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Why scientists think liquid may still be flowing on Pluto

Why scientists think liquid may still be flowing on Pluto

Beyond its frozen surface, scientists have found compelling evidence that Pluto may hide a vast liquid ocean and even have active flows of liquid nitrogen.
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NASA Expands Deep Space Network with New Next-Generation Antenna

NASA Expands Deep Space Network with New Next-Generation Antenna

NASA has added a new 34-meter-wide radio frequency antenna, Deep Space Station 23 (DSS-23), to its Deep Space Network (DSN) at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California. This addition is part of the DSN's Aperture Enhancement Project, which began in 2009 to upgrade and expand the network with six new 34-meter multifrequency beam-waveguide antennas. The DSS-23, which began operations on August 3 after a testing campaign, has already been communicating with numerous missions, including NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Psyche, Juno, and Voyager 1. James Kenyon, associate administrator of the Research and Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, stated that expanding the DSN strengthens the communications foundation necessary for future missions, from lunar exploration to deeper solar system observations.
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NASA's Starling Mission Extends GPS-Free Navigation Experiment to 2028

NASA's Starling Mission Extends GPS-Free Navigation Experiment to 2028

NASA's Starling mission, a swarm of four cubesats in low Earth orbit (LEO), has extended its GPS-free navigation experiment until at least 2028. The mission, which began three years ago, tests a technology called FALCON (Fast Autonomous Lost-in-space Catalog-based Optical Navigation). FALCON enables satellites to navigate by using other satellites as moving landmarks, a crucial capability for missions operating beyond Earth's orbit where GPS signals are unavailable. The experiment involves using Starling's cameras to observe other satellites and space objects, matching this data with an onboard catalog of thousands of known objects, and then using these verified objects as reference points to determine Starling's orbit. This method also contributes to space situational awareness (SSA), allowing spacecraft to understand their surrounding environment and avoid debris. The extension aims to maximize the data and insights gained from this innovative navigation technique.
USA Today USA Today
NASA's next great telescope launches this weekend. What to know about it

NASA's next great telescope launches this weekend. What to know about it

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has a field of view 100 times larger than Hubble's, meaning it will observe massive areas of the universe.
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Seven Astronauts Died—and Investigators Searched for Deeper Causes

Seven Astronauts Died—and Investigators Searched for Deeper Causes

The loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003, was a profound tragedy that prompted an exhaustive investigation by the Columbia Accide...
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NASA Tests Self-Guided Terrain Camera in Near Space for Artemis Missions

NASA Tests Self-Guided Terrain Camera in Near Space for Artemis Missions

NASA has successfully conducted a balloon test of its Compact Large-sensor Imaging Camera (CLIC 2), a self-guided terrain camera designed for future Moon and Mars missions. Launched from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, the payload reached an altitude of approximately 126,000 feet, operating for nearly four hours in a near-space environment. The CLIC 2 system is crucial because it processes terrain data autonomously and in real-time during descent, without requiring signals from Earth. This capability is vital for safe landings in rugged, scientifically interesting terrains that are inaccessible to older spacecraft. The test is part of NASA's broader Safe and Precise Landing Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) program, which aims to develop a full suite of sensors and computing power to achieve highly accurate landings, such as the 50-meter target for Artemis crewed lunar missions.
USA Today USA Today
NASA's Roman telescope could reveal the universe like never before

NASA's Roman telescope could reveal the universe like never before

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is due to launch Aug. 30 from Florida. Here's how it could transform what we know about the universe.
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NASA-Funded Project Develops Edible Cookies from Upcycled Plastic and Plant Waste

NASA-Funded Project Develops Edible Cookies from Upcycled Plastic and Plant Waste

Scientists at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale, funded by NASA, have developed a method to create edible, protein-rich cookies from upcycled plastic bottles and plant waste. This innovative process uses specially designed yeasts to convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and agricultural biomass into proteins, fats, and flavorings. The PET plastic is first broken down into carbon-rich molecules using an oxidative hydrothermal dissolution process, which involves water and oxygen at high temperature and pressure. These molecules are then fed to genetically programmed yeasts, which transform them into new biological molecules. The resulting mixture is combined with fiber, starch, and sweeteners, and then extruded through a 3D printer to form 'µBites' (microbites). While taste tests are pending institutional approval, the cookies have received high marks for aroma. This research is part of NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge, aiming to create sustainable food sources for astronauts on long-d...
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On This Day: Voyager 2 Made Its Historic Flyby of Neptune

On This Day: Voyager 2 Made Its Historic Flyby of Neptune

The Voyager 2 spacecraft embarked on an ambitious journey that redefined humanity's understanding of the outer Solar System. Launched in 1977, its ...
Sarasota Herald-Tribune Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Will I be able to watch August lunar eclipse in Sarasota, Florida?

Will I be able to watch August lunar eclipse in Sarasota, Florida?

While Sarasota, Florida, residents won't see a total lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow will cover almost 94% of the moon.
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Firefly Aerospace Targets Late 2026 for Blue Ghost Mission 2 to Lunar Far Side

Firefly Aerospace Targets Late 2026 for Blue Ghost Mission 2 to Lunar Far Side

Firefly Aerospace is preparing its Blue Ghost Mission 2 for a late 2026 launch, aiming to send a lander to the far side of the Moon. This mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The Blue Ghost lander will carry the LuSEE-Night radio telescope and an ESA lunar relay satellite. The primary objective is to study the Moon's geology and explore the Cosmic 'Dark Ages' by leveraging the radio-quiet environment of the lunar far side, which naturally blocks radio noise from Earth. The mission also includes an orbiter, Elytra, which will slightly increase the radio noise on the lunar far side. The combined system, with the lander stacked on Elytra, will stand 6.7 meters tall. This mission is one of several commercial lunar landers targeting the Moon in 2026, alongside Intuitive Machines' IM-3 and Astrobotic's Griffin Mission One.