Jet Propulsion Laboratory

PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment)

5 Things to Know About NASA’s Tiny Twin Polar Satellites

Called PREFIRE, this CubeSat duo will boost our understanding of how much heat Earth’s polar regions radiate out to space and how that influences our climate. Twin shoebox-size climate satellites will soon be studying two of the most remote regions on Earth: the Arctic and Antarctic. The NASA mission will measure the amount of heat […]

Posted May 15, 2024

Juno

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Jupiter

Jupiter Moons

The Solar System

NASA’s Juno Provides High-Definition Views of Europa’s Icy Shell

Imagery from the solar-powered spacecraft shows some intriguing features on the ice-encased Jovian moon. Images from the JunoCam visible-light camera aboard NASA’s Juno spacecraft supports the theory that the icy crust at the north and south poles of Jupiter’s moon Europa is not where it used to be.

Posted May 15, 2024

Earth

Climate Change

Earth Science

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Water on Earth

How ‘Glowing’ Plants Could Help Scientists Predict Flash Drought

An unusual boost in plant productivity can foreshadow severe soil water loss. NASA satellites are following the clues. Flaring up rapidly and with little warning, the drought that gripped much of the United States in the summer of 2012 was one of the most extensive the country had seen since the yearslong Dust Bowl of […]

Posted May 14, 2024

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Juno

Jupiter

Jupiter Moons

The Solar System

NASA’s Juno Mission Spots Jupiter’s Tiny Moon Amalthea

NASA’s Juno mission captured these views of Jupiter during its 59th close flyby of the giant planet on March 7, 2024. They provide a good look at Jupiter’s colorful belts and swirling storms, including the Great Red Spot. Close examination reveals something more: two glimpses of the tiny moon Amalthea (see Figure B below). Figure […]

Posted May 13, 2024

Mars

Commercial Space

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Robotics

Science-enabling Technology

Space Communications Technology

Technology Research

The Future of Commercial Space

NASA Selects Commercial Service Studies to Enable Mars Robotic Science

Nine companies have been selected to conduct early-stage studies of concepts for commercial services to support lower-cost, higher-frequency missions to the Red Planet. NASA has identified nine U.S. companies to perform a total of 12 concept studies of how commercial services can be applied to enable science missions to Mars.

Posted May 1, 2024

Mars

Curiosity (Rover)

Goddard Space Flight Center

Heliophysics

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN)

The Solar System

The Sun

NASA Scientists Gear Up for Solar Storms at Mars

The Sun will be at peak activity this year, providing a rare opportunity to study how solar storms and radiation could affect future astronauts on the Red Planet. In the months ahead, two of NASA’s Mars spacecraft will have an unprecedented opportunity to study how solar flares — giant explosions on the Sun’s surface — […]

Posted April 29, 2024

CloudSat

CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite)

Climate Change

Earth

Earth Science

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Water on Earth

NASA’s CloudSat Ends Mission Peering Into the Heart of Clouds

Over the course of nearly two decades, its powerful radar provided never-before-seen details of clouds and helped advance global weather and climate predictions. CloudSat, a NASA mission that peered into hurricanes, tallied global snowfall rates, and achieved other weather and climate firsts, has ended its operations.

Posted April 23, 2024

Juno

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Jupiter

Jupiter Moons

The Solar System

NASA’s Juno Gives Aerial Views of Mountain, Lava Lake on Io

Imagery from the solar-powered spacecraft provides close-ups of intriguing features on the hellish Jovian moon.

Posted April 18, 2024

Ingenuity (Helicopter)

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Mars

Mars 2020

Mars Sample Return (MSR)

Perseverance (Rover)

The Solar System

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Team Says Goodbye … for Now

The final downlink shift by the Ingenuity team was a time to reflect on a highly successful mission — and to prepare the first aircraft on another world for its new role. Engineers working on NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter assembled for one last time in a control room at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in […]

Posted April 17, 2024

SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography)

Earth

Earth Science

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Water on Earth

SWOT Satellite Helps Gauge the Depth of Death Valley’s Temporary Lake

Data from the international Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission helped researchers to calculate the depth of water in this transient freshwater body. California’s Death Valley, the driest place in North America, has hosted an ephemeral lake since late 2023.

Posted April 15, 2024