NASA(Page 4)

The latest on the US space agency's crafts, missions, and discoveries—from low-Earth orbit to deep space.

Latest in NASA

An unidentified object makes an apparent atmospheric wake.

UFO data is honestly a mess, NASA panel says UFO data is honestly a mess, NASA panel says

SuperBIT high-altitude balloon with space telescope in the skies after its launch

A super pressure balloon built by students is cruising Earth’s skies to find dark matter A super pressure balloon built by students is cruising Earth’s skies to find dark matter

Concept art of Blue Origin NASA Artemis V lunar lander on moon

NASA chooses Blue Origin to build Artemis V lunar lander NASA chooses Blue Origin to build Artemis V lunar lander

A new NASA study will put people through a brain-shaking ride in the Kraken A new NASA study will put people through a brain-shaking ride in the Kraken

NASA's TeraByte InfraRed Delivery system satellite on a pedestal

A tiny NASA CubeSat just set a big data speed record with lasers A tiny NASA CubeSat just set a big data speed record with lasers

Skylab, America's first space station, orbits Earth.

Looking back at Skylab, NASA’s pioneering space station Looking back at Skylab, NASA’s pioneering space station

Concept art of NASA EELS snake robot on icy surface of Saturn's moon, Enceladus

NASA hopes its snake robot can search for alien life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus NASA hopes its snake robot can search for alien life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus

A NASA illustration linking the moon and Mars.

NASA’s newest office is all about putting humans on Mars NASA’s newest office is all about putting humans on Mars

NASA Ingenuity helicopter lost in a Mars crater in a photo taken by Perseverance rover

Name a better duo than NASA’s hard-working Mars rover and helicopter Name a better duo than NASA’s hard-working Mars rover and helicopter

By Briley Lewis

engineers working on voyager 2

How is Voyager’s vintage technology still flying? How is Voyager’s vintage technology still flying?

By Popular Science Team

Computer image rendering of NASA RHESSI solar studying satellite above Earth

NASA’s 600-pound solar radiation tracker is plummeting to Earth tomorrow NASA’s 600-pound solar radiation tracker is plummeting to Earth tomorrow

Exoplanet KMT-2021-BLG-1898L b is a gas giant that looks like Jupiter but orbits a separate star. Illustration.

An Einstein-backed method could help us find smaller exoplanets than ever before An Einstein-backed method could help us find smaller exoplanets than ever before

By Briley Lewis

Person in a dark room watering a houseplant with a beam of light. Illustrated.

How to grow plants in the dark How to grow plants in the dark

By Ellen Airhart

Callisto Jupiter moon in colorized NASA Galileo image

Jupiter’s icy ocean worlds could be cool travel destinations in the future Jupiter’s icy ocean worlds could be cool travel destinations in the future

Magnetic field around sun's corona with NASA's Parker Solar Probe touching the edge. Illustrated.

Why is the sun’s corona 200 times hotter than its surface? Why is the sun’s corona 200 times hotter than its surface?

By Briley Lewis

Artist's concept of JUICE spacecraft at Jupiter

Follow the JUICE mission as it launches to Jupiter and its many mysterious moons Follow the JUICE mission as it launches to Jupiter and its many mysterious moons

By Laura Baisas

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin photographed on the moon during Apollo 11 by Neil Armstrong

Lunar laws could protect the moon from humanity Lunar laws could protect the moon from humanity

Orion space capsule capturing surface of moon during NASA Artemis I mission

Before the Artemis II crew can go to the moon, they need to master flying high above Earth Before the Artemis II crew can go to the moon, they need to master flying high above Earth

Circled is the infrared afterglow of the BOAT gamma-ray burst and its host galaxy. Taken by NASA space telescopes.

A powerful explosion rocked space so hard, NASA called it the ‘brightest of all time’ A powerful explosion rocked space so hard, NASA called it the ‘brightest of all time’

By Briley Lewis

Artemis II astronauts in orange NASA and Canadian Space Agency spacesuits

Meet the first 4 astronauts of the ‘Artemis Generation’ Meet the first 4 astronauts of the ‘Artemis Generation’

By Purbita Saha

A blue UV image of the planet Saturn.

Saturn’s rings have been slowly heating up its atmosphere Saturn’s rings have been slowly heating up its atmosphere

By Laura Baisas

Colorful M19 star cluster in NASA Hubble Space Telescope image

How the Hubble telescope is keeping a 265-year-old stargazing project alive How the Hubble telescope is keeping a 265-year-old stargazing project alive

This illustration conceptualizes the swirling clouds identified by the James Webb Space Telescope in the atmosphere of exoplanet VHS 1256 b. The planet is about 40 light-years away and orbits two stars that are locked in their own tight rotation.

