Earth Science in Action

We don’t just study climate. We act on it.

NASA collects data to show how our climate is changing from both natural causes and human activities, from documenting impacts on ice sheets, sea level, and Arctic sea ice to monitoring vegetation health and freshwater movement. We are putting decades of research, technology, and innovation to work to improve people's lives on our home planet.

NASA-Led Study Provides New Global Accounting of Earth’s Rivers

6 min read

The novel approach to estimating river water storage and discharge also identifies regions marked by ‘fingerprints’ of intense water use. A study led by NASA researchers provides new estimates of how much water courses through Earth’s rivers, the rates at…

Identification of Noise Sources During Launch Using Phased Array Microphone Systems

4 min read

Identification of Noise Sources During Launch Using Phased Array Microphone Systems  Every part of a launch vehicle, launch pad, and ground operation equipment is subjected to the high acoustic load generated during lift-off [1]. Therefore, many extreme measures are taken…

NASA Grant Brings Students at Underserved Institutions to the Stars

6 min read

At the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, interns from Cal State LA are learning key skills studying the origins of life. What does wastewater management in Los Angeles have to do with the search for life on Mars? Eduardo Martinez certainly…

Trajectory Reverse Engineering 

3 min read

A strategy for transferring spacecraft trajectories between flight mechanics tools, called Trajectory Reverse Engineering (TRE), has been developed[1]. This innovative technique has been designed to be generic, enabling its application between any pair of tools, and to be resilient to…

Hubble space telescope over Earth

NASA’s Hubble Pauses Science Due to Gyro Issue

2 min read

NASA is working to resume science operations of the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope after it entered safe mode April 23 due to an ongoing gyroscope (gyro) issue. Hubble’s instruments are stable, and the telescope is in good health. The telescope…

NASA’s Commercial Partners Deliver Cargo, Crew for Station Science

5 min read

NASA partners with commercial companies to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation of cargo and crew members to and from the International Space Station. A platform for long-duration research in microgravity, the station has operated continuously for more than 23…

NASA’s ORCA, AirHARP Projects Paved Way for PACE to Reach Space

5 min read

It took the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission just 13 minutes to reach low-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in February 2024. It took a network of scientists at NASA and research institutions around the world…

A bright, white galactic core shines near the center of the image with a faint bar of stars extending from it, diagonally to the right. Faint, hazy spiral arms encircle the core, with several distant stars and bright blue foreground stars with diffraction spikes scattered throughout the image, all against black space.

Hubble Spots a Magnificent Barred Galaxy

1 min read

The magnificent central bar of NGC 2217 (also known as AM 0619-271) shines bright in the constellation of Canis Major (The Greater Dog), in this image taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Roughly 65 million light-years from Earth, this barred spiral galaxy is a…

NASA’s Optical Comms Demo Transmits Data Over 140 Million Miles

7 min read

NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment also interfaced with the Psyche spacecraft’s communication system for the first time, transmitting engineering data to Earth. Riding aboard NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, the agency’s Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration continues to break records.…

Johnson Unveils Modern Four Nine Team Conference Center

2 min read

On April 10, 2024, Johnson Space Center celebrated the opening of the Four Nine Team conference center housed in building 419. The event marked the unveiling of a dynamic hub for Johnson employees, whether for team brainstorms, meetings with offsite…

Washington State High Schooler Wins 2024 NASA Student Art Contest

3 min read

A 12th grade artist with a passion for NASA and space took home the top prize for the 2024 NASA Student Art Contest, a nationwide competition hosted by NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Esther Lee, of Washington State,…

Curiosity on Sol 4164

Sols 4166-4167: A Garden Full of Rocks

3 min read

Earth planning date: Wednesday April 24, 2024 Here on Earth (in Toronto, specifically), it’s a very typical April which can’t quite make up its mind about whether or not it wants to be spring. On Mars (in Gale Crater), we’re…

The Marshall Star for April 24, 2024

31 min read

NASA Announces 30th Human Exploration Rover Challenge Winners NASA announced the winners of the 30th Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) April 22, with Parish Episcopal School, from Dallas, winning first place in the high school division, and the University of Alabama in…

Artist concept of TESS spacecraft.

NASA’s Planet-Hunting Satellite Temporarily on Pause

3 min read

During a routine activity April 23, NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) entered safe mode, temporarily suspending science operations. The satellite scans the sky searching for planets beyond our solar system. The team is working to restore the satellite to…

NASA’s Chandra Releases Doubleheader of Blockbuster Hits

6 min read

New movies of two of the most famous objects in the sky — the Crab Nebula and Cassiopeia A — are being released from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. Each includes X-ray data collected by Chandra over about two decades. They…

Kiyun Kim: From Intern to Accessibility Advocate

6 min read

Kiyun Kim began at Goddard as a summer intern. Impressed by the center’s community bonds, Kim is now co-chair of a center resource group that champions accessibility and inclusivity. Name: Kiyun KimTitle: Software EngineerOrganization: Ground Software Systems Branch (Code 583)…

NASA Glenn Interactive Exhibit Earns Gold

2 min read

The Ohio Museums Association (OMA) presented NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland with two OMA 2023 Visual Communications Awards during its annual meeting in Sandusky, Ohio, on April 14. NASA Glenn and contractor Impact Inc. received the Gold Award (Level 2)…

NASA Participates in NCAA Women’s Championship Game 

2 min read

Just before tipoff at the live national broadcast of the NCAA Women’s Final Four Championship Game on April 7, 31 women scientists, engineers, and leaders from NASA stood at center court inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland to hold…

NASA Glenn Teams Up with Cleveland Monsters 

1 min read

NASA’s Glenn Research Center joined the Cleveland Monsters to celebrate their total solar eclipse-themed game against the Rochester Americans at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on March 30. NASA Glenn staff were on hand to discuss the total solar…

NASA Glenn Joins Big Hoopla STEM Challenge

2 min read

NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland joined in the adventure of the Big Hoopla STEM Challenge held at the Dayton Convention Center on March 17. The free family event for kids (K-8) tied together the excitement of college basketball and…