5 Min Read NASA’s Psyche Delivers First Images and Other Data This mosaic was made from “first light” images acquired Dec. 4 by both of the cameras on NASA’s Psyche spacecraft. The star field lies in the constellation Pisces. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU The mission team has celebrated several successes since its launch from Kennedy Space Center on Oct. 13. The latest is the operation of the spacecraft’s cameras. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is on a roll. In the eight weeks since it left Earth on Oct. 13, the orbiter has performed one…
Read MoreNASA Engineers Push Limits of Physics to Focus Light
A pair of precision-orbiting small satellites will attempt to capture the first views ever of small-scale features near the surface of the Sun that scientists believe drive the heating and acceleration of solar wind. Heliophysicist Dr. Doug Rabin at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said photon sieves, a technology that can focus extreme ultraviolet light, should be able to resolve features 10 to 50 times smaller than what can be seen today with the Solar Dynamics Observatory’s EUV imager. Photon sieves like this are cut from a…
Read MoreSaturn and Jupiter Conjunction
The Moon, left, Saturn, upper right, and Jupiter, lower right, are seen after sunset from Washington, DC, Thurs. Dec. 17, 2020. The two planets drew closer to each other in the sky as they headed towards a “great conjunction” on Dec. 21, where the two giant planets appeared a tenth of a degree apart.
Read MoreNASA Leaders to Highlight 25th Anniversary of Space Station with Crew
(Nov. 8, 2021) — The International Space Station is pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a fly around of the orbiting lab that took place following its undocking from the Harmony module’s space-facing port on Nov. 8, 2021. NASA/SpaceX NASA is celebrating the 25th anniversary of International Space Station operations during a live conversation with crew aboard the microgravity laboratory for the benefit of humanity. During a space-to-Earth call at 12:25 p.m. EST Wednesday, Dec. 6, the Expedition 70 crew will speak with NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana…
Read MorePluto’s ‘almost twin’ dwarf planet Eris is surprisingly squishy
Close to 18 years ago, astronomers spotted a miniature, icy world named Eris billions of miles beyond Neptune. But unlike its dwarf planet cousin Pluto — which New Horizons promoted to a rich, dynamic world after its visit in 2015 — Eris has not had any robotic visitors. It is so far away from Earth, in fact, that it shows up in observations just as a single pixel of light. All in all, scientists know very little about what happens on Eris. Though what we do know is Eris is…
Read MoreHow Perseverance rover captured its youngest samples from Mars’ Dream Lake (video)
A new NASA video has revealed that NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance has scooped what may be its youngest rock sample yet from the ancient dry lakebed known as the Jezero Crater. Jezero has been the figurative stomping ground of the Perseverance rover since the robotic rover landed on the Red Planet on Feb. 21, 2023. As of Nov. 2023, the rover had collected 23 samples of Martian rock that have been sealed in tubes, which scientists hope can be returned to Earth as part of the Mars Sample Return campaign…
Read MoreStratolaunch’s huge Roc plane flies with fueled-up hypersonic vehicle for 1st time (photos)
The world’s biggest airplane took to the skies over the weekend with a new type of payload under its expansive wings. Stratolaunch’s Roc carrier plane conducted its first-ever captive-carry flight with a powered and fueled-up hypersonic test vehicle on Sunday (Dec. 3). The main goal was to evaluate the propulsion system of that vehicle — the first of Stratolaunch’s robotic Talon-A craft, known as TA-1 — and to see more generally how it behaves while being carried in flight, company representatives said. “Talon-A’s propulsion system supports a liquid-propellant rocket engine…
Read MoreExpedition 68 Crew With Three NASA Astronauts to Discuss Mission
Dec. 4, 2023 MEDIA ADVISORY: M23-001 Four astronauts, including the current record-holder for the longest single stay in space aboard the International Space Station, will make their first public appearance in Houston since returning to Earth. The crew will be available for interviews at 5 p.m. CST Wednesday, Dec. 6, at Space Center Houston. NASA astronauts Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, and Frank Rubio, along with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Koichi Wakata, will be at NASA Johnson Space Center’s visitor center to share highlights from their missions during a…
Read MoreNASA Audio Specialist Named in Forbes 30 Under 30 List of Innovators
3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Katie Konans, NASA’s audio and podcasting lead at the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is one of two NASA employees named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Class of 2024. The other agency honoree, Clare Luckey, is a systems engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Katie Konans is NASA’s audio and podcasting lead at the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. NASA/Rob Andreoli Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list is a selection of young,…
Read MoreNASA Administrator Bill Nelson Participates in Space Agencies Leaders’ Summit at COP 28
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson participated in the first-ever Space Agencies Leaders’ Summit at COP 28 in Dubai, UAE, on Dec. 4, 2023. At the summit, organized by the UAE Space Agency, Nelson underscored the importance of sharing climate data transparently and openly with the world. Leaders from two dozen space agencies discussed enhancing data sharing between established and emerging space nations, strengthening climate research by allocating resources and funding towards climate research initiatives within the space sector, supporting climate monitoring initiatives by establishing new programs, and promoting sustainable space operations…
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