NASA SpaceWonders

The world record for the highest freefall jump from space, also known as a supersonic freefall, was set by Felix Baumgartner on October 14, 2012. Felix Baumgartner is an Austrian skydiver and extreme sports athlete. He conducted this historic jump as part of the Red Bull Stratos project. During this record-breaking event, Baumgartner ascended to an altitude of approximately 128,100 feet (39,045 meters) in a helium balloon and then jumped from the edge of space. As he descended, he reached a maximum speed of approximately 833.9 miles per hour (1,342.8 kilometers per hour or Mach 1.24), which made him the first human to break the sound barrier without the assistance of a vehicle. The jump was conducted to gather scientific data and gain insights into human performance at extreme altitudes and velocities. Baumgartner's supersonic freefall was a remarkable achievement in the world of extreme sports and scientific research, and it captured the world's attention when it occurred in 2012.

Explore the enigmatic realm of seismic activity beyond our planet in this engaging discussion. Dr. Jacob Richardson, a renowned expert from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, sheds light on the captivating world of "moonquakes" and "marsquakes" and how they offer unique insights into the inner workings of celestial bodies. Intriguingly, these extraterrestrial tremors not only unveil the mysteries of planetary interiors but also provide valuable clues about the dynamics hidden within Earth itself. Join us as we venture into the fascinating world of space seismology, where each quake holds the potential to unlock secrets of the cosmos and our own planet's evolution.

Dive into the remarkable journey of Chandrayaan 3 with our immersive video: 'Chandrayaan 3: From Launch to Landing.' Embark on a virtual expedition that traces the mission's every step – from its awe-inspiring liftoff, through the complexities of space travel, to the heart-pounding landing on lunar terrain. Experience the dedication of scientists, the cutting-edge technology, and the sheer marvel of human ingenuity that brought this mission to fruition. Join us to explore the universe like never before, witnessing the fusion of science and adventure in this extraordinary odyssey.

Join us for a captivating edition of 'This Week at NASA' as we delve into the breathtaking imagery captured by our Webb Space Telescope, explore the remarkable team behind our upcoming Psyche mission, and unravel the incredible story of a star torn apart by the immense power of a black hole. These are just a few of the compelling narratives we have in store for you!

Embark on a thrilling journey with NASA's Psyche mission team as they prepare for their highly anticipated launch scheduled for October 5, 2023. Their destination? A remarkable metallic asteroid nestled in the solar expanse between Mars and Jupiter. This asteroid, composed predominantly of nickel-iron alloy intertwined with rock, holds the potential to unveil secrets from the heart of a planetesimal, the elemental building block of early rocky planets. Join us in uncovering the asteroid's mysteries, which may shed light on the tumultuous past of celestial bodies, riddled with collisions and accretion, ultimately giving rise to terrestrial planets like our own Earth. The Psyche mission is spearheaded by Arizona State University, with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), managed by Caltech, taking the helm in overseeing mission management, system engineering, integration, testing, and mission operations. The high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis, a crucial component, is provided by Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California. Stay tuned for an epic voyage of discovery as we delve into the history and scientific wonders of our cosmos.

The data from PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean. Novel uses of PACE data will benefit our economy and society. For example, it will help identify the extent and duration of harmful algal blooms. PACE will extend and expand NASA's long-term observations of our living planet. By doing so, it will take Earth's pulse in new ways for decades to come.

In celebration of the launch of Landsat 9, we count down 9 things about the Landsat mission, the science, the technology and the people who continue its legacy. Discover the captivating realm of Landsat, where cutting-edge technology meets a global perspective. In 'Exploring the World of Landsat: 9 Things to Know', journey through the legacy of the Landsat program that began in the 1970s. These satellites, orbiting high above Earth, unveil a hidden world by capturing not just visible light but a spectrum of data. With the ability to revisit locations over time, Landsat reveals environmental changes – from shrinking glaciers to sprawling urban centers. Uncover its crucial role in ecosystem monitoring, agriculture, disaster management, and more. This open-access trove of information fosters collaboration, echoing humanity's enduring fascination with Earth from above.

NASA satellites, data, missions, and programs have been put to use for decades to strengthen food security, track droughts and flooding, determine plant and soil health and otherwise support agriculture decision making. With observations from space and aircraft, combined with high-end computer modeling, NASA works with partner agencies, organizations, farmers, ranchers, and decision makers to share our understanding of the relationship between the Earth system and the environments that provide us food. Working with local communities and decision makers to determine their needs and how they can best use Earth observation data, NASA supports those who address issues like water management for irrigation, crop-type identification and land use, coastal and lake water quality monitoring, drought preparedness, and famine early warnings.

