SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch of U.S.-European Earth Satellite Sentinel-6B | NASA

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch of U.S.-European Earth Satellite Sentinel-6B | NASA

On Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 9:21 p.m. Pacific Time (PT), a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched NASA’s Sentinel-6B mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) from Vandenberg in California. This marks Falcon’s 500th mission with a flight-proven booster overall.

Additionally, this was the third flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission that previously supported two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg.

Sentinel-6B will use radar to bounce signals off of the ocean surface to deliver continuous ocean topography measurements. The mission also will collect high-resolution vertical profiles of temperature to assess temperature changes in Earth’s atmosphere and improve weather prediction models. It took over from Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, a twin of Sentinel-6B, which Falcon 9 launched five years ago from SLC-4E on November 21, 2020.

More launch information here: https://www.spacex.com/launches/sentinel-6b

NASA and its U.S. and international partners have teamed up to launch a new Earth-observing satellite called Sentinel-6B that will measure sea surface height of most of the planet’s ocean. These observations will help build an accurate picture of local and global sea levels for weather and storm forecasting to secure coastal property and infrastructure, and to support commercial activities, such as shipping and undersea pipeline operations. 

Sentinel-6B is the latest in a series of satellites dating back to 1992 that have created a more-than-30-year record of sea level rise around the globe. It is part of the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-Continuity of Service (CS) mission. The first, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, was launched in 2020. As its twin, Sentinel-6B will continue measuring sea levels down to roughly an inch for about 90% of Earth’s ocean.

The Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission was jointly developed by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the European Commission and technical support from the French space agency Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES).

Earlier this year, Sentinel-6B was removed from storage and underwent a series of checks at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany. It was then transported by truck to Bremen, where it was loaded onto the Industrial Dolphin ship for a three-week sea voyage to Galveston, Texas. Upon arrival, it was transported by road to NASA’s facilities at Vandenberg, California, where it remained in storage until October, when final launch preparations were made.

The Sentinel-6B satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space in Europe.

For more information on the Sentinel-6B mission, visit: 
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/sentinel-6/
https://bit.ly/3WZzJVy

Image Credit: SpaceX

Release Date: Nov. 17, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Space #Science #Satellites #Sentinel6B #Earth #Oceans #SeaLevels #ClimateChange #GlobalHeating #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #JPL #Caltech #NOAA #UnitedStates #EU #EuropeanUnion #EUMETSAT #CNES #Airbus #Europe #STEM #Education

The Paranal Observatory in Chile: A Hypnotizing View | ESO

The Paranal Observatory in Chile: A Hypnotizing View | ESO

“I couldn't believe I was photographing a circumpolar startrail in Paranal; without a doubt, one of the most incredible experiences I've had as a photographer,” says Osvaldo Castillo, the Chilean astrophotographer responsible for this stunning picture.  

This circular motion of the stars is caused by the rotation of the Earth around its axis. The point at which Earth's rotation axis extends to in the sky is called a celestial pole, which in today's image is the center around which all these stars seem to move or trail—hence, the name circumpolar startrail.

Osvaldo was able to capture this hypnotizing motion at the European Southern Observatory’s Paranal Observatory in Chile. With the tip of one of the Auxiliary Telescopes almost perfectly aligning with the southern celestial pole, it seems as if the sky revolves around the telescope, making it the center of attention.  

However, capturing these circular startrails is no easy task. Multiple images must be taken over several hours with a long exposure time—a slight misalignment can completely ruin the outcome, as the final trails are only visible when the individual images come together. And since the telescope moves as it points to different locations, different shots need to be taken for the foreground and background. Osvaldo explains that he took “almost 300 images and you can't see the result immediately. Fortunately, the calculation and orientation to the South were accurate." Lucky for us! We now get to enjoy this mesmerizing picture. 

Image Description: An open white dome with part of a telescope peeking through its opening at the top. The sky in the background is full of countless concentric white-ish circles, centered at the top of the telescope.

Credit: O. Castillo/ESO
Release Date: Nov. 17, 2025

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Earth #NightSky #StarTrails #SkyPhenomena #VLT #Telescopes #ParanalObservatory #Chile #Europe #Astrophotography #Photography #OsvaldoCastillo #Astrophotographer #TimelapsePhotography #Art #STEM #Education

Ariane 6 Rocket: Flight VA265 | Sentinel-1D Satellite | Best of Liftoff | Arianespace

Ariane 6 Rocket: Flight VA265 | Sentinel-1D Satellite | Best of Liftoff | Arianespace

One week ago, an Arianespace Ariane 6 rocket successfully launched the Sentinel-1D satellite from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on mission VA265 🚀.

This recap video covers:

Arrival of Sentinel-1D in Kourou

Encapsulation and integration with Ariane 6

Roll-out and liftoff

Successful separation in orbit ✨

🛰 Sentinel-1D, developed by Thales Alenia Space for the European Commission under contract with ESA, is part of the EU’s Copernicus program. With its radar instruments, it will deliver continuous, all-weather, day-and-night imagery of Earth’s surface, supporting vital environmental monitoring of sea ice, glaciers, subsidence, and oil spills 🌍.

