Curiosity rover spots odd 'footprints' on Mars | Space photo of the day for Sept. 15, 2026
"Both of our workspaces this week contained features unlike quite anything we have seen in the past."
On this day in space! Sept. 15, 1968: Russian tortoises (& other critters) launch around the moon on Zond 5 spacecraft in wild first circumlunar flight
On Sept. 15, 1968, the Soviet Union launched the Zond 5 spacecraft carrying tortoises and more on a mission to loop around the moon and return to Earth. Here's why it mattered.
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The NSSC provides travel reimbursement services for all authorized Agency travel including: domestic, foreign, local, ETDY, and Change of Station (COS). References Federal Travel …
International Observe the Moon Night 2026 is on Sept. 19: Here's how to join in
International Observe the Moon Night 2026 occurs on Sept. 19 as the lunar disk is well placed for exploring its craters, mountains and ancient lava plains.
SpaceX launching 2nd classified mission for US Space Force in less than a week tonight: Watch it live
SpaceX will launch its second classified mission for the U.S. Space Force in less than a week tonight (Sept. 15), and you can watch the action live.
A famous galaxy's black hole has been hiding its most violent behavior
Astronomers have found that a nearby galaxy's black hole is blasting out a far more powerful and hidden gas outflow than previously realized. Studying NGC 1068, a well-known galax…
Could the clues to ancient alien civilizations be hiding in moon dust?
Most of our experience with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) has focused on capturing radio signals that alien species have sent out, whether intentionally or u…
'If I wanted to go to space, I would have stayed at NASA': What's next for Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover after his mission to the moon
Former NASA astronaut and Artemis II pilot Victor Glover is stepping away from his space agency duties to take on a new role — executive advisor to the president of Cal Poly Unive…
APOD: 2026 September 15 – A Daytime Eclipse: Moon Occults Venus
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 15 – A… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the …
Dense galaxies are carving out a bubble in the early universe
When JWST's first science results started rolling in, it was a triumph for scientific vision and persistence. For years, the fate of the powerful space telescope was uncertain. It…
A new design for a plasma engine fuels on only thin air
Choosing an orbit for a satellite always comes with trade-offs. Very low Earth orbit (VLEO), between 100–450 km (62–280 miles), has distinct advantages. Remote-sensing cameras can…
Webinar 9/23: NASA CSDA Program Update 2026
This webinar will provide an overview of the CSDA program’s goals and activities, including the new Cal/Val initiative, and more.
Active black holes reveal star-forming rings and shock waves in nine nearby galaxies
A new study of nine nearby galaxies has shown that actively growing supermassive black holes may contribute to, rather than prevent, star formation in their host galaxies.
The warmest summer on record: 2026 hit a scorching new high in the US
Temperatures and precipitation are hitting new extremes.
New Crops, Health Research Proposals to Help NASA Advance Exploration
NASA has selected 12 new investigations to help support human explorers in space. Six will help advance the ability to produce food off-planet, while another six advance the under…
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS likely formed where its star's light couldn't touch it
"Every one of these objects we study helps us understand a little more about how planets form around other stars."
Series of reactions reveals how complex carbon chemistry can begin in frigid space
Before there was Earth, there was chemistry. In the unimaginable cold, dark clouds where stars and planets are born, carbon molecules assemble into more complex forms—starting a c…
2 European Earth-observing satellites launching to orbit from South America tonight: Watch it live
A Vega C rocket will launch Europe's FLEX and Copernicus-3C spacecraft to orbit from French Guiana tonight (Sept. 14), and you can watch the action live.
The US government is 'sincere in its efforts to understand UAP', new White House council chair says
The recently created UAP Science Advisory Council recently gathered at a private meeting at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
NASA Welcomes Djibouti as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory
The Republic of Djibouti became the 72nd nation and eighth African country to sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony Monday at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The Artemis Acc…
How the 2024 solar superstorm drained Earth's radiation belt
In May 2024, Earth experienced its most intense geomagnetic storm since the Halloween storms of 2003. This "superstorm" filled night skies in many parts of the world with colorful…
NASA Kicks Off Inspiration Tour with Steelers vs. Falcons Game
Fans pose for a photo with an astronaut in the NASA Experience Zone at an NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2…
The original 'Star Wars' is coming to IMAX for the first time ever in 2027
Both the OG 'Star Wars' and 'Star Wars: Starfighter' score the ultimate cinematic treatment in 2027.
Physicists zoom into the birth of cosmic rainstorms with new CERN study
Every second, particles zip through your body at nearly the speed of light. They rain down from a storm high in the sky, where cosmic rays, a powerful type of interstellar matter,…