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https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-instruments-on-rosetta-start-comet-science
NASA Instruments on Rosetta Start Comet Science
Three NASA science instruments aboard the European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta spacecraft are beginning observations and sending science data back to Earth.
Three NASA science instruments aboard the European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta spacecraft, which is set to become the first to orbit a comet and land a probe on its nucleus, are beginning observations and sending science data back to Earth.Launched in March 2004, Rosetta was reactivated in January 2014 after a record ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/dynamic-nasa-built-weather-sensors-enlisted-to-track-tropical-cyclones
Dynamic NASA-Built Weather Sensors Enlisted to Track Tropical Cyclones
Known as COWVR and TEMPEST, the duo is demonstrating that smaller, less expensive science instruments can play an important role in weather forecasting.
NASA recently built two weather instruments to test the potential of small, low-cost sensors to do some of the work of bulkier, pricier satellites. Both instruments have exceeded expectations as trial runs, and they are already delivering useful forecast information for the most devastating of storms, tropical cyclones...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/shuttle-imaging-radar-a-acquires-new-geologic-information
Shuttle Imaging Radar-A Acquires New Geologic Information
New geologic information in remote tropical, arid, and heavily vegetated areas was acquired by JPL's imaging radar on NASA's second space shuttle flight in November 1981, as reported in the Dec. 3, 1982, edition of Science magazine.
New geologic information in remote tropical, arid, and heavily vegetated areas was acquired by JPL's imaging radar on NASA's second space shuttle flight in November 1981, as reported in the Dec. 3, 1982, edition of Science magazine.The experiment, called Shuttle Imaging Radar-A (SIR-A), penetrated cloud cover, varying ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-phoenix-mars-lander-continues-tests-with-rasp
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander Continues Tests with Rasp
The team operating NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander plans to tell the lander today to do a second, larger test of using a motorized rasp to produce and gather shavings of frozen ground.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The team operating NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander plans to tell the lander today to do a second, larger test of using a motorized rasp to produce and gather shavings of frozen ground.The planned test is a preparation for putting a similar sample into one of Phoenix's laboratory ovens in coming days. Th...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/radar-for-mars-gets-flight-tests-at-nasa-dryden
Radar for Mars Gets Flight Tests at NASA Dryden
In a series of diving flights, an F/A-18 aircraft at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California is carrying a test model of the radar for the next landing on Mars.
Southern California's high desert has been a stand-in for Mars for NASA technology testing many times over the years. And so it is again, in a series of flights by an F/A-18 aircraft to test the landing radar for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission.The flight profile is designed to have the F/A-18 climb to 40,000 fe...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-dawn-reveals-recent-changes-in-ceres-surface
NASA Dawn Reveals Recent Changes in Ceres' Surface
Observations of Ceres have detected recent variations in its surface, revealing that the dwarf planet is a dynamic body that continues to evolve and change.
Observations of Ceres have detected recent variations in its surface, revealing that the only dwarf planet in the inner solar system is a dynamic body that continues to evolve and change.NASA's Dawn mission has found recently exposed deposits that give us new information on the materials in the crust and how they ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/journey-to-a-metal-rich-world-nasas-psyche-is-ready-to-launch
Journey to a Metal-Rich World: NASA’s Psyche Is Ready to Launch
The spacecraft is targeting an Oct. 13 liftoff atop a Falcon Heavy rocket. Its destination, a metal-rich asteroid, may tell us more about how planets form.
In less than 24 hours,NASA’s Psychespacecraft is slated to launch from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. With its sights set on a mysterious asteroid of the same name, Psyche is NASA’s first scientific mission to be launched on aSpaceX Falcon Heavyrocket.Launch is set for 10:19 a.m. EDT on Friday, Oct. 13, ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/small-asteroid-is-earths-constant-companion
Small Asteroid Is Earth's Constant Companion
A small asteroid has been discovered in an orbit around the sun that keeps it as a constant companion of Earth, and it will remain so for centuries to come.
A small asteroid has been discovered in an orbit around the sun that keeps it as a constant companion of Earth, and it will remain so for centuries to come.As it orbits the sun, this new asteroid, designated 2016 HO3, appears to circle around Earth as well. It is too distant to be considered a true satellite of our pla...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mars-image-takes-earth-photo-event-to-a-new-world
Mars Image Takes Earth Photo Event to a New World
When some Mars explorers learned of plans for a worldwide photography event combining shots taken from thousands of different locations on May 2, 2010, they figured, "Why just one world?"
When some Mars explorers learned of plans for a worldwide photography event combining shots taken from thousands of different locations on May 2, 2010, they figured, "Why just one world?"A New York Times photography blog, Lens, proposed the event and has received more than 12,000 images from around the world. Plus one...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/study-helps-explain-sea-ice-differences-at-earths-poles
Study Helps Explain Sea Ice Differences at Earth's Poles
Why is Antarctic sea ice cover increasing while Arctic sea ice is diminishing rapidly? A NASA-led study finds the geology of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are responsible.
Why has the sea ice cover surrounding Antarctica been increasing slightly, in sharp contrast to the drastic loss of sea ice occurring in the Arctic Ocean? A new NASA-led study finds the geology of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are responsible.A NASA/NOAA/university team led by Son Nghiem of NASA's Jet Propulsion La...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/ganymede-may-harbor-club-sandwich-of-oceans-and-ice
Ganymede May Harbor 'Club Sandwich' of Oceans and Ice
Jupiter's largest moon might be stacked with multiple layers of oceans and ice.
The largest moon in our solar system, a companion to Jupiter named Ganymede, might have ice and oceans stacked up in several layers like a club sandwich, according to new NASA-funded research that models the moon's makeup.Previously, the moon was thought to harbor a thick ocean sandwiched between just two layers of ice...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/jupiter-orbiter-nears-first-visit-to-small-moon-dusty-ring
Jupiter Orbiter Nears First Visit to Small Moon, Dusty Ring
As Galileo approaches Jupiter, it will skim past Amalthea at 06:19 on Nov. 5, Universal Time (10:19 p.m. Nov. 4, Pacific Standard Time).