Gritty, swirling clouds of silica surround exoplanet VHS 1256 b Gritty, swirling clouds of silica surround exoplanet VHS 1256 b

By Laura Baisas

A telescope from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope observe the universe.

Why scientists are studying the clouds of debris left in DART’s wake Why scientists are studying the clouds of debris left in DART’s wake

By Laura Baisas

The secret to Voyagers’ spectacular space odyssey

The secret to Voyagers’ spectacular space odyssey The secret to Voyagers’ spectacular space odyssey

By Tatyana Woodall

Water on the moon highlighted in varying shades of blue from NASA SOFIA data

We finally have a detailed map of water on the moon We finally have a detailed map of water on the moon

By Briley Lewis

Venus volcano in NASA Magellan spacecraft radar image

Venus could still be spewing lava, and scientists are hellbent on proving it Venus could still be spewing lava, and scientists are hellbent on proving it

NASA Axios spacesuit helmet with a pulled-back visor with better visibility on the moon

NASA finally got comfier spacesuits, but astronauts still have to poop in them NASA finally got comfier spacesuits, but astronauts still have to poop in them

WR 145 star in pre-supernova state with white bright core and red and purple dust and matter clouding around it. Taken by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.

James Webb Space Telescope captures the beauty of a rare, violent phenomena James Webb Space Telescope captures the beauty of a rare, violent phenomena

By Purbita Saha

Sun rays shining through clouds at sunset on Mars.

NASA’s Curiosity rover captures a moody Martian sunset for the first time NASA’s Curiosity rover captures a moody Martian sunset for the first time

By Laura Baisas

DART spacecraft impact on Dimorphos asteroid in a computer model with yellow, gray, and black

5 ways we know DART crushed that asteroid (but not literally) 5 ways we know DART crushed that asteroid (but not literally)

A close-up view of astronaut Charles Conrad Jr., commander of the Apollo 12 lunar landing mission, photographed during the extravehicular activity (EVA) on the surface of the moon

Lunar dust is notoriously hard to clean, but a new spray might do the trick Lunar dust is notoriously hard to clean, but a new spray might do the trick

Solar flare shooting out from left side of the sun seen in ultraviolet blue through NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory

Hold onto your satellites: The sun is about to get a lot stormier Hold onto your satellites: The sun is about to get a lot stormier

An optical image from the Keck-I Telescope superimposed on a Chandra X-ray image of Uranus.

Uranus’s quirks and hidden features have astronomers jazzed about a direct mission Uranus’s quirks and hidden features have astronomers jazzed about a direct mission

By Briley Lewis

NASA evolved structure spacecraft part

NASA is using AI to help design lighter parts NASA is using AI to help design lighter parts

An open-celled cloud formation west of Chile.

IBM’s AI has a new job: sorting through NASA’s giant stream of Earth and weather images IBM’s AI has a new job: sorting through NASA’s giant stream of Earth and weather images

By Briley Lewis

The ISS as imaged by astronauts in the Soyuz capsule.

The ISS is the best place for an astronaut to get stuck in space The ISS is the best place for an astronaut to get stuck in space

By Briley Lewis

NASA aims to fly its experimental electric plane this year

NASA aims to fly its experimental electric plane this year NASA aims to fly its experimental electric plane this year

This ‘airliner of the future’ has a radical new wing design

This ‘airliner of the future’ has a radical new wing design This ‘airliner of the future’ has a radical new wing design

Milky Way galaxy stars in infrared by NASA Spitzer Space Telescope

Our universe mastered the art of making galaxies while it was still young Our universe mastered the art of making galaxies while it was still young

By Briley Lewis

Russian spacecraft Soyuz MS-22 docked on the International Space Station while orbiting Earth

Russia will send a replacement ride for stranded ISS astronauts Russia will send a replacement ride for stranded ISS astronauts

Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon NASA space capsules flying over Earth

Dark matter, Jupiter’s moons, and more: What to expect from space exploration in 2023 Dark matter, Jupiter’s moons, and more: What to expect from space exploration in 2023

James Webb Space Telescope life-size NASA model in front of Austin skyline

JWST has changed the speed of discovery, for better or for worse JWST has changed the speed of discovery, for better or for worse

By Briley Lewis

Thousands of galaxies over an enormous range in distance and time are seen in exquisite detail, many for the first time

JWST’s new image unveils a field of glittery galaxies JWST’s new image unveils a field of glittery galaxies

By Laura Baisas

NASA Orion spacecraft with unfolded solar panels on wings as it circles the moon. The Earth is far off in the background.

