Juno will explore Jupiter's northern and southern lights by flying through electrical current systems that generate them. The mission aims to understand the origin and evolution of the solar system's largest planet by mapping magnetic and gravity fields, determining atmospheric composition, and observing upper atmosphere dynamics.
A fleet of underwater robots, known as gliders, is being deployed by NOAA and partners to collect ocean data off the East Coast. The gliders will help scientists improve storm intensity forecasts and understanding of hurricanes.
The NASA HS3 mission has revealed that Tropical Storm Humberto had a hybrid core structure, characterized by both warm and cold cores at different levels. This discovery provides new insights into the processes underlying hurricane formation and intensity change in the Atlantic Ocean basin.
The CYGNSS hurricane satellite mission has passed NASA's Systems Requirements Review and Key Decision Point-B, moving into the next phase of development. The constellation of eight microsatellites will use GPS signals to measure ocean surface properties and determine how hurricanes form and strengthen.
Tropical Storm Humberto re-formed over two days, with significant changes observed in rainfall patterns by NASA's TRMM satellite. The HS3 mission uses Global Hawk aircraft to investigate storm processes and gather data on the environment of the storm.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected powerful thunderstorms with cloud-top temperatures of -63F/-52C, indicating strong uplift and potential for heavy rainfall. The Global Hawk unmanned aircraft is gathering data on the storm, which is expected to pass over or near Bermuda, producing rainfall amounts of 3-5 inches and a storm surge of 2-3 feet.
NASA's HS3 mission investigated Tropical Storm Gabrielle's remnants near the Bahamas, while Aqua satellite data showed strong thunderstorms strengthening Humberto. Humberto is expected to continue strengthening and potentially become a hurricane.
NASA's TRMM and Terra satellites monitored cloud extent and rainfall within Tropical Storm Gabrielle. System 99L shows potential to become a tropical storm near Mexico's east coast, while System 98L remains disorganized in Eastern Atlantic.
A $6 million CU Boulder instrument will study lunar dust behavior, helping answer why astronauts saw a pre-sunrise glow on the moon. The LADEE mission, launched on Sept. 6, will orbit the moon for a month to collect data and answer questions about lunar dust transport.
The HS3 mission sampled the environment of Tropical Storm Erin and revealed an elevated dust layer overrunning the storm. The Saharan Air Layer's role in tropical storm formation and intensification is a focus of the study, which aims to understand its impact on hurricane intensity change.
Fermi's extended mission will enable deeper studies of gamma-ray bursts, pulsars, and supermassive black holes. The telescope has already revealed giant bubbles above and below our galaxy, shedding light on the universe's most extraordinary phenomena.
The OSIRIS-REx mission will study asteroid Bennu in detail before returning with a sample of material from its surface. The spacecraft will map the asteroid's composition from orbit using spectrometers to identify key elements like water, metals, and organic carbon.
A NASA team outlines priorities for a future Europa lander mission to study its potential habitability. The mission would investigate the composition and chemistry of Europa's ocean and the thickness, uniformity, and dynamics of its icy shell.
The Japanese vehicle delivers new hardware to NASA's Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM), enabling the demonstration of satellite-servicing activities and cryogen replenishment. The RRM team will work with the Dextre robot to test intermediate steps leading up to cryogen transfer.
NASA's HS3 mission will investigate tropical cyclones using a new dual-frequency conical-scanning Doppler radar called HIWRAP. The instrument measures wind and rain in hurricanes, providing critical data sets needed for improved understanding and forecasting.
A NASA technologist has developed a fully automated tool, the Evolutionary Mission Trajectory Generator (EMTG), that gives mission planners detailed directions for efficiently steering spacecraft to distant interplanetary destinations. The tool can calculate multiple trajectories in minutes, reducing the time required to design missions.
The TESS mission will map the locations of over 500 transiting exoplanets, including small planets around bright stars. This is the first time NASA has studied a large number of small planets with advanced instruments.
Two University of Iowa researchers have answered a long-standing question about the Earth's Van Allen radiation belts. They found that electrons can gain energy inside the belts through local acceleration in the heart of the radiation belts. The discovery was made using measurements from NASA's twin Van Allen Probes mission satellites.
Scientists discovered a massive particle accelerator in the heart of the Van Allen radiation belts using NASA's Van Allen Probes mission. The acceleration energy is found within the belts themselves, helping to improve predictions of space weather and satellite safety.
