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Artemis II Crew Undergoes Quarantine Ahead of Lunar Mission

Artemis II Crew Undergoes Quarantine Ahead of Lunar Mission

The Artemis II crew is currently in quarantine as part of NASA's Health Stabilization Program, a protocol designed to prevent the transmission of harmful microbes to space. This measure is crucial for ensuring the health of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen before their mission to orbit the Moon. The quarantine involves isolation, wearing special masks, and maintaining distance from others. The launch window for Artemis II has been adjusted to March 6-11, 2026, due to these health precautions. The mission will mark the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years.

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...

Saturn I: NASA’s First Medium-Lift Launch Vehicle

Saturn I: NASA’s First Medium-Lift Launch Vehicle

The Saturn I rocket was a technological marvel of its time, representing a significant leap in rocket design and engineering. Developed by NASA, it...

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 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 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'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.

Congress Considers New NASA Authorization Bill to Advance Space Exploration

Congress Considers New NASA Authorization Bill to Advance Space Exploration

Congress is once again considering a NASA authorization bill, known as the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026 (HR 7273), introduced by Rep. Brian Babin. The bill aims to set priorities for NASA, including returning to the Moon under the Artemis program, addressing crew access to low Earth orbit, and investing in research and development for orbital debris and lunar communications. This legislative effort is part of an annual exercise to establish NASA's agenda, although past attempts have often stalled. The bill's introduction marks a renewed effort to codify NASA's missions and ensure continued support for space exploration initiatives.

NASA Permits Astronauts to Bring Smartphones on Space Missions, Enhancing Documentation

NASA Permits Astronauts to Bring Smartphones on Space Missions, Enhancing Documentation

NASA has announced a policy change allowing astronauts to bring smartphones on space missions, starting with the Crew-12 and Artemis II missions. This decision, revealed by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, aims to provide astronauts with modern tools to capture and share images and videos from space. The inclusion of smartphones is expected to enhance the documentation of space missions, allowing for more spontaneous and diverse content. This move is part of a broader effort to streamline NASA's processes and incorporate modern technology into spaceflight operations.

NASA's Roman Coronagraph to Enhance Understanding of Planetary Systems

NASA's Roman Coronagraph to Enhance Understanding of Planetary Systems

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to advance the study of planetary systems through its Coronagraph Instrument. This instrument will enable multiwavelength total intensity and polarimetric observations of debris disks and planetary companions around nearby stars. The Roman Coronagraph aims to achieve a contrast of less than 10^-8, a significant milestone in astronomical observations. These observations are crucial for understanding the dust composition, structure, and properties of circumstellar debris disks, as well as the atmospheric composition of planetary companions. The Astro2020 decadal survey highlights the importance of detecting polarization signatures of disks and ocean glint from exoplanets, in addition to direct imaging. The mission may extend beyond its initial phase to explore unsupported modes, enhancing the scientific returns from the Roman Coronagraph.

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.