NASA

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...

This week, we’re celebrating National Composites Week, which CompositesWorld says is about shedding some light on how “composite materials and composites manufacturing contributes to the products and structures that shape the American manufacturing landscape today.”What exactly are composites and why are we talking about them?Composites are building materials that we use to make airplanes, spacecraft and structures or instruments, such as space telescopes. But why are they special?Composites consist of two or more materials, similar to a sandwich. Each ingredient in a sandwich could be eaten individually, but combining them is when the real magic happens. Sure, you could eat a few slices of cold cheese chased with some floppy bread. But real talk: buttery, toasted bread stuffed with melty,...