We’ll have to wait a bit longer to see Rocket Lab’s next-gen launcher fly. The California-based company just announced that it’s pushing the debut of its powerful, partially reusable Neutron rocket from late 2026 into 2027 due to a manufacturing issue. “We believe Neutron is going to be a game-changer, and taking the time now to solve these challenges means we’re in a better position to deliver a rocket that’s ready to meet the needs for the industry for years to come,” Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck said…
Read MoreIt’s time to reassess the size of our solar system, scientists say
Two leading space scientists say there is a need to redefine the edge of the solar system by presenting a theory which states that measurements of the Milky Way’s gravitational field, including its dark matter, redraws the sun’s frontier. That theory was put forward by Jim Green, former NASA chief scientist and past director of the space agency’s Planetary Science Division, along with Ed Belbruno, a professor of mathematics at Yeshiva University and a senior research associate at Princeton University. The solar system’s gravitational frontier extends to nearly 3.8 light-years…
Read MoreAPOD: 2026 October 16 – Chasing the International Space Station
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 16 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Chasing the International Space Station Explanation: Blasting into the predawn sky on Tuesday, October 13, a Falcon 9 rocket and…
Read MoreIsaias Dims the Gulf Coast
Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Isaias Dims the Gulf Coast Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search August 2026 Composite October 11, 2026 Nighttime lights along the Florida Panhandle coast in August 2026, brightest in…
Read MoreNASA to Help Unlock Mysteries of Mars’ Moons in Upcoming Mission
NASA is playing an important role in JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) mission, to advance our understanding of Mars’ moons and build on the agency’s long history of exploring the Red Planet. The mission aims to characterize and determine the origin of Mars’ moons Phobos and Deimos and deliver a sample of Phobos to Earth. The MMX spacecraft is targeting launch from JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 3:41 p.m. EDT on Monday, Oct. 19 (4:41 a.m. JST on Tuesday, Oct. 20). An artist’s concept…
Read MorePower Up: Roll Out Solar Arrays Boost Space Station Power Supply
2 Min Read Power Up: Roll Out Solar Arrays Boost Space Station Power Supply From the International Space Station’s unique position 250 miles above Earth, the Sun is a vital source of energy. Solar power supports the station’s life support systems, daily activities, and hundreds of research investigations that improve life on Earth and prepare humans for deep space exploration. Over the past five years, NASA augmented the station’s power generation and distribution capability with next-generation International Space Station Roll Out Solar Arrays (IROSAs). An International Space Station Roll Out…
Read MoreNASA Awards Enable Research, Technology to Build Future Workforce
3 Min Read NASA Awards Enable Research, Technology to Build Future Workforce An illustration of a suited Artemis astronaut looking out of a Moon lander hatch across the lunar surface, a Lunar Terrain Vehicle and other surface elements. Credits: NASA NASA has selected 12 U.S. institutions to receive $12 million to accelerate academic research and technology development in support of the agency’s priorities for exploring the Moon, Mars, and deep space. Through NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Space Technology Artemis Research (M‑STAR) initiative, selected institutions will each…
Read MoreChandra Finds Possible Origin of ‘Treble Clef’ Waves
Astronomers have used NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory to break down the cause of a remarkable formation of radio waves they have nicknamed the “Treble Clef” because its distinct shape strongly resembles the musical symbol.
Read MoreBeat light pollution with these six portable telescopes
Light pollution is the astronomer’s biggest enemy, especially if you’re gazing into deep space. And while some of the best telescopes can make a difference, there’s no way to eliminate it. That’s why, if you want to observe the cosmos without obstruction, you need to seek out darker skies, get a smart telescope or combine the two. You don’t have to book a flight to a dark sky reserve; just traveling away from suburbia can be enough. That’s where portable telescopes come in. Set one up in a field, for…
Read MoreScientists discover ‘chemical starter kit’ for life in planetary birthplaces
Methanol, coming as part of the ‘chemical starter kit’ around young stars, has produced some unexpected surprises that could ultimately reveal some of the conditions in which planets and potentially life form around protostars. The methanol discoveries were made by astronomers using ALMA (the Atacama Large millimeter/submillimeter Array) in the Atacama Desert in Chile, as part of a project called COMPASS (the Complex Organic Molecules in Protostars with ALMA Spectral Surveys). “Our work provides insight into the complex chemistry of young star systems and is ultimately an important piece of…
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