Starliner, the spacecraft designed for human missions, has been grounded for over six months. NASA and Boeing are still figuring out if the next flight will carry astronauts or just cargo. The decision is far from finalized. The next launch is not expected until late this year or more likely in 2026. The space agency has a lot on its plate. Extensive testing of Star...
The journey of two astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, took an unexpected turn this week. They returned from the International Space Station after an extended stay of 286 days, far longer than their initial eight-day mission. The mission faced numerous challenges, including issues with the Boeing Starliner vehicle they used to reach the station. Problems lik...
Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur, is in the running to lead NASA. He's not your typical space agency head. He's a businessman, a pilot, and has even commanded two big space missions. A group of nearly 30 former NASA astronauts think he's the right person for the job. They sent a letter to the Senate, urging them to consider his nomination quickly. These as...
In a significant shift, Bill Nelson stepped down from his post as NASA administrator on January 20, 2021. This date marked the end of the Biden Administration and the start of Donald Trump's second term as president. Nelson, a long-time public servant with a career spanning over five decades, took to social media to express his gratitude. "Thank you for the great pri...
Picture this: President Trump wins another term. NASA might see some major changes. The Artemis mission, aimed at getting humans back to the moon, could get a whole new makeover. Big rockets like the Space Launch System, built for moon trips, might also change. Earth science projects could see budget cuts. Some folks even suggest skipping the moon and heading straigh...
Imagine being able to create your own solar eclipse, whenever you want. That's what scientists are hoping to do with two satellites launched by the European Space Agency. These spacecraft, part of the Proba-3 mission, are designed to work together in perfect harmony, like a well-choreographed dance. The goal? To understand the sun better by studying its hot, mysterio...
Ever wondered how space travel affects astronauts' brains? It turns out, long missions have some interesting effects. Recently, NASA scientists checked how 25 astronauts' brains handled six months on the International Space Station (ISS). They used a special test called the "cognition battery" to see how tasks like memory, focus, and decision-making changed. The goo...
Two tiny spacecraft called cubesats, Juventas and Milani, have sent messages back to Earth saying they're doing just fine. They're on a journey to meet up with a pair of asteroids called Didymos and Dimorphos. Last year, NASA's DART mission crashed into Dimorphos to test if we could change an asteroid's path. Now, the European Space Agency's Hera mission is checking ...
Wally Schirra was a pioneering astronaut who made history by flying on three different NASA space missions: Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. Born into a family with a love for aviation, Schirra's journey began in 1945 when he graduated from the US Naval Academy. After serving in the military, he became a test pilot and eventually joined NASA's elite Mercury 7 group in 19...