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5 Min Read How NASA is Collecting Explosion Data for Next Generation Rockets Commercial launch providers continue to advance propulsion technology with a renewed focus on liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft. As systems grow in scale, carrying millions of pounds of propellant, so too does the responsibility to fully understand the safety profile. NASA has a proven ability to safely execute high-risk testing Joe Schuyler Director, NASA Stennis Engineering and Test Directorate Engineers at NASA, with decades of cryogenic and test operations expertise, are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The data collected will provide knowledge that helps government and industry prepare with confidence. “NASA has a proven ability to safely execute high-risk testing,” said Joe Schuyler, director, Engineering and Test Directorate, at the agency’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. “This work shows how our expertise with cryogenic systems can go beyond propulsion testing and beyond our center to execute for the mission.” The team is in the middle of this final test series to collect data to develop safety protocols for a tri-agency team effort consisting of NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the United States Space Force. The test articles, developed by a team at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, model a generic fuel storage tank with liquid oxygen and methane separated by a common bulkhead. The tests will evaluate explosion hazards across three scales, based on propellant weights of 100 pounds, 2,000 pounds, and 20,000 pounds. The test article, left, is equipped with cryogenic piping and valving for the Feb. 25 test at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft. Reliance Test & Technology / Bruce Hoffman For many of the tests, the barrier separating the two propellants is intentionally ruptured to simulate a catastrophic failure scenario. As the mixing fluids are detonated, instruments located on the test articles, and throughout a test field, measure the intensity of the blast wave at certain prescribed distances. High-speed cameras also are used to measure thermal aspects of the explosion, along with capturing how fast and where the fragments travel. We put fuel in a rocket, blow it up in a remote location, and measure how big the ***** is Jason Hopper NASA Stennis Liquid Oxygen Methane Assessment Deputy Project Manager “We put fuel in a rocket, blow it up in a remote location, and measure how big the ***** is,” said Jason Hopper, NASA Stennis liquid oxygen methane assessment deputy project manager. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The video presents three synchronized angles of a controlled detonation on Feb. 5 at a remote test site at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. First, the close-up angle captures the precise moment of detonation with a sharp flash, followed by a rapidly expanding flame and debris from the test article. Next, the lateral angle shows the vertical and horizontal spread of the blast. The third angle is a wide shot that shows a large fireball erupting from the test article and a visible shockwave radiating outward. A final composite view brings all three angles together simultaneously, providing a complete picture of the detonation. The audio delivers a sharp crack followed by a deep, rolling ***** that reverberates for several seconds before settling into a crackling sound as the fire dissipates.Reliance Test & Technology/Craig W. Hewitt Behind Hopper’s straightforward explanation is complex work, where all NASA Stennis operations at the site are carried out by civil servants. The testing brings together expertise in test operations, execution, logistics, and cryogenics in ways rarely combined outside of actual launch operations. “This type of testing only comes around once every few decades,” Hopper said. “With so many rockets launching now, this will contribute to public safety, site safety, and all the risk involved with the work.” From Blank Space to Test Site An immediate connection formed between the NASA team and the 780th Test Squadron Ground Test Flight personnel from Eglin Air Force Base during an early site visit. Starting from scratch with a greenfield and a remote concrete pad, the NASA team transformed the area into an operational test site in about four months, some of that time over the government furlough in October 2025. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A timelapse video shows crews installing cryogenic transfer lines and associated support stands at a remote test site at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, from Nov. 17, 2025, to Jan. 7, 2026.NASA/Stennis Crews cleared the area, leveled the concrete pad, and brought in cryogenic storage vessels from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to hold the super-cold liquid propellants, ranging from minus 260 degrees to minus 297 degrees Fahrenheit. The custom infrastructure included fabricating 700 feet of cryogenic transfer lines and constructing support stands to route the lines to the test article location. They brought in generators for power and modified a shipping container into a fully equipped fabrication workshop. The team converted a mobile control center, provided by NASA Wallops, into a control room at NASA Stennis before moving it to the Florida test site. The control room is positioned 1.6 miles from the blast site for initial tests, and it will move to 4 miles away for larger detonations. The test site is prepared for the first baseline test on Jan. 20, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft. The propellant transfer lines lead from the test article location to the cryogenic storage area. Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The cryogenic transfer lines, on each side of the road, lead to the test article for the first baseline test on Jan. 20 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft. The team transformed the remote area into an operational test site in about four months. Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The test site is prepared for the first baseline test on Jan. 20, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft. Cryogenic storage tanks hold the propellants used for testing, while shipping containers, middle, hold materials and equipment for the test operations.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The test site is prepared for the first baseline test on Jan. 20, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft. A cryogenic storage tank is shown with a blast wall protecting it from debris and the blast wave. Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The test site is prepared for the first baseline test on Jan. 20, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft. The portable flare stack, center, safely burns off excess gas. Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The test site is prepared for the second baseline test on Jan. 21, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The team prepares to install the C-4 explosive underneath the test article for the second baseline test on Jan. 21, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The team installs the C-4 explosive underneath the test article for the second baseline test on Jan. 21, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The requirements of this testing operation presented an additional challenge. The team needed to control a system that transfers propellants without using standard control equipment. Normally, NASA Stennis uses large industrial controllers to remotely operate equipment, but this project required compact equipment in a remote location. The NASA Data Acquisition System team provided the solution with a compact data acquisition and control system. The hardware is energy efficient and runs on lithium batteries and solar panels. The team modified existing redline software to create a custom control system. During testing, operators use an on-screen diagram showing all valves and instruments, while the system collects test data and controls the cryogenic propellant transfer system. Additionally, a crew from Eglin installed fiber optic lines for data transmission and three pressure sensor arrays, positioned 120 degrees apart, for the blast team from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to plug in sensors and cables to capture data. By December 2025, the team completed construction of the site and installed the test article. In January, two baseline tests using C-4, a powerful explosive with known blast characteristics, were conducted to establish a reference point for testing in February. A successful cold shock test followed when crews flowed liquid nitrogen through the entire system to validate the cryogenic infrastructure. Testing Underway The team completed the first four tests of the series in February. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A mounted camera captures slow motion video of the controlled detonation of a test article on Feb. 25 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.Reliance Test & Technology/Craig W. Hewitt For these tests, the test articles were filled with liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas, but not mixed, and C-4 was used to detonate the entire test article. In subsequent tests, the cryogenics will be mixed, and instruments will measure the resulting explosion. The team will scale up to 2,000-pound test articles in March with eight tests planned. These tests will examine two failure configurations. The first configuration is a transfer tube failure, which simulates a failure of the propellant line that runs from the top tank through the bottom tank. The second configuration is a common bulkhead failure, which simulates a failure of the shared wall between the two propellant tanks. The largest test article, with 20,000 pounds of propellants, is planned for testing in June. This test will simulate a common bulkhead failure scenario. Once complete, the test series will provide critical new data for methane-based propulsion systems. The findings are expected to help shape launch site planning, safety protocols, and safety requirements for years to come. A view from the bottom of the test article is shown prior to C-4 installation on Feb. 25 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The assembled test article is shown without the C-4 explosive on Feb. 25 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman C-4 explosive is installed beneath the test article as personnel measure the height of the explosive off the ground on Feb. 25 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The test article setup is shown on Feb. 25 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft. The detonation cord is not yet connected to the firing circuit, while awaiting final connection by personnel before site evacuation.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The test site is cleared of personnel and ready for detonation on Feb. 25 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman A view of the test site is shown following detonation on Feb. 25 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman The center of the explosion is shown after the test on Feb. 25 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft. A test article fill valve lies on the ground after being torn from the test article wall.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman Personnel use global positioning system technology to document the precise location of a fragment from the explosion on Feb. 25 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman Personnel record the upper tank’s impact point following the explosion using global positioning system technology on Feb. 25 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where NASA engineers are conducting a final series of tests to quantify the explosive yield of liquid oxygen and methane propelled rockets and spacecraft.Reliance Test & Technology/Bruce Hoffman Share Details Last Updated Mar 19, 2026 EditorNASA Stennis CommunicationsLocationStennis Space Center Related TermsStennis Space Center Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Artemis NASA Celebrates America’s 250th Birthday Humans In Space Learning Resources View the full article

3 min read NASA Laser Reflecting Instrument Makes GPS Satellite More Accurate A NASA laser reflecting technology that will aid Global Positioning System (GPS) accuracy is now operational as of March 9. The instrument, known as a laser retroreflector array, or LRA, launched aboard GPS III SV-09, the ninth of U.S. Space Force’s Block III Global Positioning System satellites, on Jan. 27. LRAs are sets of mirrors shaped like the corners of a cube, a configuration that is designed to precisely reflect beams of light back to their source. They are a key component to laser ranging, a technique that enables the measurement of precise distance by observing the time it takes for a pulse of light to travel from a ground station to the mirrors and back. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, carrying the GPS III SV-09 satellite into Earth orbit.Credit: SpaceX “LRAs are the most efficient and cost-effective way to improve products that come out of GPS,” said Lucia Tsaoussi, program manager for NASA’s Space Geodesy at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Whether walking, driving, sailing, or flying, GPS technology helps people know their location and navigate to their destination. With the LRA being put to work, this GPS satellite will have an improved tie to the global coordinate system, resulting in more accurate location and navigation information for users. “We are the hidden infrastructure,” said Stephen Merkowitz, project manager for the Space Geodesy Project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “Most people don’t realize that they’re relying on these kinds of measurements every day throughout their lives.” The LRA instrument aboard the GPS III SV-09 satellite at inspection before launch. Credit: NASA Using GPS data also supports other Earth-observing satellites and the data they collect. These satellites help us understand our planet and provide early warnings for natural hazards. Satellites orbiting the planet have GPS receivers to help pinpoint their exact location in space. The more precise the GPS orbit information, the more accurate and reliable the rest of the satellite’s data becomes, Tsaoussi said. Satellites like ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation satellite 2), SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography), and GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On) also rely on laser-ranging technology to pinpoint their location in orbit. NASA’s Space Geodesy Project operates a global network of Satellite Laser Ranging stations dedicated to continuous satellite tracking. Local stations are currently monitoring the latest GPS III satellite, with international stations set to follow soon. These LRAs were developed by the Space Geodesy Project in partnership with the Naval Research Laboratory’s Naval Center for Space Technology in Washington. By Erica McNamee NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Share Details Last Updated Mar 19, 2026 EditorJenny MarderContactJenny Marder*****@*****.tldLocationGoddard Space Flight Center Related TermsGoddard Space Flight CenterEarth Explore More 5 min read NASA Laser Reflecting Instruments to Help Pinpoint Earth Measurements The best known use of GPS satellites is to help people know their location whether… Article 2 years ago 5 min read How NASA Uses Simple Technology to Track Lunar Missions NASA is using a simple but effective technology called Laser Retroreflective Arrays (LRAs) to determine… Article 2 years ago 4 min read That’s No Meteor: NASA Satellite’s Elusive Green Lasers Spotted at Work For the first time, NASA’s ICESat-2 team has seen footage of the satellite’s green laser… Article 3 years ago View the full article

