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Scientists use the JWST to study an extremely ancient galaxy piercing through the Cosmic Dark Ages
Biomass poised for liftoff to unveil forest secrets
After years of careful design and preparation, ESA’s Earth Explorer Biomass satellite is set for launch tomorrow, 29 April at 11:15 CEST, aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
This groundbreaking mission will offer unprecedented insights into the state and evolution of the world’s forests. By mapping the woody material in Earth’s forests, this revolutionary satellite will play a crucial role in deepening our understanding of how forests influence the global carbon cycle.
SpaceX launches 250th Starlink satellite mission, lands rocket at sea (video, photos)
Uranus passed between Earth and a distant star this month — and NASA caught the rare event
20 years ago, 'Star Wars: Republic Commando' made us care about the clones long before 'The Clone Wars' and 'The Bad Batch'
Trump administration cancels lease for NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies lab in New York City
Faint Neptune joins Venus and Saturn to form a planetary triangle in the pre-dawn sky on April 28
Meet the 'Doctor Who' actors who brought the retrofuturistic robots to life for season 2's 'The Robot Revolution' (interview)
NASA's Dragonfly nuclear-powered helicopter clears key hurdle ahead of 2028 launch toward huge Saturn moon Titan
The new 'Doctor Who' episode 'The Well' is actually a sequel to a David Tennant classic
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 158 — Hubble's 35th Birthday
International Dark Sky Week 2025: See these 10 night sky sights to celebrate
'We learned so much that we didn't know': Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost moon lander mission was full of surprises
Earth Science Showcase – Kids Art Collection
1 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)On April 16, 2025, the Earth Science Division at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley held an Earth Science Showcase to share its work with the center and their families. As part of this event, kids were invited to draw something they like about the Earth. These are their masterpieces.
Sora U. Age 9. “Wildlife” Sora U. Age 9. “Wildlife” Wesley P. Age 2.5. “Pale Blue” Wesley P. Age 2.5. “Pale Blue” Kira U. Age 5. “Hawaii” Kira U. Age 5. “Hawaii” Anonymous. “eARTh” Anonymous. “eARTh” Brooks P. Age 8mo. “Squiggles” Brooks P. Age 8mo. “Squiggles” About the AuthorMilan LoiaconoScience Communication Specialist
Milan Loiacono is a science communication specialist for the Earth Science Division at NASA Ames Research Center.
Share Details Last Updated Apr 28, 2025 Related Terms Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASAMissions
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Earth Science Showcase – Kids Art Collection
1 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)On April 16, 2025, the Earth Science Division at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley held an Earth Science Showcase to share its work with the center and their families. As part of this event, kids were invited to share something they like about the Earth. These are their masterpieces.
Sora U. Age 9. “Wildlife” Sora U. Age 9. “Wildlife” Wesley P. Age 2.5. “Pale Blue” Wesley P. Age 2.5. “Pale Blue” Kira U. Age 5. “Hawaii” Kira U. Age 5. “Hawaii” Anonymous. “eARTh” Anonymous. “eARTh” Brooks P. Age 8mo. “Squiggles” Brooks P. Age 8mo. “Squiggles” About the AuthorMilan LoiaconoScience Communication SpecialistMilan Loiacono is a science communication specialist for the Earth Science Division at NASA Ames Research Center.
Share Details Last Updated Apr 25, 2025 Related Terms Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASAMissions
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Curiosity is Making Tracks Across the Surface of Mars
Images of Mars never cease to amaze. This latest image of NASA’s Curiosity Rover captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the rover as a dark speck and the end of a long trail of tracks. It was rattling along at a speed of 0.16 km/h across the Gediz Vallis Channel and was headed towards a region that could have been formed by water billions of years ago. The weather on Mars won’t allow the tracks to persist though so they are likely to last for only a few months.
Lunar Space Station Module for NASA’s Artemis Campaign to Begin Final Outfitting
3 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Gateway’s HALO module at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Gilbert, Arizona, on April 4, 2025, shortly after its arrival from Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy. NASA/Josh Valcarcel
NASA continues to mark progress on plans to work with commercial and international partners as part of the Gateway program. The primary structure of HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) arrived at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Gilbert, Arizona, where it will undergo final outfitting and verification testing.
HALO will provide Artemis astronauts with space to live, work, and conduct scientific research. The habitation module will be equipped with essential systems including command and control, data handling, energy storage, power distribution, and thermal regulation.
Following HALO’s arrival on April 1 from Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, where it was assembled, NASA and Northrop Grumman hosted an April 24 event to acknowledge the milestone, and the module’s significance to lunar exploration. The event opened with remarks by representatives from Northrop Grumman and NASA, including NASA’s Acting Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development Lori Glaze, Gateway Program Manager Jon Olansen, and NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik. Event attendees, including Senior Advisor to the NASA Administrator Todd Ericson, elected officials, and local industry and academic leaders, viewed HALO and virtual reality demonstrations during a tour of the facilities.
Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, and Dr. Jon B. Olansen, Gateway Program manager, on stage during an April 24, 2025, event at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Gilbert, Arizona, commemorating HALO’s arrival in the United States. Northrop Grumman
While the module is in Arizona, HALO engineers and technicians will install propellant lines for fluid transfer and electrical lines for power and data transfer. Radiators will be attached for the thermal control system, as well as racks to house life support hardware, power equipment, flight computers, and avionics systems. Several mechanisms will be mounted to enable docking of the Orion spacecraft, lunar landers, and visiting spacecraft.
