Sunday, April 13, 2025

Shenzhou-19 Crew Continues in-Orbit Scientific Experiments | China Space Station

Shenzhou-19 Crew Continues in-Orbit Scientific Experiments | China Space Station

China's Shenzhou-19 crew has worked at the Tiangong Space Station for over 150 days. They achieved steady progress in neuroscience, medical, and microgravity physics experiments last week. 

The experiments were conducted by the three astronauts—Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze.

The trio used electroencephalogram devices to conduct multiple experimental tests. Data collected will help ground researchers explore how gravity affects visual-motor information processing, reveal the cognitive patterns and neural mechanisms of how humans perceive spatial relationships in a microgravity environment, and explore the regulatory effects of brainwave music intervention on inhibitory control functions during long-duration spaceflight.

After nearly six months in orbit, the astronauts also shared insights into life aboard the space station. Using questionnaires and video recordings, they documented their experience with the station's livability, real-time feedback on human-machine interfaces, and the layout of various onboard systems. Based on these data and findings, researchers can refine design processes, identify issues, and suggest targeted improvements to enhance the human-centered design of future spacecraft.

In medical research, the crew completed pharmacokinetics-related tasks, collecting valuable data to help shape future in-orbit medication strategies.

In the field of space technology, the team continued work on the reverse Brayton cryocooling experiment, assembling and testing components inside its payload cabin. This cooling technology, based on ultra-high-speed dynamic pressure gas bearings, aims to support future deep space missions and enhance China's space thermal control capabilities.

Meanwhile, several microgravity physics experiments continued. The crew replaced samples in the fluid physics and high-temperature materials experiment cabinets, performed vacuum operations, and managed gas exhaust procedures.

Environmental monitoring remained a priority as well. The astronauts measured airflow and temperature, tested air cleanliness, and conducted routine equipment inspections and maintenance.

In support of their health, the crew also completed a series of medical checks, including electrocardiograms, pulmonary function tests, and dynamic electrocardiogram and blood pressure monitoring, while actively engaging in countermeasures to mitigate the effects of weightlessness.

The Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on October 30, 2024.

Shenzhou-19 Crew:
Commander Cai Xuzhe (蔡旭哲)
Mission Specialist Wang Haoze (王浩泽)
Mission Specialist Song Lingdong (宋令东)


Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 2 minutes
Release Date: April 13, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #China #中国 #Shenzhou19 #神舟十九号 #Taikonauts #Astronauts #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #MicrogravityExperiments #MicrogravityResearch #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #LongDurationMissions #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Saturday, April 12, 2025

NS-31 Mission Patch | Blue Origin

NS-31 Mission Patch | Blue Origin

Each New Shepard mission has a story. Learn more about the symbolism behind the NS-31 mission patch.

New Shepard's 11th human flight, NS-31, will lift off from Launch Site One in West Texas on Monday, April 14, 2025. The mission includes Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez.

The New Shepard launch window opens at 8:30am CDT/13:30 UTC.

FInd launch updates here: 

Image Credit: Blue Origin
Release Date: April 12, 2025


#NASA #Space #BlueOrigin #NewShepard #NewShepardRocket #NS31Mission #NS31Crew #AishaBowe #AmandaNguyễn #GayleKing #KatyPerry #KerianneFlynn #LaurenSánchez #CommercialAstronauts #CommercialSpace #SpaceTechnology #LaunchSiteOne #Texas #UnitedStates #FortheBenefitofEarth #JeffBezos #STEM #Education

Welcome to West Texas, NS-31 Crew! | Blue Origin

Welcome to West Texas, NS-31 Crew! | Blue Origin

New Shepard's 11th human flight, NS-31, will lift off from Launch Site One in West Texas on Monday, April 14, 2025. The mission includes Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez.

The New Shepard launch window opens at 8:30am CDT/13:30 UTC.

FInd launch updates here: 

Image Credit: Blue Origin
Release Date: April 12, 2025


#NASA #Space #BlueOrigin #NewShepard #NewShepardRocket #NS31Mission #NS31Crew #AishaBowe #AmandaNguyễn #GayleKing #KatyPerry #KerianneFlynn #LaurenSánchez #CommercialAstronauts #CommercialSpace #SpaceTechnology #LaunchSiteOne #Texas #UnitedStates #FortheBenefitofEarth #JeffBezos #STEM #Education

Orbital Changes & Surprises | International Space Station

Orbital Changes & Surprises | International Space Station

Expedition 72 flight engineer and NASA astronaut Don Pettit: "Changes in attitude, changes in latitude for the International Space Station. We rotated 180 degrees and flew backwards for yesterday’s Soyuz docking. This is a bit long, but keep watching for the surprise in the middle."

