Explore

NASA Selects GIMLI Mission to Hunt for Lunar Caves, Aiding Future Astronauts

NASA Selects GIMLI Mission to Hunt for Lunar Caves, Aiding Future Astronauts

NASA has selected the Geophysical Instruments for Marius Lunar pit Investigation (GIMLI) mission, which will explore a volcanic pit on the Moon to determine if it leads to a hidden lava tube. The Marius Hills Pit, located in Oceanus Procellarum, is a large hole approximately 213 by 295 feet. The mission, named after J.R.R. Tolkien’s cave-loving dwarf, aims to map and measure the ground beneath this pit using a suite of instruments. GIMLI was chosen as one of three proposals to receive funding through NASA’s Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) program. The Planetary Science Institute (PSI) will lead the mission, with Than Putzig as its principal investigator. Honeybee Robotics, a subsidiary of Blue Origin, will manage the project and build seismic sensors and a gravimeter. The Norwegian Space Agency will provide ground-penetrating radar, and co-investigators from several universities will also participate. Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Direc...

NASA Tests Next-Generation Heat Shields Using Cargo Resupply Missions

NASA Tests Next-Generation Heat Shields Using Cargo Resupply Missions

NASA is advancing the development of next-generation heat shield technologies through an innovative program that utilizes cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The Kentucky Reentry Probe Experiment (KREPE-3) involves attaching 12 small, experimental capsules to Northrop Grumman's 24th cargo resupply spacecraft. These capsules, designed by University of Kentucky students, are equipped with sensors to measure temperature, pressure, motion, magnetic field, and light during atmospheric re-entry. As the Cygnus XL spacecraft, filled with waste, undocks from the ISS and harmlessly breaks apart in Earth's atmosphere, the capsules eject and collect data on the performance of various experimental heat shield materials. This method allows for low-cost, high-impact testing of materials that are still under development, including 3D-printed heat shields and advanced protective coverings like MERINO, which are made from stitched carbon and phenolic fibers. The data collected is transmitted li...

NASA Awards $38 Million Contract for Lunar 5G and Wi-Fi Development

NASA Awards $38 Million Contract for Lunar 5G and Wi-Fi Development

NASA has awarded Modulate Space Corporation, also known as modul8, a $38 million firm-fixed-price contract for the '5G System and Lunar Surface Communications Evaluation and Radio Propagation Measurements' project. This initiative aims to bring 5G and Wi-Fi 6 capabilities to the Moon. The project is divided into two main phases. The first phase, '5G Network-in-a-Box Development and Lab Demonstration,' commenced on October 1 and is scheduled to conclude on January 31, 2028. The second phase, 'Lunar 5G and Wi-Fi Integrated Surface Network and Flight Demonstration on the Lunar Surface,' will run from November 30 through December 31, 2028. These efforts are designed to provide NASA with the necessary hardware, firmware, and software to establish an integrated lunar communications system, offering insights into system architecture and operational performance for future Moon Base surface operations. Modul8, founded by the team that developed Nokia Bell Labs’ space communications business, has a history of pionee...

NASA Contributes Key Technology to Japan's Martian Moons eXploration Mission

NASA Contributes Key Technology to Japan's Martian Moons eXploration Mission

NASA is providing crucial technological contributions to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, which is scheduled to launch on October 20, 2026. The MMX spacecraft aims to explore Mars' two small, irregularly shaped moons, Phobos and Deimos, and return samples from Phobos to Earth by 2031. NASA's contributions include the Mars-moon Exploration with Gamma-rays and Neutrons (MEGANE) instrument, developed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, which will measure gamma rays and neutrons from Phobos to determine its chemical composition. Additionally, Honeybee Robotics, a Blue Origin company, developed a pneumatic sampling mechanism for NASA, designed to collect loose surface material in Phobos' weak gravity. NASA's Deep Space Network will also provide essential communications and navigation support for the mission. The mission seeks to resolve the long-standing mystery of the moons' origins, with theories suggesting they are either captured asteroids...

Firefly Aerospace Announces AI Computing Payload for Lunar Orbit Demonstration with Starcloud

Firefly Aerospace Announces AI Computing Payload for Lunar Orbit Demonstration with Starcloud

Firefly Aerospace Announces AI Computing Payload for Lunar Orbit Demonstration with Starcloud

NASA Advances LISA Mission Contributions with New Gravitational Wave Telescope Test Unit

NASA Advances LISA Mission Contributions with New Gravitational Wave Telescope Test Unit

NASA has taken a significant step forward in its contributions to the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission by developing a new all-glass Engineering Test Unit telescope. This telescope is a crucial component for the space observatory, which is designed to detect gravitational waves, ripples in space-time predicted by Albert Einstein. The LISA mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA) and slated for launch in the mid-2030s, will deploy three satellites in an Earth-following orbit, forming a triangular array with sides stretching 1.6 million miles. Each satellite will house two telescopes that transmit and receive infrared laser beams to precisely measure minuscule changes in their relative distances, indicating the presence of gravitational waves. L3Harris Technologies is responsible for designing, assembling, and integrating this new telescope for NASA, marking a final developmental step before the production of flight hardware. The telescope is constructed entirely from Zerodur, an ambe...