Learn more:
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Sentinel-1D_reaches_orbit_on_Ariane_6

Video Credit: Arianespace
Duration: 2 minutes
Release Date: Nov. 17, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Space #Science #Satellites #Sentinel1D #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #Arianespace #Ariane6 #Ariane6Rocket #HeavyLiftRocket #RocketLaunch #MissionVA265 #GuianaSpaceCentre #KourouSpaceport #Kourou #FrenchGuiana #SouthAmerica #France #CNES #ArianeGroup #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

ULA Atlas V Rocket Launch Highlights: ViaSat-3 F2 Commercial Broaband Satellite

ULA Atlas V Rocket Launch Highlights: ViaSat-3 F2 Commercial Broaband Satellite

Watch launch highlights of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the 13,000-pound (6-metric-ton) ViaSat-3 F2 ultra-high-capacity broadband satellite. ULA launched the Atlas V at 10:04 p.m. EST (0304 UTC) from Cape Canaveral, Florida. ULA's Atlas V successfully delivered the ViaSat-3 F2 ultra-high-capacity satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

Watch the full launch webcast here: 
http://bit.ly/av_viasat

This new satellite will more than double the bandwidth capacity of ViaSat's existing fleet. ViaSat, Inc. is an American communications company based in Carlsbad, California, with additional operations across the United States and worldwide. ViaSat is a commercial provider of high-capacity broadband satellite services and secure networking systems.

United Launch Alliance, LLC (ULA) is an American launch service provider formed in December 2006 as a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Space and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The company designs, assembles, sells and launches rockets. The company uses rocket engines, solid rocket boosters, and other components supplied by other companies.

ViaSat: https://www.viasat.com

Video Credit: United Launch Alliance (ULA)

Duration: 1 minute
Date: Nov. 17, 2025

#NASA #Space #Satellites #Earth #CommercialSpace #UnitedLaunchAlliance #AtlasV #ULA #LockheedMartin #Boeing #ViaSat #ViaSat3Flight2 #CommunicationsSatellites #GTO #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Close-up: Galaxy NGC 1511 in Hydrus: A Disruptive Neighbor | Hubble

Close-up: Galaxy NGC 1511 in Hydrus: A Disruptive Neighbor | Hubble

Though interesting to look at, NGC 1511 is one galaxy you might not want for a neighbor. As this Hubble picture shows, NGC 1511 is a peculiar spiral galaxy located roughly 50 million light-years away in the constellation Hydrus. Like many galaxies, NGC 1511 does not travel through space alone. Instead, it has a pair of small galactic companions called NGC 1511A and NGC 1511B, that lie outside the frame of this Hubble image. NGC 1511B is situated closest to NGC 1511, and the two galaxies have apparently clashed in the past; a narrow strand of hydrogen gas connects them, and NGC 1511B has been stretched and distorted by the encounter. Researchers have even found evidence that NGC 1511 once had another small companion galaxy that it has disrupted entirely!

These disruptions have an impact on NGC 1511, too. The galaxy is experiencing a burst of star formation, and its disc features strange loops and plumes that could point to past interactions with its neighboring galaxies. Researchers will use Hubble’s keen observations of NGC 1511 to study star clusters embedded within its dusty gas, seeking to understand how matter is cycled from interstellar clouds to stars and back to clouds once again.

Image Description: A spiral galaxy, tilted away so that it is seen mostly from the edge. The disc of the galaxy glows blue from its center, due to younger stars in the spiral arms. There are large and small patches of gas, glowing in red and pink colors, where new stars are forming. Webs of dark dust are spread over the disc.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, D. Thilker

Duration: 30 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 14, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Stars #Galaxies #NGC1511 #PeculiarGalaxies #NGC1511A #NGC1511B #Hydrus #Constellations #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Finding Star Clusters in Lost Spiral Galaxy NGC 4535 in Virgo | Hubble

Finding Star Clusters in Lost Spiral Galaxy NGC 4535 in Virgo | Hubble

This Hubble picture features the spiral galaxy NGC 4535. It is located about 50 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo (The Maiden). This galaxy has been nicknamed the ‘Lost Galaxy’ because it is extremely faint when viewed through a small telescope. With a mirror spanning 2.4 meters across, Hubble is well equipped to observe dim galaxies like NGC 4535 and pick out features like its massive spiral arms and central bar of stars.

On full display in this Hubble image are NGC 4535’s young star clusters that dot the galaxy’s spiral arms. Many of the groupings of bright blue stars are enclosed by glowing pink clouds. These clouds, called H II (‘H-two’) regions, are a sign that the galaxy is home to especially young, hot, and massive stars that are blazing with high-energy radiation. By heating the clouds in which they were born, shooting out powerful stellar winds, and eventually exploding as supernovae, massive stars certainly shake up their surroundings. 