The Progress 92 cargo spacecraft, carrying nearly 3,000 pounds of food, fuel, and supplies for the Expedition 73 crew, approaches the International Space Station in July 2025 before docking to the Poisk module. Credit: NASA NASA will provide live coverage of the launch and docking of a Roscosmos cargo spacecraft carrying about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the crew aboard the International Space Station. The unpiloted Roscosmos Progress 94 resupply spacecraft is scheduled to launch at 7:59 a.m. EDT (4:59 p.m. Baikonur time) Sunday, March 22, on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Watch NASA’s live coverage beginning at 7:30 a.m. on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media. After a two-day trip to the space station, the spacecraft will dock autonomously to the Poisk module’s space-facing port at about 9:34 a.m. Tuesday, March 24. NASA’s live rendezvous and docking coverage will begin at 8:45 a.m. on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. The Progress 94 spacecraft will remain docked to the orbiting laboratory for about six months before departing for a destructive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere to dispose of trash loaded by the crew. Prior to this spacecraft’s arrival, Progress 92 undocked from the space station on March 16, re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, and burned up harmlessly over the Pacific Ocean. For more than 25 years, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and making research breakthroughs that aren’t possible on Earth. The space station helps NASA understand and overcome the challenges of human spaceflight, expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit, and build on the foundation for long-duration missions to the Moon as part of the Artemis program and to Mars. Learn more about the International Space Station, its research, and crew, at: [Hidden Content] -end- Joshua Finch / Jimi Russell Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Sandra Jones Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 sandra.p*****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 19, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsInternational Space Station (ISS)ISS ResearchJohnson Space Center View the full article

Ten explorers are currently training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to become flight-eligible astronauts. Selected in 2025, the astronaut candidates are building the technical and operational skills needed for future missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, and eventually Mars. Now, NASA’s newest astronaut candidates have a class name: the Platypi. The 2025 Astronaut Candidate class in front of NASA’s Space Exploration Vehicle and Ground Test Unit rover at NASA’s Johnson Space Center Rock Yard in Houston. NASA/James Blair The name was selected by the previous astronaut candidate class, known as the Flies. Members of that group came together to choose a name that reflected the range of skills and personalities they saw in the new candidates. NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Chris Birch helped facilitate the discussions. “They’re like the Swiss Army knife of candidates,” Menon said. “They can use just about any tool to solve any problem or challenge they face. They’re unassuming and incredibly kind, but extremely capable.” A behind-the-scenes look at the day NASA announced its 2025 Astronaut Candidate class on Sept. 22, 2025.NASA/Robert Markowitz Menon said the class reminded the Flies of one of Earth’s most remarkable animals. “Our main driver was that this class stood out as extremely capable, with a lot of different skills, while also being very friendly and supportive of each other,” he said. “They have many diverse and sometimes hidden talents, like the platypus.” The platypus is a mammal that lays eggs and has unique traits such as electroreceptors in its bill and a venomous spur. Its features resemble several different animals, including the bill of a duck, the tail of a beaver, and the body of an otter. Despite its unusual appearance, the platypus is highly adapted to its environment. For NASA’s newest astronaut candidates, the name reflects a similar idea: a team with a wide range of strengths working together toward a common goal. NASA astronaut candidates Lauren Edger and Imelda Muller take a photo before participating in water survival training at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston.NASA/Helen Arase Vargas So far, the astronaut candidates have trained to operate and understand the Canadarm2 robotic arm used aboard the space station. They are learning how to capture visiting spacecraft, move equipment outside the station, and support spacewalk operations. The candidates also train in space station systems, orbital mechanics, and flight operations. “It is really impressive to me to learn about all of the complexities of the various systems that keep the International Space Station operational, and how they’ve all been functioning with a continuous human presence aboard for the last 25 years,” said astronaut candidate Lauren Edgar. “It’s amazing to see how it all works together and how to fix things when needed.” The candidates have completed survival training to prepare for the unlikely event of landing in remote environments after a mission. They also participated in land and water survival exercises designed to build teamwork and decision-making under pressure. “The diversity of the training as well as the focus on psychological, physical, and expeditionary skills has been the most surprising to me,” said astronaut candidate Yuri Kubo. “I’ve learned a lot about myself, from areas of professional and interpersonal development to my ability to overcome challenges. It is amazing what we can achieve with dedication and hard work and an amazing team of people to support you.” The astronaut candidates participate in wilderness survival training at Fort Rucker in Alabama. NASA/Helen Arase Vargas The candidates began conducting spacewalk training inside NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, where astronauts rehearse spacewalks underwater in conditions that simulate microgravity. They also have flown in the agency’s T-38 supersonic jets and other aircraft at Ellington Field. Future training will include operating spacecraft systems used in human spaceflight missions, and studying geology in classrooms and field settings for future missions to the Moon. The class will work shifts in the Mission Control Center in Houston to experience a day in the life of the people who keep watch over the astronauts and vehicles. “Our training has already been diverse and dynamic,” said astronaut candidate Anna Menon. “There is a lot to learn, and I’m excited about every chapter!” The astronaut candidates join for in-class instruction during wilderness survival training. NASA/Helen Arase Vargas The Platypi are focused on learning the fundamentals of human spaceflight, building the skills that will one day help them operate spacecraft, conduct science in orbit, and explore beyond Earth. Like the animal they are named after, their strength lies in the many capabilities each member brings to the team. Explore More 4 min read NASA’s Roman Observatory Passes Final Major Prelaunch Tests Article 29 minutes ago 5 min read NASA’s Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up In a happy twist of fate, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope just witnessed a comet in… Article 23 hours ago 4 min read NASA’s X-59 Prepares for Second Flight Article 2 days ago View the full article

4 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team recently blasted the observatory with extreme sound, shook it, and listened to its electronic hum. Roman passed all three assessments, which aimed to confirm that the observatory will withstand launch conditions and function as expected in space. The achievement keeps the mission on track for launch as early as this fall. “All of the testing went smoothly and progress is well ahead of schedule,” said Jack Marshall, the Roman observatory integration and testing lead at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “The team has done a great job putting the observatory together, and the tests show that everything is lining up with expectations.” Technicians move NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope into an acoustics chamber for environmental testing at the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center.NASA/Jolearra Tshiteya Technicians place the Roman observatory on an air barge to safely move it between testing facilities.NASA/Sydney Rohde (Rocz) The Roman observatory moves onto a shaker table for vibration testing.NASA/Jolearra Tshiteya Technicians prepare for Roman’s vibration test to begin.NASA/Jolearra Tshiteya Technicians move the Roman observatory into the acoustics chamber.NASA/Jolearra Tshiteya In January, the team set up an absorbent panel around the observatory for an electromagnetic interference test. This special configuration is designed to block external radio signals and absorb reflections inside the test facility. Engineers powered on all of Roman’s electronics and measured the signals they generated, closely monitoring for any errors. Too much electrical noise could interfere with the observatory’s ability to detect faint infrared signals, but Roman passed with flying colors. The team moved on to vibration testing in February. “Each time the observatory traveled between test facilities, it was placed in a custom-made portable clean room to protect it from contamination that could otherwise compromise scientific performance once in space,” said Joel Proebstle, a mechanical systems engineer who led the vibration and acoustic tests at NASA Goddard. Engineers tested the observatory on a large shaker table to simulate the vibrations it will experience during launch, gradually building to higher frequencies. “Try to imagine sitting on that rocket and feeling all those vibrations,” said Cory Powell, the Roman structural analyst lead at NASA Goddard. “We simulated the shaking that the launch vehicle will produce to ensure the components and connections will all remain intact.” In early March, the team conducted an acoustic test. The test took place in a state-of-the-art sound booth, where engineers ramped up the volume to 138 decibels — about as loud as a jet engine from 100 feet away. “If you’ve ever been at a concert with an extremely loud bass, that load you felt was acoustic energy,” Powell said. “Now think about how loud a launch is. The acoustics can produce very high loads on a large structure like Roman.” This video showcases some of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team’s major accomplishments during the second half of 2025, culminating in the completion of the observatory. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Roman has now returned to the large clean room at Goddard where it will undergo a final series of smaller tests. The next one aims to replicate the shock Roman will experience shortly after launch when the observatory separates from the rocket. Then the team will deploy all of the elements that will initially be stowed (including the solar panels, “visor,” antenna, and “sunblock” shield), to verify that they’ll still work correctly even after launch and rocket separation. Early this summer, the observatory will be transported to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for launch preparations. There, engineers will verify that the observatory arrived fully intact and begin prepping the rocket — a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. The team expects Roman to be ready for launch within a few months after the observatory’s arrival at NASA Kennedy. “We have a great team, great leadership, and with our successful testing we continue to set the standard for staying within budget and schedule while balancing difficult challenges,” Powell said. “Meeting cost and schedule commitments without compromise to technical standards is a major point of pride for the Roman team.” Explore a 3D model of the Roman observatory Click and drag to rotate Downloadsgltf-binary File (3D Model) 28.28 MB To learn more about the Roman mission, visit: www.nasa.gov/roman By Ashley Balzer NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Media contact: Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. 301-286-1940 Share Details Last Updated Mar 19, 2026 EditorAshley BalzerContactAshley Balzer*****@*****.tldLocationGoddard Space Flight Center Related TermsGoddard Space Flight CenterNancy Grace Roman Space TelescopeThe Universe Explore More 6 min read NASA’s Roman Mission Shares Detailed Plans to Scour Skies Article 11 months ago 7 min read NASA Announces Plan to Map Milky Way With Roman Space Telescope Article 3 months ago 8 min read NASA Completes Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Construction Article 3 months ago View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Australia’s “Red Centre”… 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 21, 2026 March 10, 2026 Central Australia’s desert landscape appears predominantly rusty red. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin Central Australia’s desert landscape shows widespread green vegetation across areas that are typically red. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin January 21, 2026March 10, 2026 CurtainToggle The town of Alice Springs lies near Australia’s geographic center, in a region often called the “Red Centre” for the rusty hue of its desert landscape. After weeks of heavy rainfall in February and March 2026, however, vast areas of desert and surrounding mountains turned lush and green. The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image (right) of the southern part of Australia’s Northern Territory on March 10, 2026. For comparison, the left image shows the same area in January 2026, before the onset of heavy rains. The area’s landscape typically appears red due to the oxidation of iron-rich rock. During periods of sufficient rainfall, water begins to flow in previously dry riverbeds, and dormant vegetation springs to life. February 2026 brought more than enough water to the Northern Territory for the transformation to occur—an area average of 239 millimeters (9 inches)—marking the territory’s third-wettest February on a record that dates back to 1900, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Beyond the transformation visible from above, the rainfall also caused disruptions on the ground. Thunderstorms earlier in the month produced enough rain to cause water levels on the Todd River and other area rivers to quickly rise, while flash flooding in Alice Springs uprooted trees and left some people stranded, according to news reports. Later in the month, heavy rains returned as another tropical low stalled over central Australia for nearly a week, causing flooding that prompted officials to declare a natural disaster. As of late March, more extreme weather was on the way for Australia with the approach of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Bureau of Meteorology forecasts called for severe storm impacts to reach northern Queensland by late on March 19 or March 20. Flooding watches and warnings also extended inland, including to Alice Springs, where past storms have already saturated river catchments. NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Kathryn Hansen. Downloads January 21, 2026 JPEG (2.98 MB) March 10, 2026 JPEG (2.75 MB) References & Resources *********** Broadcasting Corporation (2026, February 26) In photos: Extreme weather sweeps across large parts of Australia. Accessed March 18, 2026. *********** Broadcasting Corporation (2026, February 12) Cars submerged, trees torn down, roads inundated: Alice Springs flooding in pictures. Accessed March 18, 2026. The Conversation (2026, February 22) Severe flooding – in central Australia? How a vast humid air mass could soak the desert. Accessed March 18, 2026. Bureau of Meteorology (2026, March 2) Northern Territory in February 2026. Accessed March 18, 2026. Bureau of Meteorology via Facebook (2026, March 15) On rare occasions when the outback gets drenched with rain, dormant plants spring to life. Accessed March 18, 2026. The Watchers (2026, February 27) Desert rainfall anomaly triggers major flooding across central Australia. Accessed March 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. Pacific Moisture Drenches the U.S. Northwest 3 min read A potent atmospheric river delivered intense rainfall to western Washington, triggering flooding and mudslides. Article Summer Heat Hits Southeastern Australia 4 min read January brought blistering extremes Down Under as record temperatures scorched the nation’s southeast. Article Dry-Season Floods Drench Northern Colombia 3 min read Villages and farmland were swamped after unusually heavy early-February rains pushed the Sinú River over its banks. 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

