NASA

The US Department of Education and NASA have launched a collaborative initiative to engage 1,000 students across 60 cities in STEM education through after-school programs. Launched at Wheatley Education Campus, the program includes design challenges and opportunities for students to interact with NASA scientists. NASA’s Glenn Research Center will support these efforts with resources and training to enhance STEM learning.

NASA scientists have recreated Martian 'spiders' in laboratory conditions for the first time, simulating Mars' extreme temperatures and air pressure. Known as araneiform terrain, these formations were first observed in 2003. The experiment supports the Kieffer model, explaining how sunlight causes gas eruptions that create these distinctive patterns on Mars' surface.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory confirms that two large asteroids, named 2020 GE and 2024 RO11, will safely pass by Earth on September 24, 2024. Despite their proximity, there is no risk of collision. This event offers a valuable observation opportunity for astronomers using advanced telescopes to track their paths.

NASA's veteran astronaut Don Pettit, aged 69, has begun a six-month mission to the ISS alongside Russian cosmonauts Aleksey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. The team launched from Kazakhstan aboard Soyuz MS-26. With over 370 days in space and significant mission contributions, Pettit's expertise remains invaluable for ongoing space exploration efforts.

NASA plans to launch the Europa Clipper mission on October 10, 2024, targeting Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. The mission seeks to explore whether Europa’s subsurface ocean can harbor life. The spacecraft will execute 49 flybys of the moon to gather crucial data about its ice shell and potential habitability while navigating intense radiation zones.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been on the ISS since June and will join a live press conference today at 11:45 pm IST. Their mission was extended from an initial 8 days to several months due to Starliner issues. They are now scheduled to return in February 2025 using SpaceX Dragon.

NASA has issued an alert regarding asteroid 2013 FW13, which will make a close flyby of Earth on September 18, 2024. The asteroid measures around 510 feet in diameter and will pass at a distance of 2.02 million miles. While posing no threat, this highlights the importance of monitoring near-Earth objects for planetary defense.

NASA is set to launch the Europa Clipper spacecraft on October 10 to explore Jupiter’s moon, Europa. This $5 billion mission seeks to uncover potential life beneath the icy surface. The spacecraft will endure intense radiation and perform 49 flybys over six years, capturing detailed data using advanced instruments.

NASA is working on establishing Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) following a directive from the White House. This effort aims to create a standardized time system for the Moon, which will be crucial for future lunar missions and could be applied to other celestial bodies. The project is led by NASA’s Space Communication and Navigation program.

NASA astronaut Frank Culbertson captured images of the World Trade Center attacks from space on September 11, 2001. He documented the disaster and expressed his emotions in a letter. NASA collaborated with FEMA to monitor air quality and honored victims through initiatives such as flying American flags in space and creating a memorial on Mars.

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission has transported four astronauts to a record distance from Earth since Apollo 11. The crew is set for the first all-private spacewalk. NASA underscores the importance of this mission for advancing space health research, which will support future deep space missions to the Moon and Mars.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams will mark her 59th birthday on September 19 while aboard the ISS with Barry Wilmore. This will be her second birthday celebrated in space. Scheduled to return to Earth in February 2025, this mission extends her total time in space to eight months. Emergency plans are prepared using SpaceX Dragon Crew capsule.

Scientists at NASA have made an exceptional exploration by recreating the uncommon spider-like features referred to as araneiform terrain discovered on the red planet. These unusual compositions look similar to black spiders and have been intriguing yet unclear to scientists from the moment they were initially identified in 2003. Comprehension about how these structures emerge could uncover valuable clues about Mars.

Today, three asteroids—2024 RE1, 2024 QS, and 2024 RX7—will make close approaches to Earth, offering astronomers a chance to study their orbits and compositions. Discovered by various observatories, these asteroids range in size from 67 to 130 feet. Their proximity highlights the importance of asteroid detection and tracking programs, which help refine predictions for future encounters and enhance planetary defense strategies. Observations will provide insights into asteroid behavior and the early solar system's conditions.

Recent research reveals that water on the Moon is more widespread than previously believed, challenging the idea that it is confined to the poles. Studies using data from India’s Chandrayaan-1 and NASA’s SOFIA have found water and hydroxyl molecules across the lunar surface, even in sunlit areas. Samples from China’s Chang’e-5 mission also show water in tiny glass beads. These discoveries have significant implications for future lunar exploration and the potential for sustained human presence on the Moon.

NASA plans to launch an artificial star into space by 2029 for better telescope calibration and precise measurement of stellar brightness. The $19.5 million mission, led by George Mason University, seeks to enhance our understanding of the universe's expansion and stellar properties, potentially transforming astronomical observations.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft faced technical difficulties during its first crewed mission, leading NASA to return it uncrewed. Astronauts Wilmore and Williams, stationed on the ISS, will return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon. NASA will offer live coverage of the uncrewed Starliner's return via multiple online platforms.

NASA and SpaceX plan to launch the Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station on September 26, featuring astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov. Tropical Cyclone Nine may influence the launch schedule. The astronauts will conduct experiments and maintenance for five months aboard the space station, with a Falcon 9 rocket undergoing a static fire test beforehand.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has captured rare night-side images of Venus, revealing details about its dark highland regions. The probe's findings, along with evidence of active volcanoes like Maat Mons, enhance our understanding of Venus' geologic activity. Past missions like Magellan and Venus Express have also provided significant insights into the planet's atmosphere and surface features.

The Pragyan rover from Chandrayaan-3 has found a 160-kilometre-wide crater near its landing site, shedding light on the Moon's early geological evolution. This ancient crater predates the Aitken basin and contains deeply excavated materials. High-resolution images provide crucial details, presenting a unique opportunity for studying one of the Moon’s earliest formations.