This Hubble image incorporates data from an observing program that will catalogue roughly 50,000 H II regions in nearby star-forming galaxies like NGC 4535. A previous image of NGC 4535 was released in 2021. Both the 2021 image and today’s image incorporate observations from the PHANGS program that seek to understand the connections between young stars and cold gas. This  current image adds a new dimension to our understanding of NGC 4535 by capturing the brilliant red glow of the nebulae that encircle massive stars in their first few million years of life.

Image Description: A close-in view of a spiral galaxy that faces the viewer. Brightly lit spiral arms swing outwards through the galaxy’s disc, starting from an elliptical region in the center. Thick strands of dark reddish dust are spread across the disc, mostly following the spiral arms. The arms also contain many glowing pink-red spots where stars form. The galaxy is a bit fainter beyond the arms, but speckled with blue stars.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, F. Belfiore, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST Team
Release Date: Nov. 17, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Stars #Galaxies #NGC4535 #SpiralGalaxies #Virgo #Constellations #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education

U.S.-European Earth Satellite Sentinel-6B Deployment via SpaceX Falcon 9 | NASA

U.S.-European Earth Satellite Sentinel-6B Deployment via SpaceX Falcon 9 | NASA

Orbital deployment of the Sentinel-6B satellite has been confirmed. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Sentinel-6B Earth observation satellite on Monday, November 17, 2025 (Eastern Standard Time), from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg in California. This is the second Sentinel-6 satellite Falcon 9 has launched after delivering the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite to orbit in November 2020.

NASA and its U.S. and international partners have teamed up to launch a new Earth-observing satellite called Sentinel-6B that will measure sea surface height of most of the planet’s ocean. These observations will help build an accurate picture of local and global sea levels for weather and storm forecasting to secure coastal property and infrastructure, and to support commercial activities, such as shipping and undersea pipeline operations. 

Sentinel-6B will be the latest in a series of satellites dating back to 1992 that have created a more-than-30-year record of sea level rise around the globe. It is part of the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-Continuity of Service (CS) mission. The first, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, was launched in 2020. As its twin, Sentinel-6B will continue measuring sea levels down to roughly an inch for about 90% of Earth’s ocean.

The Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission was jointly developed by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the European Commission and technical support from the French space agency Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES).

Earlier this year, Sentinel-6B was removed from storage and underwent a series of checks at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany. It was then transported by truck to Bremen, where it was loaded onto the Industrial Dolphin ship for a three-week sea voyage to Galveston, Texas. Upon arrival, it was transported by road to NASA’s facilities at Vandenberg, California, where it remained in storage until October, when final launch preparations were made.

The Sentinel-6B satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space in Europe.

For more information on the Sentinel-6B mission, visit: 
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/sentinel-6/
https://bit.ly/3WZzJVy

Video Credit: SpaceX

Duration: 20 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 17, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Space #Science #Satellites #Sentinel6B #Earth #Oceans #SeaLevels #ClimateChange #GlobalHeating #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #JPL #Caltech #NOAA #UnitedStates #EU #EuropeanUnion #EUMETSAT #CNES #Airbus #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Liftoff: U.S.-European Earth Satellite Sentinel-6B on SpaceX Falcon 9 | NASA

Liftoff: U.S.-European Earth Satellite Sentinel-6B on SpaceX Falcon 9 | NASA

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has launched the Sentinel-6B Earth observation satellite on Monday, November 17, 2025 (Eastern Standard Time), from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg in California. This is the second Sentinel-6 satellite Falcon 9 has launched after delivering the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite to orbit in November 2020.

NASA and its U.S. and international partners have teamed up to launch a new Earth-observing satellite called Sentinel-6B that will measure sea surface height of most of the planet’s ocean. These observations will help build an accurate picture of local and global sea levels for weather and storm forecasting to secure coastal property and infrastructure, and to support commercial activities, such as shipping and undersea pipeline operations. 

Sentinel-6B will be the latest in a series of satellites dating back to 1992 that have created a more-than-30-year record of sea level rise around the globe. It is part of the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-Continuity of Service (CS) mission. The first, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, was launched in 2020. As its twin, Sentinel-6B will continue measuring sea levels down to roughly an inch for about 90% of Earth’s ocean.

The Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission was jointly developed by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the European Commission and technical support from the French space agency Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES).

Earlier this year, Sentinel-6B was removed from storage and underwent a series of checks at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany. It was then transported by truck to Bremen, where it was loaded onto the Industrial Dolphin ship for a three-week sea voyage to Galveston, Texas. Upon arrival, it was transported by road to NASA’s facilities at Vandenberg, California, where it remained in storage until October, when final launch preparations were made.

The Sentinel-6B satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space in Europe.

