NASA has unveiled a series of awards and mission updates aimed at expanding its lunar base exploration and scientific capabilities. These investments will support the development of commercial robotic delivery systems, a nuclear-powered rover, and crucial surface infrastructure. The initiatives are part of a broader effort to establish a permanent human outpost at the Moon’s South Pole.

8 November 2026 · 1 min read

NASA's Science Mission Directorate has chosen 19 new proposals for citizen science projects in 2026, aiming to expand public involvement in scientific research. This initiative follows a year of significant achievements for volunteer-led science, including the discovery of numerous brown dwarfs and a major milestone in data classification. The funding reinforces NASA's commitment to collaborative and transparent scientific methods.

28 October 2026 · 2 min read

NASA research has provided a simplified framework for understanding how complex vibrational modes can emerge in structural systems, even when overall damping is low. The study details how the interaction between closely spaced modal frequencies, coupled through nonproportional damping, leads to increasingly intricate mode shapes and decay-rate separation. This framework offers new insights into phenomena such as mode veering and eigenvalue coalescence in engineering applications.

13 October 2026 · 2 min read

The Spider Crater, a striking geological formation in Western Australia's Kimberley region, has been recently captured by the NASA-USGS Landsat 9 satellite. Its unusual spider-like appearance is the result of a ancient meteorite impact, followed by millions of years of natural erosion. Geologists believe the distinct pattern is a remnant of the crater's central uplift.

13 October 2026 · 1 min read

Astronomers have identified a distinctive chemical clue in data from the NASA Hubble Space Telescope, indicating the potential presence of a second-generation planet orbiting the white dwarf star HS 0209+0832. This discovery suggests a planet could have formed from the material ejected by its host star after it exhausted its nuclear fuel. The chemical composition of such a planet would differ significantly from those formed alongside their parent stars.

6 October 2026 · 1 min read

NASA's INSPYRE campaign has spent weeks across western North America studying pyrocumulonimbus clouds (pyroCbs), a powerful weather phenomenon spawned by intense wildfires. These fire-driven clouds can inject smoke high into the stratosphere, influencing atmospheric conditions across continents. The research aims to understand their formation and global impact.

2 October 2026 · 1 min read

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is offering scientists a deeper understanding of intense, planet-shattering collisions within young stellar systems, known as extreme debris disks. These observations are vital for comprehending the tumultuous early history of our own solar system and the origins of celestial bodies like Earth and its Moon.

1 October 2026 · 2 min read

Scientists conducting airborne research over the Sand Creek wildfire in Montana in August 2026 captured images of a rare pileus cloud. This distinctive, veil-like cloud formed atop a pyrocumulus, or fire cloud, indicating exceptionally vigorous atmospheric convection. The observation provides valuable data for understanding the intense atmospheric dynamics generated by large wildfires.

29 September 2026 · 2 min read

The Republic of San Marino has become the 76th signatory to the NASA-led Artemis Accords, an international agreement outlining principles for peaceful and responsible space exploration. The signing ceremony, held in Rimini, saw San Marino's Minister of Industry and Technological Research Rossano Fabbri formalise the nation's commitment to the lunar exploration framework.

25 September 2026 · 2 min read

NASA has allocated $10.5 million to seven organisations nationwide through its new State Hubs initiative. Space Florida's Project ORBIT, a key recipient, focuses on preparing middle and high school students in Florida for careers in skilled trades and advanced industries. This effort seeks to boost enrolment in technical programmes and connect trained workers with aerospace employers.

16 September 2026 · 1 min read

NASA has successfully launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Florida. The flagship mission, now on a million-mile journey, is designed to probe cosmic history and investigate phenomena such as dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets using its advanced infrared vision.

3 September 2026 · 2 min read

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is preparing for an August 30 launch from Florida, with scientists anticipating a major leap in the discovery of distant worlds. The mission, named after pioneering astronomer Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, will also investigate the mysteries of dark energy and dark matter, alongside a broad range of astrophysics research.

27 August 2026 · 3 min read

A discarded segment of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is believed to have crashed into the Moon, creating a new impact crater. Scientists are observing the rare collision as an opportunity to study lunar geology and the growing challenge posed by space debris.

5 August 2026 · 2 min read

Astronomers operating from Death Valley Observatories in Nevada last month captured a striking image of a meteor streak as it rapidly vaporised while traversing the night sky. The fleeting celestial event occurred during a long-exposure photograph of the Great Lacerta Nebula, offering scientists clues about the meteoroid's composition. The sighting coincides with a particularly active period for meteor showers, including the upcoming peak of the Perseids.

3 August 2026 · 1 min read

Interns at NASA's Johnson Space Center are actively participating in real-world space missions, applying their skills to advance human spaceflight. Their contributions range from scientific research to public outreach, preparing them for careers in the competitive aerospace sector. One intern, Macie Landon, is specifically focused on communicating the vision for humanity's first lunar base.

