Aurora Borealis over Finland

Aurora Borealis over Finland

On Earth, auroras are mainly created by particles originally emitted by the Sun in the form of solar wind. When this stream of electrically charged particles gets close to our planet, it interacts with the magnetic field that acts as a gigantic shield. While it protects Earth’s environment from solar wind particles, it can also trap a small fraction of them. Particles trapped within the magnetosphere—the region of space surrounding Earth where charged particles are affected by its magnetic field—can be energized and then follow the magnetic field lines down to the magnetic poles. There, they interact with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the upper layers of the atmosphere, creating the flickering, colorful lights visible in the polar regions here on Earth.

Earth auroras have different names depending on the pole they occur at. Aurora Borealis, or the northern lights, is the name given to auroras around the north pole and Aurora Australis, or the southern lights, is the name given for auroras around the south pole.

The Colors of the Aurora (U.S. National Park Service)

https://www.nps.gov/articles/-articles-aps-v8-i1-c9.htm

Lapland is the largest and northernmost region of Finland, officially the Republic of Finland. It is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, opposite Estonia.

Image Credit: Gianni Carcano 

Image Details: Canon 5D, 14mm f2.8 2.5” 3200 ISO
Location: Lapland, Finland
Release Date: Jan. 11, 2026

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Planets #Earth #Aurora #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #SolarSystem #Sun #Astrophotography #Astrophotographer #GianniCarcano #Lapland #Lappi #Finland #Suomen #Norge #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Preflight at Launchpad 39B | Kennedy Space Center

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Preflight at Launchpad 39B | Kennedy Space Center

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, are seen after their arrival at Launch Pad 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The massive crawler kept the mobile launcher and rocket perfectly level throughout the trip, even on the gentle slopes of the crawlerway. The stack will now be secured, ground support systems will be connected, and teams will conduct a full wet dress rehearsal at the end of January to practice fueling and countdown procedures in preparation for flight.

The crawler-transporters, formally known as the Missile Crawler Transporter Facilities, are a pair of tracked vehicles used to transport launch vehicles from NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) along the crawlerway to Launch Complex 39. They were originally used to transport the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets during the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo–Soyuz programs. They were then used to transport Space Shuttles from 1981 to 2011. The crawler-transporters carry vehicles on the mobile launcher platforms (MLPs) used by NASA, and after each launch return to the pad to take the platform back to the VAB.

Check the NASA Artemis II Mission page for updates:

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

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

Image Credits: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Keegan Barber/Joel Kowsky
Image Date: Jan. 17, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Moon #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisII #OrionSpacecraft #SLS #SLSRocket #CrawlerTransporter2 #CrewedMissions #Astronauts #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAKennedy #KSC #Launchpad39B #VAB #MerrittIsland #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Arrival at Launchpad 39B | Kennedy Space Center

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Arrival at Launchpad 39B | Kennedy Space Center

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, are seen as they arrive at Launch Pad 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, are seen as they make the 4.2 mile journey toward Launch Pad 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, are seen as they arrive at Launch Pad 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The massive crawler kept the mobile launcher and rocket perfectly level throughout the trip, even on the gentle slopes of the crawlerway. Once at the pad, the stack will be secured, ground support systems will be connected, and teams will conduct a full wet dress rehearsal at the end of January to practice fueling and countdown procedures in preparation for flight.

The crawler-transporters, formally known as the Missile Crawler Transporter Facilities, are a pair of tracked vehicles used to transport launch vehicles from NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) along the Crawlerway to Launch Complex 39. They were originally used to transport the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets during the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo–Soyuz programs. They were then used to transport Space Shuttles from 1981 to 2011. The crawler-transporters carry vehicles on the mobile launcher platforms (MLPs) used by NASA, and after each launch return to the pad to take the platform back to the VAB.

The two crawler-transporters were designed and built by Marion Power Shovel Company using some components designed and built by Rockwell International at a cost of US$14 million (US$128.5 million in 2022) each. Upon its construction, the crawler-transporter became the largest self-powered land vehicle in the world. 