For more information on the Sentinel-6B mission, visit: 
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/sentinel-6/
https://bit.ly/3WZzJVy

Video Credit: SpaceX

Duration: 32 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 17, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Space #Science #Satellites #Sentinel6B #Earth #Oceans #SeaLevels #ClimateChange #GlobalHeating #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #JPL #Caltech #NOAA #UnitedStates #EU #EuropeanUnion #EUMETSAT #CNES #Airbus #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

U.S.-European Earth Satellite Sentinel-6B: SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Ready | NASA

U.S.-European Earth Satellite Sentinel-6B: SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Ready | NASA

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with U.S./European Sentinel-6B Earth observation satellite

Sentinel 6 Mission Emblem

Launch is currently targeted for 12:21 a.m. EST, Monday, Nov. 17 (9:21 p.m. PST, Sunday, Nov. 16), 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg in California.

NASA and its U.S. and international partners have teamed up to launch a new Earth-observing satellite called Sentinel-6B that will measure sea surface height of most of the planet’s ocean. These observations will help build an accurate picture of local and global sea levels for weather and storm forecasting to secure coastal property and infrastructure, and to support commercial activities, such as shipping and undersea pipeline operations. 

Sentinel-6B will be the latest in a series of satellites dating back to 1992 that have created a more-than-30-year record of sea level rise around the globe. It is part of the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-Continuity of Service (CS) mission. The first, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, was launched in 2020. As its twin, Sentinel-6B will continue measuring sea levels down to roughly an inch for about 90% of Earth’s ocean.

The Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission was jointly developed by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the European Commission and technical support from the French space agency Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES).

Earlier this year, Sentinel-6B was removed from storage and underwent a series of checks at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany. It was then transported by truck to Bremen, where it was loaded onto the Industrial Dolphin ship for a three-week sea voyage to Galveston, Texas. Upon arrival, it was transported by road to NASA’s facilities at Vandenberg, California, where it remained in storage until October, when final launch preparations were made.

The Sentinel-6B satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space in Europe.

For more information on the Sentinel-6B mission, visit: 
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/sentinel-6/
https://bit.ly/3WZzJVy

Image Credit: SpaceX
Release Date: Nov. 16, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Space #Science #Satellites #Sentinel6B #Earth #Oceans #SeaLevels #ClimateChange #GlobalHeating #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #JPL #Caltech #NOAA #UnitedStates #EU #EuropeanUnion #EUMETSAT #CNES #Airbus #Europe #STEM #Education

U.S.-European Earth Observation Satellite Sentinel-6B: Pre-launch | NASA/ESA

U.S.-European Earth Observation Satellite Sentinel-6B: Pre-launch | NASA/ESA

NASA and its U.S. and international partners have teamed up to launch a new Earth-observing satellite called Sentinel-6B that will measure sea surface height of most of the planet’s ocean. These observations will help build an accurate picture of local and global sea levels for weather and storm forecasting to secure coastal property and infrastructure, and to support commercial activities, such as shipping and undersea pipeline operations. 

Sentinel-6B will be the latest in a series of satellites dating back to 1992 that have created a more-than-30-year record of sea level rise around the globe. It is part of the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-Continuity of Service (CS) mission. The first, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, was launched in 2020. As its twin, Sentinel-6B will continue measuring sea levels down to roughly an inch for about 90% of Earth’s ocean.

The Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission was jointly developed by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the European Commission and technical support from the French space agency Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES).

Earlier this year, Sentinel-6B was removed from storage and underwent a series of checks at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany. It was then transported by truck to Bremen, where it was loaded onto the Industrial Dolphin ship for a three-week sea voyage to Galveston, Texas. Upon arrival, it was transported by road to NASA’s facilities at Vandenberg, California, where it remained in storage until October, when final launch preparations were made.

Sentinel-6B will launch from Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than Monday, Nov. 16, 2025.

The Sentinel-6B satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space in Europe.

For more information on the Sentinel-6B mission, visit: 
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/sentinel-6/
https://bit.ly/3WZzJVy

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Duration: 1 minute, 37 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 15, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Space #Science #Satellites #Sentinel6B #Earth #Oceans #SeaLevels #ClimateChange #GlobalHeating #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #JPL #Caltech #NOAA #UnitedStates #EU #EuropeanUnion #EUMETSAT #CNES #Airbus #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

U.S.-European Earth Observation Satellite Sentinel-6B: Launch Prep | NASA/ESA

U.S.-European Earth Observation Satellite Sentinel-6B: Launch Prep | NASA/ESA

Technicians and engineers encapsulate the Sentinel-6B spacecraft within a protective payload fairing inside the Astrotech Space Operations facility at Vandenberg in California, on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.

Technicians and engineers encapsulate the Sentinel-6B spacecraft within a protective SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket payload fairing inside the Astrotech Space Operations facility at Vandenberg in California, on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.

Technicians install multi-layer insulation on the Sentinel-6B spacecraft on a work stand inside the Astrotech Space Operations payload processing facility at Vandenberg in California on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. 