30 July 2026 · 1 min read

Residents in Canada's Okanagan region observed a rare crimson sun on July 22, 2026, with wildfire smoke from the Pacific Northwest transforming the star's usual appearance. The atmospheric conditions allowed for direct observation and photography, revealing prominent sunspots, including the active region AR 4493.

30 July 2026 · 2 min read

Zooniverse, the world's largest platform for online people-powered research and a NASA grantee, has announced that its global volunteers have collectively reached one billion classifications. This significant milestone underscores the impact of public participation in advancing scientific understanding, from discovering exoplanets to informing wildlife management decisions.

10 July 2026 · 2 min read

NASA has announced its 2025 Early Career Faculty (ECF) awards, providing funding to university researchers for projects critical to future space exploration. The grants focus on two key areas: developing advanced diagnostic tools for spacecraft atmospheric entry and pioneering machine learning methods for autonomous spacecraft guidance and control. These awards aim to foster innovation and talent in vital aerospace engineering fields.

10 July 2026 · 3 min read

NASA photographer Jim Ross flew an F-18 aircraft over Washington on July 4, 2026, as part of a ceremonial flyover marking America's 250th anniversary. The mission provided a rare aerial view of the nation's capital, with Ross capturing images from the F-18 originating from NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center.

10 July 2026 · 1 min read

NASA astronaut Anil Menon is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on Tuesday, July 14, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. He will be accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina aboard the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft. The trio will join the Expedition 74 crew to advance scientific research.

10 July 2026 · 1 min read

NASA's IXPE space telescope has for the first time directly measured the magnetic fields of the PSR J1101−6101 pulsar within the Lighthouse Nebula. This achievement provides new insights into extreme cosmic objects and confirms theories about high-energy particle escape, with findings published in the Astrophysical Journal.

9 July 2026 · 2 min read

Stargazers in July 2026 are set for a series of celestial events, including a striking pre-dawn alignment of the Moon, Mars, Saturn, and Uranus. The month will also provide prime viewing opportunities for Comet 10P/Tempel 2 and the Milky Way, particularly around the New Moon. Later in July, Saturn's distinctively thin rings will become a rewarding target for telescope users.

2 July 2026 · 1 min read

A first-of-its-kind mission will see a commercial robotic spacecraft, LINK, attempt to raise the orbit of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Launching from Kwajalein Atoll, the mission aims to prevent the uncrewed observatory from re-entering Earth's atmosphere later this year. If successful, it will mark a significant advancement in in-space servicing capabilities.

1 July 2026 · 2 min read

Astrophysicist Ray Jayawardhana has officially commenced his role as the tenth president of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). His appointment, announced on January 6, 2026, positions him to lead the prestigious institution and its management of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Dr. Jayawardhana has expressed his commitment to fostering 'blue-sky' ideas and ensuring Caltech's continued transformative impact on humanity.

1 July 2026 · 2 min read

The European Space Agency's Euclid telescope has released a new image of the Milky Way's core, captured on June 24, 2026. This observation is significant as it provides a preliminary snapshot of a region targeted for extensive study by NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, launching later this summer. The early data from Euclid is expected to offer a major advantage, enabling scientists to gain deeper insights when combined with future Roman observations.

27 June 2026 · 1 min read

Eric Fernandez, a telemetry engineer for NASA at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, plays a vital role in receiving data from space missions. His career trajectory was far from conventional, moving from a childhood fascination with rockets to repairing household appliances before an unforeseen opportunity led him to the space agency.

27 June 2026 · 2 min read

NASA has announced the winners of its 2026 Human Lander Challenge, recognising student-developed solutions for environmental control and life support systems vital for future crewed lunar landers. The competition, which concluded in Huntsville, Alabama, involved university teams designing technologies to support the agency's Artemis programme and future deep space missions.

26 June 2026 · 2 min read

Members of three International Space Station missions, including NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 and Crew-11, and Soyuz MS-27, were honoured at a welcome home ceremony in Houston. The event celebrated the crews' accomplishments, reflecting on the science, partnerships, and international cooperation that defined their time in orbit. Ground teams were also recognised for their crucial role in the expedition's success.

26 June 2026 · 2 min read

NASA has awarded Rocket Lab the launch services contract for its Polarized Submillimeter Ice-cloud Radiometer (PolSIR) and Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 (TSIS-2) missions. The selections fall under NASA’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) contract, underscoring the agency's commitment to advancing Earth and solar science.

26 June 2026 · 2 min read

Botswana has officially joined the Artemis Accords, a NASA-led international agreement for responsible space exploration, becoming the 68th signatory globally. The signing ceremony took place in Washington, D.C., with Botswana's Minister of Communications and Innovation David Tshere formalising the nation's commitment. This development marks Botswana as the sixth African country to endorse the framework, which promotes peaceful and transparent activities in space.

25 June 2026 · 2 min read