NASA

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

Latest in NASA

NASA orion callisto

Science

Alexa will tag along on an uncrewed mission to the moon Alexa will tag along on an uncrewed mission to the moon

By Maggie Galloway

Artist conception of the James Webb Space Telescope.

Science

The James Webb Space Telescope has fully unfurled its complex, massive sunshield The James Webb Space Telescope has fully unfurled its complex, massive sunshield

The next generation of lunar rovers might move like flying saucers

Science

The next generation of lunar rovers might move like flying saucers The next generation of lunar rovers might move like flying saucers

By Tatyana Woodall

JWST's sunshield in a cleanroom.

Science

NASA’s James Webb telescope is unfurling a super-thin shield to save it from the sun NASA’s James Webb telescope is unfurling a super-thin shield to save it from the sun

Guiana Space Center mission control during the James Webb Space Telescope launch on Christmas Day

Science

After years of delays, the James Webb telescope is finally in space After years of delays, the James Webb telescope is finally in space

By Rachel Feltman

James Webb Space Telescope in flight with mirrors and sunshield unfurled in an artist's rendering

Science

17 images to count down to the James Webb Space Telescope launch 17 images to count down to the James Webb Space Telescope launch

By Purbita Saha

James Webb telescope primary mirror coated in gold seen from a fisheye view looking up with engineers in masks and protective gear looking down from a blue ceiling

Science

The James Webb telescope will soon be hunting for ‘first light’ The James Webb telescope will soon be hunting for ‘first light’

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

The Parker Space Probe flies toward the Sun

Science

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe survived its closest encounter yet with the sun NASA’s Parker Solar Probe survived its closest encounter yet with the sun

LCRD spacecraft shooting out red lasers in an artist's rendition

Science

NASA is testing space lasers to shoot data back to Earth NASA is testing space lasers to shoot data back to Earth

By Tatyana Woodall

ISS space station

Science

NASA is spending big on commercial space destinations NASA is spending big on commercial space destinations

By Colleen Hagerty

NASA is winding up to punch an asteroid

Science

NASA is winding up to punch an asteroid NASA is winding up to punch an asteroid

the surface of mars with a visible circular indentation

Science

Perseverance is cutting perfect circles out of Mars to search for signs of life Perseverance is cutting perfect circles out of Mars to search for signs of life

By Margo Milanowski

illustration of a probe nearing the sun

Science

The fastest human-made object vaporizes space dust on contact The fastest human-made object vaporizes space dust on contact

By Leto Sapunar

The US return to the moon gets a schedule change—again

Science

The US return to the moon gets a schedule change—again The US return to the moon gets a schedule change—again

Ice-capped mountains in Kathmandu, Nepal, seen from a Landsat satellite

Science

NASA’s Landsat 9 satellite sends back its first images of a changing world NASA’s Landsat 9 satellite sends back its first images of a changing world

By Rachel Feltman

Science

Curiosity found a new organic molecule on Mars Curiosity found a new organic molecule on Mars

By Margo Milanowski

Astronomers spot first planet outside the Milky Way

Science

Astronomers spot first planet outside the Milky Way Astronomers spot first planet outside the Milky Way

Hubble Space Telescope capture of distant galaxies Arp 86 and NGC 7753

Science

These two galaxies are locked in a cosmic battle These two galaxies are locked in a cosmic battle

By Margo Milanowski

Catastrophic floods helped shape the unique landscape on Mars

Science

Catastrophic floods helped shape the unique landscape on Mars Catastrophic floods helped shape the unique landscape on Mars

By Kate Baggaley

a nose smelling the stars (illustration)

Science

What does space smell like? What does space smell like?

By Lizzie Schiffman

A photo of the planet Jupiter.

Science

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is whirling faster than ever Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is whirling faster than ever

Science

With Landsat 9, NASA can now photograph the entire Earth every 8 days With Landsat 9, NASA can now photograph the entire Earth every 8 days

An extremely wide-angle photo of a red, dusty surface, with a grey rock with two holes drilled into it.