Dive into the revelations of Earth Day 2021 with NASA as your guide. In 'Unveiling the Mysteries of Earth Day 2021 with NASA,' embark on a journey to explore our planet's wonders through the lens of space science. Discover how NASA's cutting-edge technology and research illuminate the intricate balance of Earth's ecosystems, climate patterns, and environmental changes. Join us as we unveil the mysteries hidden within our dynamic planet and gain a profound appreciation for the vital interplay between science, nature, and humanity.

This experience takes us on a journey to the end of time, trillions of years into the future, to discover what the fate of our planet and our universe may ultimately be. We start in 2019 and travel exponentially through time, witnessing the future of Earth, the death of the sun, the end of all stars, proton decay, zombie galaxies, possible future civilizations, exploding black holes, the effects of dark energy, alternate universes, the final fate of the cosmos - to name a few. This is a picture of the future as painted by modern science - a picture that will surely evolve over time as we dig for more clues to how our story will unfold. Much of the science is very recent - and new puzzle pieces are still waiting to be found.

External cameras on the International Space Station captured views of major Hurricane Franklin at 9:56 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023 as the station flew 260 miles overhead. Franklin was located over the Atlantic well out to sea at the time of the flyover, packing winds of 130 miles an hour. Franklin is moving north-northeast over the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center.

On March 8, 2019, the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft undocks from the International Space Station, after nearly 5 days aboard the orbiting laboratory during the company’s Demo-1 mission for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and descends to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Just over 5 hours later, the uncrewed spacecraft splashes down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida and is recovered by SpaceX teams.

This simulated flyover of Pluto’s Norgay Montes (Norgay Mountains) and Sputnik Planum (Sputnik Plain) was created from New Horizons closest-approach images. Norgay Montes have been informally named for Tenzing Norgay, one of the first two humans to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Sputnik Planum is informally named for Earth’s first artificial satellite. The images were acquired by the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) on July 14 from a distance of 48,000 miles (77,000 kilometers). Features as small as a half-mile (1 kilometer) across are visible.

Join us on an illuminating journey through time in 'Climate Chronicles: The Science Behind Ice Ages and Milankovitch Cycles.' In this captivating exploration, we delve deep into the intricate mechanisms that have shaped Earth's climate over millennia. Discover the fascinating science behind Ice Ages, guided by the remarkable insights of Milutin Milankovitch, the visionary Serbian scientist who uncovered the celestial rhythms governing our planet's climate. Through stunning visuals and expert analysis, we unveil the Milankovitch Cycles – the cosmic ballet of Earth's axial tilt, orbital shape, and precession – and their profound impact on the ebb and flow of ice ages throughout Earth's history. Gain a deeper understanding of the delicate balance between solar radiation, Earth's orbital dynamics, and the resulting shifts in climate patterns. With climate change at the forefront of global discussions, this documentary provides essential knowledge for anyone seeking to comprehend the natural forces that have influenced our planet's climate for millions of years. 'Climate Chronicles' invites you to explore the science, history, and significance of Milankovitch Cycles and their role in Earth's climatic evolution. Unearth the secrets of our planet's past to better navigate the challenges of its future."

This animation uses information acquired by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft to recreate some of the breathtaking images of the Moon that the Apollo 13 astronauts witnessed during their dangerous trip around the far side in 1970. These 4K visualizations show several views of the lunar surface from various angles, beginning with earth's sunset and dawn and ending with the moment Apollo 13 restored radio communication with Mission Control. A continuous image of the Moon is shown together with the free return trajectory's route around the Moon.

Around 13 times per century, Mercury passes between Earth and the sun in a rare astronomical event known as a planetary transit. Mercury orbits in a plane that is tilted from Earth’s orbit, moving above or below our line of sight to the sun. The 2016 Mercury transit occurred on May 9th, between about 7:12 a.m. and 2:42 p.m. EDT. The images in this video are from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO.

This cool video uses a special computer-made model of the Moon. This model was created by putting together lots of pictures and height information gathered by a spacecraft called NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. They made it to go along with a music performance at a fancy place called the Kennedy Center. The performance happened in 2018 and was part of celebrating NASA's 60th birthday. The music they played is called "Clair de Lune," which means "moonlight" in French. It was made a long time ago by a composer named Claude Debussy. This music is like a quiet, sad, and thoughtful walk in a garden lit by moonlight. In the video, it's like you're watching a nature show. The camera stays still most of the time. It shows the Sun moving across the sky on the Moon, kind of like watching sunrises and sunsets. You can see special parts of the Moon as the Sun's light changes. One of the cool things is the bright lines around a crater called Copernicus. These lines look bright when the Sun rises, and then they disappear as the Sun goes down and it gets dark.

Nearly every day, the astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station capture pictures of Earth via their windows, totaling hundreds of images in a single year. The team at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston's Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit had the difficult task of selecting their best 17 images of Earth for 2017.