Retroreflectors: From Apollo to Mars
When Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, the crew brought devices with them called retroreflectors, which are essentially small arrays of mirrors. The plan was for scientists on Earth to aim lasers…
Thumbs Up From Out of This World
In this image from July 2020, NASA spacewalkers (from left) Bob Behnken and Chris Cassidy give a thumbs up during a spacewalk to install hardware and upgrade International Space Station systems. They were photographed by the…
Simulations Reveal How Planetary Impacts Affect Atmosphere
A cross-section of a 3D simulation replicating a scenario for the impact that formed the Moon, showing a roughly Mars-mass impactor grazing an Earth-like target at a 45-degree angle. The…
NASA Asks: What Would You Pack for the Moon?
While advancing its Artemis program – which includes sending the first woman and next man to the lunar surface in 2024 – NASA wants to know what you would pack for a…
NASA Looks to Advance 3D Printing Construction Systems for the Moon and Mars
The process of building landing pads, habitats, and roads on the Moon will likely look different than the common construction site on Earth. Excavation robots, for one, will need to…