Expedition 72 Updates:

Expedition 72 Crew
Station Commander: Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Ivan Vagner, Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritskiy
NASA Flight Engineers: Don Pettit, 
Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Jonny Kim
JAXA Flight Engineer: Takuya Onishi

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.

Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:

For more information about STEM on Station:

Video Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center/D. Pettit
Duration: 50 seconds
Release Date: April 9, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Astronauts #Planet #Earth #Aurora #DonPettit #AstronautPhotography #Japan #日本 #JAXA #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #InternationalCooperation #Expedition72 #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

This Week at Roscosmos for April 11, 2025: Soyuz MS-27 & International Cooperation

This Week at Roscosmos for April 11, 2025: Soyuz MS-27 & International Cooperation

"How was your week? We saw off the new crew to the International Space Station—Did you follow the launch? This week's top Roscosmos news: 

▪️ Launch from Baikonur: Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Johnny Kim arrived at the ISS

▪️ International cooperation: Dmitry Bakanov meets with Kenneth Bowersox and Baubek Oralmagambetov at Baikonur

▪️ Development of the nuclear space program: Agreement with the Kurchatov Institute

Enjoy watching! Roscosmos website: https://www.roscosmos.ru

This week NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit joined station Commander Alexey Ovchinin and Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos (Russia), and checked their Sokol launch and entry suits for leaks. The trio wore the suits when they launched together aboard the Soyuz MS-26 crew ship and docked to the Rassvet module on Sept. 11, 2024. They will wear the suits again when they return to Earth on April 19, 2025, inside the Soyuz MS-26 completing a seven-month space research mission.

The next cargo mission from SpaceX is due to launch later this month replenishing Expedition 72 with new science experiments and crew supplies.

Expedition 72 Updates:

Expedition 72 Crew
Station Commander: Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Ivan Vagner, Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritskiy
NASA Flight Engineers: Don Pettit, 
Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Jonny Kim
JAXA Flight Engineer: Takuya Onishi

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.

Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:

For more information about STEM on Station:

Video Credit: Roscosmos/Роскосмос
Duration: 1 minutes, 35 seconds
Release Date: April 11, 2025


#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Astronauts #JonnyKim #Japan #日本 #JAXA #Cosmonauts #SergeyRyzhikov #AlexanderZubritsky #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #MicrogravityResearch #InternationalCooperation #Expedition72 #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Shape of The Orion Constellation in 3D | Space Telescope Science Institute

Shape of The Orion Constellation in 3D | Space Telescope Science Institute

This visualization reveals the stars of the Orion constellation in three dimensions. Watch as the familiar pattern on the sky distorts into a whole new perspective.

The sequence begins with a view of Orion in our sky. Featured in this scene are examples of the night's brightest stars, including Betelgeuse and Rigel within Orion, and Sirius at its lower left, a star in the constellation Canis Major.

Departing from the earthbound view, the camera begins to circle through interstellar space while maintaining the connecting lines of the constellation stick figure. Note how quickly the "flat" constellation shape transforms into an elongated mesh. In addition, the stars change their brightness markedly as they pass nearer or farther from the camera. The onscreen graphic depicts the direction, distance, and speed of the camera motion.

The most distant star in this visualization is Chi2 Orionis, a bright supergiant with an estimated distance of 4,300 light-years (ly). During the journey around Orion, we travel out to over 6,000 ly away from the Sun. This provides a stunning view of the Milky Way's galactic plane and the dust lanes within it. 

This visualization features over 11 million stars down to a magnitude of 13.5 across the sky. The positions, colors, and luminosities are based on the Gaia and Hipparcos star catalogs, complemented by the HYG Database, which includes data from the Yale and Gliese catalogs. Insterstellar dust is visualized using the Edenhofer map out to adistance of 1.25 kiloparsecs (~4,000 ly) from the Sun. The rest of the Milky Way plane is recreated using simulated spiral galaxy data for stars and dust from the Horizon GalMer database.


