NASA

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

Latest in NASA

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

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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.

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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.

Science

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

Science

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

Technology

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

Science

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.

Science

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

Technology

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.

Science

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.

Science

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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

Science

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).

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Technology

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

By Popular Science Team

Moon closeup of craters by NASA Orion spacecraft

Science

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.

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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

Science

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

Science

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.

Science

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

Technology

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.

Science

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

Science

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

illustration of two cube satellites with solar panels floating in space

Science

NASA has major plans for asteroids. Could Psyche’s delay change them? NASA has major plans for asteroids. Could Psyche’s delay change them?

By Tatyana Woodall

NASA sun spots image

Science

Just in time for Halloween, the sun looks like a jack-o’-lantern Just in time for Halloween, the sun looks like a jack-o’-lantern

By Laura Baisas

Mars surface impact crater from meteor strike with water ice captured by NASA instruments

Science

Two NASA missions combined forces to analyze a new kind of marsquake Two NASA missions combined forces to analyze a new kind of marsquake

By Briley Lewis

Lunar surface with stars in the sky

Technology

NASA could build a future lunar base from 3D-printed moon-dust bricks NASA could build a future lunar base from 3D-printed moon-dust bricks

night sky stars and Milky Way above mountain background

Technology

NASA’s new investigation seeks to explain unusual phenomena in the sky NASA’s new investigation seeks to explain unusual phenomena in the sky

illustration of astronaut floating in space

Science

How astronauts pull off dangerous spacewalks How astronauts pull off dangerous spacewalks

By Maria Parazo Rose

NASA asteroid probe Lucy flying through the solar system's asteroid belt in illustration

Science

Look up! NASA’s asteroid-hunting spacecraft will slingshot past Earth this weekend. Look up! NASA’s asteroid-hunting spacecraft will slingshot past Earth this weekend.

By Laura Baisas

Blue fragments of Dimorphos asteroid and DART seen from space telescope

Science

NASA is pumped about its asteroid-smacking accuracy NASA is pumped about its asteroid-smacking accuracy

By Laura Baisas

Nicole A. Mann becomes first Native American woman in space

Science

Nicole A. Mann becomes first Native American woman in space Nicole A. Mann becomes first Native American woman in space

By Laura Baisas

X-ray vision adds a whole new layer to James Webb Space Telescope images

Science

X-ray vision adds a whole new layer to James Webb Space Telescope images X-ray vision adds a whole new layer to James Webb Space Telescope images

By Laura Baisas

a close up of jupiter's moon europa, showing its rugged terrain in an orange hue

Science

We just got our most detailed look yet at Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa We just got our most detailed look yet at Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa

By Helen Bradshaw

a black and white image of oval shaped asteroid

Science

What NASA’s successful DART mission means for the future of planetary defense What NASA’s successful DART mission means for the future of planetary defense

By Tatyana Woodall

a black, white, and purple stylized illustration of an astronaut on the moon with equipment intended to make a moonbas

Science

Is it finally time for a permanent base on the moon? Is it finally time for a permanent base on the moon?

By Bill Gourgey

an art rendering of a disk shaped probe in space

Science

When Voyager 1 goes dark, what comes next? When Voyager 1 goes dark, what comes next?

By Tatyana Woodall

NASA’s Perseverance rover is on a hunt for microbes on Mars

Science

NASA’s Perseverance rover is on a hunt for microbes on Mars NASA’s Perseverance rover is on a hunt for microbes on Mars

By Laura Baisas

The Hubble Space Telescope’s ‘galactic overlap’ image is truly stellar

Science

The Hubble Space Telescope’s ‘galactic overlap’ image is truly stellar The Hubble Space Telescope’s ‘galactic overlap’ image is truly stellar

By Laura Baisas

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket a mobile launcher on September 4 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Science

What’s next for NASA’s Artemis 1 launch What’s next for NASA’s Artemis 1 launch

a t-shaped module space station in orbit above the earth

Science

How Tiangong station will make China a force in the space race How Tiangong station will make China a force in the space race

By Tatyana Woodall