Jupiter is known for its stunning light shows, and they are much more impressive than what we see on Earth. These lights, called auroras, are caused by high-energy particles from space hitting the planet's atmosphere near its magnetic poles. Jupiter's strong magnetic field makes these lights even brighter. This field also captures particles from the volcanoes on its ...
The moon is back in the spotlight, with new efforts pushing for regular exploration and discovery. These missions, driven by private companies, are all about landing safely and delivering important scientific tools. The goal is to answer big questions about our lunar neighbor. These missions are part of a broader push to make space exploration more affordable and acc...
NASA is making big strides with its Artemis 2 moon mission. The massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is taking shape inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Technicians recently added the rocket's second stage, known as the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS). This stage is crucial for pushing the Orion spacecraft and ...
The White House has unveiled a budget proposal for 2026 that could significantly alter NASA's trajectory. This proposal aims to reduce the agency's funding by nearly 25% from the previous year. This cut is a big deal because it could change how NASA operates and what it focuses on. The budget proposal has some big changes in store. It suggests phasing out the Sp...
Jupiter is a giant planet with some of the most extreme weather in our solar system. It has massive cyclones, powerful jet streams, and intense radiation belts. The Juno spacecraft has been exploring Jupiter and its moon Io, providing new insights into these extreme conditions. Juno's latest findings come from its microwave radiometer, which can see through Jupite...
People have been going to space for a long time now. Since the year 2000, there have been 162 missions. These include flights on the Space Shuttle, Russian Soyuz missions, Chinese astronauts' first trips, and even commercial trips on SpaceX's Dragon capsule. There were also privately funded suborbital flights by Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. Last week, Blue Origi...
The space community is buzzing with excitement for April 20, 2025. That's the day NASA's Lucy spacecraft will have a close encounter with the asteroid Donaldjohanson. This event is more than just a flyby. It's a crucial test for Lucy's instruments. The spacecraft will pass by Donaldjohanson at a distance of about 620 miles (1, 000 kilometers). This is not just a...
The James Webb Space Telescope is a big deal. It cost a whopping 10 billion dollars. That is a lot of money. Even when spread over many years, it still takes up a large part of NASA's yearly science budget. The recent cuts to NASA's budget make this even more true. But is it worth it? That is a tough question. The James Webb Space Telescope is not the first of...
Women are still underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. This is a well-known fact. But why is that? Some people think it's because STEM isn't "girly" enough. This idea was recently highlighted when a female astronaut talked about wanting to make space travel more glamorous. The astronaut, Katy, shared her thoughts with a magazin...
Jared Isaacman, a wealthy businessman and space enthusiast, is set to face the Senate. He is up for the big job of leading NASA. This event is happening on April 9, 2025. The hearing will be live-streamed, so anyone can watch it online. This is a big deal because Isaacman has already made history in space. He was the first private citizen to conduct a spacewalk. He...