Credits:
Visualization: Christian Nieves, Frank Summers (STScI)
Motion Graphics: Ralf Crawford (STScI)
Data: 
Gaia DR3 – Gaia Mission/ESA/DPAC Hipparcos Catalog – ESA 
HYG-Database (v4.1) – Astronexus CC BY-SA 4.0 
Edenhofer et al (2023). A Parsec-Scale Galactic 3D Dust Map out to 1.25 kpc from the Sun -- Dataset for the 1.25 kpc 3D Dust Map and the 2 kpc 3D Dust Map (v1.0.2) [Data set]. Zenodo. 
Horizon GalMer Database – Chilingarian I. V., Di Matteo P., Combes F., Melchior A.-L., Semelin B., 2010, A&A, 518, A61
Duration: 2 minutes
Release Date:  April 1, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Stars #Betelgeuse #Rigel #Orion #Constellation #DwarfGalaxy #SmallMagellanicCloud #SMC #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #Visualization #HD #Video

How to Know You’re in Space: Zero Gravity Indicators | NASA

How to Know You’re in Space: Zero Gravity Indicators | NASA

Have you ever wanted to design something that could fly around the Moon? This is your opportunity. The Artemis II astronauts will use a zero gravity indicator during their mission to demonstrate when their Orion spacecraft has reached microgravity. This plushie needs to be soft, small, and importantly, remind us of home. 

The Moon Mascot contest challenges people of all ages from all over the world to submit a design to be made by NASA’s Thermal Blanket Lab and flown aboard Artemis II.

Learn more about NASA's Moon Mascot contest:
https://go.nasa.gov/42nTJ6p

The Artemis II test flight will be sending NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, as well as Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a ten-day journey around the Moon and back.

Artemis II will launch no earlier than April 2026.

Check the NASA Artemis II Mission page for updates:

Learn more about NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket: nasa.gov/sls

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 

Video Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Duration: 5 minutes
Release Date: March 7, 2025  

#NASA #ESA #Space #Moon #ArtemisProgram #ZeroG #MoonMascot #ArtemisII #CrewedMissions #Astronauts #NASASLS #SpaceLaunchSystem #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Science #SpaceEngineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #KSC #Florida #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Journey to Star Cluster NGC 346 in Tucana | Hubble

Journey to Star Cluster NGC 346 in Tucana | Hubble

This new image showcases NGC 346, a dazzling young star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud. The Small Magellanic Cloud is a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, located 200,000 light-years away in the constellation Tucana. The Small Magellanic Cloud is less rich in elements heavier than helium—what astronomers call metals—than the Milky Way. This makes conditions in the galaxy similar to what existed in the early universe.

Although several images of NGC 346 have been released previously, this view includes new data and is the first to combine Hubble observations made at infrared, optical, and ultraviolet wavelengths into an intricately detailed view of this vibrant star-forming factory.

NGC 346 is home to more than 2,500 newborn stars. The cluster’s most massive stars, many times more massive than our Sun, blaze with an intense blue light in this image. The glowing pink nebula and snakelike dark clouds are the remnant of the birthsite of the stars in the cluster.

The inhabitants of this cluster are stellar sculptors, carving out a bubble from the nebula. NGC 346’s hot, massive stars produce intense radiation and fierce stellar winds that pummel the billowing gas of their birthplace and begin to disperse the surrounding nebula.

The nebula, named N66, is the brightest example of an H II (pronounced ‘H-two’) region in the Small Magellanic Cloud. H II regions are set aglow by ultraviolet light from hot young stars like those in NGC 346. The presence of the brilliant nebula indicates the young age of the star cluster, as an H II region shines only as long as the stars that power it—a mere few million years for the massive stars pictured here.


Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Nota, P. Massey, E. Sabbi, C. Murray, M. Zamani (ESA/Hubble),  N. Bartmann (ESA/Hubble)
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: April 4, 2025


#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Stars #StarClusters #NGC346 #HIIRegion #N66 #Nebula #Tucana #Constellation #DwarfGalaxy #SmallMagellanicCloud #SMC #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Close-up: Stellar Sculptors of Star Cluster NGC 346 in Tucana | Hubble

Close-up: Stellar Sculptors of Star Cluster NGC 346 in Tucana | Hubble

This new image showcases NGC 346, a dazzling young star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud. The Small Magellanic Cloud is a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, located 200,000 light-years away in the constellation Tucana. The Small Magellanic Cloud is less rich in elements heavier than helium—what astronomers call metals—than the Milky Way. This makes conditions in the galaxy similar to what existed in the early universe.

