Gemma Lavender, Space, Astronomy and Physics Editor at Science Report.
Gemma Lavender
30 reportsEditor
Space, astronomy and physics editor
Gemma Lavender is a space, astronomy and physics editor covering observatories, planetary missions, stars, galaxies, black holes and the instruments used to study the universe. She focuses on what observations show, how measurements are made and where uncertainty limits scientific conclusions.
30 latest articles by Gemma Lavender
Artemis II Crew Recorded Five Faint Moon Impact Flashes
A tablet image from Artemis II records five faint impact flashes seen near the eclipsed Moon from Orion 46,000 miles away; NASA's later analysis ruled out cosmic rays and spacecraft reflections and released the mission's lunar science dataset.
NASA Seeks a Safe Way to Ground Moonwalking Astronauts
NASA has opened a challenge for systems and procedures that can safely bring astronauts to electrical equilibrium before they touch a lander during Artemis operations near the lunar South Pole.
NASA Glenn Seeks Proposals for New Aerospace Power Laboratory
NASA Glenn has opened a full and open competition for Phase 1 of a proposed Aerospace Power Systems Laboratory in Cleveland, with Phase 1 proposals due October 30, 2026; the procurement record does not yet confirm an award, construction or a facility budget.
Hubble Data Point to a Possible Second-Generation Planet
NASA Hubble observations of the white dwarf HS 0209+0832 reveal a chemical clue consistent with a Jupiter-sized planet formed from material shed after its star became a red giant
Curiosity Maps Mars Yardangs in Unprecedented Detail
NASA's Curiosity rover has produced its clearest panorama yet of Martian yardangs while climbing Mount Sharp toward a rock layer that may preserve evidence of ancient water, evaporated brines and volcanic ash.
Webb Reveals Stellar Jets Carving Through NGC 7129
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has resolved protostars and stellar outflows in NGC 7129, about 3,300 light-years away, showing how hot gas carves cavities while compressed clouds continue producing new stars.
Hubble Data Point to a Possible Planet Born After Its Star Died
Reanalyzed NASA Hubble spectroscopy and archival FUSE ultraviolet data reveal extreme niobium enrichment around the white dwarf HS 0209+0832, while TESS detected a 4.4-day brightness cycle consistent with-but not proving-the presence of a close-orbiting gas-giant candidate.
NASA Langley Research Center Contact Guide
NASA Langley Research Center provides distinct contact routes for general assistance, public and media inquiries, partnerships, education, visitor information and social media, reflecting the center's active aeronautics and regional research role.
Curiosity Drills Its 48th Rock Target on Mars
Curiosity has drilled into Basque Lakes in Gale crater and is preparing mineral analysis that could reveal how this Martian rock formed and changed over time
NASA's Lunar Return Depends on Data Gaps Before Hardware
At NASA Langley Research Center, Richard Spolzino tracks the measurements still missing from lunar and Mars planning and helps convert those gaps into priorities for missions and commercial partners.
Crew-12 Heads Home After 235 Days of Science in Orbit
NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 is preparing to leave the International Space Station after a 235-day mission investigating quantum systems, living tissue, microbes, materials and medical supplies, with undocking possible as early as October 5, 2026.
DAVINCI Engineering Model Survives Venus Heat Test
NASA's DAVINCI engineering model completed six thermal cycles at 465 C, reproducing the heating rate expected during a descent through Venus' atmosphere and clearing an important hardware-readiness test.
NASA Wing Glows Under Ultraviolet Light in Airflow Test
A NASA Langley test made a freely moving model wing glow pink-purple while high-speed cameras recorded full-field pressure changes in a low-oxygen wind-tunnel environment.
Webb Traces Planet Shattering Collisions Around Young Stars
James Webb and Spitzer observations of 21 rare extreme debris disks show how mineral fingerprints distinguish Mars-scale planetary impacts from smaller collisions that reshape young stellar systems
Curiosity Finds Strange Discs Before Its Next Mars Drill
Curiosity has photographed millimeter-scale disc-shaped features on Martian bedrock and is preparing a drill campaign to determine whether they formed from minerals or fragments of harder rock
Volunteers Will Map Dust Through Overlapping Galaxies
NASA's Overlap Zoo asks volunteers to identify and outline overlapping galaxy pairs so astronomers can study dust silhouettes that dim distant starlight and improve measurements of cosmic distances.
NASA Partners Prepare Ground Tests for Crops on the Moon
NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and the German Aerospace Center are coordinating preparatory work on an Earth-based lunar agriculture demonstrator designed to test crop production and resource recycling for longer missions.
Crew-13 Falcon 9 Stands Ready for Its October Launch
A Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft stand vertical at Space Launch Complex 40 ahead of NASA's Crew-13 mission, which is scheduled to carry four international crew members to the International Space Station.
NASA Reopens ORBIT Challenge for 2027 With Up to $500,000 in Student Prizes
NASA has reopened registration for the 2027 ORBIT Challenge, offering university and college teams up to $500,000 to develop research-based solutions for Earth and future space missions.
NASA Material Turns Lunar Dust Into Tools for Future Habitats
NASA researchers have mixed biodegradable plastic with simulated Moon and Mars dust to create a tunable composite now being tested for future habitat equipment and extreme space conditions.
Perseverance Finds a Strange Rock Texture on Ancient Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover has investigated ancient rocks west of Jezero crater and exposed an unusual light-and-dark texture that may reveal how early Mars evolved
Algol's Blinking Eye Reveals an Eclipsing Star System
Algol appears to blink because two stars regularly eclipse each other. NASA's TESS data records the change while Perseus and the Witch Head Nebula add darker targets to October's night sky.
Swift Boost Mission Ends Without Raising Its Orbit
NASA's attempt to lift the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory ended after its commercial servicing spacecraft developed communications and orientation problems, but the mission still produced valuable operational lessons for future in-space servicing.
Artemis II Crew Set for Houston Event After Record Lunar Flyby
The Artemis II astronauts will meet the public at the University of Houston after traveling 406,771 kilometers from Earth during the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.
NASA ORBIT Challenge opens mission work to student teams
The NASA ORBIT Challenge gives university and community college students access to NASA intellectual property and mission problems, with up to $500,000 in prizes, expert mentorship and a pathway from technical concepts to potential commercial applications.
NASA Builds Humanoid Robots for Safer Lunar Work
NASA's 16-member Dexterous Robotics Team is testing humanoid robots, robotic arms, and supervised autonomy for logistics, maintenance, and scientific work supporting a sustained human presence on the Moon and possible future missions to Mars.
Students Design Airports for a Two-Fuel Aviation Future
A new Dream with Us challenge asks middle school teams to redesign an airport around liquefied natural gas and traditional aviation fuel while accounting for safety, aircraft changes and passenger needs.
Hubble Reveals a Spiral Galaxy With Arms That Avoid Its Core
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured NGC 4698, a spiral galaxy about 55 million light-years away in Virgo, with arms concentrated in an outer ring-like disk rather than winding into its bright center.
NASA Warns Casting Defects Can Weaken Aluminum 2219
A NASA technical bulletin warns that flawed casting can leave Aluminum 2219 vulnerable to corrosion and uneven mechanical performance unless manufacturers apply validated homogenization and multidirectional deformation.
NASA Travel Reimbursements Cover TDY Moves and Foreign Assignments
NASA's NSSC handles reimbursement for authorized domestic and foreign travel while applying separate rules for rental cars, per diem, extended duty, and Change of Station claims.
