🛰️ Science Recon Console

Listen to this audio excerpt from Rebekah Tolatovicz, a mechanical technician lead supporting the Orion spacecraft’s main contractor Lockheed Martin: At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, there is a fleet of Orion spacecraft in work, and Rebekah Tolatovicz’s hands have helped build each one. Tolatovicz works to build, integrate, and test the spacecraft used […]

NASA and Voyager Technologies have signed an order for the seventh private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than 2028 from Florida. This is the company’s first selection for a private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, underscoring NASA’s ongoing investment in fostering a commercial space economy and expanding […]

Experiments and supplies bound for the International Space Station launched on April 11 as part of the agency’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission. As part of the approximately 11,000 pounds cargo that lifted off inside the company’s Cygnus XL spacecraft, NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) launched six CubeSats built by U.S. educational institutions […]

NASA Science at NSTA Hyperwall Schedule, April 16-18, 2026 Join NASA in the Exhibit Hall (Booth #1265) for Hyperwall Storytelling by NASA experts. Full Hyperwall Agenda below. THURSDAY, APRIL 16 11:00 AMTeaching Space Weather in the Artemis Mission EraChristina Milotte11:15 AM5E StoryMaps using NASA ResourcesTina HarteBallinger11:30 AMGrowing Beyond Earth: A Partnership BetweenFairchild Tropical Botanic Garden […]

Description An observation made by NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) shows the chemical signatures of water ice (shown in bright blue) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (orange) in Cygnus X, one of the most active and turbulent regions of star birth in our Milky Way galaxy. One […]

NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) mission has mapped interstellar ice at an unprecedented scale. Covering regions in our Milky Way galaxy more than 600 light-years across, the ice was found inside giant molecular clouds — vast regions of gas and dust where dense clumps of […]

NASA’s Artemis II crew – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen – smile at friends, family, and colleagues. They shared brief remarks with the crowd after landing at Ellington Airport near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Saturday, April 11, 2026, after a […]

Dr. Alex Goetz, who passed away in 2025, was a member of the Landsat 7 Science Team and a key figure in the history of Landsat science.

Services Catalog Click here to view the FY26 Services Catalog The catalogs provide service description, chargeback rate, unit of measure, and service level indicators for each NSSC service. Service Level Agreement (SLA) Click here to view the Service Level Agreement The SLA provides information about roles, responsibilities, rates, and service level indicators for all NASA […]

After the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated from present-day Hudson Bay, rebounding land has revealed striking nearshore topography.

Atlas V precisely delivered 29 broadband satellites dedicated to connecting the world

Construction is nearly complete for the world's newest rocket-delivery vessel, United Launch Alliance's SpaceShip that will carry Atlas V and Vulcan rocket elements from the factory in Decatur, Alabama to launch sites in Florida and California. 

SpaceShip is larger and even more capable than RocketShip, which remains in service after a quarter-century of voyages. The addition of a second vessel meets ULA's needs as our launch rate increases.

Designed and built by Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana and Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. in Bristol, Rhode Island, SpaceShip is a 356-foot-long (109-m)  roll-on/roll-off vessel classed for both ocean-going and river service. It enables the transport of two complete Vulcan rockets -- booster stage, interstage, Centaur V and payload fairings -- in a single trip.

Both the SpaceShip and RocketShip are highly maneuverable, unique custom-built rocket transport ships and the only U.S. flagged ships with the versatility to navigate both rivers and open ocean. They feature living quarters and dining areas for the crews, a heli-pad on the top deck, a below-deck machine shop and sophisticated computers and navigational aids on the bridges.

The ships are ULA's primary method for moving launch vehicles from the factory in Decatur, Alabama to either Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, or Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The trips to Cape Canaveral is approximately 1,700 miles one-way and Vandenberg, via the Panama Canal, is nearly 9,000 miles.

RocketShip, formerly the Delta Mariner, began transporting Delta IV cores to both sites 25 years ago, started carrying Atlas V stages in 2011 and has served all Vulcan deliveries to date. Vulcan stages are too large for air or road shipment, making SpaceShip a welcome addition to the fleet.

USSF-87 mission precisely delivered directly to challenging geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO)

Space is the new battlefield high ground, and the upcoming United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket flight will help to protect U.S. national security orbital assets by launching a “neighborhood watch” surveillance system directly into geosynchronous orbit. 

