Explore

From Orbit to Landing: The Innovations Behind Viking 1

From Orbit to Landing: The Innovations Behind Viking 1

The Viking 1 mission marked a significant milestone in space exploration as the first successful Mars lander. Launched by NASA in 1975, Viking 1 wa...

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Captures Stunning Mars Flyby Video

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Captures Stunning Mars Flyby Video

NASA has released a captivating video showcasing the Psyche spacecraft's flyby of Mars, which occurred in May 2026. The spacecraft, en route to the asteroid Psyche, captured detailed images of the Martian surface, including craters and the south polar ice cap. The flyby served as a gravity assist maneuver to conserve fuel and adjust the spacecraft's trajectory. It also provided an opportunity to test Psyche's scientific instruments, which performed well and delivered valuable data about Mars. The mission is part of a broader effort to study the asteroid Psyche, believed to be a metallic core of a planetesimal.

NASA's Expedition 74 Crew Prepares for Return to Earth

NASA's Expedition 74 Crew Prepares for Return to Earth

Three members of NASA's Expedition 74 are preparing to return to Earth after completing their mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). NASA astronaut Chris Williams, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, are set to undock from the Rassvet module in the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft. Their mission, which began with a launch from Kazakhstan on November 27, 2025, is nearing its end as they prepare for a parachute-assisted landing in Kazakhstan. The crew has been involved in various research activities, including testing a lower body negative pressure suit designed to help astronauts adapt to Earth's gravity after extended periods in microgravity. Meanwhile, the new crew members, including NASA flight engineer Anil Menon, are transitioning to full-time research and lab maintenance aboard the ISS.

SpaceX Reschedules Starship Flight 13 Test Launch for July 23 After Previous Abort

SpaceX Reschedules Starship Flight 13 Test Launch for July 23 After Previous Abort

SpaceX has announced a new target date for the launch of its Starship megarocket, now set for July 23. This follows an aborted attempt on July 16 due to a post-ignition anomaly. The launch will occur from SpaceX's Starbase site in South Texas, with a 90-minute window starting at 6:45 p.m. EDT. This mission, known as Flight 13, marks the second launch of Starship Version 3, which is designed to carry 20 upgraded Starlink V3 satellites. These satellites are part of SpaceX's plan to build a constellation of 100,000 Starlink V3 spacecraft in low Earth orbit. The mission is crucial for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a permanent lunar base.

NASA Langley's Role in Historic Mars Landings Celebrated on 50th Anniversary

NASA Langley's Role in Historic Mars Landings Celebrated on 50th Anniversary

NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, played a pivotal role in the successful Viking 1 and 2 landings on Mars, marking the 50th anniversary of these historic events. The Viking project, led by Langley, was the first U.S. mission to land safely on Mars and search for signs of life. Langley's expertise in atmospheric entry aerodynamics, heat shielding, and parachute technology was crucial in developing the systems that enabled the landers to safely reach the Martian surface. The mission set a precedent for future Mars explorations, influencing how NASA approaches planetary exploration today.

NASA Schedules Briefings for SpaceX Crew-13 Mission to International Space Station

NASA Schedules Briefings for SpaceX Crew-13 Mission to International Space Station

NASA has announced a series of briefings for the upcoming SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station. The briefings will take place on August 3 at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The mission will include NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. The crew is set to launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with the launch scheduled for no earlier than mid-September. The briefings will provide an overview of the mission and insights into the crew's training and preparations.

NASA's Expedition 74 Crew Prepares for Return to Earth, Transitioning Responsibilities

NASA's Expedition 74 Crew Prepares for Return to Earth, Transitioning Responsibilities

Three members of NASA's Expedition 74 are preparing to return to Earth after completing their mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). NASA astronaut Chris Williams, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, are set to undock from the ISS's Rassvet module in the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft. Their mission, which began with a launch from Kazakhstan on November 27, 2025, is nearing its conclusion as they prepare for a parachute-assisted landing in Kazakhstan. As they prepare to leave, the crew is handing over responsibilities to the new arrivals, including NASA flight engineer Anil Menon, who arrived on July 14 aboard the Soyuz MS-29. The departing crew is also involved in testing a lower body negative pressure suit designed to help them readjust to Earth's gravity. Meanwhile, the new crew members are transitioning from orientation to full-time research and lab maintenance, focusing on how microgravity affects the human body.

