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Artemis II’s sixth day was a whirlwind of science and awe, with the mission’s astronauts glimpsing parts of the moon never before seen by any human—and talking to the U.S. president

If NASA’s ambitious lunar exploration plans succeed, scientists will cover the moon with sensors—and find answers to several long-standing questions about the inner solar system

Japan’s space agency, JAXA, has been knocking it out of the park with small-body exploration missions for decades. They had historic successes with both Hayabusa and Hayabusa2, and they are going to visit the Martian Moons soon with the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. But after that, they are aiming for something much more pristine and arguably more difficult - a comet. The Next Generation Small-Body Return (NGSR) was recently described in a paper at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), and is under assessment as a large-class mission for the 2030s.

On 6 April 2026, NASA’s Artemis II mission, powered by ESA’s European Service Module (ESM), brought humans further than ever before. 

But how do future astronauts train to live on the Moon, and what kind of lunar base could they create?

That’s where school students like you can come in!

An elegant mix of math and gravity powers the Artemis II “free return” trajectory from Earth to the moon and back

Four NASA astronauts have now travelled further from Earth than any humans before them, as they flew around the moon during the Artemis II mission on 6 April

Four NASA astronauts have now travelled further from Earth than any humans before them, as they flew around the moon during the Artemis II mission on 6 April

Lasers could one day steer solar sails and adjust a satellite’s position in outer space, thanks to graphene. An experiment on a gravity rollercoaster ride showed how this innovative material has the potential to revolutionise propulsion beyond Earth.

Shallow groundwater aquifers are driest in northern and central Florida in this map based on observations acquired on March 30, 2026, by the GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) satellites.NASA Earth Observatory/Lauren Dauphin

Florida is among the wettest U.S. states, but that doesn’t mean it is drought-free. Nearly all of Florida faced at least “moderate” drought, and nearly 80 percent faced “extreme” conditions in April 2026, according to data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Unusually dry conditions gripped the state for much of 2025, but the intensity and extent of the drought ratcheted up starting in January 2026.

Data from a NASA and German Research Center for Geosciences satellite mission show that the drought has left its imprint on the state’s underground water supplies, which are often tapped for drinking water and farming. The map above combines data from the twin GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) satellites and ground-based measurements to estimate the relative amount of groundwater stored underground as of March 30, 2026. The colors depict the wetness percentile, or how the amount of shallow groundwater compares to long-term records (1948–2010). Blue areas have more water than usual, and orange and red areas have less. Aquifers in the northern and central regions of the state are particularly dry.

The drought is being felt throughout Florida. Some water districts have imposed restrictions on when water can be used for certain activities, such as lawn watering and car washes. News reports suggest that the dry weather poses a threat to crops, many of which already suffered severe damage during hard freezes in February. Large wildland fires have flared up in some areas, and even wetland ecosystems like the Everglades face unusually dry conditions.  

The 2025-2026 drought is the most severe to affect Florida since 2012, data from the U.S. Drought Monitor show.NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin

U.S. Drought Monitor records indicate that the current drought is the most widespread and severe to affect the state since 2012. Many areas have received less than half their normal rainfall since September 1, 2025, according to the National Weather Service. St. Petersburg has seen only 7.7 inches (195.6 millimeters) of rain since September 1, compared to the normal 19.0 inches, making this the driest year on record for that period. 

However, the current drought does not yet rival the worst drought that has parched the state, according to data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Their analysis indicates that the 2000–2001 drought was more intense, lasted longer, and affected a larger area. GRACE-FO observations are among the sources of information that the U.S. Drought Monitor considers when mapping drought conditions in its weekly assessments. Forecasters anticipate that a slow-moving rainstorm set to hit Florida this week may offer some relief.

NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using GRACE-FO data from The National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Story by Adam Voiland.

