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NASA's Starling Mission Extends GPS-Free Navigation Experiment to 2028

NASA's Starling Mission Extends GPS-Free Navigation Experiment to 2028

NASA's Starling mission, a swarm of four cubesats in low Earth orbit (LEO), has extended its GPS-free navigation experiment until at least 2028. The mission, which began three years ago, tests a technology called FALCON (Fast Autonomous Lost-in-space Catalog-based Optical Navigation). FALCON enables satellites to navigate by using other satellites as moving landmarks, a crucial capability for missions operating beyond Earth's orbit where GPS signals are unavailable. The experiment involves using Starling's cameras to observe other satellites and space objects, matching this data with an onboard catalog of thousands of known objects, and then using these verified objects as reference points to determine Starling's orbit. This method also contributes to space situational awareness (SSA), allowing spacecraft to understand their surrounding environment and avoid debris. The extension aims to maximize the data and insights gained from this innovative navigation technique.

NASA Officials Meet with Arkansas Lawmakers to Discuss Artemis Program Opportunities

NASA Officials Meet with Arkansas Lawmakers to Discuss Artemis Program Opportunities

NASA officials recently met with Arkansas lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. French Hill, to explore how the state's businesses and universities can contribute to and benefit from the Artemis program. The Artemis program aims to return Americans to the moon, establish a lunar base, and facilitate deeper space exploration, with a target of constructing a sustainable moon base by the early 2030s. Joel Graham, NASA's associate administrator for the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, emphasized that the program requires suppliers from across the country, including Arkansas. Kelvin Manning, NASA's deputy associate administrator for the Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate, highlighted the importance of partnerships between the federal government, industry, and academia to enable Arkansas's contributions to future missions. NASA also noted that 17 Arkansas students participated in NASA internships this year, indicating opportunities in fields such as engineering, computer science, and nuclear tech...

NASA Tests Self-Guided Terrain Camera in Near Space for Artemis Missions

NASA Tests Self-Guided Terrain Camera in Near Space for Artemis Missions

NASA has successfully conducted a balloon test of its Compact Large-sensor Imaging Camera (CLIC 2), a self-guided terrain camera designed for future Moon and Mars missions. Launched from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, the payload reached an altitude of approximately 126,000 feet, operating for nearly four hours in a near-space environment. The CLIC 2 system is crucial because it processes terrain data autonomously and in real-time during descent, without requiring signals from Earth. This capability is vital for safe landings in rugged, scientifically interesting terrains that are inaccessible to older spacecraft. The test is part of NASA's broader Safe and Precise Landing Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) program, which aims to develop a full suite of sensors and computing power to achieve highly accurate landings, such as the 50-meter target for Artemis crewed lunar missions.

NASA-Funded Project Develops Edible Cookies from Upcycled Plastic and Plant Waste

NASA-Funded Project Develops Edible Cookies from Upcycled Plastic and Plant Waste

Scientists at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale, funded by NASA, have developed a method to create edible, protein-rich cookies from upcycled plastic bottles and plant waste. This innovative process uses specially designed yeasts to convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and agricultural biomass into proteins, fats, and flavorings. The PET plastic is first broken down into carbon-rich molecules using an oxidative hydrothermal dissolution process, which involves water and oxygen at high temperature and pressure. These molecules are then fed to genetically programmed yeasts, which transform them into new biological molecules. The resulting mixture is combined with fiber, starch, and sweeteners, and then extruded through a 3D printer to form 'µBites' (microbites). While taste tests are pending institutional approval, the cookies have received high marks for aroma. This research is part of NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge, aiming to create sustainable food sources for astronauts on long-d...

What time is the lunar eclipse? When to see the 'almost blood moon'

What time is the lunar eclipse? When to see the 'almost blood moon'

The lunar eclipse is set to begin soon but when? Here's a look at the interstellar show schedule.