Amateur Astronomer Discovers 390-Million-Year-Old Meteorite Crater in Quebec

Amateur Astronomer Discovers 390-Million-Year-Old Meteorite Crater in Quebec

In late 2023, amateur astronomer Joël Lapointe discovered a circular depression in the landscape of northern Quebec while planning a road trip using Google Maps. Initially skeptical of his find, Lapointe reached out to experts, leading to a French research center's interest in the site. The depression, located about 100 kilometers north of the town of Magpie, was confirmed to be a meteorite impact crater by a team led by Gordon Osinski, a professor of earth sciences at Western University. The crater, named Uhackatik in collaboration with the local Indigenous community, is approximately 25 kilometers in diameter and dates back 390 million years, a time when life on land was just beginning to emerge.

Asteroid Breakup Near Jupiter 800 Million Years Ago May Have Impacted Earth and Moon

Asteroid Breakup Near Jupiter 800 Million Years Ago May Have Impacted Earth and Moon

A study led by researchers at the Southwest Research Institute suggests that a massive asteroid breakup in the main asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter, occurred approximately 800 million years ago. This event may have sent numerous rocky fragments towards Earth, the Moon, and Mars. The collision is believed to have happened in a region known as the J3:1 resonance, a gravitational area influenced by Jupiter's orbit. The shattered pieces from this event are thought to have traveled through the inner solar system over millions of years, potentially causing a prolonged period of impacts on these celestial bodies. The study highlights that this event could explain the presence of large craters on the Moon dating back to the same period. The researchers also suggest that the bombardment may have coincided with significant changes in Earth's climate and the evolution of life.

NASA Engineers Uncover Ancient Martian Silica Using Spirit Rover's Failed Wheel

NASA Engineers Uncover Ancient Martian Silica Using Spirit Rover's Failed Wheel

NASA's Spirit rover, which landed on Mars in January 2004, experienced a failure in its right-front wheel in March 2006. Engineers adapted by driving the rover backwards, using the immobile wheel as an excavation tool. This led to the accidental discovery of bright silica deposits near the volcanic plateau called Home Plate in Gusev Crater. The silica, identified as opaline, suggests ancient hydrothermal activity, possibly from hot springs or steam vents. The discovery required extensive follow-up analysis using various instruments, confirming the presence of silica concentrations up to 90% in some areas.

NASA's Psyche Mission Captures Stunning Crescent Views of Mars During Gravity Assist

NASA's Psyche Mission Captures Stunning Crescent Views of Mars During Gravity Assist

NASA's Psyche mission has successfully captured a series of images showing the crescent of Mars as the spacecraft approached the planet for a gravity assist maneuver. This event took place from May 2 to May 15, 2026. The images, taken by the spacecraft's multispectral imager instrument, depict Mars initially as a small crescent, which grows larger as the spacecraft nears the planet. The close approach allowed Psyche to capture high-resolution images of Mars' surface. The mission team compiled these images into a time-lapse video, showcasing the entire encounter with Mars. This gravity assist is a crucial part of the Psyche mission, which aims to study the metal-rich asteroid Psyche, located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

NASA's Psyche Mission Utilizes Mars Flyby for Instrument Calibration and Data Collection

NASA's Psyche Mission Utilizes Mars Flyby for Instrument Calibration and Data Collection

NASA's Psyche spacecraft successfully completed a flyby of Mars on May 15, using the planet's gravity to gain speed and adjust its trajectory towards the asteroid Psyche. This maneuver allowed the mission team to test the spacecraft's science instruments, including the imager, magnetometer, and gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer. The instruments performed as expected, providing valuable data about Mars and demonstrating their capabilities for the upcoming asteroid mission. The flyby also offered a unique opportunity to capture detailed images of Mars, including its surface features and atmospheric conditions.