Curiosity Navigation Curiosity Home Mission Overview Where is Curiosity? Mission Updates Science Overview Instruments Highlights Exploration Goals News and Features Multimedia Curiosity Raw Images Images Videos Audio Mosaics More Resources Mars Missions Mars Sample Return Mars Perseverance Rover Mars Curiosity Rover MAVEN Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mars Odyssey More Mars Missions Mars Home 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4832–4837: Driving the (Contact) Line! NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image showing the rough, nodular texture in its workspace, using its Mast Camera (Mastcam). This image was taken on March 13, 2026 — Sol 4834, or Martian day 4,834 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission — at 01:22:42 UTC. NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Written by Catherine O’Connell-Cooper, APXS Strategic Planner and Payload Uplink/Downlink Lead, University of New Brunswick, Canada Earth planning date: Friday, March 13, 2026 We are in our final phase of the boxwork campaign, investigating the contacts between the boxwork unit and the layered sulfate unit. As my colleague Bill reported here, last week we crossed out of the boxwork unit back into the underlying layered sulfate unit and then back into the boxwork unit for our Monday plan. We are now driving southward across the uppermost portion of the boxwork unit. This unit is characterized by smooth bedrock where the boxwork structures are not as obvious as they were back at our “Nevado Sajama” drill sites, where we took our boxwork “postcard.” This past week, our goal was to characterize as much as we could before leaving. On Monday, MAHLI imaged the targets (all named after geographic locations around the Andes in South America) “Piedras Bonitas” and “La Calera” — the latter was brushed bedrock also analyzed by APXS. On Friday, MAHLI and APXS analyzed a brushed, nodular bedrock at “Jaruma” and a larger nodule (or cluster of smaller nodules) at the unbrushed “Constancia.” (Click on the name to see the MAHLI images!) Mastcam had a very busy week! Typically, as we come toward the end of a science campaign, the wish list of Mastcam targets gets very large, and the ending of this boxwork campaign is following that tradition. Mastcam acquired two mosaics on the southern contact between the boxworks and layered sulfate unit: an 18×1 mosaic (i.e., 18 frames along one row) on Monday and 19×3 mosaic (“El Misti”) on Friday. These will be key to helping us understand the origin and evolution of the boxwork unit. Other mosaics include “Yungas” (a highly veined area), “Ujina” (looking at cross-sectional stratigraphy (both on Monday) and two mosaics on Friday on the target “Salar de Maricunga” (to characterize light-toned bedrock in the drive direction). We did not neglect our environmental monitoring either. We continue to monitor dust in the atmosphere using different tools, including Navcam dust-****** monitoring and surveys, zenith and suprahorizon movies, and Mastcam taus. The weekend drive is planned to take us about 23 meters to the west-southwest (about 75 feet) as we get closer and closer to leaving the boxwork unit. I have been a member of the boxwork working group (we call ourselves the “Fracture Townies”) since its inception about two years before we ever put a wheel on the unit. It is bittersweet to be so close to the end of this campaign, but we have so much data and imagery from here to work with, we won’t have too much time to be sad. Want to read more posts from the Curiosity team? Visit Mission Updates Want to learn more about Curiosity’s science instruments? Visit the Science Instruments page NASA’s Curiosity rover at the base of Mount Sharp NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Share Details Last Updated Mar 18, 2026 Related Terms Blogs Explore More 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4825-4831: Exploring the Borderlands Article 1 week ago 3 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4818-4824: Thinking Out of the Boxwork Article 2 weeks ago 2 min read Curiosity Blog, Sols 4812-4817: Back Into the Hollows 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

At any given moment, about 20 volcanoes on Earth are actively erupting. Often among them is Mayon—the most active volcano in the Philippines.Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 acquired this rare, relatively clear image of Mayon, the most active volcano in the Philippines, on Feb. 26, 2026. The natural-color scene is overlaid with infrared observations to highlight the lava’s heat signature. On that day, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported volcanic earthquakes, rockfalls, and hot clouds of ash and debris called pyroclastic flows. Along with PHIVOLCS, multiple NASA satellites also monitored the volcano’s sulfur dioxide emissions, showing sizable plumes of the gas drifting southwest on February 4 and March 6. Read more about Mayon. Text credit: Adam Voiland Image credit: Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey View the full article

For Corey Elmore, the path to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center did not begin in engineering. It began in service. Today he serves as a NASA Pathways engineering intern in the Technical Processes and Tools Branch (KSC-NE-TA) at Kennedy Space Center. Through the Pathways program, he is gaining hands-on experience supporting the engineering environments, technical tools and processes that help NASA teams design, analyze, and operate complex mission systems. NASA Pathways intern Corey Elmore stands near Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center, with the Space Launch System rocket and Artemis infrastructure in the background. Through the Pathways program, Elmore supports engineering tools and processes that help enable NASA missions.NASA/Corey Elmore Within the branch, his work explores how artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation can enhance engineering workflows. As modern missions generate massive amounts of data across interconnected systems, these tools help engineers organize information, improve analysis, and make faster decisions. By studying how intelligent systems can support engineers, he hopes to help teams focus more deeply on solving the technical challenges that enable exploration. "What excites me most about being at NASA is the chance to work on problems that are ******* than any one person. In a place like this, even small improvements in how we think, build, or support engineers can ripple outward into missions that push exploration forward." Corey Elmore NASA Pathways Intern The Pathways program provides students the opportunity to work alongside experienced engineers while contributing to real projects across NASA centers. At Kennedy Space Center, the experience offers a front-row view of how large-scale technical systems come together, from engineering processes and technical documentation to the collaborative teams responsible for supporting mission operations. NASA Pathways intern Corey Elmore stands inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, where large-scale hardware and engineering systems are prepared for mission operations. Mentorship and collaboration have been central to the experience. Working with engineers across multiple disciplines has reinforced the importance of systems thinking: understanding how people, processes, and technology interact within complex mission environments. His path to NASA, however, did not begin in engineering. Before entering the STEM field, he served in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman supporting Marine Corps and Navy units. During that time, he also served as an instructor working with Navy Seabees, helping train and mentor service members in mission-critical skills. That role required breaking down complex information, leading under pressure, and ensuring others could perform effectively in demanding environments. These skills translate naturally into engineering problem solving. Before joining NASA, Corey Elmore served in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman, supporting Marine Corps and Navy units and training service members in mission-critical skills.NASA/Corey Elmore My transition from military service to NASA has shown me that purpose does not end when the uniform comes off. The setting changes, the tools change, but the deeper mission remains: Serving something larger than yourself. Corey Elmore NASA Pathways Intern Following military service, the next chapter unfolded in the defense and shipbuilding industry, supporting naval maintenance and logistics systems connected to fleet readiness. Working in shipbuilding environments provided firsthand exposure to the scale and coordination required to sustain complex operational platforms. Maintaining ships at sea and preparing spacecraft for launch share a common challenge. Both depend on integrating engineering disciplines, operational processes, and reliable technology into a cohesive system. While building professional experience, he continued pursuing higher education. During his time in the Navy, he earned a bachelor’s degree in supply chain and operations management from Western Governors University. Today, he is continuing his studies while working at NASA, pursuing both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science with a focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Combining operational experience, systems thinking, and emerging technologies is helping shape a foundation aligned with the increasingly complex challenges of modern space exploration. Equally meaningful has been the community at Kennedy Space Center. Through the Pathways program, interns work alongside experienced mentors and engineering teams across NASA, creating an environment where curiosity, learning, and collaboration drive growth. For this Navy veteran, the opportunity represents more than a career milestone; it represents a continuation of service. Pathways interns at KSC get a front-row seat to the hardware that will power our next giant Artemis leap. For those transitioning from military careers, the path into engineering and exploration may look different, but the mission often feels familiar. Programs like NASA Pathways provide veterans the chance to bring their discipline, leadership, and operational experience into fields that support the next generation of discovery. As his journey at Kennedy Space Center continues, he remains focused on contributing to the systems and technologies that will help enable the future of human exploration. For more information about the Pathways program, visit nasa.gov/careers/pathways. View the full article

