NASA

What's going on with the hole in the ozone layer? Thanks to a global effort to regulate ozone-depleting substances, the ozone hole is showing signs of recovery and is projected to return to a healthy level by mid-century.

Sending a swarm of small satellites into orbit, the first views from our newest storm-watching mission, and making the grade for investing in small business … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

How do planets get their names? With the exception of Earth, the planets in our solar system were named after Greek or Roman gods. Today, the job of naming things in space falls to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the internationally recognized authority for naming celestial bodies and their surface features. NASA scientist Dr. Henry Throop explains more.

Is climate change the same as global warming? Not quite. The warming of Earth — or global warming — is just one factor that makes up a range of changes that are happening to our planet, which is climate change. And NASA is studying all of it:

Where are the Moon rocks from the Apollo missions kept? When they’re not being studied by institutions or enjoyed by museumgoers, NASA has a specialized Lunar Sample Curation Laboratory at NASA’s Johnson Space Center to store and keep these otherworldly samples safe. Studying these samples helps us learn more about the origin of not only our moon, but our planet. Deputy Apollo Sample Curator (Sept 2019 – Dec 2022) Dr. Juliane Gross explains more about lunar sample curation.

A new long-duration spaceflight record, our SpaceX Crew-6 mission is back home, and our asteroid sample return mission is on target … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

Our Webb Space Telescope captures a cosmic ring, the team behind our upcoming Psyche mission, and the unique thing about a star that was ripped apart by a black hole … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

After launching to the International Space Station on March 2, 2023, NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 mission is wrapping up its time in orbit, with a return to Earth in early September 2023. NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev spent their months on the orbiting lab conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations, including running a student robotic challenge, studying plant genetic adaptations to space, and monitoring human health in microgravity to prepare for exploration beyond low Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth.

Our next space station crew rotation flight, a launch day simulation for our upcoming Moon mission, and visiting the splashdown recovery crew for Artemis II … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is set to return to Earth this fall after setting the record for the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut. He arrived at the International Space Station on Sept. 21, 2022, and will return home after 371 days in space. While on the orbiting lab, Rubio and his fellow crew members conducted dozens of scientific investigations and technology demonstrations.

A new crew heads to the space station, a major storm spotted from space, and a robotic spacecraft enabling human missions to the Moon … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

Our SpaceX Crew-6 mission safely returns to Earth, the tech demo hitching a ride on our Psyche spacecraft, and studying ancient life on Earth to better understand Mars … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

Earth-observing satellites like Landsat have documented the shrinking of chimpanzee habitat, Africa's equatorial forest belt. The Jane Goodall Institute uses Landsat and other satellite data to empower local communities to drive conservation on their own land by creating habitat suitability maps for chimpanzees. Mobile apps also bring in data in real-time so communities can protect their village forest reserves, and create land use plans for watersheds, people, and chimpanzees. After years of forest loss, the last few decades have seen habitats recovering.

Record-breaking astronaut Frank Rubio talks with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy about his historic mission during a space-to-ground call. On Sept. 11, 2023, Rubio surpassed the U.S. record for single longest duration spaceflight, a record previously set by astronaut Mark Vande Hei in 2022. Rubio is set to return to Earth on Sept. 27, 2023, when he will have spent 371 days in space. His extended stay aboard the orbiting laboratory helps us see how the human body reacts to microgravity and informs future missions to deep spa

NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program nurtures visionary ideas from America's innovators and entrepreneurs that could transform future NASA missions with the creation of radically better or entirely new aerospace concepts. NIAC projects study innovative, technically credible, advanced concepts to turn science fiction to science fact.

Our first asteroid sample return mission is back on Earth, a record ride in space for a NASA astronaut, and our Artemis II mission is making prelaunch progress … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

Preparing to journey to a metal world, a milestone for a simulated Mars mission, and celebrating an anniversary for our agency … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

Celebrating 65 years, NASA is a symbol of human creativity and exploration. NASA has consistently pushed boundaries, from the historic Apollo missions that landed the first humans on the Moon to the Space Shuttle program that built the International Space Station. Missions like Landsat and Cassini have deepened our understanding of Earth and our solar system. With NASA launching the James Webb Space Telescope, the future holds even more exciting discoveries. Throughout all these adventures, NASA's commitment to exploration and science continues to lead the way. Today, the Artemis missions herald a new chapter, aiming to return humanity to the Moon and laying robust foundations for expeditions to Mars and beyond. As we honor NASA's storied past, we anticipate a future filled with discoveries, technologies, and deep-space exploration encouraged by a new generation of dedicated explorers. Here's to NASA, commemorating 65 years of cosmic exploration, innovation, and the undying quest to expand our universal frontier.

What we found in some historic asteroid samples, discussing a record-breaking spaceflight, and our Psyche spacecraft sets sail to study a unique asteroid … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

In October 2023, NASA is launching the Heliophysics Big Year – a global celebration of solar science and the Sun’s influence on Earth, our solar system, and beyond. Modeled after the "Big Year" concept from citizen scientists in the bird-watching community, the Heliophysics Big Year challenges everyone to get involved with fun Sun-related activities.