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NASA Prepares for SpaceX Crew-12 Launch to International Space Station

NASA Prepares for SpaceX Crew-12 Launch to International Space Station

NASA is set to launch the SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on February 11, 2026. The mission will include NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The launch will be streamed live on various platforms, including NASA's YouTube channel. This mission is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which aims to provide safe and cost-effective transportation to the ISS. The Crew-12 mission will focus on studying adaptation to altered gravity, contributing to the understanding of human spaceflight.

Apollo 4: The Mission That Cleared the Way to the Moon

Apollo 4: The Mission That Cleared the Way to the Moon

Apollo 4, launched on November 9, 1967, marked a pivotal moment in the history of space exploration. As the first uncrewed test flight of the Satur...

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Mission to Investigate Astronauts' Adaptation to Low-Gravity

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Mission to Investigate Astronauts' Adaptation to Low-Gravity

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission is set to embark on a long-duration science mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The mission will focus on human health studies to understand how astronauts' bodies adapt to the low-gravity environment of space. Key experiments include the Venous Flow study, which examines changes in blood flow and the risk of blood clots in microgravity. This study is crucial as blood clots can pose serious health risks, such as strokes. Additionally, the Manual Piloting study will assess astronauts' ability to perform simulated lunar landings, evaluating their piloting and decision-making skills during gravitational transitions. These studies aim to prepare astronauts for future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.

University of Colorado Develops Plasma Tunnel to Enhance Spacecraft Safety

University of Colorado Develops Plasma Tunnel to Enhance Spacecraft Safety

Researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder have developed a pioneering plasma tunnel designed to simulate the extreme conditions spacecraft face during reentry into Earth's atmosphere. This facility, led by Hisham Ali and his team, is one of the first of its kind globally, allowing scientists to test materials, heat shields, and sensors under intense heat and pressure. The plasma tunnel can reach temperatures up to 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than the surface of the sun, replicating the shockwaves experienced during hypersonic flight. This innovation is crucial for testing spacecraft technologies before they are deployed in actual missions, especially as space tourism becomes more prevalent. The facility also has the capability to simulate conditions on other planets, such as Mars, by injecting carbon dioxide to mimic its atmosphere.

NASA Selects EDGE Satellite Mission to Enhance Earth Observation Capabilities

NASA Selects EDGE Satellite Mission to Enhance Earth Observation Capabilities

NASA has selected the Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer (EDGE) mission as part of its Earth System Explorers (ESE) program. This mission, led by the University of California San Diego, aims to improve understanding of Earth's systems and enhance capabilities to predict environmental events and mitigate disasters. The EDGE satellite will be the first global satellite imaging laser altimeter system, providing high-resolution, three-dimensional observations of land, vegetation, ice, and coastal regions. Matt Siegfried, an associate professor of geophysics at the Colorado School of Mines, is a co-investigator for the mission. He will focus on designing data products for glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost, and will lead the validation of ice elevation data products. The mission is expected to launch no earlier than 2030, pending a NASA confirmation review in 2027.

UC San Diego-Led Team to Lead NASA Satellite Mission for Environmental Monitoring

UC San Diego-Led Team to Lead NASA Satellite Mission for Environmental Monitoring

NASA has announced the selection of a satellite mission led by the University of California San Diego for its Earth System Explorers (ESE) program. The mission, named Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer (EDGE), is spearheaded by Helen Amanda Fricker, a glaciologist from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. EDGE is one of two next-generation satellite missions chosen to enhance understanding of Earth's systems and improve disaster mitigation capabilities. The mission aims to provide advanced observations of land, vegetation, ice, and coastal regions using a global satellite imaging laser altimeter system. This technology involves sending laser pulses to Earth's surface and measuring the time taken for them to return, allowing scientists to create high-resolution, three-dimensional observations of terrestrial ecosystems and ice features. The mission is expected to launch no earlier than 2030, with a budget cap of $355 million, excluding launch costs.

