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Why Pioneer Venus Had the Perfect View of Halley’s Comet

Why Pioneer Venus Had the Perfect View of Halley’s Comet

The Pioneer Venus Orbiter, launched by NASA in 1978, was not only a mission to study Venus but also played a crucial role in observing Halley's Com...

NASA Highlights 2025 Science Achievements on International Space Station

NASA Highlights 2025 Science Achievements on International Space Station

NASA has released its 2025 Annual Highlights of Results, showcasing significant scientific achievements conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Over 750 investigations were carried out, advancing knowledge in areas such as life in space, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Notable projects include a robotic surgery demonstration in microgravity, which tested the feasibility of performing precise surgical tasks in space. Additionally, a study on synthetic bone graft materials showed promising results for bone growth, potentially aiding astronauts in long-duration missions. The research also explored the durability of materials exposed to space conditions, with findings that could enhance radiation shielding for future missions.

Pioneer Venus Orbiter Helped Pull Back Venus’s Cloudy Curtain

Pioneer Venus Orbiter Helped Pull Back Venus’s Cloudy Curtain

The Pioneer Venus Orbiter was a significant mission by NASA aimed at exploring Venus. Launched on May 20, 1978, this spacecraft was part of the bro...

Neptune's mysterious moon Nereid may be an original, study shows

Neptune's mysterious moon Nereid may be an original, study shows

Neptune's mysterious, far-flung moon Nereid may be the last of the planet's original companions

James Webb Space Telescope Unveils Atmosphere of Rare Giant Planet TOI-199b

James Webb Space Telescope Unveils Atmosphere of Rare Giant Planet TOI-199b

Astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have conducted a detailed study of the atmosphere of a rare giant planet, TOI-199b, which has temperatures similar to those on Earth. This Saturn-sized exoplanet, located over 330 light-years away, contains methane in its atmosphere. The study, led by scientists from Penn State and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, marks the first time the atmosphere of a temperate giant planet has been examined in such detail. The findings could enhance understanding of planetary formation and evolution, potentially offering insights into Earth's atmosphere.

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Gains Speed from Mars Flyby for Asteroid Mission

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Gains Speed from Mars Flyby for Asteroid Mission

NASA's Psyche spacecraft executed a successful flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, passing approximately 4,500 kilometers from the planet's surface at a speed of about 19,848 kilometers per hour. This maneuver allowed the spacecraft to gain a gravitational boost, adjusting its trajectory towards the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche. The mission aims to rendezvous with the asteroid in August 2029. The flyby is a critical step in the mission, which seeks to study the asteroid believed to be composed largely of metallic iron and nickel, offering insights into the building blocks of planet formation.

NASA's Psyche Mission Captures Unique Crescent View of Mars

NASA's Psyche Mission Captures Unique Crescent View of Mars

NASA's Psyche mission has captured a striking image of Mars as a crescent, taken on May 15, 2026, during its approach for a gravity assist maneuver. The image, acquired by the spacecraft's multispectral imager, shows Mars illuminated by sunlight reflecting off its surface, with the crescent appearing brighter than expected due to the scattering of sunlight through the planet's dusty atmosphere. This view was the last full image of Mars before the planet began to overfill the camera's field of view. The image has been processed into a natural-color view, approximating what the human eye would see.

NASA's Opportunity Rover Survives 14 Years on Mars Before Dust Storm Ends Mission

NASA's Opportunity Rover Survives 14 Years on Mars Before Dust Storm Ends Mission

The Opportunity rover, a solar-powered robot sent by NASA to Mars in January 2004, exceeded its expected 90-day mission by surviving for 14 years. The rover's mission ended in 2018 when a massive dust storm enveloped Mars, blocking sunlight and preventing the rover from recharging its batteries. Despite NASA's efforts to revive the rover by sending over 1,000 recovery commands, Opportunity ceased communication. During its mission, Opportunity traveled over 28 miles on Mars, providing significant data about the planet, including evidence of ancient water.

NASA's Perseverance Rover is ready to complete a Martian marathon

NASA's Perseverance Rover is ready to complete a Martian marathon

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - For NASA's Perseverance Rover, life on Mars has been a marathon, not a sprint.

NASA's Psyche Mission Captures Mars' South Pole, Prepares for Asteroid Belt Journey

NASA's Psyche Mission Captures Mars' South Pole, Prepares for Asteroid Belt Journey

NASA's Psyche mission has successfully captured its first view of Mars' south pole following a close flyby on May 15, 2026. This significant milestone marks the spacecraft's closest approach to Mars, providing a nearly full view of the planet from the south polar cap to the Valles Marineris canyon system. With Mars now in its rearview mirror, the Psyche spacecraft is set to resume its journey using its solar-electric propulsion system. The mission's next major objective is to reach the main asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. Upon arrival in August 2029, Psyche will enter orbit around the asteroid Psyche, believed to be the partial core of a planetesimal, which is a building block of an early planet.

NASA's LOXSAT Mission to Test Cryogenic Fuel Storage in Space, Aiming for Future Lunar and Mars Exploration

NASA's LOXSAT Mission to Test Cryogenic Fuel Storage in Space, Aiming for Future Lunar and Mars Exploration

NASA is set to launch the Liquid Oxygen Flight Demonstration (LOXSAT) satellite this summer, a mission designed to test the storage and transfer of super-chilled rocket fuel in zero gravity. This initiative is crucial for future space exploration, particularly for missions to the Moon and Mars. The LOXSAT mission will address the challenges of managing cryogenic liquids in space, which require freezing temperatures to remain stable. The mission is part of NASA's broader efforts to establish orbital fuel depots that could function as 'gas stations' in space, supporting long-term exploration. The satellite will be launched from Rocket Lab's site in New Zealand aboard an Electron rocket and will conduct a nine-month test run to gather data on cryogenic fuel management.

NASA Launches Satellite to Test Cryogenic Fuel Technologies for Deep Space Missions

NASA Launches Satellite to Test Cryogenic Fuel Technologies for Deep Space Missions

NASA is set to launch the Liquid Oxygen Flight demonstration (LOXSAT) to test critical technologies for storing and transferring cryogenic fuels in space. This initiative aims to support long-term exploration missions to the moon and Mars. The satellite will be launched into low Earth orbit aboard a Rocket Lab Photon satellite bus, with the mission scheduled to last nine months. The tests will focus on 11 components of cryogenic fluid management, essential for maintaining super-chilled fuels in microgravity. This mission is part of NASA's broader Cryogenic Fluid Management Portfolio Project, involving collaboration with Eta Space and several NASA centers. The project is crucial for the Artemis program, which aims to establish sustained operations on the moon by 2030.