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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...
The Corpus Christi Caller TimesThe Corpus Christi Caller Times
SpaceX brings recovered Starship home to Texas after ocean saga

SpaceX brings recovered Starship home to Texas after ocean saga

The upper section of SpaceX's Starship rocket has made it home to Texas after its recovery on the other side of the world following a flight test.
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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...
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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
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Tiffany M. Morgan Appointed Director of Mars Exploration Program at NASA

Tiffany M. Morgan Appointed Director of Mars Exploration Program at NASA

Tiffany M. Morgan has been appointed as the Director of the Mars Exploration Program (MEP) within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. In this capacity, she is responsible for providing leadership in the exploration and characterization of Mars. Her role encompasses understanding the planet's current environment, climate, geological history, and biological potential, as well as preparing for future human exploration missions. Morgan joined NASA Headquarters as the MEP Deputy Director in August 2021. Prior to her current role, she served as the Project Manager for the Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Project at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. Her career also includes over a decade of experience with Air Force Space Command (now the Space Force), where she focused on rapid space acquisitions, prototyping, and demonstrations. She previously held the position of Chief of the Engineering & Program Integration Division within the Advanced Systems & Development Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, where she was in...
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Axiom Space Seeks Software Safety Engineer for Commercial Space Station Development

Axiom Space Seeks Software Safety Engineer for Commercial Space Station Development

Axiom Space Seeks Software Safety Engineer for Commercial Space Station Development
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NASA Launches New Program to Investigate Potential Underground Lunar Caves for Future Moon Base

NASA Launches New Program to Investigate Potential Underground Lunar Caves for Future Moon Base

NASA has initiated a new program, Geophysical Instruments for Marius Lunar pit Investigation (GIMLI), to explore the possibility of a vast underground cave system on the Moon. This investigation focuses on the Marius Hill Pit, a feature discovered in 2009 by Japan's Kaguya moon orbiter. Scientists believe this pit could be an entrance to a large lava tube, formed by ancient volcanic activity. GIMLI is one of three projects selected by NASA to enhance understanding of the Moon, specifically to support the development of a future lunar base near the south pole. The project, led by the Planetary Science Institute (PSI) and funded through NASA's Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) program, will deploy ground-penetrating radar, seismic sensors, and a gravimeter to collect data from the lunar surface. This equipment will be delivered to the Moon via NASA's Commercial Lunar Payloads Services program, with Honeybee Robotics assisting in its construction.
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Outer Space Treaty Ratified in 1967, Establishing Principles for Space Exploration and Use

Outer Space Treaty Ratified in 1967, Establishing Principles for Space Exploration and Use

On October 10, 1967, the international Outer Space Treaty was ratified, establishing a foundational set of rules for how countries can explore and use outer space. This treaty, formally known as the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, dictates that the exploration and use of outer space must be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, and shall be the province of all mankind. A key provision of the treaty is that no nation can claim territory in outer space. Furthermore, it mandates that celestial bodies, such as the Moon, must be used exclusively for peaceful purposes, explicitly prohibiting the establishment of military bases, installations, fortifications, testing of weapons, or military maneuvers on them. Over 100 countries have ratified this treaty, making it a cornerstone of modern space law.
USA TodayUSA Today
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.
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NASA's Curiosity Rover Captures Striking Martian Dawn Image, Continues Mount Sharp Ascent

NASA's Curiosity Rover Captures Striking Martian Dawn Image, Continues Mount Sharp Ascent

NASA's Curiosity rover has captured a striking image of dawn on the Martian surface, showcasing sunlight illuminating jagged crags formed billions of years ago. The image was taken by the rover's Mastcam camera approximately an hour after sunrise, revealing wind-carved cliffs in the distance. Since its landing in Gale Crater in 2012, Curiosity has been ascending Mount Sharp, a 3-mile-tall mountain. Planetary scientist Ashwin Vasavada of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory explained that the bright, craggy peaks are a distinct rock layer, believed to be ancient wind-blown sediment that hardened into rock and was subsequently carved into ridges called yardangs. This yardang layer likely formed around 3 billion years ago and spans about 10 miles across Mount Sharp's northwestern reaches. The rover has climbed over 0.6 miles (1 km) in elevation, a record for Mars. Curiosity continues its mission to study Mars' geology and climate, investigating past conditions that might have supported microbial life. It is one o...
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NASA Adjusts Lunar Spacesuit Requirements to Accelerate Artemis Moon Landings

NASA Adjusts Lunar Spacesuit Requirements to Accelerate Artemis Moon Landings

NASA is re-evaluating and simplifying the requirements for its next-generation lunar spacesuits, developed by Axiom Space, to prevent equipment development from delaying the initial Artemis Moon landings. This strategic shift involves studying a 'Sortie' version of Axiom Space's AxEMU spacesuit, which would be a less complex configuration designed for shorter-duration lunar operations rather than the extensive requirements of long-term exploration. The decision follows discussions within NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, where member Charlie Precourt noted that requirements are being adjusted to reflect near-term mission needs, including shortening spacesuit certification durations. Axiom Space's president and chief executive, Jonathan Cirtain, confirmed that the company is adapting its spacesuit to meet these specific objectives, focusing on identifying components and capabilities that can be reduced without compromising safety for initial missions. This approach aims to streamline the certification...
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Experts Discuss Renewed Space Race and Challenges of Space Colonization at Harvard Radcliffe Institute Symposium

Experts Discuss Renewed Space Race and Challenges of Space Colonization at Harvard Radcliffe Institute Symposium

A symposium titled 'Living Beyond Earth' at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute gathered experts to discuss the opportunities and hazards of space colonization, highlighting a renewed 'Space Race.' Michelle L.D. Hanlon, executive director of the University of Mississippi’s Center for Air and Space Law, emphasized the limited scope of current space law, noting that the Outer Space Treaty, a mere 17 articles long, primarily grants freedom of exploration and use. Dava J. Newman, former NASA deputy administrator, identified radiation impact as a 'showstopper' for long-duration space travel, particularly to Mars. Ariel Ekblaw, who runs Aurelia Institute, pointed out the dramatic decrease in space flight costs, now around $1,500 per kilogram, fueling the current push into space. The symposium also addressed the growing problem of 'space junk,' with SpaceX performing over 350,000 maneuvers last year to avoid debris, and the mental and physical health challenges of long-term space residency.