Curiosity Blog, Sols 4975-4981: Happy 14th Landing Anniversary
By Susanne P. Schwenzer, Professor of Planetary Mineralogy at The Open University, UK Earth planning date: Friday, Aug. 7, 2026 This week was very special for the Curiosity team here on Earth as we
NASA Selects Companies to Provide Payload Processing Services
NASA has selected four companies to provide payload processing facilities under the Spacecraft Processing Operations Contract on‑ramp provision. The provision enables qualified providers to offer
NASA Mission Studies Air Pollution Over Ethiopia
A NASA-funded air pollution monitoring network has provided one of the most detailed long-term views yet of the role of black carbon, or soot produced by fires, diesel vehicles, and other combustion
Next Generation of Planetary Scientists Learn Public Engagement Skills
The NASA Science Mission Directorate Community of Practice for Education – part of the NASA Science Activation Program portfolio – enables Earth and Space Science and Engineering Subject Matter
Colorful Collage of Tarantula Nebula
Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, and NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope combine to reveal a vibrant view of 30 Doradus, or the Tarantula Nebula, in this Aug.
NSF announces $1.5B for foundational research to drive scientific breakthroughs for American technological leadership
The U.S. National Science Foundation today released 12 new notices of funding opportunity providing over $1.5 billion for foundational research, including basic and use-inspired inquiry across the
Hubble Solves Merger Mystery From Milky Way’s Early Years
Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, grew to its current size in part by consuming smaller galaxies. Now, new data from NASA’sHubble Space Telescopeshows definitive evidence of a dwarf galaxy merging
NASA Challenge Tests Wheel Designs for Moon Base Mobility
As NASA prepares to establish the Moon Base, advancing surface mobility will be key to helping crews and robotic systems travel farther across the lunar surface. To help advance that capability, the
Summer Triangle Corner: Deneb
Bird constellations abound in the night sky, including Cygnus, the majestic swan. Easy to find with its dazzling stars, it is one of the few constellations that look like its namesake, and it is
Chasing Fire Clouds in Utah
Scientists have long known that volcanoes can launch large quantities of particles into thestratosphere. In the past few decades, it has become clear that wildfires do this, too, by generating
APOD: 2026 August 17 – A Golden Corona Eclipse
Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Explanation:This total solar
APOD: 2026 August 16 – Milky Way over Yellowstone
Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Explanation:The Milky Way
APOD: 2026 August 15 – Bright Perseids from Sweden
Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Explanation:Known for its
NASA Competition Invites Students to Help Imagine a Future Enabled by Lunar Technologies
NASA is asking U.S.-based collegiate teams to submit bold, original concepts to the 2027 edition of a student challenge focused on aerospace innovation that could help the agency envision a future on
NASA Announces MAX POWER: America’s Newest Aerospace Expo, Airshow
In honor of America’s historic 250th anniversary, NASA announced on Friday MAX POWER, a public exposition of American air and space innovation, Nov. 7 and Nov. 8, on and near the agency’s Kennedy
Volunteer Develops Machine-Learning Tool to Identify Rare Clouds
Certain kinds of clouds are misbehaving – appearing more often and lower in the sky than they used to. To help identify the factors influencing these changes, scientists have asked people around the
NASA’s COFFIES Uses AI to Predict Storm-Causing Active Regions on Sun
As humanity looks to the Moon and stars for future exploration, predicting space weather — conditions in space primarily driven by the Sun — is more important than ever. Now, a team of
NSF announces $83M investment in integrated data systems and services to advance AI-driven science and strengthen U.S. research infrastructure
The U.S. National Science Foundation today announced $83 million in awards through the Integrated Data Systems and Services program . The awards will expand access to data infrastructure resources
New NSF initiative aims to unlock dataset value for AI-enabled scientific discovery
The U.S. National Science Foundation announced the NSF Unlocking Dataset Value for AI-Enabled Scientific Discovery program , a new investment to advance scientific community datasets and enable
NSF announces first awards to advance AI and cybersecurity education and workforce development through CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service Program
The U.S. National Science Foundation's Directorate for STEM Education today announced the inaugural awards under the CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service program, representing a major expansion of
NSF partners with universities and industry on pilot initiative for four-year Ph.D. programs with real-world research placements
The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a $47 million investment over five years, along with additional financial commitments from nearly three dozen universities and private industry, to launch
Building the future, atom by atom — NSF deploys $108M for materials science at 6 research centers
The U.S. National Science Foundation is pushing materials science beyond the state-of-the-art with an investment of $108 million in six advanced research centers. The centers will explore a broad
NSF stands up 2 Materials Innovation Platforms with $50M investment
The U.S. National Science Foundation is investing $50 million in research infrastructure to enable the discovery and development of materials that can withstand extreme conditions, from lightweight
New NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs will power AI-enabled scientific research across the country
The U.S. National Science Foundation announced the NSF State and Regional Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Hubs program, a $100 million initiative to drive AI-enabled scientific discovery and