Artemis I’s solar panels harvested a lot more energy than expected Artemis I’s solar panels harvested a lot more energy than expected

By Briley Lewis

NASA Orion space vehicle on Navy ship with parachutes deployed

Welcome back to Earth, Orion! Welcome back to Earth, Orion!

By Laura Baisas, Sara Kiley Watson

An image of the Southern Ring Nebula (NGC 3132), captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI).

James Webb Space Telescope reconstructed a ‘star party,’ and you’re invited James Webb Space Telescope reconstructed a ‘star party,’ and you’re invited

By Laura Baisas

With one snapshot, Apollo 17 transformed our vision of Earth forever

With one snapshot, Apollo 17 transformed our vision of Earth forever With one snapshot, Apollo 17 transformed our vision of Earth forever

By Tatyana Woodall

Solar flare imaged by NASA and ESA solar orbiter in 2022

How worried should we be about solar flares and space weather? How worried should we be about solar flares and space weather?

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

Deep Space Network giant NASA antenna at night

60 years of moonshots, made possible by the Deep Space Network 60 years of moonshots, made possible by the Deep Space Network

By Tatyana Woodall

Cluster of new Milky Way stars in hot and cold gas captured in X-ray and infrared by space telescopes

Young star clusters know when it’s time to stop growing Young star clusters know when it’s time to stop growing

By Purbita Saha

The 100 greatest innovations of 2022

The 100 greatest innovations of 2022 The 100 greatest innovations of 2022

By Popular Science Team

Moon closeup of craters by NASA Orion spacecraft

Orion sends back new images of the moon’s craters, some of which could be home to ice and water Orion sends back new images of the moon’s craters, some of which could be home to ice and water

By Laura Baisas

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, in an artist's illustration.

Ridiculously hot gas giant exoplanet is about to be swallowed by its dying sun Ridiculously hot gas giant exoplanet is about to be swallowed by its dying sun

By Briley Lewis

‘Red Robin’ dwarf tomato growing in Veggie hardware at the Kennedy Space Center. Image courtesy of NASA

Microgravity tomatoes, yogurt bacteria, and plastic eating microbes are headed to the ISS Microgravity tomatoes, yogurt bacteria, and plastic eating microbes are headed to the ISS

Despite pushback, NASA won’t rename the James Webb Space Telescope

Despite pushback, NASA won’t rename the James Webb Space Telescope Despite pushback, NASA won’t rename the James Webb Space Telescope

By Laura Baisas

NASA Orion spacecraft with moon in backdrop

Orion will air kiss the moon today during important Artemis exercise Orion will air kiss the moon today during important Artemis exercise

By Purbita Saha

Want to learn about something in space? Crash into it.

Want to learn about something in space? Crash into it. Want to learn about something in space? Crash into it.

By Briley Lewis

Apollo 15 astronaut on lunar rover in black and white NASA image

10 incredible lunar missions that paved the way for Artemis 10 incredible lunar missions that paved the way for Artemis

By Ben Guarino, Purbita Saha

NASA Artemis I SLS rocket launch

With Artemis 1 launched, NASA is officially on its way back to the moon With Artemis 1 launched, NASA is officially on its way back to the moon

By Laura Baisas, Purbita Saha

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen at sunrise atop a mobile launcher at Launch Complex 39B, Monday, April 4, 2022.

Get ready to watch NASA’s most powerful rocket head for the moon Get ready to watch NASA’s most powerful rocket head for the moon

By Maria Parazo Rose

Northrop Grumman NASA Anatares rocket launch at night

The ISS’s latest arrivals: a 3D printer, seeds, and ovarian cow cells The ISS’s latest arrivals: a 3D printer, seeds, and ovarian cow cells

An artist's rendition of the New Horizons spacecraft.

NASA’s New Horizons mission begins again at the edge of the solar system NASA’s New Horizons mission begins again at the edge of the solar system

By Briley Lewis

Scientists want to know how our tiny gut organisms change when we bring them along to space

Scientists want to know how our tiny gut organisms change when we bring them along to space Scientists want to know how our tiny gut organisms change when we bring them along to space

By Doug Johnson/Undark