Before starting its 35th and final orbit around Jupiter next week, NASA's Galileo spacecraft will visit three intriguing features of the giant planet's neighborhood for the first time: a small moon named Amalthea, a dusty ring and the inner region of Jupiter's high-energy magnetic environment."We're excited about this ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/jpl-instrument-successfully-launched-to-measure-ocean-winds
JPL Instrument Successfully Launched to Measure Ocean Winds
Japan's Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS) carrying a JPL instrument designed to measure global ocean surface winds was launched from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 6:53 Pacific time tonight.
Japan's Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS) carrying a JPL instrument designed to measure global ocean surface winds was launched from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 6:53 Pacific time tonight.Launched on a Japanese H-II rocket and destined for a 800- kilometer (497-mile) high circular orbit above the Earth...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/getting-the-big-picture-on-houstons-air-pollution
Getting the Big Picture on Houston's Air Pollution
Now the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer, an instrument that flies on NASA's Terra satellite and is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is stepping in to help researchers find out exactly where, how much and what type of pollution is in Houston.
Houston has a serious air quality problem. Since 1999, the Texas city has exchanged titles with Los Angeles as having the most polluted air in the United States defined by the number of days each city violates federal smog standards.Now the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer, an instrument that flies on NASA's Terra...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/witch-head-brews-baby-stars
'Witch Head' Brews Baby Stars
Can you see the profile of a wicked witch in this new infrared image from the WISE mission?
A witch appears to be screaming out into space in this new image from NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE. The infrared portrait shows the Witch Head nebula, named after its resemblance to the profile of a wicked witch. Astronomers say the billowy clouds of the nebula, where baby stars are brewing, are ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/flowing-antarctic-ice-mapped-10-times-more-accurately
Flowing Antarctic Ice Mapped 10 Times More Accurately
The new map of the flow speeds of ice throughout Antarctica will improve our understanding of the vast continent and of future sea level rise.
Far more accurate than any previous map, this new representation of glacier flows in Antarctica opens the door to an improved understanding of the vast continent and the future pace of sea level rise. To create the new map, researchers at the University of California, Irvine, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pas...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/major-ocean-observing-satellite-starts-providing-science-data
Major Ocean-Observing Satellite Starts Providing Science Data
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, the latest spacecraft to monitor sea surface height, releases its first science measurements to users.
After six months of check-out and calibration in orbit, theSentinel-6 Michael Freilichsatellite will make its first two data streams available to the public on June 22. It launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Nov. 21, 2020, and is a U.S.-European collaboration to measure sea surface height and other...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/oneil-named-manager-of-2003-2005-mars-sample-return-missions
O'Neil Named Manager of 2003, 2005 Mars Sample Return Missions
William J. O'Neil, who served as project manager of NASA's Galileo mission to Jupiter at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA from 1990 to 1998, has been named manager of the agency's first two Mars sample return missions, scheduled for launches in 2003 and 2005.
William J. O'Neil, who served as project manager of NASA's Galileo mission to Jupiter at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA from 1990 to 1998, has been named manager of the agency's first two Mars sample return missions, scheduled for launches in 2003 and 2005.O'Neil, who was appointed in mid-November, had ser...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/airsar-completes-commercial-applications-mission
AIRSAR Completes Commercial Applications Mission
NASA's Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR) recently completed a series of Earth Science flights designed to explore commercial applications of scientific data.
NASA's Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR) recently completed a series of Earth Science flights designed to explore commercial applications of scientific data.During October and November, Dryden's DC-8 Flying Laboratory had been outfitted with the AIRSAR instrument operated by scientists from the Jet Propulsion ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-and-french-space-agency-sign-agreement-for-mars-mission
NASA and French Space Agency Sign Agreement for Mars Mission
NASA and the French Space Agency (CNES), signed an implementing agreement Monday for cooperation on a future NASA Mars lander called InSight.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Jean-Yves Le Gall, president of the National Center of Space Studies of France (CNES), signed an implementing agreement Monday for cooperation on a future NASA Mars lander called the Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy, and Heat Transport (InSight) mission."T...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-mars-mission-connects-with-bosnian-town
NASA Mars Mission Connects With Bosnian Town
A letter from NASA was presented to the mayor of Jezero, Bosnia-Herzegovina, honoring the connection between the town and Jezero Crater, the Mars 2020 rover landing site.
Today, a letter from NASA's director of Mars Exploration, James Watzin, was presented to the mayor of Jezero, Bosnia and Herzegovina, honoring the connection between the small Balkan town and Jezero Crater, the landing site for the Mars 2020 rover. U.S. Ambassador Eric Nelson delivered the letter to Mayor Snezana Ruzuc...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-insight-study-provides-clearest-look-ever-at-martian-core
NASA InSight Study Provides Clearest Look Ever at Martian Core
A pair of quakes in 2021 sent seismic waves deep into the Red Planet’s core, giving scientists the best data yet on its size and composition.
While NASAretired its InSightMars lander in December, the trove of data from its seismometer will be pored over for decades to come. By looking at seismic waves the instrument detected from a pair of temblors in 2021, scientists have been able to deduce that Mars’ liquid iron core is smaller and denser than previously ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/rosettas-philae-makes-historic-first-landing-on-a-comet
Rosetta's 'Philae' Makes Historic First Landing on a Comet
After a daring seven-hour descent from its mother ship, the European Space Agency's Philae lander achieves a space exploration milestone: the first-ever landing on a comet.
After more than a decade traveling through space, a robotic lander built by the European Space Agency has made the first-ever soft landing of a spacecraft on a comet.Mission controllers at ESA's mission operations center in Darmstadt, Germany, received a signal confirming that the Philae lander had touched down on come...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-announces-spectacular-day-of-the-comet
NASA Announces Spectacular Day of the Comet
After a voyage of 173 days and 431 million kilometers (268 million miles), NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft will get up-close and personal with comet Tempel 1 on July 4 (EDT).
After a voyage of 173 days and 431 million kilometers (268 million miles), NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft will get up-close and personal with comet Tempel 1 on July 4 (EDT).The first of its kind, hyper-speed impact between space-borne iceberg and copper-fortified probe is scheduled for approximately 1:52 a.m. EDT on Ind...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-highlights-drought-mars-arctic-warming-at-science-conference
NASA Highlights Drought, Mars, Arctic Warming at Science Conference
NASA researchers, including some from JPL, will present new findings on a wide range of Earth and space science topics next week at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.
