Category: Space

NASA’s nearly complete Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has made another set of critical strides toward launch. This fall, the outer portion passed two tests — a shake test and an intense sound blast — to ensure its successful launch. The inner portion of the observatory underwent a major 65-day thermal vacuum test, showing that it will function properly in space. As NASA’s next flagship space telescope, Roman will address essential questions in the areas of dark energy, planets outside our solar system, and astrophysics. “We want to make sure Roman will withstand our harshest environments,” said Rebecca Espina,…

Crater rims are vital landmarks for planetary science and navigation. Yet detecting them in real imagery is tough, with shadows, lighting shifts, and broken edges obscuring their shape. This project invites you to develop methods that can reliably fit ellipses to crater rims, helping advance future space exploration. In the pursuit of next generation, terrain-based optical navigation, NASA is developing a system that will use a visible-light camera on a spacecraft to capture orbital images of lunar terrain and process the imagery to: detect the crater rims in the images, identify the craters from a catalog, and estimate the…

Using its Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam), NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured never-before-seen details of the Red Spider Nebula, a planetary nebula, in this image released on Oct. 26, 2025. NIRCam is Webb’s primary near-infrared imager, providing high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy for a wide variety of investigations. Webb’s new view of the Red Spider Nebula reveals for the first time the full extent of the nebula’s outstretched lobes, which form the ‘legs’ of the spider. These lobes, shown in blue, are traced by light emitted from H2 molecules, which contain two hydrogen atoms bonded together. Stretching over the entirety of NIRCam’s field…

NARRATOR NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center stretches over acres of forest and fields speckled with hills and bright green lawns. There are a few water features on the campus, often surrounded by flocks of geese. There’s a pond towards the end of the property by an entrance from the highway. I pass it every day on my ways to and from Goddard. The buildings are a hodgepodge of architectural styles. They’re all numbered, assigned numerals in the order in which they were constructed. I work in Building 12. It’s not the newest, but it’s not the oldest either. It’s…

A rerun of a conversation with Kimberly Ennico Smith, project scientist for SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. Transcript Host (Matthew Buffington): You’re listening to NASA in Silicon Valley, a conversational podcast series from NASA’s Ames Research Center where we chat with the various scientists, researchers, engineers and all-around cool people here at NASA. As a special treat today, which is our 85th episode, we are going back in time and do a rerun from April 6, 2017 – which was also our 33rd episode of the podcast. Our guest…

What does it take to drive a rover that’s more than 100 million miles away? Sophia Mitchell at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has been driving the Mars Curiosity rover since 2018. In addition to her science and engineering background, Mitchell is also an avid hiker and pilot, and explains how she combines all of these interests and skills in her job. Curiosity landed on Mars on Aug. 6, 2012, and sends back images and other science data from Mount Sharp in Gale Crater. On Feb. 18, 2021, NASA’s Perseverance rover will land on Mars at Jezero Crater. Mitchell also…

[0:47] Narrator: When the meteor over Chelyabinsk tore through the atmosphere and exploded, it produced a flash brighter than the Sun and gave many witnesses an instant sunburn. The flash caused people for miles around to run to their windows to see what was going on. Unfortunately for them, the shockwave then hit, blasting those windows into millions of flying glass shards. The shockwave also knocked some right off their feet. More than 1500 people were injured that day. This wasn’t the first time a massive meteor blew up over Russia. Over a hundred years ago, in 1908, a…

From Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars, explore the world of human spaceflight with NASA each week on the official podcast of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Listen to in-depth conversations with the astronauts, scientists and engineers who make it possible. On episode 370, NASA’s Chief Health and Medical Officer discusses the impacts spaceflight has on the human body and how flight surgeons and other medical professionals on the ground help astronauts mitigate those impacts.  This episode was recorded on January 6, 2025. Transcript Host (Courtney Beasley): Houston, we have a podcast. Welcome to the official…

