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The Surprising History of Scientific Ballooning in 11 Missions
a year ago
- NASA launched the GUSTO telescope via balloon over Antarctica to study star formation.
- Scientific ballooning has a 250-year history, contributing to major discoveries.
- 1783: First balloon flight with animal passengers by the Montgolfier brothers.
- 1804: Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac studied atmospheric gases at 23,000 feet.
- 1898: Léon Teisserenc de Bort discovered the stratosphere using balloon data.
- 1912: Victor F. Hess discovered cosmic rays via balloon experiments.
- 1931: Auguste Piccard designed a pressurized cabin for high-altitude balloon flights.
- 1947: Stratoscope I used balloons for high-resolution solar imaging.
- 1960: NASA's Echo 1 satelloon pioneered satellite communications.
- 1962: Operation Stargazer marked the last piloted scientific balloon flight.
- 1998: BOOMERanG experiment confirmed the universe's flat geometry.
- 2024: EXCITE mission studies exoplanet atmospheres via balloon.
Starliner's flight to the space station was far wilder than most of us thought
a year ago
- Starliner spacecraft lost four thrusters during its flight to the International Space Station.
- NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore had to manually control the spacecraft but faced difficulties due to thruster failures.
- Mission flight rules required aborting the approach to the space station after multiple thruster failures.
- Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams questioned the safety of returning to Earth under the circumstances.
- Wilmore and Williams participated in a news conference at Johnson Space Center after their return.
- The mission's politically messy end involved false claims by the Trump White House about rescuing the astronauts.
- Astronauts avoided commenting on political matters, maintaining respect for NASA and the White House.
NASA seeks proposals for two private astronaut missions to ISS
a year ago
- NASA opens private astronaut missions to non-NASA astronauts.
- New solicitation for fifth and sixth private astronaut missions (PAMs) to ISS.
- PAMs aim to support commercial space station development.
- Mission commanders must have ISS experience (30+ days) and recent involvement in ISS operations.
- Alternate commanders from CSA, ESA, or JAXA with ISS experience can be proposed.
- Axiom Space has won all previous PAM awards and may face competition from Vast.
- PAM 5 scheduled for May 2026, PAM 6 for mid-2027.
Every picture from Venus' surface, ever (2021)
a year ago
- Only four spacecraft have returned images from Venus' surface due to extreme conditions.
- Soviet Union's Venera probes in 1975 and 1982 captured the only images of Venus' surface.
- Venera probes revealed yellow skies and desolate landscapes, hinting at a past similar to Earth.
- Ted Stryk reconstructed the best versions of Venera panoramas using data from the Russian Academy of Sciences.
- Call to support NASA science funding and space exploration initiatives.
- Encouragement to donate to advance space science and join The Planetary Society.
Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA
a year ago
- Trump White House proposes a 20% overall cut to NASA's budget, reducing it by $5 billion from $25 billion.
- Majority of cuts target the Science Mission Directorate, with nearly a 50% reduction in funding.
- Science budget proposed to drop from $7.5 billion in FY2025 to $3.9 billion in FY2026.
- Astrophysics faces a two-thirds cut to $487 million; heliophysics cut by over two-thirds to $455 million.
- Earth science reduced by over 50% to $1.033 billion; planetary science cut by 30% to $1.929 billion.
- Ongoing missions like Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes continue, but Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is canceled.
Trump Admin to Slice NASA in Half and Cancel New Telescopes
a year ago
- The White House plans to terminate billions in NASA missions, cutting its budget significantly.
- NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) budget would drop from $7.3 billion to $3.9 billion.
- Astrophysics budget would decrease from $1.5 billion to $487 million; planetary science from $2.7 billion to $1.9 billion.
- Funding for new telescopes, including the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, will be canceled.
- Congress could still intervene to rescue NASA, as the budget proposal is just the first step.
White House proposal would slash NASA science budget and cancel major missions
a year ago
- White House proposes steep cuts to NASA's science program, reducing overall spending by 20% and science programs by nearly 50%.
