Crew Change Delayed on the International Space Station

Medicine & Technology May 13, 2015

Following the failed launch of a Russian resupply rocket, NASA and its space agency partners have decided to delay the return of three astronauts from the International Space Station.

New Horizons Captures First Glimpse at Pluto’s Faintest Moons

May 13, 2015

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has taken the first ever family portrait of Pluto and all of its moons, including the faintest of its known moons.

From the Surface of Jupiter's Moon—Europa Reveals Icy Glass

May 13, 2015

The European Space Agency (ESA) has just published a striking picture of Europa, Jupiter's icy moon. In the image the surface looks like shattered glass; it reveals many interlocking cracks in the moon's icy crust which were formed by an ocean below the moon's surface. Now a team from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) led by planetary scientist Kevin Hand has identified the cracks as sea salt.

Giant Asteroid to Pass Close to the Earth

May 12, 2015

An asteroid that is approximately one-mile wide will come very close to the Earth on May 14, according to NASA’s Near Earth Object watch. While an asteroid of this size would be cataclysmic if it hit the Earth, this one will pass safely by.

Getting to the Core of MESSENGER's Research—Mercury Reveals A Liquid Core

May 12, 2015

NASA's Messenger spacecraft orbited Mercury for four years, and in that time it collected a wealth of data and images as it mapped the planet's gravitational field. Now scientists have announced that Mercury's magnetic field is four million years old.

JPL Tech In Space And On Ground Helps Save Lives After Disaster

May 09, 2015

Technology from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) helped search-and-rescue teams find and save four men buried in rubble following the Nepal Earthquake. FINDER, a device no larger than a carry-on suitcase weighing less than 20 pounds, detected the heartbeats of the victims through 10 feet of wood, mud, and brick.

NASA Wants Your Ideas for a Mars Colony

May 08, 2015

Mars is seen as the next frontier for humans. Ever since astronauts first walked on the Moon in 1969, scientists and space enthusiasts alike have dreamed of one day exploring the Red Planet. While we work on new rockets to get us to Mars, scientists are already hard at work thinking about how to build a sustainable colony on Mars. What do we need to survive? That’s the question NASA is asking the public in its latest competition.

Finding Signs of Life From Space—NASA Rescues Few in Nepal

May 08, 2015

After days of being pinned beneath up to 10 feet of rubble, four men were rescued in Nepal thanks to NASA search-and-rescue technology. This marks the first real-world use of NASA's advanced sensing technology.

Finding Signs of Life From Space—NASA Rescues Few in Nepal

May 08, 2015

After days of being pinned beneath up to 10 feet of rubble, four men were rescued in Nepal thanks to NASA search-and-rescue technology. This marks the first real-world use of NASA's advanced sensing technology.

Data from NASA’s Messenger Probe Reveals New Information About Mercury’s Magnetic Field

May 08, 2015

While NASA's Messenger Probe may be gone, having crashed into the surface of Mercury, the data it collected is still providing scientists with a wealth of knowledge on the planet that is closest to our Sun. According to data sent back from Messenger, the magnetic field of the little planet is almost four billion years old.

Future of Spaceflight Could Rest in the Hands of the Private Sector

May 07, 2015

NASA is increasing its reliance on the private sector for its space exploration endeavors and many companies are now capitalizing on the future of space travel thanks to an evolving partnership with U.S. space agency.

NASA Giving Away $29K To Someone Who Can Figure Out How To Protect Astronauts

May 06, 2015

Space radiation is one of the biggest problems that NASA faces if it wants to one day send humans to Mars. In a recent study, scientists found that exposure to this radiation can cause brain damage, meaning that astronauts making the journey may be unable to perform their duties once they arrive at the Red Planet. In an effort to come up with new ideas, NASA is offering prizes of up to $29,000 for anyone’s novel design concept that could keep crew members safe.

NASA Video Shows Giant Solar Filament Exploding from the Sun

May 06, 2015

A new video has been released by NASA that shows our very own Sun sending out a giant solar filament, extending its visible hemisphere by close to half. The incident occurred last week and demonstrates the raw power and influence the Sun has on Earth and the rest of the solar system.

NASA’s Charles Bolden Discusses Why “Mars Matters”

May 06, 2015

NASA Administrator and senior science advisor to President Obama, Charles Bolden told attendees at The Humans to Mars Summit in Washington that "Mars matters."

SpaceX Preps for Test of Dragon Capsule

May 05, 2015

The Dragon Capsule, a commercial spacecraft designed by SpaceX to ferry U.S. astronauts into orbit by 2017 is set for a major test on Wednesday, when the private space company plans to blast the capsule away from the launch mount at Cape Canaveral on a mile-high demo flight designed to test the craft's ability to protect occupants in the event of a catastrophic rocket failure on the pad.