NASA

4 Min Read October’s Night Sky Notes: Let’s Go, LIGO! An artist’s impression of gravitational waves generated by binary neutron stars. Credits: R. Hurt/Caltech-JPL by Kat Troche of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific September 2025 marks ten years since the first direct detection of gravitational waves as predicted by Albert Einstein’s 1916 theory of General Relativity. These invisible ripples in space were first directly detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). Traveling at the speed of light (~186,000 miles per second), these waves stretch and squeeze the fabric of space itself, changing the distance between objects as they pass. Waves In Space Gravitational waves are created when massive...

From over 8,000 applications, we’ve selected a class of 10 new astronaut candidates, whose skills and expertise will help us in our journey to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. These men and women will soon begin two years of training before they are eligible for spaceflight assignment.ALTRead on to meet the new recruits:ALTBen BaileyA Virginia native, Ben Bailey is an experienced Army aviator. Bailey earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from University of Virginia and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in systems engineering on the opposite U.S. coast in Monterey, California.ALTDr. Lauren EdgarLauren Edgar was born in the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., but considers Sammamish, Washington to be her hometown. Edgar has an educational background in Earth and engineering sc...

SYDNEY — Purdue University will conduct a dedicated suborbital research flight with Virgin Galactic in 2027 carrying a professor, student and alumni. Purdue announced Sept. 23 plans for the “Purdue 1” suborbital flight on Virgin’s next-generation spaceplane. The flight, carrying five people, will be the first dedicated crewed suborbital research mission by a university. “We have amazing faculty, students and alums, who are going to run experiments, do their research and innovation, while doing teaching and learning, all while they’re in space,” said Mung Chiang, president of Purdue, at the event announcing the mission. “Why should a university be confined to the surly bonds of gravity here on Earth?” The flight will be led by Steven Collicott, a professor of aerospace eng...

Wow! Space Center Houston Members experienced a thrilling month full of inspiration, learning, and unforgettable moments during Astronaut August. From exclusive meet-and-greets to behind-the-scenes access, this past August was truly one for the books. Astronaut Days Weekend  We launched Astronaut August with Astronaut Days hosted by public programs. This two-day event was packed with interactive space-related activities, astronaut presentations, a puzzle mural with brain teasers, radiation pop-up labs where you created your own bookmark, an interactive tech wall for all ages, and Lunar Outpost was present, raffling off exclusive Lego sets! This once-a-year weekend event was not just about fun, but also about learning firsthand about the incredible journey of living and worki...

As part of the agency’s Artemis campaign, NASA has awarded Blue Origin of Kent, Washington, a CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) task order with an option to deliver a rover to the Moon’s South Pole region. NASA’s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) will search for volatile resources, such as ice, on the lunar surface and collect science data to support future exploration at the Moon and Mars. “NASA is leading the world in exploring more of the Moon than ever before, and this delivery is just one of many ways we’re leveraging U.S. industry to support a long-term American presence on the lunar surface,” said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. “Our rover will explore the extreme environment of the lunar South Pole, traveling to small, permanently shadowed region...