NASA(Page 8)

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

Latest in NASA

Artist’s impression of the thin stream of stars torn from the Phoenix globular cluster, wrapping around the Milky Way (left). Astronomers targeted bright red giant stars (artist’s impression, right) to measure the chemical composition of the disrupted Phoenix globular cluster.

A local stellar graveyard could reveal our galaxy’s beginnings A local stellar graveyard could reveal our galaxy’s beginnings

In this illustration, NASA's Mars 2020 rover uses its drill to core a rock sample on Mars.

Watch NASA launch its next rover to Mars Watch NASA launch its next rover to Mars

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

Astronauts having fun

For astronauts in space, play is a way to stay safe For astronauts in space, play is a way to stay safe

By Amy Schellenbaum

NGC 2275, imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope

Hubble just captured this ‘fluffy’ galaxy in all its flocculent glory Hubble just captured this ‘fluffy’ galaxy in all its flocculent glory

By Candice Wang

On January 4, 2011, the Hinode satellite captured these breathtaking images of an annular solar eclipse.

You may be able to spot a ‘ring of fire’ eclipse this weekend You may be able to spot a ‘ring of fire’ eclipse this weekend

By Candice Wang

These anaglyph images can be viewed with red-blue stereo glasses (or 3D glasses) to reveal the stars' distance from their backgrounds. On the left is Proxima Centauri and on the right is Wolf 359.

NASA’s New Horizons is so far away, it’s seeing stars from new angles NASA’s New Horizons is so far away, it’s seeing stars from new angles

By Candice Wang

An artists interpretation of a telescope receiving radio bursts from deep space.

Astronomers spot repeating radio burst patterns from deep space Astronomers spot repeating radio burst patterns from deep space

By Charlie Wood

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule sits atop its Falcon rocket, ready to launch.

NASA and SpaceX pulled off their first rocket launch. Watch every second of it here. NASA and SpaceX pulled off their first rocket launch. Watch every second of it here.

By Charlie Wood

Jerrie Cobb and Mercury

A brief history of menstruating in space A brief history of menstruating in space

By Amy Shira Teitel

The Earth’s atmosphere

Wacky weather punched a new hole in the ozone—and it could happen again Wacky weather punched a new hole in the ozone—and it could happen again

By Jeremy Deaton/Nexus Media

This little NASA rover can conquer sand and steep hills This little NASA rover can conquer sand and steep hills

By Kate Baggaley

An artist's interpretation of what a ninth planet could look like.

Planet Nine might not be a planet at all Planet Nine might not be a planet at all

By Charlie Wood

Jupiter has a spooky new look in this sharp infrared photo Jupiter has a spooky new look in this sharp infrared photo

By Claire Maldarelli

NASA’s weird wing design could lead to futuristic, fuel-efficient airplanes NASA’s weird wing design could lead to futuristic, fuel-efficient airplanes

Two starts orbiting a black hole, as portrayed by an illustrator

Astronomers just found the closest black hole to Earth Astronomers just found the closest black hole to Earth

By Charlie Wood

An X-ray and optical composite image of a detonating star.

Ancient supernovas may have pierced moon rocks with star shrapnel Ancient supernovas may have pierced moon rocks with star shrapnel

By Charlie Wood

Hubble zooms in for an up-close look at star assembly in one of the galaxies orbiting the Milky Way.

The Hubble Space Telescope just turned 30, and it’s working better than ever The Hubble Space Telescope just turned 30, and it’s working better than ever

By Charlie Wood

a crater on mars

Will asteroids wreak havoc on future Mars settlers? Will asteroids wreak havoc on future Mars settlers?

By JoAnna Wendel

A rendering of the light streaming around a black hole.

Last year, we finally photographed a black hole. Now what? Last year, we finally photographed a black hole. Now what?

By Charlie Wood

The robotic scoop-arm pins “the mole” against the side of its hole in an attempt to get it moving.

At long last, NASA’s probe finally digs in on Mars At long last, NASA’s probe finally digs in on Mars

By Charlie Wood

A methane and ethane lake on Titan's surface.