Science

First Martian rock samples from Perseverance edge closer to settling water question First Martian rock samples from Perseverance edge closer to settling water question

By Leto Sapunar

a rocket takes off

Science

The COVID oxygen shortage is delaying NASA rockets The COVID oxygen shortage is delaying NASA rockets

You’ve Probably Been Reading The Wrong Horoscope

Science

You’ve Probably Been Reading The Wrong Horoscope You’ve Probably Been Reading The Wrong Horoscope

By Michael Koziol

Jeff Bezos and his brother

Science

Jeff Bezos is suing NASA. Here’s why. Jeff Bezos is suing NASA. Here’s why.

A grayish orange plain of rocky terrain on Mars.

Science

After a few hiccups, NASA’s Perseverance begins its main missions on Mars After a few hiccups, NASA’s Perseverance begins its main missions on Mars

By Leto Sapunar

A yellow sponge-looking blob in a petri dish.

Science

NASA just sent one of the world’s smartest slimes to space NASA just sent one of the world’s smartest slimes to space

Sorry, there’s probably no water under the South Pole of Mars

Science

Sorry, there’s probably no water under the South Pole of Mars Sorry, there’s probably no water under the South Pole of Mars

By Leto Sapunar

A trio of galaxies swirl around each other.

Science

See galactic triplets play tug-of-war in Hubble’s latest snapshot See galactic triplets play tug-of-war in Hubble’s latest snapshot

By Erin Fennessy

Polaris lunar rover replica at the US Space and Rocket Center

Science

Polaris built a lunar rover replica that can drive 60 miles per hour here on Earth Polaris built a lunar rover replica that can drive 60 miles per hour here on Earth

By Stan Horaczek

The Hubble Space Telescope, with its yellow solar panels featured prominently.

Science

Hubble spied water vapor on our solar system’s largest moon Hubble spied water vapor on our solar system’s largest moon

A blue-colored cliff on Mars.

Science

Marsquakes reveal the red planet is way more radioactive than we thought Marsquakes reveal the red planet is way more radioactive than we thought

By Leto Sapunar

A black and white, side-by-side photo of galaxies. On the left, a pair of interacting galaxies. On the right, an usual three-armed spiral galaxy.

Science

With its latest fix, Hubble proves to be the telescope that just won’t quit With its latest fix, Hubble proves to be the telescope that just won’t quit

A Brief History of the Apollo Hoax

Science

A Brief History of the Apollo Hoax A Brief History of the Apollo Hoax

The 123,000 MPH Plasma Engine That Could Finally Take Astronauts To Mars

Science

The 123,000 MPH Plasma Engine That Could Finally Take Astronauts To Mars The 123,000 MPH Plasma Engine That Could Finally Take Astronauts To Mars

By Sam Howe Verhovek

Who Killed The Deep Space Climate Observatory?

Science

Who Killed The Deep Space Climate Observatory? Who Killed The Deep Space Climate Observatory?

By Bill Donahue

I Tried Really Hard Not To Contaminate NASA’s Asteroid-Hunting Spacecraft

Science

I Tried Really Hard Not To Contaminate NASA’s Asteroid-Hunting Spacecraft I Tried Really Hard Not To Contaminate NASA’s Asteroid-Hunting Spacecraft

By Robin Seemangal

A close-up of juvenile Hawaiian bobtail squid.

Science

Dozens of baby squid are orbiting our planet right now Dozens of baby squid are orbiting our planet right now

Meteors May Have Brought Vitamin B To Earth

Science

Meteors May Have Brought Vitamin B To Earth Meteors May Have Brought Vitamin B To Earth

man sitting in an airplane seat under linear acceleration

Technology

Bodies In Motion: Exploring the Human Limits of Future Travel Bodies In Motion: Exploring the Human Limits of Future Travel

The Mars Jezero crater

Science

Life could be hiding deep under Mars Life could be hiding deep under Mars

By Leto Sapunar

nebula IC 2118 in the constellation Orion.

Science

9 Space Pictures That Look Like Christmas 9 Space Pictures That Look Like Christmas

By Rose Pastore

medical exercise

Science

What Happens If You Have A Heart Attack In Space? What Happens If You Have A Heart Attack In Space?