NASA's next great telescope launches this weekend. What to know about it

NASA's next great telescope launches this weekend. What to know about it

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has a field of view 100 times larger than Hubble's, meaning it will observe massive areas of the universe.

Luna llena y eclipse lunar parcial coinciden: cuándo verlo en EE. UU.

Luna llena y eclipse lunar parcial coinciden: cuándo verlo en EE. UU.

Un eclipse lunar parcial oscurecerá cerca del 96% de la Luna la noche del 27 al 28 de agosto. El fenómeno coincidirá con la Luna llena y será visible en gran parte de Estados Unidos.

Powerful solar flare could spark northern lights this week

Powerful solar flare could spark northern lights this week

A powerful solar flare could trigger dazzling northern lights across parts of the US later this week.

Firefly Aerospace Targets Late 2026 for Blue Ghost Mission 2 to Lunar Far Side

Firefly Aerospace Targets Late 2026 for Blue Ghost Mission 2 to Lunar Far Side

Firefly Aerospace is preparing its Blue Ghost Mission 2 for a late 2026 launch, aiming to send a lander to the far side of the Moon. This mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The Blue Ghost lander will carry the LuSEE-Night radio telescope and an ESA lunar relay satellite. The primary objective is to study the Moon's geology and explore the Cosmic 'Dark Ages' by leveraging the radio-quiet environment of the lunar far side, which naturally blocks radio noise from Earth. The mission also includes an orbiter, Elytra, which will slightly increase the radio noise on the lunar far side. The combined system, with the lander stacked on Elytra, will stand 6.7 meters tall. This mission is one of several commercial lunar landers targeting the Moon in 2026, alongside Intuitive Machines' IM-3 and Astrobotic's Griffin Mission One.

Drought Conditions Persist Across California and Nevada

Drought Conditions Persist Across California and Nevada

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor update highlights ongoing drought conditions across California and Nevada. The map, which uses five classifications ranging from Abnormally Dry (D0) to Exceptional Drought (D4), shows areas experiencing varying levels of water scarcity. This update is part of a collaborative effort by NOAA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, NASA, and the National Drought Mitigation Center. The report also references data from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, which forecasts a strong El Niño event for the upcoming months, potentially influencing regional weather patterns. Source time: 2026-08-25 00:00:00 GMT.

China Postpones Lunar Water-Hunting Mission Amid Space Race with U.S.

China Postpones Lunar Water-Hunting Mission Amid Space Race with U.S.

China has postponed the launch of its robotic Chang'e-7 mission, which was designed to search for water ice at the moon's south pole. The mission, initially expected to lift off as early as Sunday evening or Monday morning Beijing time, 'cannot take place during the planned window this year,' according to a statement from the China Manned Space Engineering Office, shared by Chinese state media. The precise reason for the delay was not immediately clear, with state media only stating that the 'lunar probe does not meet launch conditions' and that the assessment followed principles of prudence and mission success. Wiphu Rujopakarn, executive director of the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), indicated the mission is now expected next year, possibly in spring or mid-summer, citing challenging technical requirements and weather conditions, specifically high-altitude winds in southern China.

NASA Awards $30 Million to Four University Teams for Advanced Aviation Research

NASA Awards $30 Million to Four University Teams for Advanced Aviation Research

NASA has allocated approximately $30 million to four university teams through its University Leadership Initiative. These awards will support multi-year research projects aimed at transforming the future of aviation. The selected projects align with NASA's strategic objectives, focusing on areas such as commercial high-speed aircraft innovation, the development of new tools for aviation breakthroughs, safer and more efficient air traffic management, and the integration of new air transportation options into the national airspace. The initiative, now in its ninth round of funding, provides hands-on experience for students and aims to develop the U.S. aeronautics research workforce. The awardees include the University of Minnesota, which will develop a fuel-flexible propulsion system for high-supersonic flight; Stanford University, with two projects focusing on machine learning-integrated avionics for continuous safety reinforcement and low-noise flight paths for urban air mobility; and Virginia Tech, which ...