- Budget draft would cut NASA's topline budget to $20 billion, with Science Mission Directorate funding slashed to $3.9 billion in 2026.
- Astrophysics division faces the biggest hit, with funding dropping from $1.5 billion in 2024 to less than $500 million in 2026.
- Major missions like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and Mars Sample Return program would be canceled.
- Earth science and heliophysics budgets would be cut by over 50% and nearly 50%, respectively.
- The proposed cuts contradict statements by NASA nominee Jared Isaacman, who advocated for science during his confirmation hearing.
- Science advocates and lawmakers express alarm, calling the cuts 'devastating' and a threat to U.S. leadership in science.
- Senators and representatives vow to fight the cuts, citing impacts on NASA centers like Goddard Space Flight Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
- Elon Musk describes the proposed cuts as 'troubling' but refrains from direct involvement due to SpaceX's NASA contracts.
NASA's next space-telescope is almost ready to launch but may be killed by cuts
a year ago
- NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a $3.5-billion observatory, is nearing completion and could launch as early as fall 2026.
- The telescope aims to study dark energy, discover new worlds, and search for signs of alien life.
- A leaked draft of the 2026 budget proposes canceling the Roman Space Telescope, sparking criticism from scientists and policymakers.
- The draft budget also includes significant cuts to NASA's science division, affecting heliophysics, Earth science, and planetary science programs.
- The proposed cuts would cancel missions like DAVINCI to Venus and a Mars sample return mission, and reduce astrophysics funding by two-thirds.
- Experts and lawmakers have expressed dismay, calling the budget proposal 'unserious' and a waste of taxpayer money.
- The Roman Space Telescope, previously known as WFIRST, has been a top priority in astrophysics since 2010 and is designed to complement other observatories like Euclid and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
- Canceling Roman would not only halt scientific progress but also damage international collaborations and future astrophysics missions.
- The telescope's coronagraph is a key prototype for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, which aims to search for signs of life on distant planets.
- Critics argue that cutting flagship missions like Roman undermines long-term scientific planning and international trust in U.S. space programs.
Moon, Mars: China leads to both
a year ago
- Jared Isaacman and Senator Ted Cruz emphasized the need for the U.S. to reach the moon before China, with an extended goal of sending humans to Mars.
- The space race concept persists, but robotic missions are more practical for lunar and Martian development, with China leading in robotic lunar exploration.
- China has achieved two lunar sample returns and is developing lunar infrastructure, while the U.S. has canceled its lunar rover and struggled with smallsat missions.
- China is accelerating its Mars Sample Return mission to 2028, while the U.S. has delayed its plans.
- Human Mars missions face significant challenges, including health risks, landing difficulties, and life support requirements, which are often overlooked in political speeches.
- Robotic missions and teleoperation could advance lunar and Martian exploration more efficiently than human missions.
- The U.S. should focus on leveraging its technological leadership for cooperative human-robot space exploration rather than symbolic human spaceflight achievements.
- The Trump administration's neglect of robotic missions, including Mars Sample Return, undermines future human missions to Mars.
Judith Resnick
a year ago
- Judith Arlene Resnik was an American electrical engineer, software engineer, biomedical engineer, pilot, and NASA astronaut who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
- She was the fourth woman, the second American woman, and the first Jewish woman of any nationality to fly in space, logging 145 hours in orbit.
- Resnik was recognized for her intellectual brilliance early in life, achieving a perfect SAT score and attending Carnegie Mellon University.
- She worked on Navy missile and radar projects for RCA and later contributed to biomedical engineering research at the National Institutes of Health.
- Selected by NASA in 1978 as part of Astronaut Group 8, she was the first group to include women.
- Her first space mission was STS-41-D in 1984, where she operated the Space Shuttle's robotic arm.
- Resnik died in the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986, during the STS-51-L mission.
- Posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, she has numerous landmarks and awards named in her honor.
NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Images Asteroid Donaldjohanson
a year ago
- NASA's Lucy spacecraft conducted a close flyby of asteroid Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2025, capturing images from approximately 600 miles (960 km) away.
- The asteroid, estimated to be about 5 miles (8 km) long and 2 miles (3.5 km) wide, revealed an unusual elongated contact binary shape with a narrow neck resembling nested ice cream cones.
- Preliminary analysis suggests Donaldjohanson's geology is complex, offering insights into the building blocks and collisional processes that shaped the Solar System.
- This encounter served as a full dress rehearsal for the mission, testing dense observation strategies ahead of primary targets like the Jupiter Trojan asteroid Eurybates in 2027.
- Lucy's instruments, including L’LORRI, L’Ralph, and L’TES, will continue analyzing data over the coming weeks to provide a more complete understanding of the asteroid's structure.
- The mission is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, with contributions from Southwest Research Institute, Lockheed Martin Space, and other institutions, as part of NASA’s Discovery Program.
How NASA Is Using Graph Technology and LLMs to Build a People Knowledge Graph
a year ago
- NASA is building a People Knowledge Graph using graph databases and LLMs to enhance people analytics.
- The initiative helps identify experts, form teams, and plan future skills by connecting people, projects, and skills.
- Key components include Memgraph for real-time graph queries, AWS cloud infrastructure, and an LLM-powered RAG chatbot.
- Data sources include personnel data, AI/ML projects, and resumes, with skills extracted using Ollama.
- The graph schema includes nodes for employees, projects, skills, and more, labeled as 'Entity' for vector indexing.
- Live demos showcased Cypher queries for expert finding, leadership reports, and project similarity analysis.
- Future plans include scaling to 500K nodes, improving data quality, and expanding the graph with learning goals.
- NASA chose Memgraph over Neo4j for cost efficiency, Python compatibility, and ease of transition.
NASA's Lucy Spacecraft Completes Asteroid Donaldjohanson Flyby
a year ago
- NASA's Lucy spacecraft successfully completed its flyby of the asteroid Donaldjohanson.
- The closest approach occurred at 1:51 pm EDT on Sunday.
- The spacecraft is confirmed to be in good health.
- Data transmission back to Earth will take up to a week.
- The mission aims to study the Jupiter Trojan asteroids starting in 2027.
NASA Orbiter Spots Curiosity Rover Making Tracks to Next Science Stop
a year ago
- NASA's Curiosity Mars rover was captured in an orbital image mid-drive for the first time on Feb. 28, 2024 (Sol 4,466).
- The image was taken by the HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, showing Curiosity as a dark speck with long tracks spanning about 1,050 feet (320 meters).
- Curiosity was traveling from Gediz Vallis channel to a new science stop, potentially featuring ancient boxwork formations formed by groundwater.
- The rover's speed and navigation depend on terrain challenges and software, with engineers and scientists planning daily routes.
- HiRISE captures images in black and white for spatial resolution, with a color strip; this time, Curiosity appeared in the black-and-white section.
- Curiosity has since ascended a steep slope and is expected to reach its new science location within a month.
- The Curiosity mission is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), with HiRISE operated by the University of Arizona.
NASA Soars to New Heights in First 100 Days of Trump Administration
a year ago
- 100th day of the Trump-Vance Administration, focusing on NASA's ambitious vision for Mars.
- NASA's achievements include safe return of Crew-9, launch of Crew-10, and advancements in space diplomacy.
- Significant progress in Moon and Mars missions, including SEP thruster testing and precision landing technologies.
- Artemis II milestones achieved, including stacking solid rocket boosters and preparing for a Moon mission.
- NASA's leadership in space science highlighted by asteroid Bennu findings and SPHEREx mission launch.
- Expansion of Artemis Accords with new signatories Finland and Bangladesh.
- Innovations in aviation and space technology, including quiet supersonic aircraft and electric motor testing.
- NASA's role in disaster response and wildfire monitoring showcased.
- Hubble Space Telescope celebrated 35 years of discovery.
- NASA recognized with Webby Awards for digital engagement.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft hits a speed bump on the way to a metal asteroid
a year ago
