NASA News (Breaking)
Official NASA news feed providing updates on launches, missions, discoveries, and agency programs.
Earthset
On April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew photographed Earth setting behind the Moon’s far side during their historic lunar flyby. The astronauts recorded detailed views of terraced craters, ancient lava flows, and surface ridges, noting variations in color, brightness, and texture that reveal the Moon’s composition. The striking image echoes the iconic 1968 Apollo 8 Earthrise, linking past and present crewed lunar missions. NASA has posted the full set of images on its Artemis II multimedia portal.
NASA to Host Media Call with Artemis II Crew on Way Home From Moon
NASA will host a 20‑minute virtual media call on April 8 at 9:45 p.m. EDT with the Artemis II crew as they travel back toward Earth. The conference, streamed on NASA’s YouTube channel, requires on‑site journalists to RSVP by 1 p.m. that day. Artemis II,...
The Near Side of the Moon
NASA’s Orion spacecraft captured a high‑resolution view of the Moon’s near side on April 4, 2026, highlighting dark basaltic lava flows that are exclusive to this hemisphere. The image was taken by the Artemis II crew—Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and CSA...
NASA Names Scientists to Support Lunar South Pole Science
NASA has appointed ten scientists to the Artemis lunar surface science team, tasking them with shaping the mission’s scientific agenda at the Moon’s South Pole. The group will work alongside the existing geology team led by Noah Petro and Padi...
NextSTEP-3 E: Network Extension for User Continuity and Sustainability (NEXUS) Ka-Band Backward-Compatible Relay Broad
NASA announced a new Broad Agency Announcement under the NextSTEP‑3 program to fund Project NEXUS, a Ka‑band backward‑compatible relay system. The initiative aims to replace the aging Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) network with an end‑to‑end service lasting at...
March 2026 Satellite Puzzler
NASA’s Earth Observatory has launched its March 2026 Satellite Puzzler, a monthly challenge that presents a cryptic satellite image for the public to identify. The image shows green terrain interspersed with brown, uneven oval formations and invites participants to pinpoint...
Computational Modeling of Failure at the Fabric Weave Level in Reentry Parachute Energy Modulators
NASA researchers developed a high‑fidelity computational model of re‑entry parachute energy modulators (EM) at the fabric‑weave level using LS‑DYNA. The model represents each Kevlar and nylon thread as solid elements and includes a Python script that replicates the unit stitch...
Expanding the Human Factors Toolbox: An Approach to Balancing Crew and Mission Design Parameters
NASA’s Human Factors team has created a quantitative methodology to guide crew‑size decisions for future crewed Mars missions. The approach adapts Department of Defense manpower models and introduces four human‑performance models that evaluate EVA support, robotic arm operation, transit workload,...
COPV Damage Tolerance Life Demonstration Guidelines
NASA's NESC released new guidelines for damage‑tolerance life demonstration of composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). The guidance aligns with AIAA S‑081 and NASA‑STD‑5019, applying a four‑times life factor to ensure detectable cracks remain subcritical throughout service. It outlines procedures for...
Celebrating NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s 20th Anniversary: Crater Near Sirenum Fossae
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter celebrated its 20th anniversary by releasing a high‑resolution image of a relatively fresh impact crater near Sirenum Fossae. The crater, captured on June 3 2015, displays a sharp rim, well‑preserved ejecta and steep gullied walls that may host...
Flammability Testing Configuration and Approach of Barrier MaterialAssemblies Designed for Space Flight Applications
NASA’s Engineering and Safety Center teamed with Johnson Space Center, White Sands Test Facility, and Marshall Space Flight Center to create a dedicated flammability test for barrier material assemblies. The test evaluates how effectively these barriers can isolate a cabin...
Webb Studies Cranium Nebula
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured Nebula PMR 1, nicknamed the “Exposed Cranium” nebula, in near‑infrared light, emphasizing its uncanny brain‑like shape within a transparent skull. The image shows an outer hydrogen‑rich shell and a structured inner cloud separated by a...
NASA Astronauts to Answer Questions From Students in New York
NASA will host a live Earth‑to‑space Q&A with astronauts Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams aboard the International Space Station. The session, scheduled for 12:05 p.m. EDT on March 11, will be streamed on the Learn With NASA YouTube channel and organized by the...
NASA Wallops Supports First Rocket Lab HASTE Launch of 2026
NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility provided tracking, telemetry and range‑safety services for Rocket Lab’s HASTE suborbital launch on Feb. 27, 2026. The mission, dubbed Cassowary Vex, carried a hypersonic test platform for the Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit. This was the first...
Artemis II: What’s on the Menu?
NASA has finalized a shelf‑stable menu for Artemis II, the first crewed flight around the Moon, ensuring all meals are safe, nutrient‑dense, and ready‑to‑eat without refrigeration or resupply. The menu was co‑developed with the astronauts, who sampled and ranked each item...