Check the NASA Artemis II Mission page for updates:

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

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

Image Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Keegan Barber
Image Date: Jan. 17, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Moon #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisII #OrionSpacecraft #SLS #SLSRocket #CrawlerTransporter2 #CrewedMissions #Astronauts #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAKennedy #KSC #Launchpad39B #VAB #MerrittIsland #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Shenzhou-20 Astronauts Discuss Spacecraft Window Crack | China Space Station

Shenzhou-20 Astronauts Discuss Spacecraft Window Crack | China Space Station

The crew of China's Shenzhou-20 mission on January 16, 2026, shared details of how they calmly and methodically responded to a spacecraft window crack suspected to be caused by space debris, highlighting close coordination between the astronauts in orbit and the teams on the ground.

The trio—Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie—met the press in Beijing on Friday afternoon, marking their first public appearance after returning to Earth in November.

Among the topics of greatest concern to reporters was an incident that occurred shortly before the Shenzhou-20 crew was preparing to return, when a crack was discovered on a window of the return capsule, believed to have been caused by a possible impact from space debris.

"We took photographs right away and recorded the situation, and immediately transmitted the data back to the ground. Based on my visual observation, I initially judged that the crack was on the outermost layer of the spacecraft window. The crack had penetrated that outer layer, but it did not affect the safety of our continued stay in orbit. Afterwards, the two crews, six astronauts in total, carefully observed and discussed the condition of the window together, and fully cooperated with the ground teams to carry out rechecks and confirmation," said Shenzhou-20 mission commander Chen Dong.

"When we learned of the situation, we had discussions and reached a common understanding. At the same time, the ground teams communicated with us promptly, and we soon calmed down. This was because we had undergone solid emergency response training on the ground, and we had been emotionally and psychologically prepared," said Chen Zhongrui, a former air force pilot who made his first spaceflight during the mission.

"At the moment we discovered the potential danger, I felt nervous for a short while, but quickly got my mind right. I immediately followed our assigned roles and started to recheck the window's condition and inspect the safety of the cabin. The six of us worked in coordination and successfully completed the transfer tasks. I was deeply impressed, becoming fully aware of the powerful strength of teamwork. I therefore feel a deeper reverence and love for this profession," said Wang Jie, who also made his debut spaceflight.

Following their extended stay in space as a result of the debris incident, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent a total of 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest duration by a single group of Chinese astronauts.

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: 1 minute, 46 seconds
Release Date: Jan. 17, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Earth #Shenzhou20Mission #神舟二十号 #Shenzhou20Crew #CrewSafety #SpaceDebris #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 #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Rollout: The Starting Line | Kennedy Space Center

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Rollout: The Starting Line | Kennedy Space Center

NASA’s crawler-transporter 2 carrying the agency’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, begins rolling out from High Bay 3 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. The Artemis II test flight will take Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), around the Moon and back to Earth no later than April 2026.

This is a multi-hour trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39B. The four-mile journey on the crawler-transporter-2, at a careful speed of roughly 1 mile per hour, will take up to 12 hours. The massive crawler keeps the mobile launcher and rocket perfectly level throughout the trip, even on the gentle slopes of the crawlerway. Once at the pad, the stack will be secured, ground support systems will be connected, and teams will conduct a full wet dress rehearsal at the end of January to practice fueling and countdown procedures in preparation for flight.

The crawler-transporters, formally known as the Missile Crawler Transporter Facilities, are a pair of tracked vehicles used to transport launch vehicles from NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) along the Crawlerway to Launch Complex 39. They were originally used to transport the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets during the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo–Soyuz programs. They were then used to transport Space Shuttles from 1981 to 2011. The crawler-transporters carry vehicles on the mobile launcher platforms (MLPs) used by NASA, and after each launch return to the pad to take the platform back to the VAB.