Savannah River Site History 1950-1989
The Savannah River Site was constructed during the early 1950s to produce the basic materials used in the fabrication of nuclear weapons, primarily tritium and plutonium-239, in support of our
Savannah River Site History 1990-Present
The Savannah River Site was constructed during the early 1950s to produce the basic materials used in the fabrication of nuclear weapons, primarily tritium and plutonium-239, in support of our
Solar Achievements Timeline
In 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office was tasked with achieving the goals of the SunShot Initiative: to drive down the cost of solar electricity to be fully
A Sunflower’s View of Totality
Skywatchers across a swath of northern Spain witnessed a total solar eclipse when the Moon lined up directly between the Sun and Earth on August 12, 2026. Those within the path of totality had the
APOD: 2026 August 14 – Total Solar Eclipse from Greenland
Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Explanation:On August 12,
NASA’s 737 Reveals New Paint
NASA’s 737 aircraft was painted this week in Oklahoma as it progresses with modifications for use as a reduced gravity test aircraft for the agency. NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in
For West Virginia Engineer, Home Is Where the Heart Is… and NASA, Too
Growing up in Grafton, West Virginia, engrossed in Star Wars and all things science fiction, Fletcher Newell had an early interest in space exploration. That interest only grew when, in 2013, his
Cascade Volcanoes Shrouded in Smoke
In a contrast of fire and ice, smoke from wildland fires mingled with several of the Cascade Range’s prominent, glaciated volcanoes in summer 2026. Astronauts on the International Space Station
APOD: 2026 August 13 – Total Solar Eclipse Over Spain
Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Explanation:On August 12th,
NASA Data Helps Commercial Space Plan Living Off Our Moon
The barren lunar landscape has some important resources, such as water and minerals like iron and titanium, but extracting and processing them will require special equipment. Where those resources
NASA Upgrades Vertical Motion Simulator for Modern Mission Needs
Imagine stepping into a machine that can make you feel like you’re flying a spacecraft, piloting a next generation air taxi, or landing on the Moon, all without leaving the ground. NASA’s Vertical
NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke Leaves NASA, Career Includes 4 Spaceflights
Throughout his career, he flew four missions, spent 549 days in space, and completed nine spacewalks in support of the International Space Station. “Few people have had the opportunity to shape as
APOD: 2026 August 12 – Perseids over a Little Planet
Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Explanation:It looks like a
Pursuing a Dream of Working for NASA
Her dream is now a reality as she embarks on her role as a NASA test project engineer with the Artemis launch team – an integral part of the agency’s missions that will enable humans to return to the
Quality Assessment Report Evaluates Polar Geospatial Center EarthDEM Elevation Products
A new quality assessment report from NASA’s Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition program evaluates data from the Polar Geospatial Center’sEarthDEMproduct. The results of the evaluation help inform
Stops Along the Path of Totality
When this celestial event last occurred, on April 8, 2024, the path of totalitystretched across North America, giving millions the chance to glimpse the Sun’s corona. In 2026, the viewing locales
What Is the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope?
This article is for students grades 5-8. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is NASA’s newest astrophysics observatory. The telescope will scan large sections of space. Roman will help
NASA Completes Astronaut-Deployed Science Instrument for Lunar Surface
NASA has declared “wrenches down” on the first completed payload designed for Artemis astronauts to deploy on the Moon’s surface. Engineers working on NASA’s Lunar Environment Monitoring Station, or
NASA Telescopes Create Colorful ‘Craft’ From Nearby Nebula
Like a collage made of layered sheets of colored cellophane, a vibrant new image layers observations of a famous star-forming nebula from NASA space telescopes. The resulting cosmic “craft” reveals
NASA Shares Station Research Today Supporting Moon, Mars Tomorrow
The International Space Station has been busy throughout 2026, as it continues to be a bustling workspace for astronauts conducting a variety of scientific experiments that lay the groundwork for
Building the Moon Base: NASA Stories at the Ion
As NASA prepares to return astronauts to the lunar surface for longer stays and increasingly complex operations, building the Moon Basewill require new ideas, advanced technologies, and expertise
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4968-4974: Rock Climbing Towards the Discontinuity
Written by Lucy Lim, Planetary Scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Earth planning date: Friday, July 31, 2026 As mentioned inthe previous blog, Curiosity has been exploring a
Bountiful Roebuck Bay
Tides are among the clearest signs of the Moon’s pull on Earth. Just239,000 miles away, the Moon’sgravitypulls on Earth’soceansandsolid crust, subtly distorting them into a more oblong shape
APOD: 2026 August 11 – Six Moons of Saturn
Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Explanation:How many moons
Community College Instructors Bring Astronomy Textbook Into 21st Century
Teaching the beautiful and inspirational science of astronomy using only the conceptual framework offered by a traditional textbook – without incorporating the wealth of incredible resources, images
NASA+ Debuts on discovery+, Coming Soon to HBO Max
As NASA+ continues its expansion across multiple streaming platforms to bring space closer to home, NASA announced Monday programming is next heading to discovery+ and HBO Max. A continuous live