NASA

134 reports
NASA is the United States’ civil space agency, responsible for space science, Earth observation, aeronautics, human spaceflight, and technology development. Its missions use spacecraft, observatories, aircraft, and open data archives to investigate Earth, the Solar System, and the wider universe.

NASA is approached through space science missions and Earth-observation programs, with separate attention to aeronautics research. Coverage places mission telemetry against calibrated instrument data when examining Earth-observation programs; the evidence is read with the caveat that planned milestones and engineering targets can change before launch or deployment.

Citizen Scientists Capture Total Solar Eclipse in Spanish Village

A team of citizen scientists and astronomy enthusiasts gathered in Valoria la Buena, Spain, to observe and document the total solar eclipse on August 12, using telescopes and live data feeds to study the Sun's corona under rare atmospheric conditions

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Earth-Facing Sunspot Fires M6.9 Flare and CME Toward Earth

A highly active sunspot has produced an M6.9-class solar flare and launched a coronal mass ejection toward Earth, raising the possibility of geomagnetic disturbances and enhanced auroral activity later this week

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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

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NASA Backs 18 Advanced Concepts for Future Space Missions

NASA has awarded funding to 18 early-stage technology proposals, supporting research into new mission concepts including lunar cave exploration, exoplanet imaging, and distributed probes for Saturn's rings

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Seventeen Spacecraft Reveal Asymmetric Structure in Solar Ejection

A coronal mass ejection observed in December 2024 was tracked by 17 spacecraft across the solar system, revealing an unexpected double-lobed structure with significant speed differences between its components

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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

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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

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NASA Artemis II Astronauts to Receive Congressional Space Medal of Honor

NASA's Artemis II crew, who completed a lunar flyby in April, will be awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor at Johnson Space Center, recognizing their role in advancing human spaceflight beyond low Earth orbit

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Study Finds Some Terrestrial Microbes Could Survive on the Moon

A new analysis suggests certain bacteria and fungi from Earth may persist in cryptobiotic states on the lunar surface, especially in shadowed polar regions, raising questions for future crewed missions and planetary protection

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Voyager 2's Launch Opened the Outer Solar System to Exploration

NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft began its journey to the outer planets on August 20, 1977, using a rare planetary alignment to visit Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune and extend humanity's reach into interstellar space

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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

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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

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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

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Hubble Data Reveals Ancient Milky Way Merger with Dwarf Galaxy

Astronomers have identified evidence that the Milky Way merged with a dwarf galaxy called LKH about 12 billion years ago, using globular cluster data from the Hubble Space Telescope and extending the timeline of our galaxy's early evolution

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Agila-2 Launch Marks Philippines' Entry Into Satellite Operations

On August 19, 1997, the Philippines launched Agila-2 aboard a Long March 3B rocket, marking the nation's first domestically operated satellite and expanding regional communications coverage

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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.

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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

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SpaceX Starship Upper Stage Recovered Intact After Indian Ocean Splashdown

SpaceX's Starship Ship 40, which completed a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean after its July test flight, has been successfully towed to calmer waters near Christmas Island for engineering analysis

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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

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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

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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

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NASA SCoPE Trains Planetary Science Interns in Public Engagement

NASA SCoPE collaborated with Arizona State University's FORCE Summer School to provide undergraduate interns with hands-on training in science communication and public outreach, focusing on planetary research under extreme conditions

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Curiosity Marks 14 Years on Mars with New Rock Layer Analysis

NASA's Curiosity rover has reached its 14th anniversary on Mars, continuing its ascent of Mount Sharp with detailed rock and environmental measurements using its suite of scientific instruments

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Deneb and Cygnus: Tracing Stellar Remnants and a Nearby Black Hole

Astronomers use optical and X-ray observations to study Deneb, the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant, and the black hole Cygnus X-1, revealing the complex structure of the Cygnus constellation and its hidden extremes

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Hubble Reveals Ancient Dwarf Galaxy Merger in Milky Way's Early History

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have identified evidence of a major merger between the young Milky Way and a dwarf galaxy nearly 12 billion years ago, pushing the timeline of our galaxy's assembly further into the past

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NASA Telescopes Map Energy Loss in Tarantula Nebula

A composite image from Chandra, Webb, and Hubble reveals how the Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud is shaped by young stars and energetic gas, offering new insight into star formation and nebular evolution

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Pentagon's UAP Data Releases Mark Shift in Official Transparency

Recent Pentagon releases of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) files, supported by NASA and advisory experts, signal a new phase in government transparency and data sharing on unexplained aerial observations

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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

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Blue Origin Expands Cape Canaveral Site for New Glenn 9x4 Rocket

Blue Origin is rebuilding its Cape Canaveral launch complex after a New Glenn rocket explosion, while also constructing a second pad and new facilities to support the larger New Glenn 9x4 variant still in development

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Artemis II Astronauts Reflect on Orion's Moon Mission and Next Steps

NASA's Artemis II crew discussed their 10-day lunar flyby, Orion spacecraft performance, and upcoming mission challenges at a public event in Colorado, highlighting both technical lessons and international collaboration

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