Downloads March 30, 2026

JPEG (1.01 MB)

References and Resources

• AccuWeather (2026, April 5) Slow-moving rainstorm to douse Florida drought, wildfire risk this week. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Florida Climate Center (2026, February) Climate Summary for Florida. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection (2024, December 13) Aquifer Essentials. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (2026, February 20) Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Recent Freezes Caused Over $3 Billion in Estimated Losses to Florida Agriculture. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• FOX Business (2026, March 11) Florida drought deepens strain on citrus industry as growers battle costs, disease. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• FOX Weather (2026, March 25) New Florida water restrictions issued as historic drought intensifies, with little relief expected. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Main St. Daily News (2026) Floridan aquifer levels hit lowest since 2011 with little March rain. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• National Weather Service (2026, April 2) Drought Information Statement for West Central and Southwest Florida. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• National Weather Service (2026, April 2) Drought Information Statement for Southeast Alabama, Southwest Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle & Big Bend. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• South Florida Water Management District Groundwater Modeling. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Southwest Florida Water Management District (2026, March 24) District Declares Modified Phase III Water Shortage. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Tampa Bay Times (2026, March 21) ‘Dry to the bone’: Drought squeezes Everglades airboat operators. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• U.S. Drought Monitor (2026, April 2) Florida. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• WUFT (2026, March 11) North Florida drought strains farmers as dry conditions persist. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• WUSF (2026, March 24) Stricter outdoor watering restrictions are coming due to ongoing drought. Accessed April 6, 2026.

Earth Observatory

1. Science
2. Earth Observatory
3. Drought Parches Florida

• Earth
• Earth Observatory
• Image of the Day
• EO Explorer
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Shallow groundwater aquifers are driest in northern and central Florida in this map based on observations acquired on March 30, 2026, by the GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) satellites.NASA Earth Observatory/Lauren Dauphin

Florida is among the wettest U.S. states, but that doesn’t mean it is drought-free. Nearly all of Florida faced at least “moderate” drought, and nearly 80 percent faced “extreme” conditions in April 2026, according to data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Unusually dry conditions gripped the state for much of 2025, but the intensity and extent of the drought ratcheted up starting in January 2026.

Data from a NASA and German Research Center for Geosciences satellite mission show that the drought has left its imprint on the state’s underground water supplies, which are often tapped for drinking water and farming. The map above combines data from the twin GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) satellites and ground-based measurements to estimate the relative amount of groundwater stored underground as of March 30, 2026. The colors depict the wetness percentile, or how the amount of shallow groundwater compares to long-term records (1948–2010). Blue areas have more water than usual, and orange and red areas have less. Aquifers in the northern and central regions of the state are particularly dry.

The drought is being felt throughout Florida. Some water districts have imposed restrictions on when water can be used for certain activities, such as lawn watering and car washes. News reports suggest that the dry weather poses a threat to crops, many of which already suffered severe damage during hard freezes in February. Large wildland fires have flared up in some areas, and even wetland ecosystems like the Everglades face unusually dry conditions.  

The 2025-2026 drought is the most severe to affect Florida since 2012, data from the U.S. Drought Monitor show.NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin

U.S. Drought Monitor records indicate that the current drought is the most widespread and severe to affect the state since 2012. Many areas have received less than half their normal rainfall since September 1, 2025, according to the National Weather Service. St. Petersburg has seen only 7.7 inches (195.6 millimeters) of rain since September 1, compared to the normal 19.0 inches, making this the driest year on record for that period. 

However, the current drought does not yet rival the worst drought that has parched the state, according to data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Their analysis indicates that the 2000–2001 drought was more intense, lasted longer, and affected a larger area. GRACE-FO observations are among the sources of information that the U.S. Drought Monitor considers when mapping drought conditions in its weekly assessments. Forecasters anticipate that a slow-moving rainstorm set to hit Florida this week may offer some relief.

NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using GRACE-FO data from The National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Story by Adam Voiland.

Downloads March 30, 2026

JPEG (1.01 MB)

References and Resources

• AccuWeather (2026, April 5) Slow-moving rainstorm to douse Florida drought, wildfire risk this week. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Florida Climate Center (2026, February) Climate Summary for Florida. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection (2024, December 13) Aquifer Essentials. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (2026, February 20) Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Recent Freezes Caused Over $3 Billion in Estimated Losses to Florida Agriculture. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• FOX Business (2026, March 11) Florida drought deepens strain on citrus industry as growers battle costs, disease. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• FOX Weather (2026, March 25) New Florida water restrictions issued as historic drought intensifies, with little relief expected. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Main St. Daily News (2026) Floridan aquifer levels hit lowest since 2011 with little March rain. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• National Weather Service (2026, April 2) Drought Information Statement for West Central and Southwest Florida. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• National Weather Service (2026, April 2) Drought Information Statement for Southeast Alabama, Southwest Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle & Big Bend. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• South Florida Water Management District Groundwater Modeling. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Southwest Florida Water Management District (2026, March 24) District Declares Modified Phase III Water Shortage. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• Tampa Bay Times (2026, March 21) ‘Dry to the bone’: Drought squeezes Everglades airboat operators. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• U.S. Drought Monitor (2026, April 2) Florida. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• WUFT (2026, March 11) North Florida drought strains farmers as dry conditions persist. Accessed April 6, 2026.
• WUSF (2026, March 24) Stricter outdoor watering restrictions are coming due to ongoing drought. Accessed April 6, 2026.

Earth Observatory

1. Science
2. Earth Observatory
3. Drought Parches Florida

• Earth
• Earth Observatory
• Image of the Day
• EO Explorer
• Topics
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• About

On Monday night, the U.S. president called the crew aboard the Orion spacecraft to congratulate them on their moon mission

From the perspective of the Orion capsule, the moon will fully block the sun’s disk for nearly an hour

The space exploration milestone came during a 40-minute period during which the Artemis II astronauts were unable to communicate with Earth

On Monday, April 6, 2026, six days into the Artemis II mission, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen surpassed the record for human spaceflight’s farthest distance from Earth, which was previously set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.Credit: NASA

Editor’s note: This release was updated at 7:28 p.m. EDT on April 6, 2026, to reflect Orion’s final closest approach to the lunar surface from about 4,070 miles to about 4,067 miles. NASA also updated the farthest distance Orion will travel. Finally, NASA also made changes at 10 p.m. to the statements about crew firsts.

Four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II test flight around the Moon made history at 12:56 p.m. CDT on Monday, traveling 248,655 miles from Earth, surpassing the record for human spaceflight’s farthest distance previously set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. At its farthest point, crew inside the Orion spacecraft will have traveled about 252,756 miles, before looping back toward our home planet, setting the new record for human spaceflight.

Six days into the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis program, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen continued collecting pictures of the Moon on their voyage away from Earth.

“At NASA, we dare to reach higher, explore farther, and achieve the impossible. That’s embodied perfectly by our Artemis II astronauts – Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy. They are charting new frontiers for all humanity,” said Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Their dedication is about more than breaking records – it’s fueling our hope for a bold future. Their mission is carrying our promise to return to the Moon’s surface, this time to stay as we establish a Moon Base.”

NASA’s Orion spacecraft began its journey to the Moon following a successful April 1 launch on an SLS (Space Launch System) rocket from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After conducting a series of burns to break free of Earth orbit the following day, the spacecraft set its path toward the Moon.

Following their record achievement, crew provided brief, emotional remarks. The world heard from CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen aboard Orion:

“From the cabin of Integrity here, as we surpass the furthest distance humans have ever traveled from planet Earth, we do so in honoring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human space exploration. We will continue our journey even further into space before Mother Earth succeeds in pulling us back to everything that we hold dear. But we most importantly choose this moment to challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

In addition to their spaceflight record, crew suggested naming two craters on the Moon during their flight. The first is named in honor of their spacecraft, Integrity. The second honors Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll. After this mission is complete, the crater name proposals will be formally submitted to the International Astronomical Union, the organization that governs the naming of celestial bodies and their surface features.

When they fly past the Moon later, crew will come within about 4,067 miles from its surface at the closest approach. The astronauts will be the first to see some parts of the far side of the Moon with human eyes. Finally, they will witness a solar eclipse as the Moon passes in front of the Sun.

NASA is expecting to lose communication with the astronauts for about 40 minutes during a planned blackout period. The break will occur as the Moon blocks signals between the spacecraft and the Earth through the Deep Space Network. When Orion reemerges from behind the Moon, it is expected to quickly reacquire contact with flight controllers in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. 

During their lunar flyby, a fleet of cameras will capture imagery of the Moon, including features humans have never directly seen. The astronauts will use a variety of digital handheld cameras to conduct high-resolution photography of the lunar surface. Artemis II is providing astronauts an opportunity to gather data as one of the most powerful scientific tools for observation are the four pairs of eyes observing lunar features with varying illumination and texture.

Photos, videos, mission telemetry, and communication information are all sources of data from the test flight, which will be used to inform future Artemis missions as the agency embarks on development of its Moon Base.

The Artemis II astronauts are more than halfway through their mission. The crew is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) on Friday, April 10. Following splashdown, recovery teams will retrieve the crew members using helicopters and deliver them to the USS John P. Murtha. Once aboard, the astronauts will undergo post-flight medical evaluations in the ship’s medical bay before traveling back to shore to meet with an aircraft bound for NASA Johnson.

Under the Artemis program, NASA will send Artemis astronauts on increasingly challenging missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

For the latest mission progress, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-ii

-end-

Cheryl Warner / Rachel Kraft
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov / rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov

Share

Details Last Updated Apr 06, 2026 EditorJennifer M. DoorenLocationNASA Headquarters Related Terms

• Artemis 2
• Artemis
• Astronauts
• Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
• Humans in Space

On Monday, April 6, 2026, six days into the Artemis II mission, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen surpassed the record for human spaceflight’s farthest distance from Earth, which was previously set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.Credit: NASA

Editor’s note: This release was updated at 7:28 p.m. EDT on April 6, 2026, to reflect Orion’s final closest approach to the lunar surface from about 4,070 miles to about 4,067 miles. NASA also updated the farthest distance Orion will travel. Finally, NASA also made changes at 10 p.m. to the statements about crew firsts.

Four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II test flight around the Moon made history at 12:56 p.m. CDT on Monday, traveling 248,655 miles from Earth, surpassing the record for human spaceflight’s farthest distance previously set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. At its farthest point, crew inside the Orion spacecraft will have traveled about 252,756 miles, before looping back toward our home planet, setting the new record for human spaceflight.

Six days into the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis program, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen continued collecting pictures of the Moon on their voyage away from Earth.

“At NASA, we dare to reach higher, explore farther, and achieve the impossible. That’s embodied perfectly by our Artemis II astronauts – Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy. They are charting new frontiers for all humanity,” said Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Their dedication is about more than breaking records – it’s fueling our hope for a bold future. Their mission is carrying our promise to return to the Moon’s surface, this time to stay as we establish a Moon Base.”

NASA’s Orion spacecraft began its journey to the Moon following a successful April 1 launch on an SLS (Space Launch System) rocket from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After conducting a series of burns to break free of Earth orbit the following day, the spacecraft set its path toward the Moon.

Following their record achievement, crew provided brief, emotional remarks. The world heard from CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen aboard Orion:

“From the cabin of Integrity here, as we surpass the furthest distance humans have ever traveled from planet Earth, we do so in honoring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human space exploration. We will continue our journey even further into space before Mother Earth succeeds in pulling us back to everything that we hold dear. But we most importantly choose this moment to challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

In addition to their spaceflight record, crew suggested naming two craters on the Moon during their flight. The first is named in honor of their spacecraft, Integrity. The second honors Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll. After this mission is complete, the crater name proposals will be formally submitted to the International Astronomical Union, the organization that governs the naming of celestial bodies and their surface features.

When they fly past the Moon later, crew will come within about 4,067 miles from its surface at the closest approach. The astronauts will be the first to see some parts of the far side of the Moon with human eyes. Finally, they will witness a solar eclipse as the Moon passes in front of the Sun.

NASA is expecting to lose communication with the astronauts for about 40 minutes during a planned blackout period. The break will occur as the Moon blocks signals between the spacecraft and the Earth through the Deep Space Network. When Orion reemerges from behind the Moon, it is expected to quickly reacquire contact with flight controllers in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. 

During their lunar flyby, a fleet of cameras will capture imagery of the Moon, including features humans have never directly seen. The astronauts will use a variety of digital handheld cameras to conduct high-resolution photography of the lunar surface. Artemis II is providing astronauts an opportunity to gather data as one of the most powerful scientific tools for observation are the four pairs of eyes observing lunar features with varying illumination and texture.

Photos, videos, mission telemetry, and communication information are all sources of data from the test flight, which will be used to inform future Artemis missions as the agency embarks on development of its Moon Base.

The Artemis II astronauts are more than halfway through their mission. The crew is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) on Friday, April 10. Following splashdown, recovery teams will retrieve the crew members using helicopters and deliver them to the USS John P. Murtha. Once aboard, the astronauts will undergo post-flight medical evaluations in the ship’s medical bay before traveling back to shore to meet with an aircraft bound for NASA Johnson.

Under the Artemis program, NASA will send Artemis astronauts on increasingly challenging missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

For the latest mission progress, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-ii

-end-

Cheryl Warner / Rachel Kraft
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov / rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov

Share

Details Last Updated Apr 06, 2026 EditorJennifer M. DoorenLocationNASA Headquarters Related Terms

• Artemis 2
• Artemis
• Astronauts
• Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
• Humans in Space

NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission, or Northrop Grumman CRS-24, will deliver approximately 11,000 pounds of science and supplies to the International Space Station. This mission will be the second flight of the Cygnus XL, the larger, more cargo-capable version of the company’s solar-powered spacecraft. 

The Cygnus XL will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following arrival, astronauts aboard the space station will use the Canadarm2 to grapple Cygnus XL before robotically installing the spacecraft to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port for cargo unloading. 

NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to deliver research and supplies to the International Space Station. NASA NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission will deliver more than 11,000 pounds of research and supplies to the International Space Station. NASA NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Mission 24 will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 spacecraft is named in honor of NASA astronaut Steven Nagel. Selected by NASA in 1979, Nagel is a veteran of four space flights (STS-51G and STS-61AA in 1985, STS37 in 1991, and STS-55 in 1993) and has logged more than 723 hours in space. Nagel died in 2014. NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams will be on duty during the Cygnus spacecraft’s approach and rendezvous. Hathaway will be at the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic arm ready to capture Cygnus as Williams monitors the spacecraft’s arrival.NASA Science Highlights 

Along with supplies and equipment for the crew, Cygnus XL will deliver a range of scientific investigations to the International Space Station that helps to advance knowledge and technology in support of the Artemis program. This research includes:  

A new module for the Cold Atom Lab to expand its research capabilities and improve our understanding of general relativity, planetary composition, and dark matter. The Cold Atom Lab advances quantum research to improve technologies, such as solar cells, MRI scanners, and components that power phones and computers. 

NASA

An investigation (InSPA-StemCellEX-H2) studying blood stem cell production in microgravity to create a larger number of therapeutic cells. Successful stem cell production could advance healthcare on Earth for patients with certain blood diseases and cancers.  

NASA

An investigation (Nanoracks-ITSI) that measures how radio signals sent from Earth change as they pass through the upper atmosphere. These measurements could improve models that predict the impacts of solar activity and space weather, which can disrupt technologies like GPS navigation and radar tracking systems.  

A study (CBIOMES) of how spaceflight impacts the relationship between organisms and their gut microbiome. Researchers will observe changes in roundworms down to the cellular level to identify ways to maintain microbiome stability and help protect astronaut health on future Moon and Mars missions. 

Mission Hardware 

A study (CBIOMES) of how spaceflight impacts the relationship between organisms and their gut microbiome. Researchers will observe changes in roundworms down to the cellular level to identify ways to maintain microbiome stability and help protect astronaut health on future Moon and Mars missions. 

• The European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device is a compact exercise system that help preserve muscle mass and bone health in microgravity. By enabling a broader and more adaptable range of resistance exercises, this device combines cycling, rowing, and resistance training in addition to the ability to perform rope-pulling and climbing movements, even when unpowered. The device was jointly developed by NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). 

• The Supplemental Heat Rejection Evaporative Cooler provides heat rejection for the orbiting laboratory in the event of dual thermal control system loop failures. The cooler connects to the vacuum system and multiple onboard water sources to evaporate water through hollow fiber membranes.  

• The Ocular Coherence Tomography is a noncontact medical imaging device that uses reflected light to produce detailed cross-sectional and 3D images to actively track the eye during imagery. Tracking eye movement with simultaneous dual-beam imaging minimizes motion artifact, enables noise reduction, and allows the instrument to precisely track changes in crew eye health over time. This unit will replace a degraded unit in orbit

Additional Hardware

• 8 hatch seal covers, to be installed over current hatch seals 

• 2 batteries to support the operations of the Zarya module 

• 3 resupply water tanks for the water storage system 

• 1 nitrogen tank and 1 oxygen tank, used for recharging spacesuits and maintaining a pressurized environment on space station 

• 1 pretreat and water dispenser, a spare unit for the Waste and Hygiene Compartment 

NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission, or Northrop Grumman CRS-24, will deliver approximately 11,000 pounds of science and supplies to the International Space Station. This mission will be the second flight of the Cygnus XL, the larger, more cargo-capable version of the company’s solar-powered spacecraft. 

The Cygnus XL will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following arrival, astronauts aboard the space station will use the Canadarm2 to grapple Cygnus XL before robotically installing the spacecraft to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port for cargo unloading. 

NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to deliver research and supplies to the International Space Station. NASA NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission will deliver more than 11,000 pounds of research and supplies to the International Space Station. NASA NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Mission 24 will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 spacecraft is named in honor of NASA astronaut Steven Nagel. Selected by NASA in 1979, Nagel is a veteran of four space flights (STS-51G and STS-61AA in 1985, STS37 in 1991, and STS-55 in 1993) and has logged more than 723 hours in space. Nagel died in 2014. NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams will be on duty during the Cygnus spacecraft’s approach and rendezvous. Hathaway will be at the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic arm ready to capture Cygnus as Williams monitors the spacecraft’s arrival.NASA Science Highlights 

Along with supplies and equipment for the crew, Cygnus XL will deliver a range of scientific investigations to the International Space Station that helps to advance knowledge and technology in support of the Artemis program. This research includes:  

A new module for the Cold Atom Lab to expand its research capabilities and improve our understanding of general relativity, planetary composition, and dark matter. The Cold Atom Lab advances quantum research to improve technologies, such as solar cells, MRI scanners, and components that power phones and computers. 

NASA

An investigation (InSPA-StemCellEX-H2) studying blood stem cell production in microgravity to create a larger number of therapeutic cells. Successful stem cell production could advance healthcare on Earth for patients with certain blood diseases and cancers.  

NASA

An investigation (Nanoracks-ITSI) that measures how radio signals sent from Earth change as they pass through the upper atmosphere. These measurements could improve models that predict the impacts of solar activity and space weather, which can disrupt technologies like GPS navigation and radar tracking systems.  

A study (CBIOMES) of how spaceflight impacts the relationship between organisms and their gut microbiome. Researchers will observe changes in roundworms down to the cellular level to identify ways to maintain microbiome stability and help protect astronaut health on future Moon and Mars missions. 

Mission Hardware 

A study (CBIOMES) of how spaceflight impacts the relationship between organisms and their gut microbiome. Researchers will observe changes in roundworms down to the cellular level to identify ways to maintain microbiome stability and help protect astronaut health on future Moon and Mars missions. 

• The European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device is a compact exercise system that help preserve muscle mass and bone health in microgravity. By enabling a broader and more adaptable range of resistance exercises, this device combines cycling, rowing, and resistance training in addition to the ability to perform rope-pulling and climbing movements, even when unpowered. The device was jointly developed by NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). 

• The Supplemental Heat Rejection Evaporative Cooler provides heat rejection for the orbiting laboratory in the event of dual thermal control system loop failures. The cooler connects to the vacuum system and multiple onboard water sources to evaporate water through hollow fiber membranes.  

• The Ocular Coherence Tomography is a noncontact medical imaging device that uses reflected light to produce detailed cross-sectional and 3D images to actively track the eye during imagery. Tracking eye movement with simultaneous dual-beam imaging minimizes motion artifact, enables noise reduction, and allows the instrument to precisely track changes in crew eye health over time. This unit will replace a degraded unit in orbit

Additional Hardware

• 8 hatch seal covers, to be installed over current hatch seals 

• 2 batteries to support the operations of the Zarya module 

• 3 resupply water tanks for the water storage system 

• 1 nitrogen tank and 1 oxygen tank, used for recharging spacesuits and maintaining a pressurized environment on space station 

• 1 pretreat and water dispenser, a spare unit for the Waste and Hygiene Compartment 

The four astronauts onboard NASA’s moon mission just broke the record for the farthest distance from Earth traveled by any human

The water locked up in the Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) of the Moon’s south pole is a critical resource if we are ever going to get a permanent lunar presence off the ground. But while we know the water ice there exists, we don’t really know how much. We have to move from general estimates to mineable-scale prospecting data. That is what Oasis-1, the newly proposed lunar prospecting mission from Blue Origin that was recently introduced at the 2026 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) is meant to do.

A glimpse of a stellar cluster ties generations together.

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