Although several images of NGC 346 have been released previously, this view includes new data and is the first to combine Hubble observations made at infrared, optical, and ultraviolet wavelengths into an intricately detailed view of this vibrant star-forming factory.

NGC 346 is home to more than 2,500 newborn stars. The cluster’s most massive stars, many times more massive than our Sun, blaze with an intense blue light in this image. The glowing pink nebula and snakelike dark clouds are the remnant of the birthsite of the stars in the cluster.

The inhabitants of this cluster are stellar sculptors, carving out a bubble from the nebula. NGC 346’s hot, massive stars produce intense radiation and fierce stellar winds that pummel the billowing gas of their birthplace and begin to disperse the surrounding nebula.

The nebula, named N66, is the brightest example of an H II (pronounced ‘H-two’) region in the Small Magellanic Cloud. H II regions are set aglow by ultraviolet light from hot young stars like those in NGC 346. The presence of the brilliant nebula indicates the young age of the star cluster, as an H II region shines only as long as the stars that power it—a mere few million years for the massive stars pictured here.

Image Description: A star cluster within a nebula. The background is filled with thin, pale blue clouds. Parts are thicker and pinker in color. The cluster is made up of bright blue stars that illuminate the nebula around them. Large arcs of dense dust curve around, before and behind the clustered stars, pressed together by the stars’ radiation. Behind the clouds of the nebula can be seen large numbers of orange stars.


Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Nota, P. Massey, E. Sabbi, C. Murray, M. Zamani (ESA/Hubble),  N. Bartmann (ESA/Hubble)
Duration: 30 seconds
Release Date: April 4, 2025


#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Stars #StarClusters #NGC346 #HIIRegion #N66 #Nebula #Tucana #Constellation #DwarfGalaxy #SmallMagellanicCloud #SMC #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Stellar Sculptors of Star Cluster NGC 346 in Tucana | Hubble

Stellar Sculptors of Star Cluster NGC 346 in Tucana | Hubble


This new image showcases NGC 346, a dazzling young star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud. The Small Magellanic Cloud is a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, located 200,000 light-years away in the constellation Tucana. The Small Magellanic Cloud is less rich in elements heavier than helium—what astronomers call metals—than the Milky Way. This makes conditions in the galaxy similar to what existed in the early universe.

Although several images of NGC 346 have been released previously, this view includes new data and is the first to combine Hubble observations made at infrared, optical, and ultraviolet wavelengths into an intricately detailed view of this vibrant star-forming factory.

NGC 346 is home to more than 2,500 newborn stars. The cluster’s most massive stars, many times more massive than our Sun, blaze with an intense blue light in this image. The glowing pink nebula and snakelike dark clouds are the remnant of the birthsite of the stars in the cluster.

The inhabitants of this cluster are stellar sculptors, carving out a bubble from the nebula. NGC 346’s hot, massive stars produce intense radiation and fierce stellar winds that pummel the billowing gas of their birthplace and begin to disperse the surrounding nebula.

The nebula, named N66, is the brightest example of an H II (pronounced ‘H-two’) region in the Small Magellanic Cloud. H II regions are set aglow by ultraviolet light from hot young stars like those in NGC 346. The presence of the brilliant nebula indicates the young age of the star cluster, as an H II region shines only as long as the stars that power it—a mere few million years for the massive stars pictured here.

Image Description: A star cluster within a nebula. The background is filled with thin, pale blue clouds. Parts are thicker and pinker in color. The cluster is made up of bright blue stars that illuminate the nebula around them. Large arcs of dense dust curve around, before and behind the clustered stars, pressed together by the stars’ radiation. Behind the clouds of the nebula can be seen large numbers of orange stars.


Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Nota, P. Massey, E. Sabbi, C. Murray, M. Zamani (ESA/Hubble)
Release Date: April 4, 2025


#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Stars #StarClusters #NGC346 #HIIRegion #N66 #Nebula #Tucana #Constellation #DwarfGalaxy #SmallMagellanicCloud #SMC #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education

Friday, April 11, 2025

Soap Film Dynamics in Microgravity | International Space Station

Soap Film Dynamics in Microgravity | International Space Station

Expedition 72 flight engineer and NASA astronaut Don Pettit: "Soap film in 0g; lots of techno-dynamics here displayed with a Matisse-like pallette."