NASA researchers, including some from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will present new findings on a wide range of Earth and space science topics next week at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), Dec. 15-19 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.NASA-related media briefings streamed by ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-spacecraft-images-mars-moon-in-color-and-in-3d
NASA Spacecraft Images Mars Moon in Color and in 3D
A new stereo view of Phobos, the larger and inner of Mars' two tiny moons, has been captured by a NASA spacecraft orbiting Mars.
PASADENA, Calif. -- A new stereo view of Phobos, the larger and inner of Mars' two tiny moons, has been captured by a NASA spacecraft orbiting Mars.The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took two images of Phobos 10 minutes apart on March 23. Scientists combined th...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mars-mission-components-delivered-to-florida
Mars Mission Components Delivered to Florida
The aeroshell and cruise stage for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Thursday night from California and Colorado.
An Air Force C-17 transport plane delivered the heat shield, back shell and cruise stage of the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft to NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on May 12, 2011. The heat shield and back shell together form the aeroshell, which will encapsulate the mission's rover and descent stage. The cruise s...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/seven-ways-mars-insight-is-different
Seven Ways Mars InSight is Different
NASA has sent lots of missions to Mars, but InSight will stand apart in a number of ways.
NASA's Mars InSight lander team is preparing to ship the spacecraft from Lockheed Martin Space in Denver, where it was built and tested, to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where it will become the first interplanetary mission to launch from the West Coast. The project is led by NASA's Jet Propulsion Labora...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/toutatis-one-of-the-strangest-objects-in-the-solar-system
Toutatis One of the Strangest Objects in the Solar System
Two NASA-sponsored scientists studying the Earth-crossing asteroid 4179 Toutatis with radio telescopes have found it to be one of the strangest objects in the solar system, with a highly irregular shape and an extraordinarily complex "tumbling" rotation.
Two NASA-sponsored scientists studying the Earth-crossing asteroid 4179 Toutatis with radio telescopes have found it to be one of the strangest objects in the solar system, with a highly irregular shape and an extraordinarily complex "tumbling" rotation.Both its shape and rotation are thought to be the outcome of a his...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/descent-into-a-frozen-underworld
Descent into a Frozen Underworld
A JPL robotics researcher tested new technologies in ice caves near an active volcano in Antarctica.
JPL tests robotics in ice caves near active volcanoMt. Erebus is at the end of our world -- and offers a portal to another.It's our planet's southernmost active volcano, reaching 12,448 feet (3,794 meters) above Ross Island in Antarctica. Temperatures at the surface are well below freezing most of the year, but that do...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/billion-pixel-view-of-mars-comes-from-curiosity-rover
Billion-Pixel View of Mars Comes From Curiosity Rover
A billion-pixel view from the surface of Mars, from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, offers armchair explorers a way to examine one part of the Red Planet in great detail.
PASADENA, Calif. -- A billion-pixel view from the surface of Mars, from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, offers armchair explorers a way to examine one part of the Red Planet in great detail.The first NASA-produced view from the surface of Mars larger than one billion pixels stitches together nearly 900 exposures taken by ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/space-radar-views-ancient-chinese-climate-quake-faults
Space Radar Views Ancient Chinese Climate, Quake Faults
Geologists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have used radar images of Earth captured by a 1994 shuttle mission to study past climate change and earthquake faults in the desert of northwest China.
Geologists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have used radar images of Earth captured by a 1994 shuttle mission to study past climate change and earthquake faults in the desert of northwest China."The radar is a very sophisticated mapping tool that helped us pinpoint where we wanted to do our field studies," said Dr....
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/spirits-surroundings-beckon-in-color-panorama
Spirit's Surroundings Beckon in Color Panorama
The first 360-degree color view from NASA's Spirit Mars Exploration Rover presents a range of tempting targets from nearby rocks to hills on the horizon.
The first 360-degree color view from NASA's Spirit Mars Exploration Rover presents a range of tempting targets from nearby rocks to hills on the horizon."The whole panorama is there before us," said rover science- team member Dr. Michael Malin of Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego. "It's a great opening to the next...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/as-sea-level-rises-beaches-shrink
As Sea Level Rises, Beaches Shrink
The increase looks small, but the consequences are potentially huge. Rising sea level threatens to inundate low-lying regions, such as the Chesapeake, and dramatically increase coastal and beach erosion around the world.
Stack two dimes on top of each other. Their height is a tiny fraction less than global sea level is rising each year. The increase looks small, but the consequences are potentially huge. Rising sea level threatens to inundate low-lying regions, such as the Chesapeake, and dramatically increase coastal and beach erosion...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/arecibo-radar-returns-with-asteroid-phaethon-images
Arecibo Radar Returns with Asteroid Phaethon Images
Months after Hurricane Maria, the Arecibo Observatory Planetary Radar has resumed normal operations, providing high-resolution images of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon Earth flyby.
Updated Version as of 11 am PST: corrections include close approach distance and size comparison to asteroid Bennu.After several months of downtime since Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico, the Arecibo Observatory Planetary Radar has returned to normal operation, providing the highest-resolution images to...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix-revises-method-to-deliver-icy-sample
Phoenix Revises Method to Deliver Icy Sample
Phoenix's robotic arm will use a revised collection-and-delivery sequence overnight Sunday with the goal of depositing an icy soil sample in the lander's oven.
TUCSON, Ariz. - NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's robotic arm will use a revised collection-and-delivery sequence overnight Sunday with the goal of depositing an icy soil sample in the lander's oven."We are going to modify the process we ran on Sol 60 to acquire another icy sample and attempt to deliver it to TEGA," the The...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-science-resources-help-agencies-respond-to-katrina
NASA's Science Resources Help Agencies Respond to Katrina
NASA science instruments and Earth-orbiting satellites are providing detailed insight about the environmental impact caused by Hurricane Katrina.
NASA science instruments and Earth-orbiting satellites are providing detailed insight about the environmental impact caused by Hurricane Katrina. Images and data are helping characterize the extent of flooding; damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure; and potential hazards caused by the storm and its ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-curiosity-rover-begins-next-mars-chapter
NASA's Curiosity Rover Begins Next Mars Chapter
After collecting drilled rock powder from a very scenic area, NASA's Curiosity rover is driving toward uphill destinations as part of its two-year mission extension.
