NasaDiscoveriespoint

Where does space begin? Well, it depends. There’s no sharp boundary that marks the end of atmosphere and beginning of space. But no matter where you draw the line in the sand — or the air — Earth’s atmosphere is full of all kinds of interesting stuff. That’s why scientists like Doug Rowland are studying its many layers: https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2919/ea... Link to download this video: https://images.nasa.gov/details/Where... Producers: Scott Bednar, Jessica Wilde Editor: Dan Salazar Credit: NASA

How do spacecraft slow down? Rigid heat shields and retropropulsion have been the favorites of engineers for years. Now NASA is testing a new inflatable heat shield technology that could allow us to carry even larger payloads to worlds with atmospheres: https://www.nasa.gov/loftid Launching on Nov. 1 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket along with NOAA’s JPSS-2 mission, the Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator, or LOFTID, will demonstrate the heat shield’s ability to slow down and survive atmospheric entry: https://go.nasa.gov/3N7yzBG Producers: Scott Bednar, Jessica Wilde Editor: Daniel Salazar Credit: NASA

Where does space begin? Well, it depends. There’s no sharp boundary that marks the end of atmosphere and beginning of space. But no matter where you draw the line in the sand — or the air — Earth’s atmosphere is full of all kinds of interesting stuff. That’s why scientists like Doug Rowland are studying its many layers: https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2919/ea... Link to download this video: https://images.nasa.gov/details/Where... Producers: Scott Bednar, Jessica Wilde Editor: Dan Salazar

This concept animation shows just one of many potential concepts for how the first human landing site on Mars might evolve throughout the course of multiple human expeditions to the Red Planet over a decade or more.

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. However, at NASA, scientists continue to monitor its progress. @NASAGoddard's Qing Liang explains more. Keep up: https://go.nasa.gov/3DhEBvp Link to download this video: https://images.nasa.gov/details/What's Going on with the Hole in the Ozone Layer_ - Horizontal Video Producers: Scott Bednar, Jessica Wilde Editor: James Lucas Credit: NASA

Here’s a big question: How did life begin on Earth? We don’t quite know, but this fundamental question is a driving force behind astrobiology research at NASA. Understanding how life originated on our planet could inform us about the potential for life to exist throughout the universe. Astrobiology expert Shawn Domagal-Goldman explains more about our search for answers. Explore more about astrobiology at NASA: https://astrobiology.nasa.gov Link to download this video: https://images.nasa.gov/details/How%2... Producers: Scott Bednar, Jessica Wilde Editor: Daniel Salazar Credit: NASA

Find out why July 2023 was a record-breaking month, a high-flying NASA aircraft is helping to study lighting, and making landings safe for flights of the future … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA! Link to download this video: https://images.nasa.gov/details/Find%...

Where did our Moon come from? Over the years, there have been several theories, but most scientists think it’s likely that a Mars-sized object smashed into Earth, creating what we now see in the sky. NASA scientist Caitlin Ahrens shines a light on the Moon's mysterious origins: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/ear... Producers: Jessica Wilde, Scott Bednar Editor: Matthew Schara Credit: NASA NAS

What happens to old satellites? Currently, they either burn up safely upon reentry into the atmosphere or they remain in space. But NASA is working on new technology that could make spaceflight more sustainable by refueling or upgrading satellites in space, greatly expanding their lifespans. Here's more about the On-orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing 1 (OSAM-1) Mission: https://go.nasa.gov/3FtsBHV Producers: Jessica Wilde, Scott Bednar Editor: Matthew Schara Credit: NASA

SpaceX began developing its first spacesuit all the way back in 2015. It took Hollywood costume designer Jose Fernandez several months to design a suit that looked as sleek as possible, and from there it was then up to the SpaceX engineers to make it functional. Has SpaceX mastered the Space Suit? In this video we’re going to learn how SpaceX mastered space suits, as well as discover who won the giveaway from my video last month!

On Oct. 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America. Visible in parts of the United States, Mexico, and many countries in South and Central America, millions of people in the Western Hemisphere can experience this eclipse. Eclipses are a wonderful experience, but it’s important to carefully follow safety procedures. During an annular eclipse, there is no period of totality when the Moon completely blocks the Sun. Therefore, it is never safe to look directly at the annular eclipse without proper eye protection specially designed for solar viewing. Do not use standard binoculars or telescopes to watch a solar eclipse without safe solar filters attached to the front of the device. Regular sunglasses are NOT safe for attempting to look directly at the Sun. To learn more about eclipses and eclipse safety visit: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses...

It’s always shining, always ablaze with light and energy that drive weather, biology and more. In addition to keeping life alive on Earth, the sun also sends out a constant flow of particles called the solar wind, and it occasionally erupts with giant clouds of solar material, called coronal mass ejections, or explosions of X-rays called solar flares. These events can rattle our space environment out to the very edges of our solar system. In space, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, keeps an eye on our nearest star 24/7. SDO captures images of the sun in 10 different wavelengths, each of which helps highlight a different temperature of solar material. In this video, we experience SDO images of the sun in unprecedented detail. Presented in ultra-high definition, the video presents the dance of the ultra-hot material on our life-giving star in extraordinary detail, offering an intimate view of the grand forces of the solar system. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center This video is public domain and can be downloaded at: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12034

NASA's Near Space Network delivers critical communications and navigation services to missions observing the Earth, studying the Sun, and exploring the Moon and beyond. Through our network, spacecraft can send different types of data back to Earth, anything from an astronaut talking to mission control, a science image of a neutron star, and so much more. This Earth-space connection, known as Space Communications and Navigation, connects missions out to 2,000,000 kilometers away with scientists. Learn more about the Near Space Network: https://esc.gsfc.nasa.gov/projects/NSN