Explore

1Weather 1Weather
Space Debris Threatens Vital Climate Satellites, Increasing Risks and Costs

Space Debris Threatens Vital Climate Satellites, Increasing Risks and Costs

Space debris is increasingly jeopardizing the functionality of critical climate observation satellites, including NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) fleet. The EOS satellites—Aqua, Terra, and Aura—have collectively performed at least 32 evasive maneuvers since 2005 to avoid collisions with orbital debris. These maneuvers consume precious fuel and can lead to data corruption, impacting the accuracy of climate research. Aqua, which has been operational for 24 years, has contributed significantly to climate science, including tracking wildfires, mapping deforestation, and studying oceanic changes. However, the satellite is nearing the end of its life, with limited fuel remaining to avoid debris. The growing volume of space debris, which has increased by 180% since 2005, poses a rising threat to satellites in low Earth orbit, where most climate observation satellites operate. NASA and other agencies are grappling with the challenge of maintaining satellite functionality amidst this escalating hazard.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
NASA's Black Marble Project Reveals Complex Changes in Earth's Nighttime Lights

NASA's Black Marble Project Reveals Complex Changes in Earth's Nighttime Lights

NASA's Black Marble project has provided a detailed analysis of Earth's nighttime lights over nearly a decade, revealing significant regional variations in brightness. The study found that while global nighttime radiance increased by 34%, the changes were not uniform. Urbanization and electrification have brightened some areas, while others have dimmed due to energy-efficient lighting, economic decline, or policy changes. The data, collected by VIIRS instruments on multiple satellites, shows bidirectional changes, with neighboring regions often experiencing opposite trends.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
NASA Advances Cancer and Blood Research on International Space Station

NASA Advances Cancer and Blood Research on International Space Station

The Expedition 74 crew aboard the International Space Station is conducting significant research aimed at advancing cancer treatments and understanding blood clotting in microgravity. NASA flight engineer Chris Williams is working on a study involving fruit flies engineered with the genetic profile of pancreatic cancer. These flies are treated with an anti-cancer drug and will be returned to Earth for analysis. This research could lead to more effective cancer therapies. Additionally, NASA flight engineer Jessica Meir is studying blood platelets to understand how microgravity affects blood clotting and immune response. This research is crucial for maintaining astronaut health and preventing excessive bleeding in space.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
NASA's Landsat 10 Mission to Enhance Global Land Imaging with Advanced Capabilities

NASA's Landsat 10 Mission to Enhance Global Land Imaging with Advanced Capabilities

NASA, in collaboration with the USGS, is preparing to launch the Landsat 10 mission under the Sustainable Land Imaging (SLI) Program. This mission aims to continue the legacy of global land imaging by acquiring high-quality, medium-resolution data for a minimum of five years. Landsat 10 will feature improved spatial resolutions and enhanced spectral capabilities, collecting 26 spectral bands to support emerging applications in land monitoring. The mission will occupy a sun-synchronous orbit and utilize a new Worldwide Reference System-3 (WRS-3) for cataloging and distributing data. The mission reflects advances in technology and user application priorities, aiming to provide consistent data with previous Landsat missions while supporting new scientific applications.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
NASA Astronaut Captures Fiery Atmospheric Event from ISS

NASA Astronaut Captures Fiery Atmospheric Event from ISS

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) captured a striking image of a fiery object streaking across Earth's atmosphere on April 27, 2026. The photograph was taken as the ISS passed over West Africa, and the astronaut initially intended to observe the Progress 95 cargo craft. Instead, they witnessed a bright object breaking apart in the upper atmosphere, creating a spectacular light show. The event was not related to the Progress 95, which docked safely as planned. The fiery display could have been caused by the reentry and breakup of a rocket, satellite, or other space debris, or possibly by meteoric material burning up. NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office notes that most large orbital debris originates from fragmented satellites and launch vehicles, orbiting at speeds of approximately 25,000 kilometers per hour.
Trendline Trendline
Commercial Space Federation Warns of Imminent Launch Supply Shortage by 2030

Commercial Space Federation Warns of Imminent Launch Supply Shortage by 2030

Commercial Space Federation Warns of Imminent Launch Supply Shortage by 2030
Trendline Trendline
NLR Battery Innovation Recognized by NASA for Enhancing Space Safety

NLR Battery Innovation Recognized by NASA for Enhancing Space Safety

NLR Battery Innovation Recognized by NASA for Enhancing Space Safety
Rapid Read Rapid Read
SpaceX's NASA Resupply Mission Delivers Critical Scientific Payloads to ISS

SpaceX's NASA Resupply Mission Delivers Critical Scientific Payloads to ISS

SpaceX has successfully launched its 34th commercial resupply mission for NASA, delivering nearly 6,500 pounds of cargo and scientific equipment to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, which lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, is part of NASA's ongoing efforts to support scientific research in space. The payload includes experiments to study the adaptation of red blood cells and the spleen to spaceflight, as well as instruments to analyze charged particles that can affect satellites and power infrastructure. Additionally, the mission will collect precise measurements of sunlight reflected by Earth and the Moon, contributing valuable data for climate studies.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
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.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
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.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
NASA's Artemis II AVATARs Begin Analysis to Study Spaceflight Effects on Health

NASA's Artemis II AVATARs Begin Analysis to Study Spaceflight Effects on Health

NASA's Artemis II mission has returned organ chips from its AVATAR investigation to Emulate, Inc. in Boston for analysis. These organ chips, made from astronauts' own cells, are designed to study the effects of space radiation and microgravity on human health. The chips were first processed at the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego before being sent to the laboratory. Scientists are examining cellular and molecular changes in the chips, comparing them to ground control samples and pre- and post-flight blood samples from astronauts. This research aims to understand individual responses to spaceflight conditions.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
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.