The two crawler-transporters were designed and built by Marion Power Shovel Company using some components designed and built by Rockwell International at a cost of US$14 million (US$128.5 million in 2022) each. Upon its construction, the crawler-transporter became the largest self-powered land vehicle in the world. 

Check the NASA Artemis II Mission page for updates:

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

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

Image Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Keegan Barber
Image Date: Jan. 17, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisII #OrionSpacecraft #SLS #SLSRocket #CrawlerTransporter2 #CrewedMissions #Astronauts #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAKennedy #KSC #VAB #MerrittIsland #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Rollout in Progress | Kennedy Space Center

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Rollout in Progress | Kennedy Space Center

NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, are seen as they make the 4.2 mile journey toward Launch Pad 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A worker is seen around crawler-transporter 2 as NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher.

NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, are seen as they make the 4.2 mile journey toward Launch Pad 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA’s crawler-transporter 2 carrying the agency’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, begins rolling out from High Bay 3 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. The Artemis II test flight will take Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), around the Moon and back to Earth no later than April 2026.

This is a multi-hour trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39B. The four-mile journey on the crawler-transporter-2, at a careful speed of roughly 1 mile per hour, will take up to 12 hours. The massive crawler keeps the mobile launcher and rocket perfectly level throughout the trip, even on the gentle slopes of the crawlerway. Once at the pad, the stack will be secured, ground support systems will be connected, and teams will conduct a full wet dress rehearsal at the end of January to practice fueling and countdown procedures in preparation for flight.

The crawler-transporters, formally known as the Missile Crawler Transporter Facilities, are a pair of tracked vehicles used to transport launch vehicles from NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) along the Crawlerway to Launch Complex 39. They were originally used to transport the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets during the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo–Soyuz programs. They were then used to transport Space Shuttles from 1981 to 2011. The crawler-transporters carry vehicles on the mobile launcher platforms (MLPs) used by NASA, and after each launch return to the pad to take the platform back to the VAB.

The two crawler-transporters were designed and built by Marion Power Shovel Company using some components designed and built by Rockwell International at a cost of US$14 million (US$128.5 million in 2022) each. Upon its construction, the crawler-transporter became the largest self-powered land vehicle in the world. 

Check the NASA Artemis II Mission page for updates:

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

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

Image Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Keegan Barber
Image Date: Jan. 17, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisII #OrionSpacecraft #SLS #SLSRocket #CrawlerTransporter2 #CrewedMissions #Astronauts #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAKennedy #KSC #VAB #MerrittIsland #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Artemis II Moon Rocket Rollout Begins: The Crew is Ready | Kennedy Space Center

Artemis II Moon Rocket Rollout Begins: The Crew is Ready | Kennedy Space Center

NASA Astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman: "Wow. LETS GO!!!"

NASA’s crawler-transporter 2 carrying the agency’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, begins rolling out from High Bay 3 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. The Artemis II test flight will take Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), around the Moon and back to Earth no later than April 2026.

This is a multi-hour trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39B. The four-mile journey on the crawler-transporter-2, at a careful speed of roughly 1 mile per hour, will take up to 12 hours. The massive crawler keeps the mobile launcher and rocket perfectly level throughout the trip, even on the gentle slopes of the crawlerway. Once at the pad, the stack will be secured, ground support systems will be connected, and teams will conduct a full wet dress rehearsal at the end of January to practice fueling and countdown procedures in preparation for flight.

The crawler-transporters, formally known as the Missile Crawler Transporter Facilities, are a pair of tracked vehicles used to transport launch vehicles from NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) along the Crawlerway to Launch Complex 39. They were originally used to transport the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets during the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo–Soyuz programs. They were then used to transport Space Shuttles from 1981 to 2011. The crawler-transporters carry vehicles on the mobile launcher platforms (MLPs) used by NASA, and after each launch return to the pad to take the platform back to the VAB.

The two crawler-transporters were designed and built by Marion Power Shovel Company using some components designed and built by Rockwell International at a cost of US$14 million (US$128.5 million in 2022) each. Upon its construction, the crawler-transporter became the largest self-powered land vehicle in the world. 