Expedition 72 Updates:

Expedition 72 Crew
Station Commander: Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Ivan Vagner, Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritskiy
NASA Flight Engineers: Don Pettit, 
Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Jonny Kim
JAXA Flight Engineer: Takuya Onishi

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.

Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:

For more information about STEM on Station:

Video Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center
Duration: 8 seconds
Release Date: April 9, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Astronauts #DonPettit #MicrogravityExperiments #SoapFilms #Japan #日本 #JAXA #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #MicrogravityResearch #InternationalCooperation #Expedition72 #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

China's New Moon Missions to Look for Water, Test Lunar-Soil Bricks at South Pole

China's New Moon Missions to Look for Water, Test Lunar-Soil Bricks at South Pole

China plans to launch the Chang'e-7 mission around 2026 to explore the environment and resources of the south pole of the Moon, especially the evidence of water, and the subsequent Chang'e-8 Mission will test technologies for building habitats using lunar soil, a space official said on Tuesday.

The country's lunar exploration program has maintained a 100 percent mission success rate over the past two decades and is now advancing to its fourth phase, Wu Weiren, chief designer of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, told China Central Television (CCTV).

Chang'e-7, the next mission scheduled for launch around 2026, will target the moon's south pole to search for the evidence of water ice in permanently shadowed craters—a critical resource to sustain long-term human activity.

If confirmed, such deposits could revolutionize future lunar exploration by providing drinking water, oxygen and rocket fuel production capabilities.

Major spacefaring nations are focusing on the lunar poles due to their unique conditions which resemble those on Earth.

The lunar south pole's unique lighting conditions—with select areas receiving near-continuous sunlight for more than 100 dayscreate an environment where humans could potentially live and work for extended periods, Wu explained.

"This feature (of the south pole) lays a foundation for our exploration of the Moon because it will enable human beings to live and work there for long time. That's why we say we will be looking for water—is there water in the craters? If so, that would be a huge discovery and a monumental achievement," he said.

The follow-up Chang'e-8 mission, set for around 2028, will conduct experiments for the in-situ utilization of lunar resources, Wu said.

Apart from building communication systems and energy systems, the Chang'e-8 mission will test the possibility of building a research station on the Moon.

"Now we have developed the world's first device that produces bricks made of lunar soil. This system harnesses sunlight, collects solar energy, and transmits it to the Moon using fiber optics. By concentrating the sunlight, we can achieve temperatures between 1400 to 1500 degrees Celsius, which is sufficient to melt lunar soil. Our device then utilizes 3D printing technology to shape the molten material into bricks of various specifications. This approach allows us to utilize resources found on the Moon, free from transporting water and other materials from the Earth," Wu said.

China's planned International Lunar Research Station has attracted participation from Egypt, Bahrain and other countries with six foreign payloads confirmed for Chang'e-7 probe.

Once verified, the cutting-edge lunar soil brick technology will provide key support for the international research station project on the moon, Wu stressed.

"I hope more countries, more international scientific research institutions and more foreign scientists will participate in the construction of our entire project. I think in the next 10 to 20 years, we should mainly take the international lunar research station as a starting point or as a guide to push the lunar exploration program to a higher stage," Wu said.


Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 1 minute, 39 seconds
Release Date: April 2, 2025

#NASA #CNSA #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #Moon #Change8 #嫦娥八号 #Change7 #嫦娥七号 #SouthPole #H2O #LunarBricks #Geology #SpaceTechnology #SpaceResearch #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #CLEP #InternationalCooperation #STEM #Education #Animation #HD #Video

New US GOES-19 Weather Satellite Begins Operations as GOES East | NOAA

New US GOES-19 Weather Satellite Begins Operations as GOES East | NOAA

NOAA’s GOES-19 satellite, the latest and final satellite in NOAA’s GOES-R Series, officially began operations as GOES East today. This milestone comes after its June 25, 2024, launch and subsequent post-launch testing of its instruments, systems and data. 

GOES-19 replaces GOES-16 as GOES East, positioned 22,236 miles above the equator at 75.2 degrees west longitude. GOES-16 will now become a backup for NOAA’s operational geostationary constellation, maintaining its operational readiness for future use, if needed.