Scientists have advanced knowledge of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts by determining that electrons can gain energy inside the belts. The researchers used NASA's twin Van Allen Probes mission satellites to examine two possibilities and found that local acceleration occurs in the heart of the radiation belts.
A study published in CMAJ found that 13.5% of Canadian Forces personnel who served in support of the Afghanistan mission between 2001-08 had a mental health disorder related to their deployment. The most common disorders were posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, with PTSD being found in 8% of personnel.
A new course module, ECO mission, has won the Science Prize for Inquiry-Based Instruction for its effective teaching of biology. The course uses a combination of web-based learning environments and hands-on experimentation to improve students' understanding of real research.
Dolores H. Hill, a NASA scientist, has been selected by the White House as a Citizen Science Champion of Change for her work on the Target Asteroids project. The project aims to engage amateur astronomers in tracking near-Earth objects and improve our understanding of asteroids.
Scientists from the University of New Hampshire and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center explain how energetic particles create molecular hydrogen from water ice on the moon. They used data gathered by the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation to show that up to 100% of the H2 can be formed via charged particles.
The autonomous robot will test technologies and techniques for exploring life on Mars, with a focus on gathering scientific data. Zoë is equipped with a one-meter drill to bore deep into the ground and analyze soil samples using instruments like the Mars Microbeam Raman Spectrometer.
The USGS has taken operational control of Landsat 8, the latest in a series of remote-sensing satellites that have been monitoring Earth's landscape since 1972. With this shift, at least 400 scenes will be collected daily to be processed and archived, supporting scientific research and decision-making on environmental issues.
The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission team successfully assembled the fourth and final observatory for NASA's MMS mission. This achievement marks a new challenge in engineering, as the team built four identical spacecraft simultaneously, a feat rarely accomplished even by experienced professionals.
The HS3 mission will explore tropical cyclones of Cape Verde origins, including Hurricane Nadine in 2012. Researchers hope to obtain a more complete data set to better understand hurricane formation and intensity changes.
A recent study by Brigham Young University found that employees who exhibit a strong belief in a brand's mission or cause become more influential in important company circles. Those who simply focus on their job performance without being invested in the organization's mission tend to be less influential.
The HS3 mission will investigate hurricane formation and intensity change in the Atlantic Ocean basin using two unmanned Global Hawk aircraft. The aircraft will be equipped with advanced instruments to measure eyewall and rainband winds, precipitation, and atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles.
A NASA team has built a first-of-a-kind testbed to simulate pulsar-on-table technology for X-ray navigation. The Goddard X-ray Navigation Laboratory Testbed will validate advanced technologies for the NICER/SEXTANT mission, which aims to study neutron star interior compositions and demonstrate pulsar-based navigation.
The NRL-developed MIGHTI instrument will measure neutral winds and temperatures in the Earth's low-latitude thermosphere. The ICON mission aims to understand space weather events' impact on the ionosphere.
A NASA-University of Iowa collaboration uses ground instruments and satellite observations to improve flood forecasting. The study evaluates the accuracy of NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission satellite rainfall data.
The EVEX mission aims to better understand and predict electrical storms in Earth's upper atmosphere, which can interfere with satellite communication and global positioning signals. By launching two rockets through the equatorial ionosphere, scientists will gather data on electric fields and charged particles to develop a warning syst...
The Proba-3 mission aims to validate precision formation flight technology, enabling the creation of enormous space telescopes. Two satellites weighing approximately 340 kg and 200 kg will travel jointly attached together until they separate in a highly-eccentric orbit.
The Planck space mission has released its most accurate map of the oldest light in the universe, revealing a slower expansion rate and less dark energy. The new data also provide insights into dark matter and normal matter contents, challenging current models.
The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) has released its first images of Earth, revealing stunning natural-color scenes and thermal infrared bands. The new data will aid in water management by detecting temperature differences across the land surface.
The Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) mission will demonstrate laser communications from lunar orbit to Earth at six times the rate of modern-day radio systems. The system uses a highly reliable infrared laser and sophisticated pointing technology to accurately target ground stations across distances of up to 238,900 miles.
Scientists have found that Jupiter's hot spots are created by a Rossby wave pattern, which glides up and down through layers of the atmosphere. The researchers mapped wind speeds and tracked small cloud movements to tease out individual motions, revealing the wave's true nature.
Suomi NPP, a partnership between NASA and NOAA, supports Earth science research and weather forecasting by providing critical data for global change science and improving short-term weather forecasts. The satellite's observations help advance science and increase the accuracy of meteorological predictions.