After collecting drilled rock powder in arguably the most scenic landscape yet visited by a Mars rover, NASA's Curiosity mobile laboratory is driving toward uphill destinations as part of its two-year mission extension that commenced Oct. 1.The destinations include a ridge capped with material rich in the iron-oxide mi...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-uses-earth-as-laboratory-to-study-distant-worlds
NASA Uses Earth as Laboratory to Study Distant Worlds
A new study uses Earth as a stand-in for an exoplanet and shows that even with very little light -- as little as one pixel -- it is still possible to measure key characteristics of distant worlds.
The study of exoplanets -- planets that lie outside our solar system -- could help scientists answer big questions about our place in the universe, and whether life exists beyond Earth. But, these distant worlds are extremely faint and difficult to image directly. A new study uses Earth as a stand-in for an exoplanet, ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mars-curiosity-celebrates-sol-2000
Mars Curiosity Celebrates Sol 2,000
NASA's Mars Curiosity rover just hit a new milestone: its two-thousandth Martian day on the Red Planet. An image mosaic taken recently offers a preview of what comes next.
NASA's Mars Curiosity rover just hit a new milestone: its two-thousandth Martian day, or sol, on the Red Planet. An image mosaic taken by the rover in January offers a preview of what comes next.Looming over the image is Mount Sharp, the mound Curiosity has been climbing since September 2014. In the center of the im...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/geometry-drives-selection-date-for-2011-mars-launch
Geometry Drives Selection Date for 2011 Mars Launch
For optimal communications during arrival at Mars, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity, will launch after Thanksgiving 2011 and land on Mars in August 2012.
Planners of NASA's next Mars mission have selected a flight schedule that will use favorable positions for two currently orbiting NASA Mars orbiters to obtain maximum information during descent and landing.Continuing analysis of the geometry and communications options for the arrival at Mars have led planners for the M...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-deep-impact-adds-color-to-unfolding-comet-picture
NASA's Deep Impact Adds Color to Unfolding Comet Picture
Painting by the numbers is a good description of how scientists create pictures of everything from atoms in our bodies to asteroids and comets in our solar system.
Painting by the numbers is a good description of how scientists create pictures of everything from atoms in our bodies to asteroids and comets in our solar system. Researchers involved in NASA's Deep Impact mission have been doing this kind of work since the mission's July 4th collision with comet Tempel 1."Prior to ou...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/orions-belt-lights-up-cassinis-view-of-enceladus
Orion's Belt Lights Up Cassini's View of Enceladus
NASA's Cassini mission will take advantage of the position of two of the three stars in Orion's belt when the spacecraft flies by Saturn's moon Enceladus on Wed., Oct. 19.
NASA's Cassini mission will take advantage of the position of two of the three stars in Orion's belt when the spacecraft flies by Saturn's moon Enceladus on Wed., Oct. 19. As the hot, bright stars pass behind the moon's icy jets, Cassini's ultraviolet imaging spectrograph will acquire a two-dimensional view of thes...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mars-odysseys-temperature-maps-expose-rock-layer-history
Mars Odyssey's Temperature Maps Expose Rock Layer History
There are tantalizing indications emerging from the thousands of infrared images taken so far by NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft that Mars experienced a series of environmental changes during active geological periods in its history.
There are tantalizing indications emerging from the thousands of infrared images taken so far by NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft that Mars experienced a series of environmental changes during active geological periods in its history."We knew from Mars Global Surveyor that Mars was layered, but these data from Odyssey ar...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/gravity-bending-find-leads-to-kepler-meeting-einstein
Gravity-Bending Find Leads to Kepler Meeting Einstein
The light of a red star is warped and magnified by its dead-star companion, as detected by NASA's Kepler space telescope.
NASA's Kepler space telescope has witnessed the effects of a dead star bending the light of its companion star. The findings are among the first detections of this phenomenon -- a result of Einstein's general theory of relativity -- in binary, or double, star systems.The dead star, called a white dwarf, is the burnt-ou...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-announces-first-geostationary-vegetation-atmospheric-carbon-mission
NASA Announces First Geostationary Vegetation, Atmospheric Carbon Mission
NASA has selected a first-of-its-kind Earth science mission that will extend our nation's lead in measuring key greenhouse gases and vegetation health from space.
NASA has selected a first-of-its-kind Earth science mission that will extend our nation's lead in measuring key greenhouse gases and vegetation health from space to advance our understanding of Earth's natural exchanges of carbon among the land, atmosphere and ocean.The primary goals of the Geostationary Carbon Cycle O...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseverance-rover-set-to-begin-third-year-at-jezero-crater
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Set to Begin Third Year at Jezero Crater
After completing the first sample depot on another world, the rover continues its hunt for Mars rocks worthy of study on Earth.
NASA’s Perseverance rover will celebrate its second anniversary on the surface of Mars Saturday, Feb. 18. Since arriving at Jezero Crater in 2021, the six-wheeled, nuclear-powered rover has been examining geologic features and collecting samples of the Red Planet that are central to the first step of the NASA-ESA (Euro...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/solar-systems-best-outfitted-spacecraft-dons-its-thermal-cloak
Solar System's Best-Outfitted Spacecraft Dons Its Thermal Cloak
Using tools and techniques more often associated with fine tailoring than with space engineering, NASA technicians and engineers spent part of the holiday season laboring over sewing machines to clothe the Cassini spacecraft in the protective garb it must wear to survive during its long journey to Saturn.
Using tools and techniques more often associated with fine tailoring than with space engineering, NASA technicians and engineers spent part of the holiday season laboring over sewing machines to clothe the Cassini spacecraft in the protective garb it must wear to survive during its long journey to Saturn.At NASA's Jet ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/stardust-prepares-to-pick-up-speed-from-earths-gravity-assist
Stardust Prepares to Pick Up Speed From Earth's Gravity Assist
As it completes the first of three laps of about a billion miles each around the heart of the solar system, NASA's Stardust spacecraft is getting ready for a pit stop of sorts, flying by Earth in mid-January for a gravitational speed boost.
As it completes the first of three laps of about a billion miles each around the heart of the solar system, NASA's Stardust spacecraft is getting ready for a pit stop of sorts, flying by Earth in mid-January for a gravitational speed boost. The added energy will put Stardust on course to meet Comet Wild 2 (pronounced "...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mars-odyssey-mission-status-16
Mars Odyssey Mission Status
NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft performed its third trajectory correction maneuver last night to fine-tune its flight path for arrival at Mars next month.
NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft performed its third trajectory correction maneuver last night to fine-tune its flight path for arrival at Mars next month.At 0406 Universal time on Monday, Sept. 17 (9:06 p.m. Pacific time, Sunday, Sept. 16), Odyssey fired its small thrusters for 12 seconds, which changed the speed a...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/asteroid-search-nets-two-new-impressive-finds
Asteroid Search Nets Two New Impressive Finds
A NASA-sponsored asteroid tracking system has found two new large objects that cross Earth's orbital path, but show no signs of coming dangerously close to Earth within at least the next several decades, astronomers say.
A NASA-sponsored asteroid tracking system has found two new large objects that cross Earth's orbital path, but show no signs of coming dangerously close to Earth within at least the next several decades, astronomers say.The asteroids were found in observations made with the Near- Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT) system, ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/recently-reactivated-nasa-spacecraft-spots-its-first-new-asteroid
Recently Reactivated NASA Spacecraft Spots Its First New Asteroid
A NASA spacecraft revived from hibernation last year has made the first asteroid discovery of its new mission.
NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) spacecraft has spotted a never-before-seen asteroid -- its first such discovery since coming out of hibernation last year.NEOWISE originally was called the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), which had made the most comprehensive survey...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-curiosity-searches-for-new-clues-about-mars-ancient-water
NASA’s Curiosity Searches for New Clues About Mars’ Ancient Water
The rover has arrived at an area that may show evidence liquid water flowed on this part of Mars for much longer than previously thought.
NASA’s Curiosity rover has begun exploring a new region of Mars, one that could reveal more about when liquid water disappeared once and for all from the Red Planet’s surface. Billions of years ago, Mars was much wetter and probably warmer than it is today. Curiosity is getting a new look into that more Earth-like past...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/us-and-soviet-scientist-studies-russias-kamchatka-peninsula
U.S. and Soviet Scientist Studies Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula
Five JPL and U.S. Geological Survey scientists this week are joining a team of Soviet scientists to study volcanoes along Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula -- one of the most active and complicated volcanic regions in the world.
Five JPL and U.S. Geological Survey scientists this week are joining a team of Soviet scientists to study volcanoes along Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula -- one of the most active and complicated volcanic regions in the world.The joint study marks the first time that western scientists have been allowed in the southern Ka...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/take-a-walk-on-mars-in-your-own-living-room
Take a Walk on Mars -- in Your Own Living Room
JPL and Google have collaborated on a free VR experience that lets people "walk" on Mars.
When NASA scientists want to follow the path of the Curiosity rover on Mars, they can don a mixed-realityheadsetand virtually explore the Martian landscape.Starting today, everyone can get a taste of what that feels like. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, collaborated with Google to produce Acce...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/scientists-planning-now-for-asteroid-flyby-a-decade-away
Scientists Planning Now for Asteroid Flyby a Decade Away
On April 13, 2029, asteroid Apophis will cruise harmlessly by Earth at distance of about 19,000 miles (31,000 kilometers). Scientists are already planning observations and science opportunities for the event.
On April 13, 2029, a speck of light will streak across the sky, getting brighter and faster. At one point it will travel more than the width of the full Moon within a minute and it will get as bright as the stars in the Little Dipper. But it won't be a satellite or an airplane - it will be a 1,100-foot-wide (340-meter-...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mariner-iv-crosses-path-with-micrometeoroids
Mariner IV Crosses Path with Micrometeoroids
The Mariner IV spacecraft last night was buffeted about in interplanetary space between the orbits of Earth and Mars when it apparently crossed the path of a stream of micrometeoroids.
The Mariner IV spacecraft last night was buffeted about in interplanetary space between the orbits of Earth and Mars when it apparently crossed the path of a stream of micrometeoroids.The 575-pound spacecraft, which was launched in November, 1964, and photographed Mars in July, 1965, was pelted with at least 17 pieces ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mars-2020-unwrapped-and-ready-for-testing
Mars 2020 Unwrapped and Ready for Testing
In time-lapse video, bunny-suited engineers remove the inner layer of protective foil on NASA's Mars 2020 rover after it was relocated for testing.
In this time-lapse video, taken on Oct. 4, 2019, at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, bunny-suited engineers remove the inner layer of protective antistatic foil on the Mars 2020 rover after the vehicle was relocated from JPL's Spacecraft Assembly Facility to the Simulator Building for testing."...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/keeping-current-with-ocean-currents
Keeping Current With Ocean Currents
Imagine a place where the roads change constantly and last month's map may be completely out of date. That's the ocean.
Imagine a place where the roads change constantly and last month's map may be completely out of date. That's the ocean.Knowing where the currents were a week ago won't help a ship captain chart the best course or a clean-up crew anticipate where an oil spill is heading nearly as much as knowing where the currents are t...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mars-exploration-rover-mission-status-14
Mars Exploration Rover Mission Status
NASA's solar-powered Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is beginning on Thursday what controllers expect to be frequent use of an overnight "deep sleep" mode to stretch the robot's power supply.
NASA's solar-powered Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is beginning on Thursday what controllers expect to be frequent use of an overnight "deep sleep" mode to stretch the robot's power supply.Opportunity has managed only one to two hours of activity on many recent days while it has been examining a stadium-sized impa...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-ingenuity-helicopter-to-begin-new-demonstration-phase
NASA’s Ingenuity Helicopter to Begin New Demonstration Phase
The Red Planet rotorcraft will shift focus from proving flight is possible on Mars to demonstrating flight operations that future aerial craft could utilize.
Keep up with the latest helicopter news in themission blog.NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has a new mission. Having proven that powered, controlled flight is possible on the Red Planet, the Ingenuity experiment will soon embark on a new operations demonstration phase, exploring how aerial scouting and other functions...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/surveyor-ii-loses-communication
Surveyor II Loses Communication
The Surveyor II spacecraft, which was to soft-land on the moon tonight, lost communications with Earth tracking stations at 2:35 a.m. PDT today--45 hours and three minutes after it was launched from Cape Kennedy.
The Surveyor II spacecraft, which was to soft-land on the moon tonight, lost communications with Earth tracking stations at 2:35 a.m. PDT today--45 hours and three minutes after it was launched from Cape Kennedy.The mission ended during the firing of Surveyor's 10,000 pound thrust retro-rocket, one of a number of engin...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mars-rover-views-spectacular-layered-rock-formations
Mars Rover Views Spectacular Layered Rock Formations
The layered geologic past of Mars is revealed in stunning detail in new color images returned by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover of the "Murray Buttes" region on Mount Sharp.