How Apollo 6 Helped Qualify the Moon Rocket

How Apollo 6 Helped Qualify the Moon Rocket

Apollo 6, launched on April 4, 1968, was a pivotal mission in NASA's Apollo program. As the third uncrewed test flight of the Saturn V rocket, it a...

Curiosity Rover Resumes Mars Exploration After Solar Conjunction

Curiosity Rover Resumes Mars Exploration After Solar Conjunction

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has resumed its scientific activities on Mars following a period of solar conjunction, during which communication with Earth was limited. The rover is preparing for a new drilling operation near the 'Nevado Sajama' site, where it previously conducted experiments. The upcoming drill will involve a rare experiment using the rover's last container of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) to identify organic molecules. This marks a significant step in the ongoing Mars Science Laboratory mission, as the team aims to gather more data on the Martian surface and its potential for past life.

NASA's STRIDE Program Seeks Industry Proposals for Mars Exploration

NASA's STRIDE Program Seeks Industry Proposals for Mars Exploration

NASA's Mars Exploration Program has launched the Science Transport & Robotic Innovation for Deployment and Exploration (STRIDE) initiative, inviting U.S. industry proposals for designing and prototyping advanced robotic systems for Mars surface operations. The program aims to develop hardware for robotic surface and aerial mobility systems capable of payload transportation and deployment on Mars. The solicitation for proposals was released on January 30, 2026, with a pre-proposal virtual conference scheduled for February 4, 2026, and proposals due by March 31, 2026. The initiative underscores NASA's commitment to advancing its highest-priority science objectives through partnerships with U.S. industry.

NASA Seeks Public Input on Space Technology Shortfalls to Guide Future Investments

NASA Seeks Public Input on Space Technology Shortfalls to Guide Future Investments

NASA is actively seeking input from industry, academia, government partners, and the public to address 32 identified technology shortfalls critical to future space exploration and missions. These shortfalls represent areas where current technological capabilities are insufficient to meet the demands of future exploration, science, and mission needs. The agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate has consolidated these shortfalls into a comprehensive list, which includes advanced propulsion for deep-space missions, autonomous systems for space operations, and high-bandwidth space communications systems, among others. This initiative builds on NASA's previous efforts to identify and rank technology needs, with the current call for feedback open until February 20, 2026.

NASA's Juno Mission Reveals Jupiter's True Size, Prompting Textbook Revisions

NASA's Juno Mission Reveals Jupiter's True Size, Prompting Textbook Revisions

Recent measurements from NASA's Juno spacecraft have revealed that Jupiter is slightly smaller than previously thought. The new data indicates that Jupiter's equatorial diameter is about five miles shorter, and its polar diameter is about 15 miles shorter than earlier estimates. These measurements were obtained through Juno's elongated orbit, which allows it to pass behind Jupiter and send radio signals back to Earth. The bending of these signals by Jupiter's atmosphere provides detailed maps of the planet's temperature and density, offering a clearer picture of its shape and size. This new information challenges previous data collected by NASA's Pioneer and Voyager missions, which had fewer data points.

Strong Solar Flares Erupt from Sun, Potential for Northern Lights

Strong Solar Flares Erupt from Sun, Potential for Northern Lights

The sun has recently emitted four strong solar flares, raising the possibility of northern lights displays and potential disruptions in satellite communications. According to NASA, these flares occurred on Sunday and Monday, with the most intense being an X8.1 flare, the strongest in several years. Solar flares are large eruptions of electromagnetic radiation from the sun, typically occurring in regions with strong magnetic fields associated with sunspots. These flares can lead to Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), which interact with Earth's atmosphere to produce auroras. The visibility of these auroras depends on the arrival and magnetic orientation of the CME, as well as local weather conditions. The sun's magnetic activity, which reached its solar maximum phase in October 2024, is expected to continue through 2026, according to NOAA.