International Space Station
47 reportsScientific coverage devoted to International Space Station addresses returned observations, while also considering science payload and thermal control. The scientific case for science payload is built from telemetry and tested against instrument calibration; interpretation remains cautious because hardware constraints and changing conditions can limit scientific return.
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.
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 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.
Shannon Lucid Set a Human Spaceflight Record on Mir
Shannon Lucid spent 188 days aboard Russia's Mir, tending life-science experiments and helping NASA understand the operational, psychological, and cultural demands of long-duration spaceflight.
NASA Astronaut Anil Menon Will Answer New Hampshire Student Questions
A live NASA stream will carry prerecorded STEM questions from New Hampshire students to astronaut Anil Menon aboard the International Space Station on Thursday, Sept. 24, offering students a direct view of science and space careers in orbit.
NASA Archive Maps Seven Years of Widely Attended Space Events
NASA's Widely Attended Gatherings archive brings together event determinations from 2020 through 2026, covering launches, awards dinners, policy meetings and industry receptions while showing why administrative records must be distinguished from scientific evidence.
NASA Adds Three SpaceX Crew Flights Through 2030
NASA has added $946 million for SpaceX's Crew-15, Crew-16, and Crew-17 missions, raising the company's total Commercial Crew missions to 17 and the contract value to $5.92 billion. The decision secures transportation and lifeboat services through 2030 while NASA evaluates schedule pressure, Dragon inspections, and the future role of Boeing's Starliner.
ESA astronaut honors Star Trek legacy aboard International Space Station
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot marked Star Trek's 60th anniversary by wearing a Starfleet badge on the International Space Station, highlighting the show's influence on real-world space exploration and international scientific cooperation
NASA's 100th Astronaut Flight Tested Space Station Assembly in Orbit
NASA's space shuttle Endeavour launched the STS-69 mission on September 7, 1995, deploying and retrieving two satellites and conducting a spacewalk to test International Space Station assembly techniques
German Spectrum Rocket Achieves First Orbital Launch from Europe
Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket has become the first vehicle to reach orbit from a Western European launch site, following a successful mission from Andøya Space Center in Norway that deployed multiple payloads
SpaceX Crew-13 Launch to ISS Delayed by Dragon Propulsion Leak
NASA and SpaceX have postponed the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station after detecting an oxidizer leak in the Dragon spacecraft's propulsion system. The new launch date remains unconfirmed as teams investigate the issue
Gemini 5 Mission Sets New Space Endurance Record for NASA in 1965
NASA's Gemini 5 mission demonstrated that astronauts could survive eight days in orbit, providing crucial evidence for the feasibility of future lunar missions and marking a turning point in human spaceflight duration
NASA Astronaut Jonny Kim Departs Agency to Resume Naval Aviation Career
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, a Harvard-trained physician and Navy SEAL, is leaving the agency after nine years and one mission to the International Space Station to return to active duty in naval aviation training
NASA Funds Next-Phase Quantum Gravity Sensor for Space Testing
NASA has awarded Infleqtion a $20 million contract to advance a quantum gravity gradiometer, supporting hardware integration and microgravity testing for future Earth observation from orbit
ISS Spacewalk Removes Failed Antenna but Leaves Replacement Unfinished
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and NASA astronaut Anil Menon spent over six hours outside the International Space Station on August 18, 2026, removing a malfunctioning antenna during a technically demanding extravehicular activity
SpaceX to Retire Falcon 9 as Starship Nears Operational Status
SpaceX has announced plans to phase out its Falcon 9 rocket once the Starship launch system achieves reliable, frequent operations. The transition could reshape commercial launch access and mission planning for years ahead
X-15 Rocket Plane Sets 1963 Altitude Record Above Kármán Line
On August 22, 1963, the X-15 rocket plane piloted by Joe Walker reached an altitude exceeding 108 kilometers, providing rare data on hypersonic flight and spacecraft reusability during a pivotal era for space research
NASA Prepares Astronaut Training for Commercial Space Station Era
NASA's Johnson Space Center is adapting its astronaut training and mission operations to support a transition from the International Space Station to a new generation of commercial space stations, with government and private industry working side by side
Richat Structure's Concentric Rings Imaged from the International Space Station
A new photograph from the International Space Station captures the Richat Structure, a 40-kilometer-wide geologic formation in Mauritania, revealing its striking concentric rings as seen from orbit
Plasma Laundry Gun Tested for Astronaut Clothing on Long-Duration Missions
Researchers have developed a pen-sized plasma device to sterilize fabrics in space, offering a potential solution for cleaning astronaut clothing without water during extended missions beyond Earth orbit
NASA Study Finds Human Microbes Could Survive in Moon's South Pole Shadows
A NASA-led study simulates lunar south polar conditions and finds that some common Earth microbes, including bacteria and fungi, could persist in shadowed lunar regions, raising new questions for planetary protection as human exploration expands
How NASA Mechanics Maintain Spacecraft and Support Exploration
NASA relies on highly trained mechanics to keep spacecraft, launch vehicles, and support equipment operational. Their work spans aircraft, rockets, and heavy transporters, requiring specialized skills and rigorous certification.