- NASA's Psyche spacecraft stopped firing its engines due to a detected problem in its propulsion system.
- The issue involves a decrease in fuel pressure in the xenon fuel line, dropping from 36 psi to 26 psi.
- The spacecraft automatically powered off its thrusters in response to the pressure drop.
- Psyche uses solar electric propulsion, relying on solar-generated electricity and xenon gas for thrust.
- Engineers are investigating the cause, with no immediate effect on the spacecraft's trajectory.
- The thrusters can remain off until mid-June before the spacecraft would drift off course.
- NASA has a backup fuel line option if the issue is traced to the primary fuel line.
- Mission managers emphasize built-in redundancy to handle such issues without immediate concerns.
NASA's SPHEREx Space Telescope Begins Capturing Entire Sky
a year ago
- NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory has begun its science mission, taking about 3,600 unique images per day to map the entire sky.
- The mission aims to chart the positions of hundreds of millions of galaxies in 3D to answer big questions about the universe.
- SPHEREx will complete more than 11,000 orbits over 25 months, creating four all-sky maps in two years.
- The observatory uses spectroscopy to observe 102 wavelengths of infrared light, revealing information about cosmic sources.
- SPHEREx will study cosmic inflation, the distribution of matter in the universe, and search for water and other ingredients for life in the Milky Way.
- The mission involves collaboration across NASA, industry, and academia, with data being publicly available for research.
NASA snaps detailed photos of 'strikingly complicated' asteroid
a year ago
- NASA’s Lucy spacecraft had its second close encounter with the asteroid Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2024.
- The spacecraft's L’LORRI imager captured detailed images from about 600 miles away, revealing the asteroid's complex geology.
- Donaldjohanson's elongated shape suggests it formed from a collision of two smaller bodies, with a unique neck connecting its two lobes.
- The asteroid is larger than initially estimated, measuring about 5 miles long and 2 miles wide.
- Additional data from L’Ralph and L’TES instruments will be analyzed over the next week.
- This encounter follows Lucy’s flyby of Dinkinesh and Selam 16 months prior.
- Donaldjohanson is the second of 10 asteroids Lucy will study during its 12-year mission.
- Lucy’s next major target is the Jupiter Trojan asteroid Eurybates, with a final flyby planned for August 2027.
White House budget ends SLS and Orion after Artemis 3, scales back ISS
a year ago
- The White House released its FY2026 budget proposal.
- NASA faces deep cuts in science programs.
- SLS and Orion programs will end after Artemis 3.
- ISS operations will be scaled back.
The Planetary Society condemns deep, damaging 24% cut to NASA's budget
a year ago
- The Planetary Society opposes a proposed 24% cut to NASA's budget in FY 2026.
- The cut would slash NASA's science budget by 47%, risking mission terminations and undermining U.S. space leadership.
- The budget proposal contradicts President Trump's stated goal of leading space exploration.
- The Society urges Congress to reject the cuts and restore NASA's funding.
- A joint letter to Congress has been signed by multiple organizations opposing the cuts.
- The Planetary Society provides resources for updates on the budget process.

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#nasa

The Surprising History of Scientific Ballooning in 11 Missions

Starliner's flight to the space station was far wilder than most of us thought

NASA seeks proposals for two private astronaut missions to ISS

Every picture from Venus' surface, ever (2021)

Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA

Trump Admin to Slice NASA in Half and Cancel New Telescopes

White House proposal would slash NASA science budget and cancel major missions

NASA's next space-telescope is almost ready to launch but may be killed by cuts

Moon, Mars: China leads to both

Judith Resnick

NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Images Asteroid Donaldjohanson

How NASA Is Using Graph Technology and LLMs to Build a People Knowledge Graph

NASA's Lucy Spacecraft Completes Asteroid Donaldjohanson Flyby

NASA Orbiter Spots Curiosity Rover Making Tracks to Next Science Stop

NASA Soars to New Heights in First 100 Days of Trump Administration

NASA's Psyche spacecraft hits a speed bump on the way to a metal asteroid

NASA's SPHEREx Space Telescope Begins Capturing Entire Sky

NASA snaps detailed photos of 'strikingly complicated' asteroid

White House budget ends SLS and Orion after Artemis 3, scales back ISS

The Planetary Society condemns deep, damaging 24% cut to NASA's budget