Check the NASA Artemis II Mission page for updates:

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

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

Image Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/R. Wiseman
Image Dates: Jan. 15-17, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisII #OrionSpacecraft #SLS #SLSRocket #CrawlerTransporter2 #CrewedMissions #Astronauts #ReidWiseman #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAKennedy #KSC #VAB #MerrittIsland #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Rollout to Launchpad Begins | Kennedy Space Center

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Rollout to Launchpad Begins | Kennedy Space Center

NASA’s crawler-transporter 2 carrying the agency’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, begins rolling out from High Bay 3 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. The Artemis II test flight will take Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), around the Moon and back to Earth no later than April 2026.

This is a multi-hour trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39B. The four-mile journey on the crawler-transporter-2, at a careful speed of roughly 1 mile per hour, will take up to 12 hours. The massive crawler keeps the mobile launcher and rocket perfectly level throughout the trip, even on the gentle slopes of the crawlerway. Once at the pad, the stack will be secured, ground support systems will be connected, and teams will conduct a full wet dress rehearsal at the end of January to practice fueling and countdown procedures in preparation for flight.

The crawler-transporters, formally known as the Missile Crawler Transporter Facilities, are a pair of tracked vehicles used to transport launch vehicles from NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) along the Crawlerway to Launch Complex 39. They were originally used to transport the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets during the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo–Soyuz programs. They were then used to transport Space Shuttles from 1981 to 2011. The crawler-transporters carry vehicles on the mobile launcher platforms (MLPs) used by NASA, and after each launch return to the pad to take the platform back to the VAB.

The two crawler-transporters were designed and built by Marion Power Shovel Company using some components designed and built by Rockwell International at a cost of US$14 million (US$128.5 million in 2022) each. Upon its construction, the crawler-transporter became the largest self-powered land vehicle in the world. 

Check the NASA Artemis II Mission page for updates:

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

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

Image Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Kim Shiflett
Image Date: Jan. 17, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisII #OrionSpacecraft #SLS #SLSRocket #CrawlerTransporter2 #CrewedMissions #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAKennedy #KSC #VAB #MerrittIsland #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Crew-11 Arrives in Houston after Earth Return | International Space Station

Crew-11 Arrives in Houston after Earth Return | International Space Station

NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-11 Commander Zena Cardman waves

NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-11 Pilot Mike Fincke waves

Roscosmos cosmonaut and SpaceX Crew-11 Mission Specialist Oleg Platonov of Russia waves

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut and SpaceX Crew-11 Mission Specialist Kimiya Yui waves

Support teams work around the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft shortly after it landed with Crew-11 off San Diego, California, on Jan. 15, 2026.

The SpaceX recovery ship Shannon is seen in the Pacific Ocean as the recovery team prepares for the landing of Crew-11.

Crew-11 Mission emblem

The seven-member Expedition 74 crew gathers for a crew portrait aboard the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory module. Moments earlier, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke (front left) handed over command of the orbital outpost to Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov (front right) of Russia during a traditional Change of Command ceremony. Clockwise from center are, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Mikaev of Russia, NASA astronaut Chris Williams, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov of Russia, and NASA astronaut Zena Cardman.

Members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 wave to officials at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. Crew-11 departed the International Space Station and returned to Earth on Jan. 15, 2026, aboard Dragon spacecraft Eneavour for a parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of San Diego, California. NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman returned to Earth with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov of Russia on ending their mission to the orbital outpost.

Follow Expedition 74:

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

Expedition 74 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineer: Sergei Mikaev

NASA Flight Engineer: Chris Williams

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.

Image Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz, Johnson Space Center
Crew Image Dates: Jan. 12-16, 2026

 #NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Planets #Earth #DragonCrewSpacecraft #SpaceXCrew11 #Astronauts #JAXA #Japan #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #JSC #Houston #UnitedStates #STEM #Education