NASA

NASA Astronaut Chris Williams Returns to Earth After 241 Days on ISS

NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian cosmonauts have safely landed in Kazakhstan after completing a 241-day science mission aboard the International Space Station.

Science · 581 words

NASA's Roman Telescope Will Spot Distant Black Holes That Shred Stars

A new study suggests the Roman Space Telescope will track star-shredding events to help researchers determine how supermassive black holes formed in the early universe.

Science · 590 words

The 25 Best James Webb Space Telescope Photos - PetaPixel

Marking four years of operations, the James Webb Space Telescope has used its infrared capabilities to transform our understanding of the universe.

Science · 504 words

Enceladus ocean contains life-sparking energy and essential molecules

New research indicates Enceladus possesses a high-energy chemical environment and hydrothermal activity, suggesting its ocean could support biological life.

Science · 532 words

NASA seeks volunteers for yearlong Moon and Mars mission simulation

NASA has launched a search for volunteers to inhabit simulated deep-space environments at the Johnson Space Center. This initiative aims to validate essential hardware and health protocols for future lunar and Martian expeditions.

Science · 526 words

Artemis II astronauts reunite with their spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center

NASA and CSA astronauts returned to the Kennedy Space Center to inspect the Integrity capsule following their historic 252,756-mile lunar mission.

Science · 630 words

NASA to conduct first controlled fire experiment on the lunar surface

NASA's Flammability of Materials on the Moon experiment will analyze combustion in partial gravity to inform safety standards for future lunar habitats.

Science · 576 words

Perseverance rover finds record concentrations of organic carbon on Mars

The discovery of complex organic molecules in Martian mudstones provides a chemical foundation for life, though scientists debate if the origin is biotic or abiotic.

Science · 734 words

Earth reaches annual aphelion as farthest point from the Sun

Earth has reached its annual farthest point from the Sun, highlighting the role of axial tilt over orbital distance in creating seasons.

Science · 663 words

Rice and NASA launch world's first open-source space robotics simulator

This high-fidelity digital twin allows developers to test robotic software for use in future lunar habitats and space vehicles. The platform aims to offload routine maintenance tasks from human crews to autonomous or remotely operated robots.

Science · 662 words

NASA Perseverance rover identifies complex organic carbon in Martian rocks

The Perseverance rover detected macromolecular carbon within rock formations at Jezero Crater, offering evidence of ancient chemical processes on Mars.

Science · 554 words

NASA's Hubble Captures a Stunning Red, White, and Blue Stellar Nursery

Hubble has captured images of the LH 95 stellar nursery, revealing how massive blue stars and crimson gas shape the ongoing processes of star formation.

Science · 631 words

Hubble captures stellar nursery LH 95 in Large Magellanic Cloud

New high-resolution imagery of LH 95 provides a rare, unobstructed view of star formation, showing how massive blue giants shape their cosmic environment.

Science · 673 words

NASA opens applications for yearlong Mars and Moon mission simulation

NASA has opened applications for a yearlong analog mission designed to simulate the challenges of deep space travel at the Johnson Space Center. Volunteers will reside in specialized habitats to help the agency develop health and psychological protocols for future lunar and Mars expeditions.

Science · 661 words

NASA releases red, white and blue space images for America’s 250th birthday

NASA has unveiled a collection of space imagery and audio sonifications rendered in red, white, and blue to mark the United States' 250th anniversary. The project features four celestial objects captured by the Chandra X-ray Observatory and other space and ground-based telescopes.

Science · 604 words

Webb Telescope captures star formation in FS Tau region

New infrared imagery from the James Webb Space Telescope offers a look at the birth of stars within the dust-shrouded FS Tau region. These findings provide evidence that protostars accumulate mass through discrete, energetic episodes rather than steady growth.

Science · 574 words

Rescue mission launches to save NASA telescope that’s falling back to Earth

Katalyst Space Technologies has deployed its Link spacecraft to perform a robotic rescue of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. The mission seeks to prevent the telescope from burning up in Earth's atmosphere by boosting it to a higher, stable orbit.

Science · 572 words

NASA's Hubble Spots Star-Spangled Cosmic Scene

To commemorate the U.S. 250th anniversary, NASA has released a high-resolution image of the massive Messier 3 globular cluster containing 500,000 stars.

Science · 523 words

NASA launches Link spacecraft to rescue falling Swift telescope

Katalyst Space Technologies launched the Link spacecraft to stabilize the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, which is losing altitude due to solar activity.

Science · 647 words

NASA launches robotic mission to rescue Swift observatory from orbit decay

A robotic spacecraft is attempting an unprecedented salvage mission to rescue the decaying Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from atmospheric reentry. This high-risk effort marks the first time an American robotic craft will attempt to service an uncrewed U.S. government satellite.

Science · 646 words

NASA mission to rescue Swift space telescope delayed by launch problem

A mission to boost the aging Swift gamma-ray telescope's orbit has been paused following a failure to deploy the rocket. NASA is evaluating if a secondary launch attempt is feasible.

Science · 539 words

NASA TESS mission identifies first exoplanet using gravitational microlensing

NASA's TESS satellite has successfully utilized gravitational microlensing to discover a super-Jupiter 40,000 light-years away, marking an evolution in its capabilities.

Science · 611 words

NASA selects Astrobotic Intuitive Machines Firefly

NASA has selected three aerospace companies to develop lunar landers for a series of missions aimed at establishing a sustained human presence on the moon.

Science · 557 words

New Horizons data confirms solar wind slows in the outer heliosphere

New Horizons data reveals a measurable deceleration of the solar wind as it interacts with interstellar gas. This research helps clarify the heliosphere's protective boundary and its role in shielding the solar system.

Science · 620 words

NASA to launch robotic mission to rescue Swift observatory from orbit decay

NASA has contracted Katalyst Space Technologies to perform a robotic rescue of the Swift telescope, which is experiencing rapid orbital decay. The mission aims to prevent the satellite's reentry and preserve its ability to study cosmic events.

Science · 595 words

NASA launches robotic mission to boost Swift telescope to higher orbit

NASA has contracted Katalyst Space Technologies to perform an autonomous rescue of the aging Swift telescope, which is losing altitude due to solar activity. The mission aims to demonstrate in-orbit maintenance and extend the lifespan of critical scientific assets.

Science · 593 words

Astronomers identify largest and lowest density super-puff exoplanets yet

Researchers have identified a pair of exceptionally low-density gas giants that defy existing astronomical theories regarding how massive planets form. These super-puff worlds, located 1,110 light-years away, possess vast radii despite having only a small fraction of Jupiter's mass.

Science · 581 words

Astronomers found two rare super puff planets lighter than cotton candy

Researchers have identified two giant exoplanets with densities comparable to shaving foam, marking them as some of the lightest worlds ever discovered. These rare super-puffs challenge existing models regarding how giant planets form.

Science · 462 words

NASA names Cal Poly winner of 2026 Human Lander Challenge for lunar tech

NASA named California Polytechnic State University the winner of the 2026 Human Lander Challenge for their project advancing life support technologies.

Science · 404 words

NASA PACE satellite tracks wildfire smoke and vegetation health

Originally designed for ocean observation, NASA's PACE satellite is providing new insights into terrestrial fire tracking and atmospheric smoke plumes. The mission uses hyperspectral instruments to assess vegetation stress and map burn scars.

Science · 523 words