Sentinel 6 Mission Emblem

NASA and its U.S. and international partners have teamed up to launch a new Earth-observing satellite called Sentinel-6B that will measure sea surface height of most of the planet’s ocean. These observations will help build an accurate picture of local and global sea levels for weather and storm forecasting to secure coastal property and infrastructure, and to support commercial activities, such as shipping and undersea pipeline operations. 

Sentinel-6B will be the latest in a series of satellites dating back to 1992 that have created a more-than-30-year record of sea level rise around the globe. It is part of the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-Continuity of Service (CS) mission. The first, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, was launched in 2020. As its twin, Sentinel-6B will continue measuring sea levels down to roughly an inch for about 90% of Earth’s ocean.

The Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission was jointly developed by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the European Commission and technical support from the French space agency Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES).

Earlier this year, Sentinel-6B was removed from storage and underwent a series of checks at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany. It was then transported by truck to Bremen, where it was loaded onto the Industrial Dolphin ship for a three-week sea voyage to Galveston, Texas. Upon arrival, it was transported by road to NASA’s facilities at Vandenberg, California, where it remained in storage until October, when final launch preparations were made.

Sentinel-6B will launch from Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than Monday, Nov. 16, 2025.

The Sentinel-6B satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space in Europe.

For more information on the Sentinel-6B mission, visit: 
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/sentinel-6/
https://bit.ly/3WZzJVy

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Release Date: Nov. 13, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Space #Science #Satellites #Sentinel6B #Earth #Oceans #SeaLevels #ClimateChange #GlobalHeating #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #JPL #Caltech #NOAA #UnitedStates #EU #EuropeanUnion #EUMETSAT #CNES #Airbus #Europe #STEM #Education

Four Mice Carrying Key Experimental Data Return to Earth | China Space Station

Four Mice Carrying Key Experimental Data Return to Earth | China Space Station

Concluding a nearly two-week mission aboard China's space station, four mice have returned to Earth on November 14, 2025, with the three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-20 mission, bringing back highly valuable experimental data.

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-21 spaceship, carrying the Shenzhou-20 astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Friday.

Weighing 46.67 kilograms and collected from 26 experiment projects, these samples consist of nine from life experiments, three from combustion experiments, and 32 material samples.

Later, scientists will conduct biological analyses on the life experiment samples, carrying out multi-dimensional research on the impact of the microgravity environment on the body from cells to 3D tissues, and studying key relevant biological mechanisms and intervention targets, so as to provide new clues for the prevention and intervention of related diseases.

For the combustion experiment samples, researchers will study the generation characteristics of nano-carbon particles. The research results are expected to offer technical support for the development of new energy systems, space fire-prevention technologies, and the production of advanced functional nano-carbon materials.

For the material samples, researchers will carry out tests and analyses on their morphology and chemical composition to study the effect of gravity on material growth and component segregation. These studies will contribute to the future space application of high-performance solar cell protective materials and lunar base construction materials.

"China's in-orbit experiments have been carried out continuously over the long term. Currently, the space laboratory has entered a very normal and fully productive operating state. We hope through these experimental samples and subsequent ground-based research, we can further follow up and achieve more original scientific results with international influence," said Zhang Lu, researcher of the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 53 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 15, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Earth #Shenzhou20Mission #神舟二十号 #Shenzhou20Crew #Taikonauts #ChenDong #ChenZhongrui #WangJie #Astronauts #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #MicrogravityResearch #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Vibrant Gaseous Ribbons: The Veil Supernova Remnant in Cygnus | Hubble | STScI

Vibrant Gaseous Ribbons: The Veil Supernova Remnant in Cygnus | Hubble | STScI

This 3-D visualization flies across a small portion of the Veil Nebula as photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope. This region is a small part of a huge expanding remnant from a star that exploded many thousands of years ago. Hubble resolves tangled rope-like filaments of glowing gases. They have been shocked and heated by colliding with cooler, denser interstellar gas. 

The 3-D model has been created for illustrative purposes and shows that the giant bubble of gas has a thin, rippled surface. It also highlights that the emission from different chemical elements arises from different layers of gas within the nebula. In the imagery, emission from Sulfur, Hydrogen, and Oxygen are shown in red, green, and blue, respectively.

Video Credits: Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) 

NASA, ESA, and F. Summers, G. Bacon, Z. Levay, and L. Frattare (Viz 3D Team, STScI)
Acknowledgment: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: Nov. 13, 2025  

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #SupernovaRemnant #SNR #Nebulae #Nebula #VeilNebula #CygnusLoop #W78 #Sharpless103 #IC1340 #NGC6960 #EmissionNebula #52Cygnus #Cygnus #Constellations #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #Visualization #HD #Video

Florida "Northern Lights" & Northern Taurid Meteor

Florida "Northern Lights" & Northern Taurid Meteor

Northern lights have come to Florida skies. The brilliant streak of a Northern Taurid meteor flashes through the starry night sky above the beach in this sea and skyscape, captured from Shired Island, Florida, on November 11, 2025. Meteors from the annual Northern Taurid meteor shower are expected this time of year. However, the digital camera exposure also records the shimmering glow of aurora, a phenomenon more often seen from our fair planet's higher geographical latitudes. Also known as aurora borealis, these northern lights are part of recent, wide spread auroral activity caused by strong geomagnetic storms. In the last few days, these storms have been triggered by multiple Earth impacting coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and intense solar activity.