Share Details Last Updated Mar 18, 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 Astrophysics Division Comets Goddard Space Flight Center Small Bodies of the Solar System The Solar System Related Links and Documents Science Paper: Sequential Fragmentation of C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) After Its Near-Sun Passage, PDF (7.08 MB)

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Wave of Dust Rolls Through Texas 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 March 15, 2026 The Ides of March brought perilous weather to West Texas and the state’s Panhandle. A strong cold front blasted south across the arid plains on March 15, 2026, bringing stiff winds that stirred up a curtain of dust. The cloud of suspended particles slashed visibility and made for treacherous travel as it swept across the region. The high winds, coupled with dry conditions, also raised the risk of wildland fires. The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image of blowing dust on its march across Texas at about 4:45 p.m. Central Time (21:45 Universal Time) on March 15. An image acquired by the Terra satellite about 5 hours earlier shows the wall of dust when it was approximately 150 miles (240 kilometers) to the northeast. Footage captured by a storm chaser shows visibility plummeting to nearly zero as the dense plume passed; similar conditions contributed to a multivehicle ****** in North Texas. The National Weather Service also issued a Red Flag Warning for March 15 due to the combination of high winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. Several wildland fires ignited in the Panhandle, prompting evacuations, according to news reports. Weather conditions took a sharp turn with the cold front’s passage. A weather station in Pecos recorded a high of 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius) at 4:30 p.m. local time on March 15, around the time of this image. Temperatures then dropped abruptly, hitting a low of 39ºF (4ºC) around 6 a.m. the next morning. Pecos saw sustained winds of about 25 miles (40 kilometers) per hour with gusts up to 40 miles (64 kilometers) per hour on March 15. Several stations in the Panhandle clocked gusts over 60 miles (97 kilometers) per hour. Much of northern and western Texas has been experiencing moderate or severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Though dust storms are typical in the region this time of year, the lack of rain parches vegetation, dries the land, and increases the area’s susceptibility to these events. NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Lindsey Doermann. Downloads March 15, 2026 JPEG (1.96 MB) References & Resources Amarillo Globe-News (2026, March 16) Video of wildfires, dust storms forcing evacuations in Texas Panhandle. Accessed March 17, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2025, March 6) Storm Brings a Potpourri of Hazards to the U.S. Accessed March 17, 2026. NASA Earthdata (2026) Dust/Ash/Smoke. Accessed March 17, 2026. National Weather Service, Dust Storms and Haboobs. Accessed March 17, 2026. National Weather Service, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet (2026, March 14) Urgent – Weather Message. Accessed March 17, 2026. Texas Storm Chasers (2026, March 13) Texas Weather Roundup: Dangerous Fire Weather, Damaging Winds & Sharp Cold Front Sunday. Accessed March 17, 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. Dust Outbreak Reaches Europe 3 min read Clouds of dust lofted from the Sahara Desert brought hazy skies and muddy rain to Western Europe. Article Winds Whip Up Fires and Dust on the Southern Plains 3 min read Dry, gusty conditions spurred fast-growing fires in Oklahoma and Kansas, along with dangerous dust storms across the region. 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

4 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) As its team prepared for second flight, NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft underwent engine run testing on Thursday, March 12, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.NASA/Jim Ross NASA’s X-59 experimental aircraft is preparing for its second flight, a step that will set the pace for more flight testing in 2026. Over the coming months, NASA will take the quiet supersonic jet faster and higher, while validating safety and performance, a process known as envelope expansion. NASA test pilot Jim “Clue” Less will be at the X-59’s controls for second flight. Less will take off and land at Edwards Air Force Base, near the X-59’s home at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. “This will be the first time I’ve flown an X-plane,” Less said. “I think I’ll mostly be focused on getting the test cards done and getting them done correctly. It’ll probably sink in later that I was in the X-59.” Less will be accompanied by NASA test pilot Nils Larson, who will be flying nearby in a NASA F/A-18 aircraft to observe the X-59. The X-59 made its first flight Oct. 28, 2025, with Larson as pilot. Afterward, NASA and contractor Lockheed Martin completed an extensive round of post-flight maintenance and inspections. The work involved removing the engine, a section of the tail known as the lower empennage, the seat, and more than 70 panels to perform inspections. All have been reinstalled. “These guys know what they’re doing. We couldn’t do something like this without a really competent team of hardworking folks,” Less said. “Nils trusted them for the first flight. I trust them for the second flight and every flight after that.” NASA test pilot Jim “Clue” Less took the X-59 through its engine run test on Thursday, March 12, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Less will pilot the aircraft for its second flight. NASA/Jim Ross The team completed one of the last ground tests before the flight on March 12 – an engine run firing up the X-59’s modified F-18 Super Hornet F414-GE-100 engine. “It’s always exciting to see the X-59 come to life on the ground,” said Ray Castner, NASA’s X-59 lead propulsion engineer. “For our team, it’s a moment to pause and appreciate how far this aircraft has come – and how close we are to pushing into the next phase of flight.” The X-59’s second flight continues the push toward that next phase, with the team closely studying the aircraft’s performance. “Second flight will look a lot like the first flight,” said Cathy Bahm, NASA’s project manager for the Low ***** Flight Demonstrator project. “We’ll start the flight at a test condition from first flight to ensure X-59 performs as expected after the maintenance phase, then we’ll start the envelope expansion by testing a little higher and faster.” The flight marks the start of envelope expansion tests for the X-59. After the aircraft reaches a speed of approximately 230 mph at 12,000 feet and its team performs functional checks, it will advance to 260 mph at 20,000 feet. First flight was the X-59’s biggest leap so far – going from the ground to airborne. Now, envelope expansion will be a gradual process as the aircraft works toward its mission parameters of about 925 mph, or Mach 1.4, at 55,000 feet. “From here on out, once we’re airborne, we can increase speed and increase altitude in small, measured chunks, looking at things as we go and not getting ahead of ourselves,” Less said. “Eventually we get to supersonic flight – a few more steps – and we’re out to Mach 1.4 at about 55,000 feet,” said Less. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which aims to usher in a new age of quiet, commercial supersonic flight over land. The X-59 will demonstrate that an aircraft can fly faster than the speed of sound while reducing the typical loud sonic ***** to a quieter thump. Envelope expansion is Phase 1 of Quesst. It will be followed by Phase 2 flight testing to validate the X-59’s acoustic performance. The team will study how the aircraft’s design disperses the shock waves that typically merge into a sonic *****. After acoustics validation, NASA plans to fly the X-59 over selected U.S. communities to gather data on how people on the ground perceive its quieter sound signature. NASA will share the results with U.S. and international regulators. Share Details Last Updated Mar 17, 2026 EditorDede DiniusContactNicolas Cholulanicolas.h*****@*****.tldLocationArmstrong Flight Research Center Related TermsArmstrong Flight Research CenterAdvanced Air Vehicles ProgramAeronautics Research Mission DirectorateAeronautics TechnologyAmes Research CenterCommercial Supersonic TechnologyGlenn Research CenterHigh-Speed FlightIntegrated Aviation Systems ProgramLangley Research CenterLow ***** Flight DemonstratorNASA AircraftQuesst (X-59)Quesst: The VehicleSupersonic Flight Explore More 7 min read To Protect Artemis II Astronauts, NASA Experts Keep Eyes on Sun As four astronauts travel around the Moon on NASA’s Artemis II mission, they will venture beyond Earth’s… Article 1 day ago 4 min read NASA Selects Finalists in Student Aircraft Maintenance Competition Article 4 days ago 4 min read GVIS Virtual Systems Simulations Article 4 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center NASA Aircraft Quesst Quesst is NASA's mission to demonstrate how the X-59 can fly supersonic without generating loud sonic booms and then survey… Artemis II View the full article

3 Min Read Dim Delights in ******* Another Hubble view of the outskirts of Messier 44 shows a variety of bright stars and many background galaxies. Credits: NASA, ESA and C. Scarlata (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America) ******* the Crab is a dim constellation, yet it contains one of the most beautiful and easy-to-spot star clusters in our sky: the Beehive Cluster. ******* also possesses one of the most studied exoplanets: the superhot super-Earth, 55 Cancri e. Find the M44, the Beehive Cluster, at the center of the ******* constellation, using nearby stars such as Regulus in Leo, Pollux in Gemini, and Procyon in Canis Minor. Stellarium Web Find *******’s dim stars by looking in between the brighter neighboring constellations of Gemini and Leo. Don’t get frustrated if you can’t find it at first, since ******* isn’t easily visible from moderately light-polluted areas. Once you find *******, look for its most famous deep-sky object: the Beehive Cluster! It’s a large open cluster of young stars, three times larger than our Moon in the sky. The Beehive is visible to the unaided eye under good sky conditions as a faint, cloudy patch, but is stunning when viewed through binoculars or a wide-field telescope. It was one of the earliest deep-sky objects noticed by ancient astronomers, and so the Beehive has many other names, including Praesepe, Nubilum, M44, the Ghost, and Jishi qi. Take a look at it on a clear night through binoculars. Do these stars look like a hive of buzzing bees? Or do you see something else? There’s no wrong answer, since this large star cluster has intrigued imaginative observers for thousands of years. The super-Earth exoplanet 55 Cancri e, depicted with its star in this artist’s concept, likely has an atmosphere thicker than Earth’s but with ingredients that could be similar to those of Earth’s atmosphere. NASA/JPL-Caltech 55 Cancri is a nearby binary star system, about 41 light-years from us and faintly visible under excellent dark sky conditions. The larger star is orbited by at least five planets, including 55 Cancri e (a.k.a. Janssen, named after one of the first telescope makers). Janssen is a “super-earth,” a large rocky world 8 times the mass of Earth, and orbits its star every 18 hours, giving it one of the shortest years of any known planet! Janssen was the first exoplanet to have its atmosphere successfully analyzed. Both the Hubble and retired Spitzer space telescopes confirmed that the hot world is enveloped by an atmosphere of helium and hydrogen, with traces of hydrogen cyanide: not a likely place to find life, especially since the surface is probably scorching-hot rock. NASA’s Exoplanet Travel Bureau allows us to imagine what it would be like to visit 55 Cancri e and other worlds. How do astronomers find planets around other star systems? The Night Sky Network’s “Wobbles and Transits: How Do We Find Planets Around Other Stars?” activity helps demonstrate both the transit and wobble methods of exoplanet detection. Notably, 55 Cancri e was discovered using the wobble method in 2004, and the transit method confirmed its orbital ******* in 2011! Want to learn more about exoplanets? Get the latest NASA news about worlds beyond our solar system at NASA Exoplanets! Originally posted by Dave Prosper: March 2020 Last Updated by Kat Troche: March 2026 View the full article