The USSF-87 multi-manifested mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command will launch aboard a Vulcan VC4S rocket on Feb. 12 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.  

The rocket will use four side-mounted solid rocket boosters (SRBs) and a dual-engine Centaur V upper stage to deliver the heavy payload more than 22,000 miles (35,000 km) above the Earth. Vulcan’s versatility and purpose-built, high-energy rocket architecture is designed to meet all of the demanding national security requirements of our nation’s space launch needs.  

VLP-A on Pad //
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla.
The Amazon Vulcan launch platform (VLP-A) is positioned on the pad and undergoing its second phase of technical testing, marking a significant milestone as we advance toward the inaugural Amazon Leo launch. 

OVI Structurally Complete //
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla.
The Amazon Vertical Integration Facility (VIF-A) incorporates an offline vertical integration (OVI) cell allowing the team to process the Centaur V upperstage concurrently with the Vulcan booster prior to stacking. The OVI cell is structurally complete, and the team is installing hydrazine, pneumatic and electrical systems.

Launch Heads Installed //
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. 
The new Vulcan Launch Platform (VLP) includes four launch heads that securely hold the Vulcan rocket prior to launch. Once the engines start, the launch heads release the rocket for liftoff. All four launch heads are installed.

SLC-3 Tank Installation //
Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. 
Modifications are actively underway at Space Launch Complex (SLC)-3 in Vandenberg to support Vulcan launches, and the pad is now more than 83% complete. Updates include new fuel tanks, expanded environmental control systems and a new fixed launch platform.

Roof Structurally Complete //
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla.
To accommodate the height of the Vulcan rocket, the team is increasing the height of the VIF-A by raising the roof 45’. The structural portion of the new roof is now complete.

Onsite OVI Cell //
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. 
Renovations to the Amazon Vertical Integration Facility (VIF-A) incorporate an offline vertical integration (OVI) cell. This onsite cell allows the team to process the Centaur V upperstage concurrently with the Vulcan booster prior to stacking. 

Launch Head Installation //
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. 
The new Vulcan Launch Platform (VLP) includes four launch heads that securely hold the Vulcan rocket prior to launch. Once the engines start, the launch heads release the rocket for liftoff. This photo is of one of the launch heads during installation on the VLP.

SLC-3 Tank Installation //
Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. 
New fuel support tanks have been installed at Space Launch Complex (SLC)-3 to support Vulcan modifications. In addition to the large tank for liquefied natural gas (LNG) propellant, the two smaller tanks are repurposed Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tanks. One tank will be used for LNG thermal management and the other to control LNG bleed-off.

Both Vulcan Launch Platforms in VIF-A //
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. 
The VIF-A includes a site designated for environmental protection of a launch platform awaiting processing for future missions. Storing the launch platform within the VIF-A until it’s ready for processing saves the team time by mitigating the risks of environmental exposure.  

VLP-A Logo Installed //
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. 
Construction of the Amazon Vulcan Launch Platform (VLP-A) continues with the installation of the ULA logo. The VLP-A is a new launch platform tailored to support Amazon launches.

New Support Vans Arrive //
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. 
Two new support vans have arrived at VIF-A. The payload support van (PVan) houses ground equipment such as the electrical and communication interfaces between the spacecraft systems and the launch pad throughout the countdown. The ground van (GVan) supports the launch vehicle with a dedicated set of control electronics. The two vans have been designed to support specific mission configurations and will be seen leading the convoy as the Vulcan rocket rolls from VIF-A to the launch pad.

Atlas V has precisely delivered more than 100 operational satellites for
Amazon Leo internet network 

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 (F2) mission for Viasat, Inc., a global leader in satellite communications, lifted off on Nov. 13 at 10:04 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission reflects on ULA’s goals of collaborating with customers to enable the future of global connectivity.   

A commercial United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket will launch the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 (F2) ultra-high-capacity broadband satellite, designed to be capable of transmitting throughput in excess of one Terabit of data per second (1 Tbps) to users on land, at sea or in the air.  

Launch is planned for Nov. 5 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, during a 44-minute launch window that opens at 10:24 p.m. EST (0324 UTC Nov. 6). ULA is performing the launch for Viasat, a global technology company helping businesses, governments and communities transform their world through connectivity.  

