NASA

WASHINGTON — Funding for the U.S. Space Force this fiscal year approaches $42 billion when mandatory and discretionary dollars are combined, according to a new analysis unveiled Feb. 24 by the National Security Space Association. Across the Defense Department, spending on space programs in fiscal 2026 totals about $57.7 billion, the estimate shows, a sharp increase driven by last year’s reconciliation package that injected roughly $150 billion in mandatory defense funding outside the regular appropriations process. The analysis was conducted by Mike Tierney, head of legislative affairs at the National Security Space Association, using funding data compiled by the consulting firm Velos from individual program elements. Tierney cautioned the figures are not official Pentagon budget...

HOUSTON, TX (FEB. 18, 2026) — Space Center Houston has been ranked No. 6 as the Best Science Museum in the nation in the 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. The official announcement was made on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at noon EST, with results published on the USA TODAY 10BEST website and shared across the USA TODAY Network. Nominated by a panel of industry experts and USA TODAY 10BEST editors before public voting, Space Center Houston ranked among the nation’s top 10 science museums for its engaging exhibits, immersive experiences and programming, making it a premier destination center. “This recognition reflects the passion of our crewmembers, the innovation behind our exhibits and programming, and the incredible support from our guests,” said William Harri...

Although the aurora borealis, or northern lights, is most often observed in March and September, it can appear at other times of the year if conditions are right. For instance, in February 2026, a minor geomagnetic storm produced a striking display of light swirling across northern skies. The VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite acquired these images in the early morning hours of February 16. The VIIRS day-night band detects nighttime light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses filtering techniques to observe signals such as city lights, reflected moonlight, and auroras. While these satellite data are displayed in grayscale, auroras appear in various colors to observers on the ground, from green (the most common) to p...

WASHINGTON — NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said he is interested in meeting with his Russian counterpart and attending an upcoming Soyuz launch. Asked about cooperation with Roscosmos during a news conference after the Crew-12 launch to the International Space Station on Feb. 13, Isaacman said he plans to attend the next crewed Soyuz launch to the station, scheduled for this summer from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. “I am certainly planning to attend the next crewed Soyuz launch,” he said, noting he has a “good friend that’s going to be going up on that mission, so it would be hard to imagine to miss it..” The mission, Soyuz MS-29, will carry NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina to the ISS. Menon is married to Anna Menon, w...

Spring Break Meets Space Exploration and Live Music Space Center Houston’s Moon 2 Mars Festival, presented by Wellby Financial, lands March 11–14, 2026, blending hands-on space exploration with live music and festival energy. The four-day event is built for families, students, space enthusiasts and music lovers alike. By day, you explore space science and technology. By night, you catch live concerts under the stars. On March 13 and 14, Space Center Houston transforms into a live music venue anchored by two bands that shaped alternative rock across different decades: The Wallflowers and 311. Two nights. Two distinct sounds. One stage set against the skyline of rockets. Let’s break it down. Friday night: The Wallflowers The Wallflowers built their reputation on sharp...