Launching on top of HALO is the ESA (European Space Agency)-provided Lunar Link system which will enable communication between crewed and robotic systems on the Moon and to mission control on Earth. Once these systems are installed, the components will be tested as an integrated spacecraft and subjected to thermal vacuum, acoustics, vibration, and shock testing to ensure the spacecraft is ready to perform in the harsh conditions of deep space.
In tandem with HALO’s outfitting at Northrop Grumman, the Power and Propulsion Element – a powerful solar electric propulsion system – is being assembled at Maxar Space Systems in Palo Alto, California. Solar electric propulsion uses energy collected from solar panels converted to electricity to create xenon ions, then accelerates them to more than 50,000 miles per hour to create thrust that propels the spacecraft.
The element’s central cylinder, which resembles a large barrel, is being attached to the propulsion tanks, and avionics shelves are being installed. The first of three 12-kilowatt thrusters has been delivered to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland for acceptance testing before delivery to Maxar and integration with the Power and Propulsion Element later this year.
Learn More About Gateway Facebook logo @NASAGateway @NASA_Gateway Instagram logo @nasaartemis Linkedin logo @NASA Share Details Last Updated Apr 28, 2025 ContactLaura RochonLocationJohnson Space Center Related Terms Explore More 2 min read NASA Welcomes Gateway Lunar Space Station’s HALO Module to USFrom Italy to Arizona: Gateway’s first habitation module takes a major step on its path…
Article 4 weeks ago 2 min read NASA Prepares Gateway Lunar Space Station for Journey to MoonAssembly is underway for Gateway's Power and Propulsion Element, the module that will power the…
Article 2 months ago 2 min read Advanced Modeling Enhances Gateway’s Lunar Dust DefenseAhead of more frequent and intense contact with dust during Artemis missions, NASA is developing…
Article 3 months ago Keep Exploring Discover Related TopicsMissions
Humans in Space
Climate Change
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Lunar Space Station Module for NASA’s Artemis Campaign to Begin Final Outfitting
3 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Gateway’s HALO module at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Gilbert, Arizona, on April 4, 2025, shortly after its arrival from Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy. NASA/Josh ValcarcelNASA continues to mark progress on plans to work with commercial and international partners as part of the Gateway program. The primary structure of HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) arrived at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Gilbert, Arizona, where it will undergo final outfitting and verification testing.
HALO will provide Artemis astronauts with space to live, work, and conduct scientific research. The habitation module will be equipped with essential systems including command and control, data handling, energy storage, power distribution, and thermal regulation.
Following HALO’s arrival on April 1 from Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, where it was assembled, NASA and Northrop Grumman hosted an April 24 event to acknowledge the milestone, and the module’s significance to lunar exploration. The event opened with remarks by representatives from Northrop Grumman and NASA, including NASA’s Acting Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development Lori Glaze, Gateway Program Manager Jon Olansen, and NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik. Event attendees, including Senior Advisor to the NASA Administrator Todd Ericson, elected officials, and local industry and academic leaders, viewed HALO and virtual reality demonstrations during a tour of the facilities.
Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, and Dr. Jon B. Olansen, Gateway Program manager, on stage during an April 24, 2025, event at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Gilbert, Arizona, commemorating HALO’s arrival in the United States. Northrop GrummanWhile the module is in Arizona, HALO engineers and technicians will install propellant lines for fluid transfer and electrical lines for power and data transfer. Radiators will be attached for the thermal control system, as well as racks to house life support hardware, power equipment, flight computers, and avionics systems. Several mechanisms will be mounted to enable docking of the Orion spacecraft, lunar landers, and visiting spacecraft.
Launching on top of HALO is the ESA (European Space Agency)-provided Lunar Link system which will enable communication between crewed and robotic systems on the Moon and to mission control on Earth. Once these systems are installed, the components will be tested as an integrated spacecraft and subjected to thermal vacuum, acoustics, vibration, and shock testing to ensure the spacecraft is ready to perform in the harsh conditions of deep space.
In tandem with HALO’s outfitting at Northrop Grumman, the Power and Propulsion Element – a powerful solar electric propulsion system – is being assembled at Maxar Space Systems in Palo Alto, California. Solar electric propulsion uses energy collected from solar panels converted to electricity to create xenon ions, then accelerates them to more than 50,000 miles per hour to create thrust that propels the spacecraft.
The element’s central cylinder, which resembles a large barrel, is being attached to the propulsion tanks, and avionics shelves are being installed. The first of three 12-kilowatt thrusters has been delivered to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland for acceptance testing before delivery to Maxar and integration with the Power and Propulsion Element later this year.
Learn More About Gateway Facebook logo @NASAGateway @NASA_Gateway Instagram logo @nasaartemis Linkedin logo @NASA Share Details Last Updated Apr 26, 2025 ContactLaura RochonLocationJohnson Space Center Related Terms Explore More 2 min read NASA Welcomes Gateway Lunar Space Station’s HALO Module to USFrom Italy to Arizona: Gateway’s first habitation module takes a major step on its path…
Article 3 weeks ago 2 min read NASA Prepares Gateway Lunar Space Station for Journey to MoonAssembly is underway for Gateway's Power and Propulsion Element, the module that will power the…
Article 2 months ago 2 min read Advanced Modeling Enhances Gateway’s Lunar Dust DefenseAhead of more frequent and intense contact with dust during Artemis missions, NASA is developing…
Article 3 months ago Keep Exploring Discover Related TopicsMissions
Humans in Space
Climate Change
Solar System