If life exists on Titan, it’s even weirder than we thought If life exists on Titan, it’s even weirder than we thought

By Charlie Wood

Expedition 46 Flight Engineer Tim Kopra on a Dec. 21, 2015 spacewalk.

NASA’s now taking astronaut applications. Do you have the right stuff? NASA’s now taking astronaut applications. Do you have the right stuff?

a lander on mars illustration

NASA has officially detected ‘marsquakes’ on the Red Planet NASA has officially detected ‘marsquakes’ on the Red Planet

By Charlie Wood

Katherine Johnson at NASA Langley Research Center in 1980

Katherine Johnson, whose calculations enabled the first moonwalk, dies at 101 Katherine Johnson, whose calculations enabled the first moonwalk, dies at 101

artists impression of a polluted white dwarf star

Asteroids go to pieces when their host star dies Asteroids go to pieces when their host star dies

By Charlie Wood

Two stars colliding and making a colorful cloud of gas

Astronomers caught a star-on-star smack down Astronomers caught a star-on-star smack down

By Charlie Wood

A robotic arm putting together an antenna in space

NASA’s plan to build stuff in space just took its first step NASA’s plan to build stuff in space just took its first step

By Charlie Wood

A closeup image of the sun's surface

These close-up photos of the sun could help us forecast space weather These close-up photos of the sun could help us forecast space weather

By Charlie Wood

solar orbiter illustration in front of the sun

This new solar orbiter will peek at some of the sun’s most secretive spots This new solar orbiter will peek at some of the sun’s most secretive spots

By Charlie Wood

spacex crew dragon capsule

SpaceX saves mannequins from fireball. Next up, astronauts. SpaceX saves mannequins from fireball. Next up, astronauts.

By Charlie Wood

galaxy illustration of weird orbiting objects

There’s a bizarre group of shapeshifting objects at the center of the Milky Way There’s a bizarre group of shapeshifting objects at the center of the Milky Way

By Charlie Wood

Researchers trace galactic history in ancient grains of alien sand Researchers trace galactic history in ancient grains of alien sand

By Charlie Wood

illustration of bubbles of clear space around stars

Young galaxies transformed the early universe by blowing bubbles Young galaxies transformed the early universe by blowing bubbles

By Charlie Wood

artist's interpretation of the milky way with radcliffe wave

The biggest gaseous structure in our galaxy is filled with baby star factories The biggest gaseous structure in our galaxy is filled with baby star factories

By Charlie Wood

an image of the crab nebula

NASA’s top observatories teamed up to capture an imploding star in captivating 3D NASA’s top observatories teamed up to capture an imploding star in captivating 3D

By Jessica Boddy

an image of the helix nebula

Our newest alien comet may have been born out of a dying star’s vomit Our newest alien comet may have been born out of a dying star’s vomit

By Charlie Wood

WASP-12b exoplanet

This pitch-black exoplanet is spiraling toward its doom This pitch-black exoplanet is spiraling toward its doom

By Charlie Wood

Glowing red sphere of light around a black hole in a NASA simulation

What would happen if you fell into a black hole? What would happen if you fell into a black hole?

By Maria Paula Rubiano

an image of a galaxy

How astronomers weigh the universe (and everything in it) How astronomers weigh the universe (and everything in it)

By Charlie Wood

the first image of a black hole

This year, space stole all the headlines. Here are our favorite stories This year, space stole all the headlines. Here are our favorite stories

By Charlie Wood

image of an airplane in front of a night sky

Astronomers are struggling to study the stars without ruining Earth Astronomers are struggling to study the stars without ruining Earth

By Charlie Wood

an image of stars in the center of hte milky way captured by ESO astronomers

There’s an ancient starburst in the heart of the Milky Way There’s an ancient starburst in the heart of the Milky Way

By Jessica Boddy

Enceladus imaged by Cassini

Mysterious stripes on Saturn’s moon Enceladus may have a new origin story Mysterious stripes on Saturn’s moon Enceladus may have a new origin story

By Charlie Wood

Illustration of a white dwarf eating a large planet.