The Taurids are an annual meteor shower, associated with the comet Encke. The Taurids are actually two separate showers, with a Southern and a Northern component. The Southern Taurids originated from Comet Encke, while the Northern Taurids originated from the asteroid 2004 TG10, possibly a large fragment of Encke due to its similar orbital parameters. They are named after their radiant point in the constellation Taurus, where they are seen to come from in the sky. Because of their occurrence in late October and early November, they are also called Halloween fireballs. Since 2P/Encke is such a short period comet, the meteors have the slowest impact speed of the annual well-known meteor showers.

Auroras happen when charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth's magnetic field, creating dazzling light shows in the sky. The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, occurs in an upper layer of Earth’s atmosphere called the ionosphere.

Learn more & track auroras: 
https://www.aurorasaurus.org

How to find and photograph auroras: 
https://science.nasa.gov/feature/nasas-guide-to-finding-and-photographing-auroras/

Image Credit & Copyright: Samil Cabrera

Location: Shired Island, Florida

Samil's website: 

https://www.instagram.com/astronycc/
Image Date: Nov. 11, 2025
Release Date: Nov. 14, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Sun #SolarSystem #SolarWind #Planet #Earth #Magnetosphere #GeomagneticStorms #Aurora #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #Asteroids #Meteors #TauridMeteors #Taurus #Constellations #Astrophotography #SamilCabrera #Astrophotographers #ShiredIsland #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Fireball over Arizona

Fireball over Arizona

Photographer Ren Turley: "Fireball last night over Sedona was so bright night turned to day for a heartbeat."

In astronomy, fireballs, also known as bolides, are exceptionally bright meteors that, like all meteors, heat up when they enter Earth's atmosphere at high velocities and leave a trail of glowing material in the sky. Meteors are classified as fireballs when they shine brighter than the planets—an apparent magnitude of –4 or brighter. 

A fireball is a very bright meteor—one at least as bright as Venus and possibly brighter than even a full Moon. Fireballs are rare—if you see one you are likely to remember it for your whole life. Physically, a fireball is a small rock that originated from an asteroid or comet that typically leaves a fading smoke trail of gas and dust as it shoots through the Earth's atmosphere. It is unlikely that any single large ground strike occurred—much of the rock likely vaporized as it broke up into many small pieces.

Learn more: https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/fireballs/

Arizona is a landlocked state in the Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the northwest and California to the west, and shares an international border with the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California to the south and southwest. 

Image Credit: Ren Turley 

Location: Sedona, Arizona, United States

Ren's website: 

https://www.instagram.com/sedona_film
Date: Nov. 14, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #SolarSystem #Asteroids #Earth #Meteors #Bolides #Fireballs #Sedona #Arizona #UnitedStates #Astrophotography #RenTurley #Astrophotographer #STEM #Education

Planet Mars Images: Nov. 5-13, 2025 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Planet Mars Images: Nov. 5-13, 2025 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Mars 2020 - sol 1675

Mars 2020 - sol 1675

Mars 2020 - sol 1681

Mars 2020 - sol 1682

Mars 2020 - sol 1675

Mars 2020 - sol 1678

Mars 2020 - sol 1678

MSL - sol 4715

Support FriendsofNASA.org

Celebrating 13+ Years on Mars (2012-2024)

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life. 

Launch: Nov. 6, 2011

Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

Celebrating 4+ Years on Mars

Mission Name: Mars 2020

Rover Name: Perseverance

Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for return to Earth.

Launch: July 30, 2020    

Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Processing: Kevin M. Gill/Martian-Observer

Image Release Dates: Oct. Nov. 5-13, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Planets #Mars #Astrobiology #Geology #CuriosityRover #MSL #MountSharp #GaleCrater #PerseveranceRover #Mars2020 #JezeroCrater #Robotics #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering #MSSS #JPL #Caltech #UnitedStates #CitizenScience #KevinGill #STEM #Education

Launch Recap: NASA's Mars ESCAPADE Mission | Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket

Launch Recap: NASA's Mars ESCAPADE Mission | Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket

New Glenn’s seven BE-4 engines ignited on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 3:55:01 PM EST / 20:55:01 UTC from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral, successfully completing its second mission, deploying NASA’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) twin-spacecraft into the designated loiter orbit, and landing the fully reusable first stage on drone ship Jacklyn in the Atlantic Ocean. This was the second mission (NG-2) to date for the New Glenn rocket series. 

The NASA Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) Mars Mission will study the planet's unique hybrid magnetosphere. ESCAPADE will investigate how the solar wind interacts with Mars’ magnetic environment and how this interaction drives the planet’s atmospheric escape. It will take ESCAPADE about 11 months to arrive at Mars after leaving Earth orbit.