Video Credits: NOAA, NASA, the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA)
Duration: 2 minutes
Release Date: April 7, 2025

#NASA #NOAA #Sun #Planet #Earth #Science #Satellites #GeostationarySatellites #Weather #Meteorology #Hurricanes #LightningStorms #Florida #GulfOfMexico #GulfOfAmerica #CaribbeanSea #GeostationaryLightningMapper #GLM #GOES19 #NorthAmerica #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #GSFC #CIRA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Planet Mars Images: April 9-11, 2025 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Planet Mars Images: April 9-11, 2025 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

MSL - Sol 4505
Mars 2020 - Sol 1469
Mars 2020 - Sol 1472
MSL - Sol 4505
MSL - Sol 4505
MSL - Sol 4505
Mars 2020 - Sol 1470
Mars 2020 - Sol 1470

Celebrating 12+ 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
Image Release Dates: April 9-11, 2025

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

Dark Energy Breakthrough Sheds New Light on Universe's Accelerated Expansion

Dark Energy Breakthrough Sheds New Light on Universe's Accelerated Expansion

Chinese and international astronomers have achieved a breakthrough in dark energy research, offering fresh insights into the physical mechanisms behind the accelerated expansion of the universe.

The findings, announced by the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, suggest potential new physics beyond the standard cosmological model.

Dark energy remains one of the most profound mysteries in modern physics. Since the discovery of accelerated cosmic expansion in the late 1990s, scientists have attributed this phenomenon to an enigmatic cosmic component called dark energy. Yet its true nature remains a mystery.

The standard cosmological model interprets dark energy as a static vacuum energy. While successfully explaining a large number of cosmological observations for over two decades, recent advancements in observational precision have exposed inconsistencies among different datasets under this framework, challenging its completeness and opening avenues for alternative theories.

Leading this quest is the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), a global collaboration involving over 70 institutions. Utilizing a four-meter optical telescope, DESI maps the universe's 3D large-scale structure by measuring redshifts of tens of millions of celestial objects.

The Galaxy Survey and Cosmology Group at NAOC, led by Zhao Gongbo, and the Wide-field Survey and Galaxy Physics Group at NAOC, led by Zou Hu, have been involved in the DESI project for over a decade.

In the latest study, Zhao's team, leading the DESI collaboration, has achieved significant breakthroughs in the dynamical properties of dark energy.

By employing a novel methodology independently developed by the researchers, the team conducted an in-depth analysis of the latest cosmological distance measurements from DESI observations, combined with data from supernovae and cosmic microwave background radiation. Their findings revealed that the equation of state for dark energy changes as the universe evolves.

This result confirms the previous conclusion of the DESI collaboration derived through distinct analytical approaches, that dark energy is likely to have dynamic properties. The conclusion implies that dark energy may not be a constant vacuum energy, but rather exhibits more complex evolutionary behavior.

The study not only pioneers new research pathways for unraveling the physical essence of dark energy, but also provides pivotal clues for constructing a more comprehensive theoretical framework in cosmology.

"The standard cosmological model suggests that dark energy is the vacuum energy proposed by Einstein over a century ago. Like vaccum energy, dark energy was assumed to be constant over time. However, we have found evidence that dark energy evolves over time, disproving the idea that vacuum energy could be a form of dark energy. Such a discovery would represent a revolutionary breakthrough in fundamental physics," said Zhao.

DESI, managed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, involves more than 900 researchers from 70 institutions worldwide.


Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: April 11, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #Astrophysics #Cosmology #CosmologicalModels #DarkEnergy #DarkMatter #GravitationalLensing #Cosmos #Universe #DESI #UnitedStates #China #中国 #NAOC #STEM #Education #Visualization #HD #Video

Side Boosters for NASA's Artemis II SLS Moon Rocket Complete

Side Boosters for NASA's Artemis II SLS Moon Rocket Complete

With stacking of the right-hand forward assembly, the Space Launch System (SLS) solid rocket boosters for NASA's Artemis II mission are complete. The 17-story-tall twin boosters provide more than 75% of thrust at liftoff from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39B. Next to stack on mobile launcher 1 is the core stage, currently inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Artemis II test flight will be sending NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, as well as Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a ten-day journey around the Moon and back.

Artemis II will launch no earlier than April 2026.

Check the NASA Artemis II Mission page for updates:

Learn more about NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket: nasa.gov/sls

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 

Credit: NASA
Duration: 1 minute, 26 seconds
Release Date: April 11, 2025

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