NASA/Scott Eckley These X-ray computed tomography (XCT) scans released on March 17, 2026, give us a glimpse inside asteroid Bennu. They show the most common types of crack networks observed in Bennu samples; these networks solved a mystery that baffled NASA for years. When NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft first approached asteroid Bennu in 2018, scientists expected to see smooth, sandy beach-like surfaces. Instead, they found a celestial body covered in boulders. Observations made in 2007 by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope measured low thermal inertia, indicative of an asteroid whose surface heats up and cools down rapidly as it rotates into and out of sunlight, like a sandy beach on Earth. This was at odds with the many large boulders that OSIRIS-REx found upon arrival, which should act more like blocks of concrete, shedding heat long after the Sun has set. Data collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft during its survey campaign at the asteroid suggested a possible explanation: the boulders could be much more porous than expected. Once the samples were delivered to Earth, researchers were able to investigate this further. Learn how these XCT scans helped reconcile the discrepancy between what was expected and what was found on Bennu. Image credit: NASA/Scott Eckley View the full article

5 Min Read Asteroid Bennu’s Rugged Surface Baffled NASA, We Finally Know Why These are X-ray computed tomography (XCT) scans of particles from asteroid Bennu. They show the most common types of crack networks observed in Bennu samples. Credits: NASA/Scott Eckley In one of the biggest surprises of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, its target asteroid, Bennu, turned out to be a jagged, rugged world covered in large boulders, with few of the smooth patches that earlier observations from Earth-based instruments had indicated. “When OSIRIS-REx got to Bennu in 2018, we were surprised by what we saw,” said Andrew Ryan, a scientist with the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in Tucson, who led the mission’s sample physical and thermal analysis working group. “We expected some boulders, but we anticipated at least some large regions with smoother, finer regolith that would be easy to collect. Instead, it looked like it was all boulders, and we were scratching our heads for a while.” Particularly puzzling were observations made in 2007 by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, which measured low thermal inertia, indicative of an asteroid whose surface heats up and cools down rapidly as it rotates into and out of sunlight, like a sandy beach on Earth. This was at odds with the many large boulders that OSIRIS-REx found upon arrival, which should act more like blocks of concrete, shedding heat long after the Sun has set. Data collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft during its survey campaign at the asteroid suggested a possible explanation: the boulders could be much more porous than expected. Once the samples were delivered to Earth, researchers were able to investigate this further. Scott Eckley, X-ray scientist within NASA Johnson Space Center’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES), demonstrates the process for placing a container holding a piece of asteroid material in an X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) machine. XCT scans let researchers image particles through airtight containers and visualize a rock’s shape and internal structure without damaging the sample. Credits: NASA/Robert Markowitz Ryan’s team scrutinized rock particles collected from Bennu’s surface using a variety of laboratory analysis techniques. In a study published in Nature Communications the authors reported that the boulders are indeed porous enough to account for some of the observed heat loss, but not all of it. Rather, many of the rocks turned out to be riddled with extensive networks of cracks. To test whether the cracks could be the reason for the asteroid’s surface losing heat, a team at Nagoya University in Japan analyzed Bennu sample material using lock-in thermography. This laser-based technique allows researchers to hit a tiny spot on the surface of the sample and measure how the heat diffuses through it, similar to how ripples move across a pond. “That’s when things became really interesting,” Ryan said. “The thermal inertia measured in the lab samples turned out to be much higher than what the spacecraft’s instruments had recorded, echoing similar findings obtained by the team of OSIRIS-REx’s partner mission, JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Hayabusa-2.” To make meaningful predictions about how the material would behave in the large boulders on the asteroid, the team had to find a way to scale up the measurements obtained with the small sample particles. Using a glove box, team members at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston sealed sample particles in air-tight containers under a protective nitrogen atmosphere, then transferred them to a lab where they could perform X-ray computed tomography, or XCT scans. Once a particle was scanned, it went back into the glove box. Exterior Interior These are X-ray computed tomography (XCT) scans of particles from asteroid Bennu. They show the most common types of crack networks observed in Bennu samples. One has an extensive and connect framework of curved cracks, whereas the other has sparse, straight, and flat fractures. These are X-ray computed tomography (XCT) scans of particles from asteroid Bennu. They show the most common types of crack networks observed in Bennu samples. One has an extensive and connect framework of curved cracks, whereas the other has sparse, straight, and flat fractures. ExteriorInterior These are X-ray computed tomography (XCT) scans of particles from asteroid Bennu. They show the most common types of crack networks observed in Bennu samples. One has an extensive and connect framework of curved cracks, whereas the other has sparse, straight, and flat fractures. These are X-ray computed tomography (XCT) scans of particles from asteroid Bennu. They show the most common types of crack networks observed in Bennu samples. One has an extensive and connect framework of curved cracks, whereas the other has sparse, straight, and flat fractures. Exterior Interior exteriod and interior X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) scans of two asteroid Bennu particles CurtainToggle2-Up Image Details These are X-ray computed tomography (XCT) scans of particles from asteroid Bennu. They show the most common types of crack networks observed in Bennu samples. One has an extensive and connect framework of curved cracks, whereas the other has sparse, straight, and flat fractures. “The sample goes into its own ‘spacesuit,’ gets a CT scan, and then comes back to its pristine environment, all without having any exposure to the terrestrial environment,” said Nicole Lunning, lead OSIRIS-REx sample curator within the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science division at NASA Johnson and one of the study’s co-authors. “We can image right through these airtight containers to visualize the shape and internal structure of the rock that’s inside.” “X-ray computed tomography allows us to look at the inside of an object in three dimensions, without damaging it,” said study co-author and NASA Johnson X-ray scientist Scott Eckley. It turns out that they’re really cracked too, and that was the missing piece of the puzzle.” Andrew Ryan Scientist at University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Once mapped in this way, a permanent 3-dimensional digital archive of a sample particle’s shape and interior is created, and the data are entered into a public database. Ryan’s team used the X-ray CT scan data for computer simulations modeling heat flow and thermal inertia. When scaled up to boulder size, the thermal inertia results fell into agreement with what the spacecraft had measured at the asteroid. Where scientists once expected the boulders of Bennu to be extremely porous and fluffy, perhaps even spongy, the sample analysis revealed something unexpected. “It turns out that they’re really cracked too, and that was the missing piece of the puzzle,” Ryan said. Ron Ballouz, a scientist with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, and the paper’s second author, said this work transforms how scientists interpret the structure of an asteroid based on its thermal properties seen from Earth. “We can finally ground our understanding of telescope observations of the thermal properties of an asteroid through analyzing these samples from that very same asteroid,” Ballouz said. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center provided overall mission management, systems engineering, and the safety and mission assurance for OSIRIS-REx. Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona, Tucson, is the principal investigator. The university leads the science team and the mission’s science observation planning and data processing. Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, built the spacecraft and provided flight operations. Goddard and KinetX Aerospace were responsible for navigating the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. Curation for OSIRIS-REx takes place at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. International partnerships on this mission include the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter instrument from CSA (********* Space Agency) and asteroid sample science collaboration with JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s) Hayabusa2 mission. OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA’s New Frontiers Program, managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. By Daniel Stolte University of Arizona For more information on the OSIRIS-REx mission, visit: [Hidden Content] Karen Fox / Molly Wasser Headquarters, Washington 202-285-5155 / 240-419-1732 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Victoria Segovia Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 *****@*****.tld About the Author NASA Science Editorial Team Share Details Last Updated Mar 17, 2026 Related Terms OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) Asteroids Astromaterials Bennu Johnson Space Center Planetary Science Planetary Science Division Explore More 4 min read A Most Unusual Lake Lake Unter-See in Antarctica, sealed beneath thick ice, contains unusually high levels of dissolved oxygen… Article 6 days ago 6 min read Resurrecting Ancient Enzymes in NASA’s Search for Life Beyond Earth Article 2 months ago 4 min read NASA Finds Lunar Regolith Limits Meteorites as Source of Earth’s Water Article 2 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