ESCAPADE is led by the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory. It is responsible for mission management, systems engineering, science leadership, navigation, operations, the electron and ion electrostatic analyzers, plus science data processing and archiving.

Key partners are Rocket Lab USA (spacecraft), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (magnetometers), Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Langmuir probes), Advanced Space LLC (mission design), and Blue Origin (launch).

Learn more about the two identical spacecraft designed, built, integrated, and tested by Rocket Lab for the University of California Berkeley’s Space Science Laboratory and NASA's Mars Mission:

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/escapade
https://escapade.ssl.berkeley.edu

🚀Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket:

https://www.blueorigin.com/new-glenn

The twin spacecraft for NASA's ESCAPADE Mars Mission were manufactured by Rocket Lab:

https://rocketlabcorp.com/missions/escapade/

Video Credit: Blue Origin
Duration: 2 minutes
Release Date: Nov. 15, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Stars #Sun #SpaceWeather #Planets #Mars #Magnetosphere #MartianAtmosphere #ESCAPADEMission #ESCAPADESpacecraft #RocketLab #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #GSFC #SSL #UCBerkeley #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Virgin Galactic's Latest Milestones

Virgin Galactic's Latest Milestones

Tune in to the latest episode of Galactic 10, featuring Spaceline President Mike Moses as he showcases our most recent milestones and achievements.

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. is a British-American spaceflight company founded by Richard Branson and the Virgin Group conglomerate. The company is in California, and operates from New Mexico. The company develops commercial spacecraft and provides suborbital spaceflights to space tourists. Virgin Galactic's suborbital spacecraft are air launched from beneath a carrier airplane known as White Knight Two. Virgin Galactic's maiden spaceflight occurred in 2018 with its VSS Unity spaceship.

Welcome to Virgin Galactic—"The Spaceline for Earth." 

Register for updates and learn more at: 
https://www.virgingalactic.com

Video Credit: Virgin Galactic
Duration: 5 minute, 28 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 13, 2025

#NASA #Space #Earth #CommercialSpaceflight #VirginGalactic #Year2024 #DeltaSpaceship #SuborbitalFlights #Astronauts #SpaceTourism #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceportAmerica #NewMexico #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Aurora from Colorado

Aurora from Colorado

Photographer Ryan Buller: "Vivid aurora with colors plainly visible to the naked eye."

Auroras happen when charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth's magnetic field, creating dazzling light shows in the sky. The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, occurs in an upper layer of Earth’s atmosphere called the ionosphere.

Learn more & track auroras: 
https://www.aurorasaurus.org

How to find and photograph auroras: 
https://science.nasa.gov/feature/nasas-guide-to-finding-and-photographing-auroras/

Colorado is a state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, and Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas to the east, and Oklahoma to the Southeast.

Image Credit: Ryan Buller

Image Details: Canon R5 8 seconds at F/2.8, ISO 3200, 15mm
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
Release Date: Nov. 11, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Sun #SolarSystem #SolarWind #Planet #Earth #Magnetosphere #GeomagneticStorms #Aurora #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #Astrophotography #RyanBuller #Astrophotographers #FortCollins #Colorado #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Capsule Carrying Shenzhou-20 Crew Lands in North China | China Space Station

Capsule Carrying Shenzhou-20 Crew Lands in North China | China Space Station

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, carrying the Shenzhou-20 astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on November 14.

At 11:14 Beijing Time (0314 GMT), the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft undocked from the space station combination. At 14:49 Beijing time (0649 GMT), the Beijing Aerospace Control Center issued a return command through the ground station, and the orbital capsule of the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft separated from the return capsule.

The brake engine then ignited, and the Shenzhou-21 return capsule separated from the propulsion capsule. The return capsule touched down at the Dongfeng landing site at 16:40 Beijing time (0840 GMT), the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said.

The returned astronauts are in good physical condition, according to the medical staff on site.

The Shenzhou-20 crew was sent into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on April 24, 2025.

Their return, originally scheduled for Nov 5, was postponed due to safety concerns. Tiny cracks were found in the viewport window of the Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft's return capsule, which are most probably caused by external impact from space debris, according to the CMSA.

The agency said the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft does not meet the requirements for the astronauts' safe return and will remain in orbit to continue the relevant experiments.

Prior to Friday's return, the crew handed over the space station to the Shenzhou-21 astronauts who got on board on Nov 1.

The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft will be launched at an appropriate time in the future, said the CMSA.