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission, led by the University of New Hampshire, has discovered a transient third radiation belt formed in the wake of a powerful solar event. The new belt was detected using the Relativistic Electron-Proton Telescope and is located at an inner edge of the outer electron belt.
The Van Allen Probes have discovered a surprise third radiation belt extending out into space, offering scientists new insights into the region. The discovery provides a unique opportunity for researchers to study the dynamics of the belts and shed light on the complex interactions between solar energy and magnetic waves.
The European Space Agency's JUICE mission will observe ultraviolet emissions from Jupiter's system, providing insights into the composition of the icy moons' surfaces and atmospheres. The instrument will also map the moons' surfaces, sound their interiors, and determine their potential for supporting life in future manned missions.
The European Space Agency has selected NASA's Goddard team to join the Euclid mission, a space telescope designed to probe the mysteries of dark energy and dark matter. The project aims to explore the cosmic infrared background and provide insight into stellar and galactic populations in the early universe.
The NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft is undergoing rigorous environmental testing at Lockheed Martin facilities. The tests simulate extreme temperatures, vacuum, and vibration to ensure the spacecraft can operate in space.
The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) will study the lower levels of the sun's atmosphere, including the chromosphere and transition region. The mission aims to unravel how matter, light, and energy move from the surface to the corona, with implications for solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
The Landsat Data Continuity Mission will extend over 40 years of global land observations, critical in energy and water management, forest monitoring, and disaster recovery. The mission's instruments, including Operational Land Imager and Thermal Infrared Sensor, promise improved data quality and quantity.
NASA's Robotic Refueling Mission aims to demonstrate robotic refueling in space, which could add years of functional life to satellites and expand options for operators. The mission will employ the Canadian-built Dextre robot and NASA's RRM module to simulate robotic refueling, with a focus on improving satellite servicing capabilities.
A simulated Mars mission revealed rhythmic fluctuations in sodium levels with 7-day and monthly cycles, suggesting sodium storage and implications for blood pressure control. The study found that nearly all ingested salt was excreted in urine, but not daily, and that hormonal responses also fluctuated with these cycles.
Andrei Lebed's research suggests that the equation may not hold true for gravitational mass, which could have significant implications for our understanding of gravity and its relationship to inertial mass. He proposes an experiment to test his conclusions, which could potentially revolutionize our understanding of the universe.
A team of astronomers analyzed Kepler mission data and found that 17% of sun-like stars have planets one to two times the diameter of Earth, orbiting close to their host stars. These planets may be rocky and habitable within the Goldilocks zone.
A 520-day space simulation revealed alterations in sleep patterns and neurobehavioral consequences for astronauts. The study highlights the need for artificial light exposure, food intake, and exercise to maintain human behavior during prolonged space missions.
Justin Huntington, a Desert Research Institute assistant research professor, has been selected to join the National Science Team supporting the new Landsat Data Continuity Mission Satellite. The team will focus on developing and enhancing Landsat derived evapotranspiration and surface energy products.
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has selected ten universities to design and build small satellites in a competition. The winning project will receive additional funding for completion and be launched on a future space mission.
Scientists observed and measured the tiny distortion in a star's light caused by Venus passing in front of it. The effect, known as the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect, is difficult to detect but holds promise for studying exoplanets. Measuring this effect will aid in understanding the history of exoplanet formation.
The EUNIS mission will gather data on the sun's corona by observing extreme ultraviolet light over a six-minute flight, providing insights into temperature ranges of solar plasma. The instrument will observe wavelengths from 525 to 630 Angstroms, covering temperatures from near the surface to millions of degrees Fahrenheit.
The NASA HS3 mission has ended its 2012 campaign with a final data-collection flight in the North Pacific Ocean. The Global Hawk aircraft tested three new hurricane-tracking instruments: HIWRAP, HIRAD, and HAMSR, which will be used in next year's campaign to study hurricanes and severe storms.
The American Gut project aims to characterize the microbes living in and on human bodies, with a focus on diet and lifestyle's impact on health. The public is encouraged to participate, and the study will analyze data from tens of thousands of individuals.
A $20 million remote sensing instrument package built by CU-Boulder is being integrated onto a NASA Mars spacecraft. The package, designed to study the Martian atmosphere, will provide global context and help scientists rewrite textbooks about the upper atmosphere of Mars.
The Hinode spacecraft observed two solar eclipses in 2012 and 2013, capturing distinct views of total and partial eclipses. The mission provided valuable insights into the Sun's surface magnetism, shedding light on sunspot activity.