NASA

Jan 08 2025SCIENCE

NASA's Next Mars Mission: A Waiting Game for Trump's Decision

NASA is planning to bring Martian rocks back to Earth, but they haven't finalized their plan yet. Instead, they're leaving the big decision up to the incoming President, Donald J. Trump. The mission, called Mars Sample Return, was initially estimated to cost up to $11 billion, but NASA has found way

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Dec 30 2024SCIENCE

Jimmy Carter and NASA's Turning Point

Back in 1977, President Jimmy Carter was having some beef with NASA. He thought the space shuttle program was just a way to keep the agency alive, not a genuine need. Despite his skepticism, Carter ended up saving the space shuttle project, which became one of NASA's most famous vehicles. Plus, his

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Dec 25 2024SCIENCE

Moving Forward with Space: Senate Bill for NASA’s Future

Imagine this: a Senate bill is on the table, directing NASA to shift its focus towards commercial space stations and to tackle cost overruns in science missions. This bill, introduced by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash. ) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), looks to speed up the development of commercial space

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Dec 25 2024SCIENCE

New Face for NASA's Lunar and Martian Missions

NASA has appointed Carlos Garcia-Galan, a seasoned space professional, as the deputy manager of its Gateway program. This initiative is crucial for the Artemis mission, aiming to return humans to the moon and eventually set a path for Mars exploration. Garcia-Galan, who hails from Spain, brings a wh

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Dec 25 2024SCIENCE

Mars Lander's Quiet Legacy: InSight's Dusty End

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured new images of the InSight lander in October 2024. Even though InSight is no longer active, it's still teaching scientists about Mars. The lander, which stopped working in late 2022 due to dust on its solar panels, is now a dusty spot on the Martian s

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Dec 25 2024SCIENCE

Suni Williams' Space Stay Extended: Concerns Grow

Astronaut Suni Williams, 59, has been in space since June, and her return home has been delayed twice. Recently, NASA shared a photo of Williams and her colleague, astronaut Don Pettit, wearing Santa hats during the holidays. Many people expressed concern about their well-being, as Williams and her

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Dec 25 2024SCIENCE

Moon Mission: Firefly's Blue Ghost and NASA's Big Payload

In January, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander will set off for the moon, carrying a record number of NASA payloads. This mission, dubbed Ghost Riders in the Sky, is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. It aims to explore the moon's surface and environment using

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Dec 23 2024SCIENCE

NASA's Parker Solar Probe: A Sun-Touching Adventure

Get ready for an exciting space adventure! NASA's Parker Solar Probe is about to set a new record. On Christmas Eve, it will zoom closer to the Sun than any human-made object has before. This isn't just a quick flyby; it's part of a series of close approaches, called perihelions, that will happen un

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Dec 23 2024SCIENCE

NASA's Solar Mission Pushed Back: IMAP and Rideshares Affected

NASA just hit the pause button on its Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission. The spacecraft, initially set for a spring 2025 launch, will now lift off no earlier than September. Why the delay? NASA needs more time to prep the flight systems. This isn't the first time IMAP's laun

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Dec 21 2024TECHNOLOGY

Axiom's Space Station: Launching Sooner Than Expected

Did you know that Axiom Space is shaking things up? They've changed their plan for building their commercial space station. By sending the modules in a new order, they can start using a free-flying platform as early as 2028! That's two years ahead of their original plan. Axiom Space has a deal with

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