Astronomers Trace Record-Breaking Fast Radio Burst to Distant Galaxy, Unveiling Early Universe Insights

Astronomers Trace Record-Breaking Fast Radio Burst to Distant Galaxy, Unveiling Early Universe Insights

Astronomers have successfully traced a mysterious fast radio burst (FRB), designated FRB 20240304B, that traveled over 10 billion years to reach Earth, setting a new distance record for such phenomena. This discovery, published in Science, has led to the identification of an unexpected galaxy in the early universe and offers a novel method for investigating matter hidden between galaxies. FRBs are intense, millisecond-long flashes of radio waves with unknown origins, making their study challenging as most disappear before their sources can be pinpointed. FRB 20240304B originated when the universe was approximately 3 billion years old, significantly extending the observational reach into an era of substantial galactic growth and transformation. The breakthrough was led by Dr. Manisha Caleb and Dr. Themiya Nanayakkara at the University of Sydney, utilizing the MeerTRAP project with the MeerKAT radio telescope for detection and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) for host galaxy identification.

Artemis 2 Mission Technologies Poised to Enhance Earth-Based Healthcare and Communications

Artemis 2 Mission Technologies Poised to Enhance Earth-Based Healthcare and Communications

The Artemis 2 mission is leveraging several innovative technologies that are expected to have significant benefits for life on Earth, particularly in personalized medicine, clinical care, and global communications. One key technology is the use of 'organ-on-a-chip' devices, specifically bone marrow organ chips, to monitor astronauts' health before, during, and after spaceflight. These devices, about the size of a USB drive, contain human cells and mimic organ functions, allowing researchers to study the effects of radiation and microgravity at a cellular level. Additionally, the mission is utilizing dry saliva books for collecting biological samples, an alternative to blood draws that is practical in environments lacking cold storage. Artemis 2 also features advanced laser communication systems, capable of transmitting data at 260 Mbps from the Moon to Earth, significantly faster than traditional radio frequency systems.

Tom Hanks' Deep Connection to Space Exploration Recognized with Asteroid Naming and NASA Award

Tom Hanks' Deep Connection to Space Exploration Recognized with Asteroid Naming and NASA Award

Actor Tom Hanks has a significant and long-standing involvement with space exploration, extending beyond his film roles. He is a member of the Board of Governors for the National Space Society, an organization dedicated to space exploration. His passion for space has been evident in various television and documentary projects, including the HBO miniseries 'From the Earth to the Moon' and the IMAX film 'Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon in 3D,' where he served as narrator, writer, and producer. In recognition of his contributions to public interest in space exploration, NASA awarded him the Public Service Award on April 27, 2000. Furthermore, asteroid 12818 Tomhanks was named in his honor, acknowledging his unique relationship with astronomy and space.

NASA photo of Mars dawn reveals cliffs in unprecedented detail

NASA photo of Mars dawn reveals cliffs in unprecedented detail

NASA's iconic Curiosity rover recently captured a striking image of dawn on Mars that shows distant cliffs in never-before-seen detail.

Four astronauts return to Earth after eight months in space

Four astronauts return to Earth after eight months in space

Four astronauts are back on Earth after an eight-month stay at the International Space Station

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Measures Distance to Farthest Fast Radio Burst, Suggesting Origin

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Measures Distance to Farthest Fast Radio Burst, Suggesting Origin

Astronomers utilizing NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have successfully pinpointed the host galaxy of the most distant fast radio burst (FRB) observed to date, designated FRB 20240304B. First detected by the MeerKAT telescope, the radio data indicated its extreme distance. The Webb telescope's NIRCam instrument located the host galaxy, and its NIRSpec instrument provided a precise redshift measurement of 2.148, placing the event approximately 3 billion years after the Big Bang. This host galaxy is a small, actively star-forming dwarf galaxy, which is significantly less massive (1,000 times) than typical FRB host galaxies. This finding challenges existing theories regarding the origin of FRBs, particularly those suggesting they result from the merger of two neutron stars, a process expected to take billions of years and thus be associated with older, more evolved stellar populations. The team's work, published in the journal Science, suggests that the FRB is unlikely to have been produced by such a merger...