NARRATOR At a conference last year, while I staffed NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation booth, a group of kids approached me, pen and paper in hand: miniature investigators with hundreds of questions. They were middle schoolers… from somewhere in Florida, I think. I tackled their questions to the best of my ability. I’m no engineer, I just write about them. I asked what brought them here. Why they were here, attending a technical conference in the Midwest, so far from home? They were part of a group of students launching a small satellite to the International Space Station. Their…

A conversation with Doug Caldwell, instrument scientist for the Kepler Space Telescope, and who’s now working on NASA’s next planet-hunting mission— the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite or TESS. Transcript Michele Johnson: (Host)You’re listening to NASA in Silicon Valley, a conversational podcast where we explore all the amazing work being done out of Ames Research Center. I’m Michele Johnson, filling in for Matt Buffington for this week’s 86th episode. Our guest today is Doug Caldwell, the instrument scientist for the Kepler Space Telescope, and who’s now working on NASA’s next planet-hunting mission— the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite or TESS for…

Go behind the scenes at NASA with Chief Scientist Jim Green in the Gravity Assist podcast. We’ll talk to people who work in lots of different areas to make space missions and scientific investigations happen. How does someone become an astronaut, or an engineer working on the Ingenuity helicopter, or a science communicator? Everyone has a gravity assist – that person, place, thing, or event that inspired them to do what they’re doing now. New episodes will be released on Fridays. Check out the podcast atnasa.gov/gravityassist. Kennda Lynch:My first summer internship at Kennedy Space Center, I got to see…

(Arizona bird song) [00:05] Narrator: I’m standing on the rim of the Barringer Meteor Crater in northern Arizona. It’s an impressive sight. 55 stories deep and a mile wide, you could fit 20 football fields in the bottom of it. From a bird’s eye view, the crater looks almost perfectly round; like a hole punched into the desert by an angry giant’s fist. The crater was made fifty thousand years ago by a rock from space. Jeff Beal, head tour guide of Meteor Crater, describes the event. Jeff Beal: When the meteor hits the planet it’s moving very, very…

From Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars, explore the world of human spaceflight with NASA each week on the official podcast of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Listen to in-depth conversations with the astronauts, scientists and engineers who make it possible. On episode 371, NASA’s Recovery Director discusses the splashdown and recovery process and how she helps to ensure safety, not just for the space travelers, but for all recovery team members. This episode was recorded on January 15, 2025. Transcript Host (Leah Cheshier): Houston, we have a podcast. Welcome to the official podcast of the NASA…

DANNY BAIRD Every summer, fresh faces flood NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. They are the interns. Each new face comes with an idea to share — a contribution to make to the agency. EMILY CAVANAGH When you first walk through the gates, it’s intimidating, but awe-inspiring. There are so many buildings and so many brilliant people inside them. The people who work here have made history for over 60 years, and will continue to do so long after your summer internship is over. DANNY BAIRD As full-time employees, we try our best to make the interns’ transition to Goddard…

A conversation with Jim Brass, Bruce Coffland from NASA and Susan Benjamin USGS director of the Western Geographic Science Center. They discuss the shared history between NASA and the USGS in remote sensing. Transcript: Matthew Buffington: (Host) You’re listening to NASA in Silicon Valley episode 87. Today We’re continuing our collaboration between NASA and the USGS the U.S. Geological Survey, with a series of podcast episodes highlighting our work together. In this episode, we go through the history between NASA and the USGS, including a period when the USGS was embedded with NASA’s Biospheric Sciences Branch. Our guests are…

What is a black hole? How do we study them when we can’t see them? Astrophysicist Jeremy Schnittman from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center joins NASA Chief Scientist Jim Green for a fascinating conversation about the latest black hole research. Jim Green: NASA’s celebrating black hole week. Let’s talk to an expert that can tell us about these very strange and mysterious objects. Jim Green:Hi, I’m Jim Green. And this is a new season of Gravity Assist. We’re going to explore the inside workings of NASA in making these fabulous missions happen. Jim Green:I’m here with Dr. Jeremy Schnittman.…

