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The NASA and French space agency Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES) are collaborating on a new Earth science mission that aims to assist communities in planning for a better future. The mission, called the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT), will focus on surveying the planet's salt and freshwater bodies. SWOT will measure the water height in lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and oceans to provide valuable data for managing water resources in the face of climate change. The mission aims to improve flood forecasting, monitor drought conditions, and provide essential information to water management agencies, civil engineers, universities, the U.S. Department of Defense, and disaster preparedness agencies. SWOT data will have a variety of applications in different communities. The video accompanying the announcement showcases examples of how the data will be used. These include flood watches and warnings in Portland, Oregon, water management in Fern Ridge Lake, Oregon, protecting infrastructure in Alaska, national security concerns for the Department of Defense, and coastal protection efforts in the Mississippi River Delta. SWOT is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California in December 2022. Here are a few ways I can assist you further: Research more about the SWOT mission and its potential impact on water management and climate change adaptation efforts. Provide examples of other Earth science missions that focus on monitoring and understanding the environment. Help you find additional resources or data on the impact of climate change on water resources and related challenges. Let me know which of these options you would like to explore, or if there's anything else I can assist you with!

To slow down, spacecrafts have traditionally used rigid heat shields and retropropulsion. However, a new technology using inflatable heat shields is being tested by NASA. This technology could allow us to carry larger payloads to worlds with atmospheres. The Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) will demonstrate the effectiveness of this technology in slowing down and surviving atmospheric entry. LOFTID will be launched on Nov. 1 along with NOAA's JPSS-2 mission using a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

This video has utilized the data collected from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft to create stunning visualizations of various views of the Moon that were seen by the Apollo 13 crew during their dangerous voyage around its farside in 1970. These 4K resolution visualizations showcase different aspects of the lunar surface, ranging from earthset and sunrise to the moment when the Apollo 13 crew re-established radio communication with Mission Control. The video also portrays the free return trajectory path around the Moon and a continuous view of the Moon during that course. However, to fit the timing purposes, all views presented in the video have been sped up and are not shown in real-time. Data credits are attributed to the source.

As the Apollo missions marked the significant achievement of landing humans on the Moon, the Artemis program aims to take humanity a step further by enabling sustainable habitation and exploration on another celestial body for the very first time. By utilizing the lunar surface as a testing ground for future Martian endeavors, this upcoming phase of exploration will establish a lasting human presence in the cosmos. The intention is to not only return to the Moon, but to stay there indefinitely. In support of this project, actress Kelly Marie Tran, known for her role in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," has contributed her voice to this endeavor.

This artist's depiction explores a metallic world called Psyche, an asteroid that provides a unique opportunity to understand the fundamental components of planet formation. The NASA Psyche mission is scheduled to launch in 2023 and is expected to reach the asteroid Psyche, located between Mars and Jupiter, in 2026. The spacecraft, also named Psyche, will spend 21 months in orbit around the asteroid, conducting mapping and studying its properties. Leading the mission is Principal Investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton from Arizona State University. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is responsible for the mission's overall management, system engineering, integration and testing, as well as mission operations. Maxar Technologies is contributing a high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis.

Since late 2018, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has made an asteroid roughly skyscraper-sized its base of operations. Upon its arrival on December 3, 2018, OSIRIS-REx began meticulously observing and enveloping Bennu in a sophisticated network. After collecting over 60 grams of samples from the asteroid, OSIRIS-REx departs Bennu on May 10, 2021, embarking on its journey back to Earth.

The Moon's phase and libration as viewed from the Southern Hemisphere throughout 2022 are depicted in this 4K visualization. The hourly intervals are represented in each frame. The visualization also indicates the position of the Moon's orbit, sub-Earth and subsolar points, and its distance from Earth to true scale. Certain craters, Apollo landing sites, maria, and albedo features in sunlight are labeled.

NASA's Lucy mission has achieved a significant milestone by successfully extending its solar arrays, demonstrating impressive engineering and precision1. This accomplishment allows the mission to continue its exploration and data collection through the utilization of solar power. The extension of the solar arrays ensures a continued and sustained power supply for the Lucy spacecraft as it ventures further into space.

In celebration of Earth Day 2021, we delve into the interconnections of Earth systems and NASA's proficiency in observing them amidst a dynamically changing world. We draw attention to the intricate relationships between dust transportation, vegetation, water quality, conservation and human well-being, the cryosphere, and calamities.