The layered geologic past of Mars is revealed in stunning detail in new color images returned by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover, which is currently exploring the "Murray Buttes" region of lower Mount Sharp. The new images arguably rival photos taken in U.S. National Parks.Curiosity took the images with its Mast Camera (Ma...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/scientists-say-ice-lurks-in-asteroids-cold-heart
Scientists Say Ice Lurks In Asteroid's Cold Heart
Scientists using a NASA funded telescope have detected water-ice and carbon-based organic compounds on the surface of an asteroid.
Scientists using a NASA funded telescope have detected water-ice and carbon-based organic compounds on the surface of an asteroid. The cold hard facts of the discovery of the frosty mixture on one of the asteroid belt's largest occupants, suggests that some asteroids, along with their celestial brethren, comets, were t...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-helps-study-one-of-the-worlds-most-diverse-ecosystems
NASA Helps Study One of the World’s Most Diverse Ecosystems
NASA satellite and airborne tools aid an international team studying biodiversity on land and in the water around South Africa.
An international team of researchers spent October and November 2023 in the field studying one of the world’s most biologically diverse areas – South Africa’s Greater Cape Floristic Region. As part of the effort, researchers used NASA airborne and space-based instruments to gather complementary data to better understan...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/los-angeles-art-students-present-new-mars-mural-to-jpl
Los Angeles Art Students Present New Mars Mural to JPL
Young artists from the Academia de Arte Yepes in East Los Angeles will present a dramatic and colorful painting of the Roman god Mars as he rides across space in a horse-drawn chariot to members of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in honor of the space program's return to the red planet this week.
Young artists from the Academia de Arte Yepes in East Los Angeles will present a dramatic and colorful painting of the Roman god Mars as he rides across space in a horse-drawn chariot to members of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in honor of the space program's return to the red planet this week.The students, ages 11-...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/new-technology-will-help-to-measure-and-study-earthquakes
New Technology Will Help to Measure and Study Earthquakes
Scientists have begun installing a network of 250 Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers that will continuously measure the constant, yet physically imperceptible, movements of earthquake faults throughout Southern California. This information, which in many cases will be gathered and analyzed with the help of local...
Scientists have begun installing a network of 250 Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers that will continuously measure the constant, yet physically imperceptible, movements of earthquake faults throughout Southern California. This information, which in many cases will be gathered and analyzed with the help of local...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/insight-engineers-have-made-a-martian-rock-garden
InSight Engineers Have Made a Martian Rock Garden
Reconstructing Mars here on Earth lets them practice setting down the lander's science instruments.
NASA's InSight lander is due to set its first science instrument on Mars in the coming days. But engineers here on Earth already saw it happen - last week.Like NASA's Curiosity rover, InSight has a full-scale working model at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. This sister lander, aptly na...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-deep-impact-craft-observes-major-comet-outburst
NASA's Deep Impact Craft Observes Major Comet 'Outburst'
NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft observed a massive, short-lived outburst of ice or other particles from comet Tempel 1 that temporarily expanded the size and reflectivity of the cloud of dust and gas (coma) that surrounds the comet nucleus.
NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft observed a massive, short-lived outburst of ice or other particles from comet Tempel 1 that temporarily expanded the size and reflectivity of the cloud of dust and gas (coma) that surrounds the comet nucleus.The outburst was detected as a dramatic brightening of the comet on June 22. I...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/northern-mars-landscape-actively-changing
Northern Mars Landscape Actively Changing
Sand dunes in a vast area of northern Mars long thought to be frozen in time are changing with both sudden and gradual motions, according to research using images from a NASA orbiter.
Sand dunes in a vast area of northern Mars long thought to be frozen in time are changing with both sudden and gradual motions, according to research using images from a NASA orbiter.These dune fields cover an area the size of Texas in a band around the planet at the edge of Mars' north polar cap. The new findings sugg...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-stardust-team-studies-hale-bopps-cometary-cousin
NASA's Stardust Team Studies Hale-Bopp's Cometary Cousin
Just as Comet Hale-Bopp continues its journey across the nighttime sky, another currently visible comet, Wild 2, is capturing the attention of NASA's Stardust Project for a vitally important reason.
Just as Comet Hale-Bopp continues its journey across the nighttime sky, another currently visible comet, Wild 2, is capturing the attention of NASA's Stardust Project for a vitally important reason.Stardust, a spacecraft with a planned 1999 launch, will capture samples of comet dust from Wild 2 in 2004 for return to Ea...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/rocks-rich-in-silica-present-puzzles-for-mars-rover-team
Rocks Rich in Silica Present Puzzles for Mars Rover Team
At recently studied sites, Mars Curiosity has found higher silica concentrations than at sites visited earlier in its Martian travels.
In detective stories, as the plot thickens, an unexpected clue often delivers more questions than answers. In this case, the scene is a mountain on Mars. The clue: the chemical compound silica. Lots of silica. The sleuths: a savvy band of Earthbound researchers whose agent on Mars is NASA's laser-flashing, one-armed mo...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/next-nasa-mars-mission-reaches-milestone
Next NASA Mars Mission Reaches Milestone
NASA's InSight mission has begun its assembly, test and launch operations phase, on track for a March 2016 launch to Mars.
NASA's InSight mission has begun the assembly, test and launch operations (ATLO) phase of its development, on track for a March 2016 launch to Mars.The lander, its aeroshell and cruise stage are being assembled by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver."Reaching this stage that we call ATLO is a critical milestone," sai...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-pluto-bound-spacecraft-crosses-neptunes-orbit
NASA Pluto-Bound Spacecraft Crosses Neptune's Orbit
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has crossed the orbit of Neptune, as it prepares to rendezvous with Pluto less than a year from now.
NASA's Pluto-bound New Horizons spacecraft has traversed the orbit of Neptune. This is its last major crossing en route to becoming the first probe to make a close encounter with distant Pluto on July 14, 2015.The sophisticated piano-sized spacecraft, which launched in January 2006, reached Neptune's orbit -- nearly 2....
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/sending-rats-to-mars
Sending 'rats' to Mars
One rock abrasion tool will ride on each of the twin Mars Exploration Rovers, launching in the summer of 2003.
NASA and JPL are sending "rats" to Mars to work as field geologists. A "rat" is not quite a furry little friend, but rather a high-tech robot with diamond teeth, called a rock abrasion tool.One rock abrasion tool will ride on each of the twin Mars Exploration Rovers, launching in the summer of 2003. These tools will ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-satellites-illuminate-pollutions-influence-on-clouds-climate
NASA Satellites Illuminate Pollution's Influence on Clouds, Climate
Using data from instruments in a constellation of NASA satellites, scientists have discovered that they can see deep inside of clouds.
PASADENA, Calif. -- Using data from instruments in a constellation of NASA satellites, scientists have discovered that they can see deep inside of clouds. The satellites are taking first-of-a-kind measurements, shedding new light on the link between clouds, pollution and rainfall.Jonathan Jiang of NASA's Jet Pr...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-data-suggest-future-may-be-rainier-than-expected
NASA Data Suggest Future May Be Rainier Than Expected
Global climate models may underestimate the amount of rain that will fall in the tropics as our planet continues to warm.
A new study suggests that most global climate models may underestimate the amount of rain that will fall in Earth's tropical regions as our planet continues to warm. That's because these models underestimate decreases in high clouds over the tropics seen in recent NASA observations, according to research led by scienti...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/curiosity-resumes-operations-after-switching-computers
Curiosity Resumes Operations After Switching Computers
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity is in good health but takes a short break while engineers diagnose why it reset its computer.
Updated March 12, 2019, 10:40 a.m. PDT (1:40 p.m EDT):Curiosity experienced a computer reset on its Side-A computer on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 (Sol 2,339), that triggered the rover's safe mode. This was the second computer reset in three weeks; both resets were related to the computer's memory.The mission team decided...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/first-recorded-voice-from-mars
First Recorded Voice from Mars
The following statement by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden was returned to Earth via the Mars Curiosity rover.
Hello.  This is Charlie Bolden, NASA Administrator, speaking to you via the broadcast capabilities of the Curiosity Rover, which is now on the surface of Mars.Since the beginning of time, humankind's curiosity has led us to constantly seek new life...new possibilities just beyond the horizon.  I want to congratula...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/jason-1-ready-for-service-releases-first-data
Jason 1 Ready for Service, Releases First Data
Following an in-depth performance review by NASA and the French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, the Jason 1 oceanography satellite has been declared ready for operational service.
Following an in-depth performance review by NASA and the French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, the Jason 1 oceanography satellite has been declared ready for operational service.With the initiation of its operations phase, Jason has begun to generate its first science products on its mission to monitor global clim...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/cleaner-nasa-rover-sees-its-shadow-in-martian-spring
Cleaner NASA Rover Sees Its Shadow in Martian Spring
NASA's Mars rover Opportunity has captured a shadow selfie on a slope it is exploring with an increasing power supply, as winds remove some dust and spring days grow longer.
Late afternoon lighting produced a dramatic shadow of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity photographed by the rover's rear hazard-avoidance camera on March 20, 2014.The shadow falls across a slope called the McClure-Beverlin Escarpment on the western rim of Endeavour Crater, where Opportunity is investigating roc...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-rover-findings-point-to-a-more-earth-like-martian-past
NASA Rover Findings Point to a More Earth-like Martian Past
Chemicals found in Martian rocks by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover suggest the Red Planet once had more oxygen in its atmosphere than it does now.
Chemicals found in Martian rocks by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover suggest the Red Planet once had more oxygen in its atmosphere than it does now.Researchers found high levels of manganese oxides by using a laser-firing instrument on the rover. This hint of more oxygen in Mars' early atmosphere adds to other Curiosity fin...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter-mission-status
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission Status
With one very busy year remaining before launch, the team preparing NASA's next mission to Mars has begun integrating and testing the spacecraft's versatile payload.
With one very busy year remaining before launch, the team preparing NASA's next mission to Mars has begun integrating and testing the spacecraft's versatile payload. Possible launch dates from Cape Canaveral, Fla., for NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter begin Aug. 10, 2005. The spacecraft will reach Mars seven months ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/earths-magnetic-fields-could-track-ocean-heat-nasa
Earth's Magnetic Fields Could Track Ocean Heat: NASA
As Earth warms, much of the extra heat is stored in the planet's ocean -- but monitoring the magnitude of that heat content is a difficult task.
As Earth warms, much of the extra heat is stored in the planet's ocean -- but monitoring the magnitude of that heat content is a difficult task.A surprising feature of the tides could help, however. Scientists at aNASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, are developing a new way to use satellite obser...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-self-driving-perseverance-mars-rover-takes-the-wheel
NASA’s Self-Driving Perseverance Mars Rover ‘Takes the Wheel’
The agency’s newest rover is trekking across the Martian landscape using a newly enhanced auto-navigation system.
Perseverance relies on left and right navigation cameras. The view seen here combines the perspective of two cameras rover during the rover’s first drive using AutoNav, it’s autonavigation function.Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechNASA’s newest six-wheeled robot on Mars, thePerseverancerover, is beginning an epic journey across...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/why-nasa-is-trying-to-crash-land-on-mars
Why NASA Is Trying to Crash Land on Mars
Like a car’s crumple zone, the experimental SHIELD lander is designed to absorb a hard impact.
NASA has successfully touched down on Mars nine times, relying on cutting-edge parachutes, massive airbags, and jetpacks to set spacecraft safely on the surface. Now engineers are testing whether or not the easiest way to get to the Martian surface is to crash.Rather than slow a spacecraft’s high-speed descent, an expe...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-spitzer-tess-find-potentially-volcano-covered-earth-size-world
NASA’s Spitzer, TESS Find Potentially Volcano-Covered Earth-Size World
The gravitational tug of a neighboring planet may heat the world’s interior, creating the right conditions for volcanic activity on the surface.
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-size exoplanet, or world beyond our solar system, that may be carpeted with volcanoes. Called LP 791-18 d, the planet could undergo volcanic outbursts as often as Jupiter’s moon Io, the most volcanically active body in our solar system.They found and studied the planet using data fr...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-mission-provides-its-first-look-at-martian-upper-atmosphere
NASA Mission Provides Its First Look at Martian Upper Atmosphere
NASA's MAVEN spacecraft orbiting Mars sees a solar-particle storm, gets ultraviolet images of tenuous oxygen, hydrogen and carbon coronas, and yields a map of variable ozone.
NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft has provided scientists their first look at a storm of energetic solar particles at Mars, produced unprecedented ultraviolet images of the tenuous oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon coronas surrounding the Red Planet, and yielded a comprehensive map of highly v...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/galileo-team-hears-voice-of-ganymede-europa-flyby-is-next
Galileo Team Hears 'Voice' of Ganymede; Europa Flyby is Next
Jupiter's big moon Ganymede is not only the size of a planet -- it sounds like one too, as heard in audio recordings made from data returned by NASA's Galileo spacecraft released today.
Jupiter's big moon Ganymede is not only the size of a planet -- it sounds like one too, as heard in audio recordings made from data returned by NASA's Galileo spacecraft released today.Characterized by a soaring whistle and hissing static, Ganymede's song reveals that the solar system's largest moon is also the only on...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/weather-changing-oceans-waves-charted-from-space
Weather-Changing Oceans Waves Charted From Space
New results from the ocean-observing TOPEX/Poseidon satellite are challenging a fundamental oceanographic theory about the speed of large-scale ocean waves -- a finding that could ultimately revise science textbooks and improve global weather forecasting.
New results from the ocean-observing TOPEX/Poseidon satellite are challenging a fundamental oceanographic theory about the speed of large-scale ocean waves -- a finding that could ultimately revise science textbooks and improve global weather forecasting.The large-scale ocean waves, with wavelengths of hundreds of kilo...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mars-rover-heads-uphill-after-solving-doughnut-riddle
Mars Rover Heads Uphill After Solving 'Doughnut' Riddle
Researchers determine the Martian rock resembling a jelly doughnut is a piece of a larger rock broken and moved by the wheel of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity.
Researchers have determined the now-infamous Martian rock resembling a jelly doughnut, dubbed Pinnacle Island, is a piece of a larger rock broken and moved by the wheel of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity in early January.Only about 1.5 inches wide (4 centimeters), the white-rimmed, red-centered rock caused a ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/hot-cyclones-churn-at-both-ends-of-saturn
Hot Cyclones Churn at Both Ends of Saturn
Despite more than a decade of winter darkness, Saturn's north pole is home to an unexpected hot spot remarkably similar to one at the planet's sunny south pole.
Despite more than a decade of winter darkness, Saturn's north pole is home to an unexpected hot spot remarkably similar to one at the planet's sunny south pole. The source of its heat is a mystery. Now, the first detailed views of the gas giant's high latitudes from the Cassini spacecraft reveal a matched set o...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/ceres-temporary-atmosphere-linked-to-solar-activity
Ceres' Temporary Atmosphere Linked to Solar Activity
Solar particles free water molecules from the surface of Ceres, allowing them to escape and create a tenuous atmosphere, according to a new study.
Scientists have long thought that Ceres may have a very weak, transient atmosphere, but mysteries lingered about its origin and why it's not always present. Now, researchers suggest that this temporary atmosphere appears to be related to the behavior of the sun, rather than Ceres' proximity to the sun. The study was co...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/getting-the-low-density-supersonic-decelerator-ldsd-vehicle-to-test-altitude
Getting the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) Vehicle to Test Altitude
A balloon will launch the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) mission this June.
In June, NASA will conduct the second flight of a Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) test vehicle from the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) located on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii.The test will begin at an altitude of about 120,000 feet (37,000 meters). In addition to finding a way to deliver the t...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/spirit-ready-to-drive-onto-mars-surface
Spirit Ready to Drive onto Mars Surface
NASA's Spirit completed a three-stage turn early today, the last step before a drive planned early Thursday to take the rover off its lander platform and onto martian soil for the first time.
NASA's Spirit completed a three-stage turn early today, the last step before a drive planned early Thursday to take the rover off its lander platform and onto martian soil for the first time."We are very excited about where we are today. We've just completed the exploration of our lander and we're ready to explore Mars...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-explains-why-june-30-will-get-extra-second
NASA Explains Why June 30 Will Get Extra Second
The day will officially be a bit longer than usual on Tuesday, June 30, 2015, because an extra second, or "leap" second, will be added.
The day will officially be a bit longer than usual on Tuesday, June 30, 2015, because an extra second, or "leap" second, will be added."Earth's rotation is gradually slowing down a bit, so leap seconds are a way to account for that," said Daniel MacMillan of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.Str...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/new-nasa-mission-to-take-first-look-deep-inside-mars
New NASA Mission to Take First Look Deep Inside Mars
NASA has selected a new mission, set to launch in 2016, that will take the first look into the deep interior of Mars to study its evolution compared with other rocky planets.
PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA has selected a new mission, set to launch in 2016, that will take the first look into the deep interior of Mars to see why the Red Planet evolved so differently from Earth as one of our solar system's rocky planets.The new mission, named InSight, will place instruments on the Martian surfac...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-announces-astronomy-and-astrophysics-fellows-for-2017
NASA Announces Astronomy and Astrophysics Fellows for 2017
NASA has selected 28 fellows for its prestigious Einstein, Hubble and Sagan fellowships.
NASA has selected 28 fellows for its prestigious Einstein, Hubble and Sagan fellowships. Each post-doctoral fellowship provides three years of support to awardees to pursue independent research in astronomy and astrophysics. The new fellows will begin their programs in the fall of 2017 at a host university or research ...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-opportunity-rover-logs-15-years-on-mars
NASA's Opportunity Rover Logs 15 Years on Mars
The rover landed in a region of the Red Planet called Meridiani Planum 15 years ago today, on Jan. 24, 2004.
NASA's Opportunity rover begins its 16th year on the surface of Mars today. The rover landed in a region of the Red Planet called Meridiani Planum on Jan. 24, 2004, sending its first signal back to Earth from the surface at 9:05 p.m. PST (Jan. 25, 2004, at 12:05 a.m. EST). The golf-cart-sized rover was designed to trav...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-curiosity-mars-rover-reroutes-away-from-gator-back-rocks
NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover Reroutes Away From ‘Gator-Back’ Rocks
To avoid patches of knife-edged rocks, the mission has taken an alternative path up Mount Sharp.
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover spent most of March climbing the“Greenheugh Pediment” – a gentle slopecapped by rubbly sandstone. The roverbriefly summitedthis feature’s north face two years ago; now on the pediment’s southern side, Curiosity has navigated back onto the pediment to explore it more fully.But on March 18, th...