(music) [0:01] Narrator: The asteroid Apophis is performing a daring dance with Earth. In the year 2068, there’s a slight possibility — a one-and-a-hundred-and-fifty-thousand chance – it’ll hit us. First discovered in 2004, “Apophis” is the Greek name for the Egyptian god of chaos. The asteroid is estimated to be more than 1,200 feet across, or 370 meters – nearly as tall as the Empire State building. An asteroid that size could obliterate a city, crashing into us at a speed of more than 40 times faster than a rifle bullet. Earlier predictions had given Apophis a three percent…

From Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars, explore the world of human spaceflight with NASA each week on the official podcast of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Listen to in-depth conversations with the astronauts, scientists and engineers who make it possible. On episode 372, NASA experts discuss launching and returning cargo to the International Space Station and the planning that goes into delivering several months worth of supplies and crucial science to astronauts in space.  This episode was recorded on February 3, 2025. Transcript Kenna Pell (Host) Houston, we have a podcast. Welcome to the official podcast…

Transcript Joshua Santora (Host):You’re listening to the official podcast from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, but here on Florida’s Space Coast, we call it the Rocket Ranch. But what makes these rockets fly? It’s people. And not just space cowboys, but regular men and women doing extraordinary things. During this podcast series we’re going to introduce you to some of the scientists, engineers and technicians who are paving the way to send pioneers back to the Moon and later put their boots on Mars. Here at the Rocket Ranch, we have individuals with diverse backgrounds working to push the boundaries…

NARRATOR In this second season of “The Invisible Network,” we’ll look at some of the forward-thinking innovations developed by NASA communications and navigation professionals. We’ll encounter the creative minds envisioning the communications networks of tomorrow and of the far future. On the journey, we’ll examine small pieces of the larger NASA puzzle — unique technologies and capabilities crucial to exploration. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine: NASA ADMINISTRATORJIM BRIDENSTINE Make no mistake, we go to the Moon because we’re interested in science and discovery and exploration. And, the return on investment is far more than we could ever expect. NARRATOR As…

A conversation with Robin Beck, an engineer at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley who develops, designs and tests heat shield materials. Transcript Host (Kimberly Minafra):You’re listening to NASA in Silicon Valley episode 88. I’m Kimberly Minafra and this week our guest is Robin Beck, an engineer here at Ames who develops, designs and tests heat shield materials. Robin talks about the different types of thermal protection systems that are needed for a variety of space missions, like the Mars Insight Lander Mission that launches in early May. Now let’s listen to our conversation with Robin Beck.…

The Ingenuity helicopter made history on April 19, 2021, with the firstpowered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet. How do engineers talk to a helicopter all the way out on Mars? How about other spacecraft? We’ll hear about it from Nacer Chahat of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who works on antenna and telecommunication systems for a variety of NASA missions. He chats with NASA’s Chief Scientist Jim Green in this episode of the Gravity Assist podcast. Jim Green:NASA flies spacecraft all over the solar system, and orbits the Earth. How do we communicate with them when they’re…

(movie: “These Final Hours”) “Is there anybody out there? It’s happened.” [0:05] Narrator: Filmmakers and novelists love asteroids, especially if they’re heading for Earth. (movie: “These Final Hours”) “Approximate location of impact, the north Atlantic. As I speak to you right now, it’s making its way towards our fair nation.” (music) [:20] Narrator: Large rocks from space hurtling toward us make such handy plot devices.The impending end of the world is the ultimate ticking clock, creating an opportunity for dramas to escalate and heroes to rise. The possible destruction of our little planet causes us to reassess our lives,…

From Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars, explore the world of human spaceflight with NASA each week on the official podcast of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Listen to in-depth conversations with the astronauts, scientists and engineers who make it possible. On episode 373, NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services project scientist and Intuitive Machines President and CEO discuss upcoming IM-2 mission and what’s in store for this delivery to the lunar surface.  This episode was recorded on January 23, 2025. Transcript Leah Cheshier (Host) Houston, we have a podcast. Welcome to the official podcast of the…