White dwarf star spotted nibbling on the atmosphere of a nearby icy planet White dwarf star spotted nibbling on the atmosphere of a nearby icy planet

By Charlie Wood

illustration of a probe nearing the sun

NASA’s solar probe reveals stunning results after swooping in close to the sun NASA’s solar probe reveals stunning results after swooping in close to the sun

By Charlie Wood

The 21-story DSS-14 dish in the Mojave Desert.

What we learn from noisy signals from deep space What we learn from noisy signals from deep space

By Ryan Bradley

an infrared composite photo of titan

The first global map of Titan reveals Earth-like features with a peculiar twist The first global map of Titan reveals Earth-like features with a peculiar twist

By Charlie Wood

artists impression of a cigar shaped interstellar objecct

‘Oumuamua isn’t aliens, but it may not be an asteroid either ‘Oumuamua isn’t aliens, but it may not be an asteroid either

By Charlie Wood

An illustration of the voyager spacecraft leaving the heliosphere

Voyager 2′s journey beyond the solar system reveals new cosmic secrets Voyager 2′s journey beyond the solar system reveals new cosmic secrets

By Charlie Wood

This fluffy ball contains the story of the universe

This fluffy ball contains the story of the universe This fluffy ball contains the story of the universe

NASA’s all-female spacewalk hints at a stronger, more gender-equal space program

NASA’s all-female spacewalk hints at a stronger, more gender-equal space program NASA’s all-female spacewalk hints at a stronger, more gender-equal space program

By Charlie Wood

Watch the first all-female spacewalk live

Watch the first all-female spacewalk live Watch the first all-female spacewalk live

What astronaut diaries tell us about the perils of a mission to Mars

What astronaut diaries tell us about the perils of a mission to Mars What astronaut diaries tell us about the perils of a mission to Mars

By Sarah Scoles

Inside NASA’s plan to use Martian dirt to build houses on Mars

Inside NASA’s plan to use Martian dirt to build houses on Mars Inside NASA’s plan to use Martian dirt to build houses on Mars

By Megan Gannon

Why we’re still obsessed with the watches astronauts wore to the moon

Why we’re still obsessed with the watches astronauts wore to the moon Why we’re still obsessed with the watches astronauts wore to the moon

NASA’s plan to save its stuck Mars drill involves a robot with a shovel

NASA’s plan to save its stuck Mars drill involves a robot with a shovel NASA’s plan to save its stuck Mars drill involves a robot with a shovel

By Charlie Wood

There are no shortcuts when you build a drone destined for Mars

There are no shortcuts when you build a drone destined for Mars There are no shortcuts when you build a drone destined for Mars

By John Kennedy

Humans will definitely bring microbes to Mars—so we might as well bring our favorites

Humans will definitely bring microbes to Mars—so we might as well bring our favorites Humans will definitely bring microbes to Mars—so we might as well bring our favorites

By Charlie Wood

Our best defense against space weather has been offline for weeks

Our best defense against space weather has been offline for weeks Our best defense against space weather has been offline for weeks

By Neel V. Patel

Fifty years ago Hasselblad sent the first cameras to the moon

Fifty years ago Hasselblad sent the first cameras to the moon Fifty years ago Hasselblad sent the first cameras to the moon

By Jeanette D. Moses

NASA’s new mission to Titan is looking for life in all the right places

NASA’s new mission to Titan is looking for life in all the right places NASA’s new mission to Titan is looking for life in all the right places

By Rachel Feltman

NASA caught a sudden whiff of methane on Mars, but don’t hold your breath for space cows

NASA caught a sudden whiff of methane on Mars, but don’t hold your breath for space cows NASA caught a sudden whiff of methane on Mars, but don’t hold your breath for space cows

By Neel V. Patel

NASA’s new plane will fly at supersonic speeds—without a windshield

NASA’s new plane will fly at supersonic speeds—without a windshield NASA’s new plane will fly at supersonic speeds—without a windshield

How the ISS recycles its air and water

How the ISS recycles its air and water How the ISS recycles its air and water

By Kaitlin Sullivan