ViaSat-3 F2 is expected to be one of the most sophisticated and powerful communications satellites ever deployed. It is considered an engineering marvel.  

From its operational vantage point in geostationary orbit approximately 22,000 miles (35,000 km) above Earth, ViaSat-3 F2 is designed to expand and enhance in-flight connectivity for commercial and business aviation passengers; exceed performance, security and resiliency for governments; enhance the ‘office-like’ and ‘home-like’ internet experience onboard vessels; and help deliver fast, reliable internet to more homes and small businesses in rural communities. 

Viasat designed and manufactured the state-of-the-art Ka-band payload for receiving, transmitting and processing broadband internet data to and from the satellite. The payload module was then integrated onto a 702MP+ platform built by Boeing Satellite Systems in El Segundo, California. The spacecraft is equipped with eight solar panels, which are designed to unfold in orbit to generate over 25kW of power. The mission life is expected to be at least 15 years.  

The enormous capacity boost from ViaSat-3 F2 is expected to provide more than double the bandwidth of Viasat’s existing satellite fleet – a fleet that is secure, reliable and highly flexible. 

The satellite‘s anticipated throughput capacity of more than 1Tbps is equivalent to transmitting the contents of a two-mile-tall (3.2km) stack of books every second.  

To get the highest productivity from the satellite, the agile ViaSat-3 F2 is designed with dynamic beam forming capabilities to move capacity to where the demand is, providing greater bandwidth to congested areas — even as demand changes throughout the day. This highly flexible capacity is enhanced by 1,000+ steerable spot beams that offer reliable connectivity for mobile platforms. 

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Kuiper 3 mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper lifted off on Sept. 25 at 8:09 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission demonstrates the strong partnership between ULA and Amazon to accurately and rapidly launch and deliver innovation solutions for global connectivity. 

Two faculty and six additional alumni win top APS awards and prizes; four faculty and 12 additional alumni named APS Fellows.

A new study finds that audiobooks help students learn new words — especially when paired with one-on-one instruction.

SNIPE, a newly characterized biological defense system, directly protects bacteria by chopping up invading viral DNA.

The team’s ultra-precise measurement confirms the Standard Model’s predictions.

Startup accelerator program grows to over 30 companies, almost half of them with MIT pedigrees.

This new technique will allow chemists to efficiently fine-tune the chemical structure of an organic molecule.

Researchers uncovered how cells selectively destroy certain microRNAs — key gene regulators — through a mechanism that requires two RNA signals working together.

Study finds a common bacterium can suppress the body’s early warning system in wounds, causing infections to persist and create an environment that allows other bacteria to take hold.

MIT physicists have discovered 3D “moiré crystals” that simulate four-dimensional quantum materials to a T.

On GBH’s new show The Curiosity Desk, MIT LIGO researchers revel in the beauties of fundamental discovery science and MIT astronomers talk planetary defense.

Milestone marks the start of the second-stage of India’s nuclear programme

The post India’s first fast-breeder nuclear reactor achieves criticality appeared first on Physics World.

Join the audience for a live webinar at 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. EDT on 6 May 2026

The post Epitaxial Si/SiGe Multilayers for novel logic and memory devices appeared first on Physics World.

By pairing a ferroelectric capacitor with a linear capacitor, researchers create a power‑efficient device with tuneable memory and strong nonlinear responses

The post Ferroelectric devices push reservoir computing forward appeared first on Physics World.

New research from the Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institut de Physique de Nice, shows how Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) become turbulent when driven out-of-equilibrium at small scales

The post What happens when a Bose–Einstein condensate becomes turbulent? appeared first on Physics World.

New book provides an essential guide to the science, regulatory landscape and real world practice of radiological protection

The post Science and standards: a comprehensive guide to radiological protection appeared first on Physics World.

An excerpt from art historian and author Lynn Gamwell’s book Conjuring the Void: the Art of Black Holes

The post Lure of the black hole: from science to art appeared first on Physics World.

JINR maintains links with almost 700 research centres and universities in 60 countries

The post Joint Institute for Nuclear Research ‘deeply embedded’ in Russia’s military efforts, states report appeared first on Physics World.