The ******* the hailstone, the more damage it can cause. But scientists find that predicting hailstone size can be challenging. How quickly does hail melt as it falls? Now, you can help tackle this question by joining the SouthEAst REgion CoCoRaHS Hail (SEaRCH) project. This network of backyard weather observers includes volunteers of all ages and backgrounds who work together to measure and report hail in their local communities. SEaRCH is also part of the NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), and National Science Foundation supported Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network, whose amateur weather sleuths report rain and snow.. These rain and snow observations are helping scientists better understand local variation in precipitation. CoCoRaHS data is regularly used by the National Weather Service, the Hydrologic Prediction Center, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Drought Mitigation Center, broadcast meteorologists, research scientists, and more. “I love the project, and I love being able to contribute meaningful data,” says Jeremy Kichler, a CoCoRaHS volunteer. On June 14, 2023, Kichler witnessed a storm with hailstones ranging from 0.5 inches (12 mm) to two inches (51 mm) in diameter. The hailstones dented cars, damaged roof shingles, and shredded leaves across his neighborhood. After the storm, he submitted a CoCoRaHS hail report to notify the National Weather Service with photos and additional details about the hail. NASA scientists are now using hail reports from volunteers like Kichler alongside archived satellite overpass data and newly developed hail melt profiles to model how hailstones of different sizes melt, once they fall below the freezing level. To join volunteers like Jeremy Kichler and make hail reports of your own, all you need is your smartphone and the free CoCoRaHS mobile app. To make rain and snow reports, you’ll need a specific manual gauge approved by the National Weather Service. Find everything you need to get started in the CoCoRaHS and SEaRCH summary on the NASA Citizen Science website.) and the National Science Foundation. CoCoRaHS hail photo submitted by volunteer Jeremy Kichler displaying a hand holding three large and uniquely shaped hailstones. Credit Jeremy Kichler and CoCoRaHS Map displaying data from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) satellite. Colors represent the probability of hail being detected (highest probability is dark red, least probability is light grey). Light blue, gray and light green pixels in the image indicate a storm over southern Georgia likely to contain hail. The ****** dot indicates the location of the hail reported to CoCoRaHS by Jeremy Kichler. The label “plus 10 min” indicates the satellite overpass occurred ten minutes before Jeremy’s observation of hail. Data from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS). Image processing by Sarah Bang. View public map: [Hidden Content] View the hail report for this highlight: [Hidden Content] Learn More and Get Involved Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) Join a national community of precipitation reporters providing critical data to improve scientific understanding and forecasts. Facebook logo @nasascience_ @nasascience_ Instagram logo @nasascience_ Linkedin logo @nasascience_ Share Details Last Updated Mar 17, 2026 Related Terms Citizen Science Earth Science Earth Science Division Explore More 3 min read A Bit of Gray on an Emerald Isle Ireland is best known for its many greens, but the striking grays of the island’s… Article 9 hours ago 3 min read Cañon Fiord’s Whirling Waters During the 2022 summer melt season, sediment plumes and fractured sea ice traced swirling eddies… Article 1 day ago 2 min read Volunteers Find Oddly High Solar Flare Rates Article 4 days ago View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory A Bit of Gray on an Emerald Isle 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 May 16, 2025 Today’s story is the answer to the March 2026 puzzler. Though Ireland is known for the many shades of green that grace its grassy pastoral landscapes, there’s one corner of the Emerald Isle where gray reigns supreme. In the Burren region, on the island’s west coast, what geologists describe as limestone pavement covers much of the rocky, treeless landscape. The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 captured this view of the Burren on May 16, 2025. The fossil-rich limestone that makes up the gray outcrops was deposited about 325 million years ago during the Carboniferous *******, when what is now Ireland lay near the equator beneath warm, shallow seas. Although the limestone was initially deposited in flat, horizontal layers on the seafloor, it later buckled into gentle arch- and trough-shaped folds as tectonic plates collided during a mountain-building episode known as the Variscan Orogeny. These folds in the tilted rock layers and differences in their rate of erosion produced the terraced appearance that defines the Burren’s hills, with more erosion-resistant layers of rock persisting as ledges. Glacial activity also played a role in sculpting the landscape, scraping away soil and sediment to expose the limestone pavement and smoothing the region’s hills. May 16, 2025 Limestone is prone to chemical weathering that produces an irregular terrain known as karst, pockmarked with sinkholes, caves, and fissures called grikes. Many grikes in the Burren collect soil and have become footholds where vegetation grows in the otherwise rocky landscape. Individual grikes are too small to see in Landsat imagery, but networks of them have aligned along the rock layers, contributing to the concentric vegetation patterns visible in the image. Among the plants that you might find growing in them is the shamrock, the three-leaved clover that has become a symbol of Ireland. With some luck, Trifolium dubium or Trifolium repens may even be found amidst the shamrock-shaped contours of Moneen Mountain, a 262-meter (860-foot) limestone hill visible in the image above. While there’s hardly consensus about what species is the true inspiration for shamrocks, these two clover species were among the favorites when Irish botanists were surveyed about the topic in the 1880s, according to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland. Downloads View All May 16, 2025 JPEG (3.01 MB) References & Resources Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark The Story of the Burren. Accessed March 16, 2026. Burren National Park Nature & Conservation. Accessed March 16, 2026. Carnegie Museum of Natural History What is a Shamrock? Accessed March 16, 2026. Earth (2018, June 7) Travels in Geology: The Burren: Ireland’s “Great Rock” Region. Accessed March 16, 2026. The Geological Society The Burren. Accessed March 16, 2026. International Commission on Geoheritage (2026) Carboniferous evolution of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher. Accessed March 16, 2026. National Geographic (2024, October 10) Come to this Irish region for otherworldly rock formations. Accessed March 16, 2026. Smithsonian (2016, March 16) No One Really Knows What a Shamrock Is. Accessed March 16, 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. An Amphitheater of Rock at Cedar Breaks 4 min read The colorful formations found in this bowl-shaped escarpment in southwestern Utah are the centerpiece of Cedar Breaks National Monument. Article The Towers of Tràng An 3 min read Over millions of years, water has sculpted limestone in northern Vietnam into an extraordinary karst landscape full of towers, cones,… Article Rewilding South Africa’s Greater Kruger 5 min read Satellites are helping land managers track ecological shifts as reserves reconnect and landscapes return to a more natural state. Article 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

As its team prepared for second flight, NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft underwent engine run testing on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.Credit: NASA NASA will hold a media teleconference at 5:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 19 to highlight plans for its X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft’s upcoming flight tests. The teleconference is set to take place after the X-59 is scheduled to complete its second flight, in California. For the media call, NASA leadership will join representatives from the Quesst mission and contractor Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. The X-59’s test pilots will be available to answer questions about what it’s like to fly the aircraft and how they prepare for flights. The news conference will stream on NASA’s YouTube channel. An instant replay will be available online. Learn how to watch NASA content on a variety of platforms, including social media. Participants include: Amit Kshatriya, NASA associate administrator Cathy Bahm, project manager, Low ***** Flight Demonstrator, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, California Peter Coen, Quesst mission integration manager, NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia Jim “Clue” Less, X-59 test pilot, NASA Armstrong Nils Larson, X-59 test pilot, NASA Armstrong Pat LeBeau, Lockheed Martin X-59 project manager To participate in the virtual call, members of the media must RSVP no later than two hours before the start of the event to: *****@*****.tld. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online. For second flight, the X-59 will taxi from its hangar at NASA Armstrong, then take off and land at nearby Edwards Air Force Base. The aircraft will fly for roughly an hour, reaching a cruising speed of 230 mph at 12,000 feet before accelerating to 260 mph at 20,000 feet. This flight will kick off a series of flights known as envelope expansion, during which NASA will gradually take the X-59 faster and higher to ensure the aircraft’s safety and assess its performance. This phase will be followed by flights assessing the X-59’s unique acoustic profile. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission and was developed to fly supersonic, or faster than the speed of sound, without generating loud sonic booms. Through Quesst, NASA is working to make commercial supersonic flight over land possible, dramatically reducing travel time in the United States or anywhere in the world. To learn more about X-59 visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Rob Margetta Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0918 *****@*****.tld Kristen Hatfield NASA Langley, Virginia 757-817-5522 *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Mar 16, 2026 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsQuesst (X-59)AeronauticsAeronautics ResearchAeronautics Research Mission DirectorateAeronautics TechnologyArmstrong Flight Research CenterLangley Research CenterScience & Research View the full article

2 Min Read SPARCS CubeSat ‘First Light’ Images PIA26731 Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/**** Photojournal Navigation Science Photojournal SPARCS CubeSat ‘First… Photojournal Home Photojournal Search Latest Content Galleries Feedback RSS About Downloads SPARCS CubeSat ‘First Light’ Images PNG (1.73 MB) Description This pair of images shows stars observed by the SPARCS (Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat) space telescope simultaneously in the near-ultraviolet, left, and far-ultraviolet, right. These observations were recorded on Feb. 6, 2026, three weeks after the cube satellite, or CubeSat, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 on Jan. 11. The fact that one star is seen in the far-UV while multiple are seen in near-UV offers insights into the temperatures of these stars, with the one visible in both colors being the hottest. Roughly the size of a large cereal box, SPARCS will monitor flares and sunspot activity on low-mass stars — objects only 30% to 50% the mass of the Sun. These stars are among the most common in the Milky Way and host the majority of the galaxy’s roughly 50 billion habitable-zone terrestrial planets, which are rocky worlds close enough to their stars for temperatures that could allow liquid water and potentially support life. The SPARCS spacecraft is the first dedicated to continuously and simultaneously monitoring the far-ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet radiation from low-mass stars. Over its one-year mission, SPARCS will target approximately 20 low-mass stars and observe them over durations of five to 45 days. Filters for the spacecraft’s camera, SPARCam, were made using a technique that improves sensitivity and performance by enabling them to be directly deposited onto the specially developed UV-sensitive “delta-doped” detectors. The approach of detector-integrated filters eliminated the need for a separate filter element, resulting in a system that is among the most sensitive of its kind ever flown in space. The filters, detectors, and associated electronics were designed, fabricated, and tested at the Microdevices Laboratory (MDL) at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Inventors at MDL harness physics, chemistry, and material science, including quantum, to deliver first-of-their-kind devices and capabilities for our nation. Funded by NASA and led by Arizona State University in Tempe, SPARCS is managed under the agency’s Astrophysics Research and Analysis program. The agency’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) selected SPARCS in 2022 for a ride to orbit. The initiative is a low-cost pathway for conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space, enabling students, teachers, and faculty to gain hands-on experience with flight hardware design, development, and building. Blue Canyon Technologies fabricated the spacecraft bus. Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From Photojournal Photojournal Search Photojournal Photojournal’s Latest Content Feedback View the full article