Shenzhou-20 Crew

Chen Dong (陈冬) - Commander - Third spaceflight

Chen Zhong Rui (陈中瑞) - Operator - First spaceflight

Wang Jie (王杰) - Flight Engineer - First spaceflight

Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 2 minutes
Release Date: Nov. 15, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Earth #Shenzhou20Mission #神舟二十号 #Shenzhou20Crew #Taikonauts #ChenDong #ChenZhongrui #WangJie #Astronauts #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #HumanSpaceflight #DongfengLandingSite #InnerMongoliaAutonomousRegion #STEM #Education

Aurora from Arizona

Aurora from Arizona

Photographer John Ashley: "The reddish color in the aurora was naked-eye visible for about 30 minutes before fading back into a diffuse gray-white. Cloud on left is illuminated by Tucson light pollution . . . "

Auroras happen when charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth's magnetic field, creating dazzling light shows in the sky. The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, occurs in an upper layer of Earth’s atmosphere called the ionosphere.

Learn more & track auroras: 
https://www.aurorasaurus.org

How to find and photograph auroras: 
https://science.nasa.gov/feature/nasas-guide-to-finding-and-photographing-auroras/

Arizona is a landlocked state in the Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the northwest and California to the west, and shares an international border with the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California to the south and southwest. 

Image Credit: John Ashley

Image Details: Nikon D750 with 85mm Rokinon lens
Location: Rio Rico, Arizona, United States
Image Date: Nov. 11, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Sun #SolarSystem #SolarWind #Planet #Earth #Magnetosphere #GeomagneticStorms #Aurora #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #Astrophotography #JohnAshley #Astrophotographers #Arizona #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

ESCAPADE: La próxima misión de la NASA en Marte

ESCAPADE: La próxima misión de la NASA en Marte

A lo largo de miles de millones de años, un flujo incesante de partículas provenientes del Sol —el viento solar— ha ido arrancando lentamente la atmósfera marciana, haciendo que el agua de la superficie se evapore. ¿Pero cómo sucedió eso exactamente? La nueva misión Exploradores de la Aceleración y Dinámica del Escape y el Plasma (ESCAPADE, por sus siglas en inglés) de la NASA tiene como objetivo averiguarlo. ESCAPADE estudiará la respuesta de Marte en tiempo real al viento solar, ayudándonos a comprender mejor la historia del clima de Marte.  

La misión ESCAPADE es gestionada por el Laboratorio de Ciencias Espaciales de la Universidad de California en Berkeley, con socios clave como Rocket Lab, el Centro de Vuelo Espacial Goddard de la NASA, la Universidad Aeronáutica Embry-Riddle, Advanced Space LLC y Blue Origin.

Crédito del video: Centro de Vuelo Espacial Goddard de la NASA
Crédito de la animación: James Rattray/Rocket Lab USA; Blue Origin
Productora: Beth Anthony (eMITS)
Duration: 55 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 13, 2025

#NASA #RocketLab #BlueOrigin #Space #Astronomy #Science #NASAenespañol #español #Star #Sun #SpaceWeather #Planet #Mars #Magetosphere #Atmosphere #Radiation #ESCAPADEMission #ESCAPADESpacecraft #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #GSFC #SSL #UCBerkeley #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #Animation #HD #Video

What's Up for November 2025: Skywatching Tips from NASA | JPL

What's Up for November 2025: Skywatching Tips from NASA | JPL

Here are examples of skywatching highlights for the northern hemisphere in November 2025:

There was a conjunction of Mercury and Mars on November 12. The Leonid meteor shower peaks the week on November 16 and find out why Saturn's rings are disappearing this month. 

Note: Due to the recent United States federal government budget-related shutdown, the public release of this video was delayed. 

Video Credit: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Duration: 2 minute, 17 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 14, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Skywatching #Planets #Mercury #Mars #Saturn #Earth #MeteorShowers #Leonids #Moon #Stars #SolarSystem #Nebulae #Galaxies #Constellations #MilkyWayGalaxy #Skywatching #JPL #Caltech #UnitedStates #Canada #Mexico #NorthernHemisphere #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Intense Earth Aurorae from High Solar Activity | International Space Station

Intense Earth Aurorae from High Solar Activity | International Space Station

Expedition 73 astronaut Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA): Thanks to the solar activity? The aurora is incredibly beautiful! However, during the impact of the recent large solar flare, I suppressed my desire to take photos and stayed quietly in a place on the ISS with relatively low radiation, just like everyone else lol.  

Here's a video of today's aurora. It's not a time-lapse, so it's real time."

Auroras happen when charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth's magnetic field, creating dazzling light shows in the sky. The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, occurs in an upper layer of Earth’s atmosphere called the ionosphere.

Follow Expedition 73:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 73 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos)

JAXA Flight Engineer (Japan): Kimiya Yui

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Alexey Zubritskiy, Oleg Platonov

NASA Flight Engineers: Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Video Credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/Kimiya Yui

Duration: 51 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 13, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Sun #GeomagneticStorms #SolarRadiation #Earth #Aurorae #ISS #AstronautVideography #Astronauts #KimiyaYui #油井亀美也 #Japan #日本 #JAXA #宇宙航空研究開発機構 #UnitedStates #Cosmonauts #Russia #Roscosmos #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition73 #STEM #Education #HD #Video