By Rose Pastore

Space Shuttle Era

Science

The Space Shuttle Era’s Best Images The Space Shuttle Era’s Best Images

Science

NASA’s Twin Orbiters Will Crash Into The Moon On Monday NASA’s Twin Orbiters Will Crash Into The Moon On Monday

By Rebecca Boyle

The Man Who Fixed Hubble

Science

The Man Who Fixed Hubble The Man Who Fixed Hubble

By Shannon Stirone

"Mars spiders," formations caused by underground carbon dioxide fizzing to the surface in springtine.

Science

Scientists brought ‘Mars spiders’ to Earth—here’s how Scientists brought ‘Mars spiders’ to Earth—here’s how

A fissure in the Cerberus Fossae formation on Mars.

Science

Mars may have had recent volcanic eruptions—which is great news for finding life Mars may have had recent volcanic eruptions—which is great news for finding life

By Leto Sapunar

Earth from space

Science

NASA Is Sending Some Lucky Yeast Into Radiation-Filled Deep Space NASA Is Sending Some Lucky Yeast Into Radiation-Filled Deep Space

By Shannon Stirone

Asteroid Bennu floating in black space.

Science

Megapixels: Watch NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft zoom in on its asteroid target Megapixels: Watch NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft zoom in on its asteroid target

By Jillian Mock

A model of the next Interstellar Probe.

Science

This new space probe will go farther and faster than any before, gathering data for generations This new space probe will go farther and faster than any before, gathering data for generations

By Charlie Wood

An artist's illustration depicting Voyager 1 in interstellar space

Science

How the most distant object ever made by humans is spending its dying days How the most distant object ever made by humans is spending its dying days

The surface of Mars as photographed by NASA's Ingenuity helicopter

Science

New NASA photos show the rusty surface of Mars in full color New NASA photos show the rusty surface of Mars in full color

astronaut on spacewalk

Science

Ask Us Anything: What happens to your body when you die in space? Ask Us Anything: What happens to your body when you die in space?

By Shannon Stirone

An illustration of the Mars Perseverance rover in the background and the Ingenuity helicopter in flight in the foreground.

Science

Ingenuity flew on Mars. Now NASA will push it to the brink of destruction. Ingenuity flew on Mars. Now NASA will push it to the brink of destruction.

By Charlie Wood

exploring moon caves

Science

We could live in caves on the moon. What would that be like? We could live in caves on the moon. What would that be like?

The METL bike tire on a bike with the sky in the background

Science

These airless bike tires rely on a metal alloy designed for NASA rovers These airless bike tires rely on a metal alloy designed for NASA rovers

By Stan Horaczek

httpspush.popsci.comsitespopsci.comfilesimages201908pph-hubble-pillars-creation.jpg

Science

How scientists colorize Hubble’s deep space photographs How scientists colorize Hubble’s deep space photographs

By Jeanette D. Moses

A brief history of spacewalks

Science

A brief history of spacewalks A brief history of spacewalks

By Jason Lederman

The NASA STS-39 shuttle crew in orange astronaut suits on a space backdrop

Technology

What did ’90s NASA astronauts pack for space? What did ’90s NASA astronauts pack for space?

By Scott Murdock/Task & Purpose

Perseverance rover SHERLOC

Science

Was there ever life on Mars? Perseverance’s SHERLOC laser sniffs for microscopic clues Was there ever life on Mars? Perseverance’s SHERLOC laser sniffs for microscopic clues

By Charlie Wood

PXLR, Perseverance Mars rover camera instrument

Science

Perseverance’s giant ‘hand lens’ will scour Mars for signs of ancient life Perseverance’s giant ‘hand lens’ will scour Mars for signs of ancient life

By Charlie Wood

The MOXIE instrument before it was lowered into NASA's Perseverance Rover, which is currently settled on the surface of Mars.

Science

With MOXIE, Perseverance will try to make oxygen on Mars With MOXIE, Perseverance will try to make oxygen on Mars

By Charlie Wood