7 min read To Protect Artemis II Astronauts, NASA Experts Keep Eyes on Sun As four astronauts travel around the Moon on NASA’s Artemis II mission, they will venture beyond Earth’s protective magnetic field. The crew’s spacecraft, Orion, will carry and protect them as they journey into deep space and serves as the main protection against the Sun’s intense power.  During their 10-day flight, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will monitor the Sun around the clock and translate space weather conditions into real-time decisions to protect the astronauts. Space weather refers to the changing conditions driven by solar wind and eruptions from the Sun. Solar flares are the most powerful eruptions in the solar system, the strongest unleashing more energy than a billion hydrogen bombs. Coronal mass ejections are giant clouds of solar particles hundreds of times the size of Earth that burst from the Sun. While both flares and coronal mass ejections can affect technology, the primary concern for astronauts is the solar particle events they can trigger, accelerating some particles to near light speed. If a significant solar particle event occurs near the Artemis II crew, it could raise radiation levels inside the spacecraft. Too high a total lifetime exposure can contribute to increased risks of developing ******* or health disorders that could impair cognition and performance. During the Artemis II mission, NASA will minimize that risk. For the first time in half a century, four astronauts are leaving Earth’s protective magnetic field to enter a realm where massive solar eruptions can unleash more energy than a billion hydrogen bombs. The Artemis II crew will fly through a dangerous environment, but they’re not going it alone. On the voyage, the astronauts and their Orion capsule are outfitted with radiation trackers as ground teams monitor solar eruptions 24/7. Here’s how NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are protecting explorers from the most powerful eruptions in the solar system. NASA/Joy Ng Tracking solar eruptions “Our focus will be real-time space weather analysis, prioritizing solar energetic particles and events that could produce them,” said Mary Aronne, operations lead for the space weather analysis office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “We’re looking for the trigger, which would typically be a flare or a coronal mass ejection.” This animation shows a solar eruption that produces a solar flare, a coronal mass ejection, and a flurry of energetic particles. The particles follow the spiral shape of the solar wind’s magnetic fields into interplanetary space. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab The Goddard team will track any solar eruptions that occur, measuring how big they are, how fast they’re moving, and how likely they are to generate energetic particles that will cross Orion’s path. To this end, they’ll use real-time data from Sun-watching spacecraft strategically placed across the solar system, such as NASA’s recently launched Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, the ESA (European Space Agency)/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites-19 satellite, and many others. Other NASA spacecraft also will help monitor the Sun. Due to Mars’ current position, NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover can look at the far side of the Sun, where Earth has no view. The rover’s Mastcam-Z cameras can give NASA’s space weather teams a view of the largest sunspots up to two weeks earlier so the team can monitor and prepare for possible solar flares. NASA’s Perseverance Rover captured these images of sunspots crossing the Sun from its vantage point on the Martian surface between February 24 – 27, 2026. Mars is currently on the opposite side of the Sun, giving the rover a view of sunspots not visible from Earth. Perseverance will monitor sunspots leading up to and during the Artemis II launch window, giving the Moon to Mars Space Weather Analysis Office (M2M SWAO) and Space Radiation Analysis Group (SRAG) teams advance notice of regions that could produce solar eruptions before they rotate onto the Earth-facing side of the Sun. NASA/JPL-Caltech/****/MSSS/SSI Monitoring crew exposure Energetic solar particles don’t stream straight out from the Sun. They spiral along the Sun’s magnetic field lines, tracing loops tens of thousands of miles across and scattering due to particle collisions along the way. The chaotic swarm is so large that, from inside it, particles seem to be coming from every direction. “It’s more like you’re sitting in a bathtub and it’s gradually filling with water,” said Stuart George, a space radiation analyst at NASA Johnson. That gradual rise in radiation gives analysts time to evaluate the situation. Inside Orion, six radiation sensors, part of the Hybrid Electronic Radiation Assessor system designed and built by NASA, measure dose rates in different parts of the cabin. Artemis II astronauts also wear personal radiation trackers called crew active dosimeters. If radiation levels increase, Orion’s onboard systems display warnings accompanied by an audible alarm. Artist’s concept of the components of the Orion spacecraft. NASA NASA has dosage level thresholds they’ll look for inside Orion. The first threshold signals a caution, prompting closer monitoring and coordination with medical and flight operations teams. A higher threshold triggers a recommendation for the crew to take shelter. Radiation shielding in space is all about mass. Charged particles are slowed and absorbed as they pass through matter. Astronauts are trained to reconfigure their cabin during a solar particle event, removing stowed equipment from storage bays and securing it along areas of the cabin to add mass between themselves and incoming particles. Since Artemis II is the first crewed Artemis mission, testing this procedure in the Orion spacecraft is a major objective of the mission. “Once crews add mass to the places that tend to be hotter in terms of radiation exposure, they can then continue to go about their duties,” George said. Artist’s concept of the Trajectory for Artemis II, NASA’s first flight with crew aboard SLS and Orion to pave the way for long-term return to the Moon and missions to Mars. NASA The complexity of solar particle events is one reason NASA places spacecraft across the solar system. During a solar storm in January, NASA analysts tracked a coronal mass ejection on its way to Earth. When it arrived, satellites detected two distinct spikes in energetic particles where there would normally be one. Measurements from NASA’s BioSentinel CubeSat, deployed during the Artemis I mission, revealed what happened. The spacecraft, about 55 million miles away from Earth, detected a distinct eruption that later merged with the coronal mass ejection headed to Earth. Ultimately, two separate eruptions occurred. The crew also must account for exposure to Earth’s radiation belts and galactic cosmic rays. The Van Allen Radiation Belts are two rings of high energy particles that surround our planet. Any mission headed to the Moon or farther must pass through them. Galactic cosmic rays are very high-energy particles from sources beyond our solar system. Together, the radiation exposure from these sources is expected to be comparable to a 1-month stay on the International Space Station, or about 5% of an astronaut’s career limit. Any exposure from solar radiation events would add to this baseline. The Moon to Mars Space Weather Analysis Office, based at NASA Goddard, continuously assesses solar activity and any eruptions that occur. The team shares its analysis with the Space Radiation Analysis Group, based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Together, their forecasts and those from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, plus real-time measurements from inside the Orion spacecraft will inform recommendations for the flight control team. By Miles Hatfield NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Share Details Last Updated Mar 16, 2026 Related Terms Artemis 2 Goddard Space Flight Center Heliophysics Heliophysics Division Space Weather The Sun Explore More 2 min read Volunteers Find Oddly High Solar Flare Rates Article 3 days ago 5 min read Artifacts From NASA’s Webb, Parker Solar Probe on View at Smithsonian A testing replica of the “backbone” of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and a full-scale… Article 3 days ago 3 min read Two Observatories, One Cosmic Eye: Hubble and Euclid View Cat’s Eye Nebula Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

Dr. Robert H. Goddard and a liquid oxygen-gasoline rocket in the frame from which it was fired on March 16, 1926, at Auburn, Mass.Esther Goddard, from the Clark University archive From the voyages of spacecraft to the Moon and beyond, to the launches of satellites that help us navigate, communicate, and understand our planet and the universe, the use of liquid-fueled rockets has been key to humanity’s use and exploration of space. Today marks 100 years since the first successful test of this technology. On March 16, 1926, physicist and inventor Dr. Robert H. Goddard achieved a small but significant success when he launched a liquid-fueled rocket for the first time. His rocket, fueled by liquid oxygen and gasoline, was tested at his Aunt Effie’s farm in Auburn, Massachusetts. While unimpressive by most measures—the rocket flew for just 2.5 seconds, reaching 41 feet (12.5 meters) in altitude and landing in a cabbage patch 184 feet (56 meters) away—it was a breakthrough that heralded the exploration of space. Over his lifetime, Goddard improved on his design and went on to create other technologies for space travel, including systems to steer rockets, pumps for rocket fuels, and engines that could pivot for better control. His pioneering work laid an important foundation for our achievements in space today. Photo Credit: Esther Goddard, from the Clark University archive. View the full article

Download PDF: A Combination of Techniques Leads to Improved Friction Stir Welding The NESC developed several innovative tools and techniques during an assessment to find the root cause of poor tensile strength and low topography anomalies (LTA) in welds formed using a solid-state welding process called self-reacting friction stir welding (SRFSW). Using a combination of machine learning, statistical modeling, and physics-based simulations, the assessment team helped improve the weld process and solve both issues, lifting constraints that had been placed on flight hardware. Developing Techniques for LTA Detection Determining the root cause of poor tensile strength welds and LTA observed on the weld fracture surfaces involved several techniques: Deep Learning for LTA Detection: The NESC team developed a machine-learning model to detect and segment LTA in weld images. The model was trained on images annotated by metallurgy experts, with a majority-vote consensus to resolve disagreements. The team then developed an accompanying standard operating procedure for image capture to improve robustness and reduce bias. This model was built on previous NASA work to develop specialty microscopy analysis foundation models by pretraining on 100,000+ microscopy images. This step was crucial to linking process parameters with LTA occurrence in an objective, nonbiased way. The team eliminated issues with manual identification of LTA by training a neural network to detect LTA from images of fracture surfaces, pretraining an encoder on a large NASA dataset of microscopy images called MicroNet. Integrated Data-Ingestion Framework: SRFSW is a complex process with many interacting variables. The weld process produces a large amount of data with diverse data types that include dozens of tabular process parameters, dozens of sequential data streams from the production tool, fracture and weld cross-section images, and mechanical-test lab data. A Python-based framework was developed to automatically ingest and validate these diverse data and compile them into a single master spreadsheet and a database. This tool reduced manual effort, minimized transcription errors, and improved data quality for downstream analysis. The team delivered the tool to stakeholders for their ongoing use. Data Analysis Web Application: A new web-based visualization and analysis tool allowed engineers and subject matter experts to quickly explore the integrated dataset for faster hypothesis testing and more intuitive insight generation throughout the investigation Space-Filling Design of Experiments: Because SRFSW involves complex, nonlinear relationships between process parameters, the team found traditional factorial designs were insufficient and implemented a space-filling design of experiments (DOE) to efficiently explore the full parameter space. These data-trained machine-learning models capture the underlying weld behavior. The team also developed a software tool for generating such designs and shared it with stakeholders. Physics-Based SRFSW Simulation: Creating a computational model of the SRFSW process simulated weld conditions, microstructure evolution, and resulting properties, offering insight into aspects of the weld process that are inaccessible to physical sensors. This enhanced understanding and guided improvements. Determining LTA Root Cause Using these tools and analyses, the team identified two root causes for the LTA and poor tensile strength: Overly aggressive post-weld surface preparation in production reduced weld strength. Weld power input outside the optimal range led to inconsistent welds and increased risk of LTA. The process models helped define a target weld power input window and recommended how to adjust primary control parameters to reliably achieve that target. Follow-up production tests confirmed that these adjustments could be implemented with high precision, eliminating both low-strength welds and LTA. Friction Stir Welding In SRFSW, a rotating pin is plunged into the seam between two metal plates, generating heat through friction that fuses the sheets together without melting the material. This technique produces stronger joints than traditional welding and enables the use of high-performance but traditionally non-weldable alloys like Aluminum 2219. The SRFSW technique uses no blowtorches or solder because friction stirs the materials together at a molecular level. NASA’s Friction Stir Welding lab resides inside NASA’s Michoud Vertical Assembly Center in New Orleans and is being used to join major components of the SLS rocket. For information, contact Donald S. Parker. *****@*****.tld References: NASA/TM-20240016466 and NASA/TM-20230010624 View the full article