NASA Johnson Photographers Document Human Spaceflight Milestones
NASA's Johnson Space Center photography team has recorded decades of astronaut training, mission operations, and engineering tests, providing a visual record of human spaceflight and the people behind major missions using a range of imaging techniques
ISS Spacewalk Removes Failed Antenna but Replacement Delayed
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and ESA's Sophie Adenot removed a nonfunctional antenna from the International Space Station during a six-hour spacewalk, but time constraints postponed installation of the replacement hardware
Microgravity Slows Digestion for Astronauts on the ISS, Study Finds
A new analysis of blood samples from 52 astronauts aboard the International Space Station reveals that microgravity alters gut function, slowing digestion and changing microbial activity in ways not fully explained by diet alone
Sophie Adenot Becomes First French Woman to Walk in Space
European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot is set to conduct a 6.5-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station, marking the first time a French woman has participated in an extravehicular activity
Wildfire Smoke from Space: ISS Images Pacific Northwest Volcanoes
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have recorded extensive wildfire smoke blanketing Mount Rainier and other Cascade volcanoes, revealing the scale of ongoing fires in the Pacific Northwest as seen from orbit
Cards Against Humanity Plans Monument Near SpaceX Starbase After Dispute
A legal dispute over land use near SpaceX's Starbase in Texas has led Cards Against Humanity to propose a public monument targeting Elon Musk, highlighting ongoing tensions between commercial space operations and local landowners
Radiation Vest Tested on Artemis I May Aid Deep Space Astronaut Safety
A hydrogen-rich plastic vest tested aboard NASA's Artemis I mission has demonstrated significant shielding against solar radiation, offering a potential solution for astronaut protection on future lunar and Mars expeditions
NASA Artemis Launch Team Welcomes New Test Project Engineer
NASA's Artemis program has added Lindsey Waitt as a test project engineer, supporting launch operations for upcoming Moon missions. Her appointment highlights the technical demands and collaborative environment of Artemis launch preparations.
Space Station Research Advances Artemis Moon and Mars Missions
NASA's International Space Station experiments in 2026 are testing technologies and studying astronaut health to support future Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars, with new results informing spacecraft design and deep space exploration
NASA Expands Student Access to Space Missions and STEM Careers
NASA is opening new opportunities for students to participate in authentic mission experiences, technical career exploration, and citizen science, as the agency prepares for major launches and ongoing lunar and space station operations
NASA Astronauts Complete Spacewalk to Prepare ISS for Solar Array Upgrade
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon spent 6.5 hours outside the International Space Station installing the final mounting hardware for new roll-out solar arrays, a step toward boosting the station's power supply later this year
Automated Mini-Labs Expand Space Station Research With Less Crew Time
Redwire's ADvanced Space Experiment Processors (ADSEPs) are enabling the International Space Station to run complex biological and materials science experiments with minimal astronaut involvement, advancing pharmaceutical and fundamental research in microgravity
Apollo 15's Moon Liftoff Became Television's First From Another World
On Aug. 2, 1971, Apollo 15 transmitted the first live television view of a spacecraft leaving the moon, using a rover-mounted camera that revealed both the mission's ingenuity and its limits
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