Chris Sinclair talks to Michael Frayn about a new revival of his classic science play Copenhagen

The post Michael Frayn on <em>Copenhagen</em>: ‘When I wrote it, I didn’t think it would even be staged’ appeared first on Physics World.

Concept from theoretical physics could reduce qubit requirements

The post Gauge theory could give quantum error correction a boost appeared first on Physics World.

Muhammad Sabieh Anwar describes a new way to engage students in quantum physics

The post How pictures can help school students learn quantum physics appeared first on Physics World.

OpenAI has expanded the capabilities of its agent-building toolkit, as agentic AI continues to grow in popularity.

The startup says it grew its ARR by $70 million in just 20 months after launching an AI agent platform for marketers.

LinkedIn says hiring is down 20% since 2022, but blames higher interest rates — not AI — for the slowdown.

In a first, the U.S. Energy Information Agency said it will require data centers to disclose details of their energy use.

Gizmo, an AI-powered learning platform, has attracted more than 13 million users and just secured $22 million in Series A funding.

Objection, a Thiel-backed startup, aims to use AI to judge journalism, letting users pay to challenge stories. Critics warn it could chill whistleblowers and reshape how media accountability works.

You can share anything on their screen with Gemini to get help with what they're looking at in the moment, including local files.

Glydways is in talks to raise another $250 million as it prepares to launch three pilot programs.

Accel announced on Tuesday that it raised $5 billion in fresh capital to back late-stage companies building AI.

Emergent's Wingman lets users manage and automate tasks through chat on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.

The Moon may preserve a record of the raw ingredients that helped life begin on Earth. New analysis of lunar samples returned by China’s Chang’e missions has revealed a diverse suite of organic compounds embedded within the soil.

Astronomers may not need to see the same dark matter signal everywhere in the Universe to confirm its existence. A new theoretical study suggests that dark matter could consist of more than one type of particle, potentially resolving a long-standing observational puzzle.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA. I’m a space-crazed Canadian who has somehow seen 11 launches across four different rockets since 2009. I’ve witnessed missions with astronauts, interplanetary spacecraft and (inevitably) Starlink, across two continents. But Artemis II took me by surprise yesterday (April 1). The Space Launch System was so bright it was almost painful to look at. The arc of its plume across the sky made noise and noise and NOISE minutes after launch. And the grizzled photographers surrounding me on the press-site lawn at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida were screaming: “TO THE MOON!” And cheering. And yelling the phrase again. It’s literally 16 hours after launch as I type this. I’m in Orlando airport trying to look relaxed, as much as one can on three cups of coffee and five hours of sleep. It feels ridiculous thinking about suitcases and flight arrangements. I’ve been asking myself, “What is normal? Can this be normal?” Fellow Canadian Jeremy Hansen is on his way to the Moon, with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch. I’ve been wanting to see any Moon mission with astronauts for 30 years; now there’s someone up there from my own country, and while

A machine learning pipeline developed in the UK has validated over 100 exoplanets in NASA’s TESS data, revealing rare planetary systems and sharpening estimates of how common close orbiting worlds really are.

Strange X-rays from the naked eye star gamma-Cas have been confirmed to come from matter falling onto a hidden white dwarf companion, resolving a fifty-year astronomical mystery.

Observations of the nearby exoplanet L 98-59 d suggest it belongs to a previously unrecognised class of planet that features vast magma oceans and sulphur-rich atmospheres. The discovery hints that many more exotic planetary types may be waiting to be found.

A total lunar eclipse is centred on the mid-Pacific 3 March, visible to observers in New Zealand and sweeping eastern Australia and western USA, with a large partial eclipse extending further east and west.

Here’s some crystal-clear advice for you Valentine’s Day travellers this February. Head for the outer Solar System, where it is a jewellery-lover’s delight with a steady downpour of solid diamonds forecast across all four gas giant planets.

Get ready for a month packed full of thrilling Moon-related events! From occultations of stars and planets, and even an eclipse, the Moon has some treats in store for astronomers around the world.

We were profoundly saddened to be informed of Dr Allan Chapman’s passing last week. A few months shy of his 80th birthday, Allan was a towering intellect in the field of the history of astronomy. His knowledge of the subject was second to none, and his indomitable spirit captivated audiences far and wide.