NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Auroras are one of the most beautiful and dramatic spectacles we can see on Earth. Now that we’re in solar maximum–where the Sun is at its peak activity level within its 11-year cycle–auroras are more common, particularly after large solar flares like the one we had recently. Learn how to get the best photos of this phenomenon! https://lnkd.in/eJDHTseJ

A Tiny Photonic Chip Could Transform Space Telescopes In the search for life beyond Earth, astronomers need telescopes that can look deeper into space and detect subtle signals in a planet’s atmosphere. A new chip could help make space telescopes smaller, lighter, and more precise. A coronagraph is a special instrument in telescopes that blocks out the bright light from stars. AstroPIC, currently being developed by NASA’s Ames Research Center in collaboration with JPL and Stanford, miniaturizes the coronagraphic instrument through a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip. Currently in its early stages of development, this chip could potentially make coronagraphs over 100 times lighter and 30 times smaller than current systems, making it easier to observe distant planets. Its flexible design could be adaptable to a variety of future missions. Learn more about this project, its key partners, and its NASA centers at our TechPort database: https://lnkd.in/eK4MeFhh

Remember when we brought pristine asteroid samples back to Earth? The first big science is in! The samples suggest that the early solar system had widespread conditions and ingredients for life. Here's how we know: https://lnkd.in/e-k68nkn

Graduate students, undergrads and faculty advisors: we want you! Here's a "cool" opportunity to compete for a prize purse of $18,000. Our Human Lander Challenge invites teams of students to develop proposals for understanding and developing advanced cryogenic fluid technologies within the next three to five years. Without a strong atmosphere like Earth's, the Moon experiences extreme temperature swings between day and night. Future missions to the Moon will require extremely cold cryogenic fluids—kept at temperatures between -238º and -460ºF—for propulsion and life support systems. Teams can write a five-to-seven-page proposal, in addition to a two-minute video, summarizing the team's proposal concept. Up to 12 finalists will be selected for a $9,250 stipend to participate in the Human Lander Challenge Competition Forum this June. The top three finalist teams will share a prize purse of $18,000. Are you ready to dive into this chill-seeking expedition? Apply by March 3, 2025! https://lnkd.in/ehefng3B

New NASA Material Could Strengthen Solar Sails to Advance Space Travel Last month, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe flew less than 4 million miles (6.4 million km) above the surface of the Sun—nearer to the star than any object in human history. Now, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is developing a material that could help spacecraft travel even closer. Current materials for solar sails—lightweight structures that use sunlight to propel spacecraft—struggle in the intense heat and light closer to the Sun, making them more likely to rip or take damage. This new composite material, made from graphene and polyimide, is designed to make solar sails more durable and resistant to heat. Though this material is still in the early stage of development, by harnessing the power of sunlight and taking advantage of the Sun’s gravity assist, future solar sails could allow spacecraft to travel quickly between planets—and possibly even to other star systems. Learn more about this project, its key partners, and its NASA centers on our TechPort database: https://lnkd.in/gg5Fuf8p

Today, we honor the heroes of our program who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of exploration. Safety remains our cornerstone as their courage continues to inspire our journey to the stars. #NASARemembers

“If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; but by all means keep moving.” – Martin Luther King Jr. Inspired by his words, we continue pushing the boundaries of exploration, moving forward for the benefit of all humanity. 🌎

“I think my giant leap was absolutely when I left the astronaut office. I spent my whole career wanting to be an astronaut, refining my skills as a pilot, as a leader, to be the best space shuttle commander that I could be… Fortunately, it was a leap upwards, climbing a mountain instead of jumping off the edge.” Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy is leaving NASA after many years of service. Take a look back on her career with the most recent episode of our "Small Steps, Giant Leaps" podcast: https://lnkd.in/eXFJZyhb

Note: This post has been edited to provide the correct application deadline. Calling all inventors! Make an original design for an emergency astronaut system on the Moon, and you could take home part of a $45,000 prize purse. The South Pole Safety Challenge encourages innovators to design a solution to give one astronaut the ability to safely transport another fully incapacitated astronaut back to the human landing system. The design must be easily deployable, low-mass, and allow a single crew member to move their partner up to 2 km (1.24 mi) in distance and on a slope of up to 20 degrees on the lunar terrain without the help of a rover. Apply by Feb. 6, 2025, to enable lunar heroes! https://lnkd.in/g9_eEgi3

Look back at the accomplishments of our last four years as NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy share a farewell message to our workforce at the end of their tenure. Under Nelson and Melroy’s leadership, we took giant leaps to explore, discover, and inspire, all while bringing real, tangible, and substantial benefits to all. NASA's economic impact: https://lnkd.in/eiVhBNXB Explore a career with NASA: https://lnkd.in/djSNdEb