Download PDF: NESC Develops Method for Estimating Risk When Reducing NDE Performing nondestructive evaluation (NDE) can have both cost and schedule impacts, leading some to question whether descoping (i.e., reducing or eliminating) NDE inspections on certain spaceflight hardware could be possible. However, this approach would be counter to NASA’s Technical Standard NASA-STD-5019A, which outlines the spaceflight system requirements for establishing a fracture control plan—one that relies on design, analysis, testing, NDE, and tracking of fracture-critical parts to verify damage tolerance and mitigate catastrophic failure. Under the 5019A framework, damage smaller than the NDE detection capability is assumed to exist, but through analysis or test, the part being evaluated must be shown to survive the required service life. In practice, NDE’s role is to screen out flaws that otherwise may result in failure. However, in some cases, descoping NDE from the damage tolerance verification process could be useful and still provide the required level of safety. The NESC conducted an assessment to help answer the question of whether rationale could be found for achieving an equivalent risk posture without using the traditional 5019A approach to damage tolerance. The objective was to develop a probabilistic analysis method that would allow NASA programs and projects to estimate risk associated with descoping the NDE requirements of single-wrought materials. This effort included using historical data to demonstrate the method, performing sensitivity studies, and identifying the minimum supporting data that would be required for approving a descoping request. Descoping NDE from Damage Tolerance Damage tolerance is typically treated as deterministic: an NDE detection threshold is established as a fixed flaw size with an associated binary outcome (flaw exists/does not exist), and failure is based on a conservative analysis or test with a binary result (pass/fail). However, damage tolerance is rooted in the following probabilities: • P(A): Probability that a flaw of a given size exists, • P(D0│A): Probability that this flaw will be missed by NDE, and • P(F│D0,A): Probability that a flaw results in failure given that it exists and was missed by NDE. These are combined into the joint failure probability: P(F,D0,A) = P(F│D0,A)P(D0│A)P(A) Damage tolerance is based on the idea that analysis and testing suggests a near-zero probability of failure below a critical initial flaw size (aCIFS) shown by the green (lower) arrow in Figure 1, and NDE results in a near-zero probability of missing a flaw above some detectability threshold (aNDE) shown by the yellow (upper) arrow in Figure 1. If these two areas overlap, then the part is damage tolerant, with a near-zero failure probability regardless of underlying probability of flaw existence, i.e., conservatively assuming that P(a>aCIFS)=1 for any flaw size does not impact the conclusion. However, if NDE is descoped, it removes the right arrow from Figure 1, and risk will increase to a value proportional to the probability P(a>aCIFS). Estimating P(a>aCIFS) may be intractable without expensive, high-resolution methods to characterize the frequency of flaw occurrence at a particular size for a given part. Alternatively, it may be possible to estimate P(a> aNDE), the probability of a detectable flaw existing. Assuming that a part of interest is shown to be damage tolerant prior to any NDE descope (i.e., satisfying NASA-STD-5019A), it can be assumed that (1) historical inspection data are available, and (2) aNDE > aCIFS, due to the required overlap in Figure 1. As such, it was proposed that the frequency of historical finds could be used to estimate a 95% upper confidence bound on P(a> aNDE) and thus an estimate of the risk associated with descoping. To demonstrate the risk-evaluation framework, the NESC gained access to a historical NDE database comprising 33,630 bolt-hole inspections over a 3-year *******. In total, six crack-like features were found by NDE. Accounting for uncertainty due to sample size yielded a 95% confidence upper bound of P(a> aNDE) = 0.04% for each hole. In the proposed method, it is conservatively assumed that if a flaw exceeding the CIFS exists, then it will lead to structural failure. While conservative, this assumption was necessary based on the limitations of the database in that it lacked detected flaw sizing. Based on this assumption, P(a> aNDE) = 0.0004 yields a structural reliability of approximately 0.9996 (expressed as 3.4 “nines”). The results are illustrated graphically in Figure 2. In this case study, increasing the number of inspections in the dataset to 100,000 (i.e., multiplying by a factor of 3) marginally increases the number of nines to 3.5. At the observed NDE rejection rate, 4 nines of reliability are not achievable even with infinite samples and zero uncertainty. It is expected that the rejection rates and sample sizes in this case study are on the order of magnitude of what would be observed and available in practice. Since 2 nines or less would equate to a significant increase relative to the baseline risk for NASA Human Spaceflight Programs, a minimum sample size of 5,000 inspections is needed at an NDE rejection rate of 0.04%. There are necessary assumptions underpinning this methodology. First, time-invariant process control is required to ensure that estimated probabilities from historical inspections are predictive of future probabilities after descope. Ensuring consistency during the data collection ******* is a first step in verifying existing controls, and continued monitoring is necessary to verify that the process remains time-invariant. Second, while aggregating data across multiple parts can increase the inspection sample size and decrease uncertainty in estimated rejection rates, it requires aggregation rationale via qualitative and quantitative assessments of similitude. The methodology developed by the NESC is intended to be a component of a comprehensive fracture control evaluation by the NASA Fracture Control Board and the responsible Technical Authority. For information, contact Patrick E. Leser. patrick.e*****@*****.tld Reference: NASA/TM-20250004074 View the full article

Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Cañon Fiord’s Whirling Waters 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 August 9, 2022 For most of the year, ice blankets the waterways of the northern ********* Arctic Archipelago. But during the brief summer melt season, the stark white and gray landscape transforms into a colorful, dynamic environment. On a particularly striking day in 2022, sediment plumes and fractured sea ice traced swirling eddies in a branch of the Nansen Sound fjord system. These satellite images show a section of Cañon Fiord, located about 115 kilometers (70 miles) southeast of the Eureka research station on west-central Ellesmere Island. Waters from the fjord flow into Greely Fiord, which connects to Nansen Sound and ultimately the Arctic Ocean. The images were acquired by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 on August 9, 2022. Igor Dmitrenko, a physical oceanographer at the Centre for Earth Observation Science at the University of Manitoba, has studied eddies in the fjord system and notes that the water’s turbidity, a measure of its cloudiness, remains low during the ice-covered season. Freshwater runoff—and the sediment it carries—drops sharply this time of year, and the formation of 2-meter-thick sea ice shields the surface from wind, suppressing mixing that would otherwise resuspend particles. Summer presents a contrasting scenario. The detailed image below (top) shows that the sea ice in this part of the fjord has broken up, free to drift with the currents and wind. Note that some of the pieces are likely icebergs that have broken off from nearby outlet glaciers. The second detailed image shows a similar scenario; however, in this case, it is sediment suspended in the water that is tracing the flow. August 9, 2022 August 9, 2022 Alex Gardner and Chad Greene, glaciologists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, pointed out that the sediment plume is mostly glacial flour—rock that has been pulverized by a glacier. Surface meltwater that gets under the glacier ultimately flushes the glacial flour into the fjord, making the water appear turquoise. Glacial flour is a critical source of nutrients, specifically iron. Soluble iron is a vital nutrient in marine ecosystems because most phytoplankton—the foundation of marine food webs—depend on it to grow. The glacial ice visible in these scenes comes from the Agassiz Ice Cap, one of five major ice caps on Ellesmere Island. Using data from NASA’s ICESat and the DLR-NASA GRACE missions, scientists have shown that glaciers in the ********* Arctic Archipelago began shrinking rapidly in the mid-2000s and that the trend has persisted. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Kathryn Hansen. Downloads View All August 9, 2022 JPEG (11.98 MB) References & Resources Dmitrenko, I.A., et al. (2025) Following a half-century oceanographic data gap in the northern ********* Arctic Archipelago: multidecadal variability of the Pacific water throughflow. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12, 1602485. Gardner, A.S., et al. (2011) Sharply increased mass loss from glaciers and ice caps in the ********* Arctic Archipelago. Nature, 473, 357-360. Wouters, B., et al. (2019) Global Glacier Mass Loss During the GRACE Satellite Mission (2002-2016). Frontiers in Earth Science, 7, 96. You may also be interested in: Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet. Arctic Sea Ice Ties for 10th-Lowest on Record 3 min read Satellite data show that Arctic sea ice likely reached its annual minimum extent on September 10, 2025. Article Stonebreen’s Beating Heart 3 min read The glacier in southeastern Svalbard pulses with the changing seasons, speeding up and slowing its flow toward the sea. Article Antarctic Sea Ice Saw Its Third-Lowest Maximum 2 min read Sea ice around the southernmost continent hit one of its lowest seasonal highs since the start of the satellite record. Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep Exploring Discover More from NASA Earth Science Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox. Earth Observatory Image of the Day NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery. Explore Earth Science Earth Science Data Open access to NASA’s archive of Earth science data View the full article

2 min read Volunteers Find Oddly High Solar Flare Rates Patches of the Sun’s surface often show strong magnetic fields. These fields can emerge within a matter of hours, and can decay slowly or quickly, sometimes over days, weeks, or even months. Thanks to a new study about these long-lived active regions, we now know much more about the patches where these strong magnetic fields take at least a month to decay. This study relied on inputs from NASA’s Solar Active Region Spotter citizen science project, which asked volunteers to answer a series of questions about pairs of active region images from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. Project leads Emily Mason (Predictive Science Inc.) and Kara Kniezewski (Air Force Institute of Technology) looked at the data and the analysis done by volunteers. They found that the long-lived active regions produce disproportionately more flares than the shorter-lived regions and are 3-6 times more likely than other active regions to be the source of the most intense kinds of solar flares. These results are a strong indication that long-lived active regions are crucial for predicting space weather and could provide critical information on magnetic fields deeper inside the Sun. The Solar Active Region Spotter project is now complete, but you can learn more about the results here: [Hidden Content] Explore NASA Citizen Science projects you can join today to help advance our understanding of space weather: [Hidden Content]. An example of the data citizen scientists categorized for this project. NASA Learn More and Get Involved Solar Active Region Spotter Help track active regions as they evolve across solar rotations! Facebook logo @nasascience_ @nasascience_ Instagram logo @nasascience_ Linkedin logo @nasascience_ Share Details Last Updated Mar 13, 2026 Editor NASA Science Editorial Team Related Terms Citizen Science Heliophysics Division Solar Flares Explore More 2 min read Extra Extra! Extra Data Stream Added to the Daily Minor Planet! Article 1 hour ago 2 min read NASA Volunteers Study Biofilm Adaptability in Space Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that stick to one another and also adhere to a… Article 6 hours ago 1 min read Help Galaxy Zoo: Tidal Tales Open Cosmic Storybook Galaxies carry the imprints of past encounters. When they pass near one another or collide,… Article 1 day ago View the full article