NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

In a groundbreaking revelation, the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) observatory, spearheaded by Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has provided an initial glimpse of the extraordinary data it will soon gather as it embarks on its scientific operations later this year. A snapshot released by the satellite's science team showcases a conglomerate of hundreds of galaxies and a spectrum of stellar remnants from a nearby galaxy, offering scientists an intricate understanding of its chemical…

NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has created a stunning all-sky time-lapse movie from 14 years of data, capturing the dynamic universe. It highlights the Sun’s path, the gamma-ray glow of the Milky Way, and distant galaxies known as blazars. The movie reveals both the beauty and complexity of the cosmos, showcasing high-energy events from across the galaxy and beyond, including eruptions from supermassive black holes. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comNASA’s Fermi Space Telescope presents a 14-year…

By Lonnie Shekhtman and Rob Garner, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center December 27, 2023OSIRIS-REx, now OSIRIS-APEX, is on a mission to study asteroid Apophis, utilizing its close approach to Earth in 2029. After successfully returning a sample from Bennu, the spacecraft will observe Apophis, an “S-type” asteroid, providing insights into solar system formation and planetary defense. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterThe former OSIRIS-REx spacecraft sets off on a journey to study asteroid Apophis and take…

GPS satellites support Earth measurements by relaying information to other satellites. Laser retroreflector arrays (LRAs) are improving this process, enhancing the accuracy of geodesy – the study of Earth’s shape and changes. LRAs enable precise distance measurements, essential for monitoring global phenomena like sea level rise and tectonic shifts. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comLaser retroreflector arrays (LRAs) are advancing GPS satellite capabilities, crucial for accurate Earth measurements in geodesy.…

This photo of Saturn was taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope on October 22, 2023, when the ringed planet was approximately 850 million miles from Earth. Hubble’s ultra-sharp vision reveals a phenomenon called ring spokes.Saturn’s spokes are transient features that rotate along with the rings. Their ghostly appearance only persists for two or three rotations around Saturn. During active periods, freshly-formed spokes continuously add to the pattern. Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, Amy Simon (NASA-GSFC)Levitated Dust Takes a…

By Katherine Schauer, NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) December 16, 2023NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload in a Goddard cleanroom. The payload was installed on the International Space Station to demo higher data rates with NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration. Credit: Dennis HenryNASA successfully completed the first two-way laser communication link between the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) and the Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T) aboard the…

Hubble drifts over Earth after its release on May 19, 2009 by the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. The crew had performed all planned tasks over the course of five spacewalks, making the Servicing Mission 4 (SM4), the fifth astronaut visit to the Hubble Space Telescope, an unqualified success. Credit: NASAFollowing a gyroscope issue, NASA has successfully resumed science operations of the Hubble Space Telescope, with systems functioning optimally.NASA restored the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope to science operations…

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has discovered a record-breaking small brown dwarf, only three to four times the mass of Jupiter. This finding challenges current understanding of stellar formation and has implications for the study of exoplanets and the classification of such celestial bodies. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comDiscovery helps answer question: How small can you go when forming stars?Brown dwarfs are sometimes called failed stars, since they form like stars through gravitational collapse, but…

NASA PACE mission is all set for its 2024 launch. NASA is set to launch the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission with the aim of enhancing our understanding of Earth's atmosphere. Advanced polarimeters will be employed to study the interplay of light, aerosols, and clouds, contributing to a deeper comprehension of their impact on air quality and climate. Aerosols, encompassing tiny particles like smoke, dust, and pollutants, may appear inconspicuous, yet they play a crucial role in influencing our…

In December 2022, NASA’s MAVEN mission observed a rare solar event causing the solar wind to “disappear.” This led to significant changes in Mars’ atmosphere and magnetosphere, including their expansion. Scientists, astounded by the data, formed a working group to study this phenomenon. Credit: SciTechDaily.com NASA’s MAVEN detected a unique solar event that drastically affected Mars’ atmosphere, offering vital insights into the planet’s interaction with solar phenomena. In December 2022, NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere…