it continued to bring abundant moisture to central Gulf Coast states on June 18. The National Weather Service reported rainfall rates of 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) per hour in southeastern Louisiana. Forecasts indicated that storm-total rainfall amounts could exceed 12 inches (30 centimeters) in areas, with some locations seeing totals approaching 20 inches (51 centimeters). NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Kathryn Hansen. Downloads June 17, 2026: Natural color JPEG (2.94 MB) June 17, 2026: Brightness temperature JPEG (2.51 MB) References & Resources National Hurricane Center (2026, June 17) Tropical Storm ARTHUR Advisory Archive. Accessed June 18, 2026. National Public Radio (2026, June 17) Tropical Storm Arthur is the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Accessed June 18, 2026. National Weather Service, Office of Water Prediction (2026, June 18) Experimental: Tropical Flood Hazard Outlook Product Archive. Accessed June 18, 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. Typhoon Jangmi 2 min read The sprawling storm promised to deliver torrential rain across a wide swath of southern Japan. Article Tropical Cyclone Narelle Crosses Australia 3 min read The powerful storm lashed the northern edge of the continent with damaging winds and drenching rain as it made landfall… Article Super Typhoon Sinlaku 3 min read The violent storm aimed at the U.S. Northern Mariana Islands and Guam in mid-April 2026. 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