{"id":332680,"date":"2025-12-19T02:20:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T16:20:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=937153"},"modified":"2025-12-19T02:20:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T16:20:55","slug":"2025-in-review-highlights-from-nasa-in-silicon-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=332680","title":{"rendered":"2025 in Review: Highlights from NASA in Silicon Valley\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center in California\u2019s Silicon Valley continued to make strides in research, technology, engineering, science, and innovation this past year. Join us as we take a look back at some of the highlights from 2025.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>From Supercomputers to Wind Tunnels: NASA\u2019s Road to Artemis II<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><video class=\"hds-video-background \" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 69% 54%; object-position: 69% 54%; object-fit: cover;\" autoplay=\"true\" loop muted=\"true\" playsinline=\"true\"><source src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/strakebeforeandafter.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">This video shows two simulations of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket using NASA\u2019s Launch Ascent and Vehicle Aerodynamics solver. For the Artemis II test flight, a pair of six-foot-long strakes will be added to the core stage of SLS that will smooth vibrations induced by airflow during ascent. The top simulation is without strakes while the bottom shows the airflow with strakes. The green and yellow colors on the rocket\u2019s surface show how the airflow scrapes against the rocket\u2019s skin. The white and gray areas show changes in air density between the boosters and core stage, with the brightest regions marking shock waves. The strakes reduce vibrations and improves the safety of the integrated vehicle. <\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/NAS\/Gerrit-Daniel Stich, Michael Barad, Timothy Sandstrom, Derek Dalle<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>By combining the technologies of the NASA Advanced Supercomputing facility and Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel at NASA Ames, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/esdmd\/common-exploration-systems-development-division\/space-launch-system\/from-supercomputers-to-wind-tunnels-nasas-road-to-artemis-ii\/\">researchers were able to simulate and model<\/a> an adjustment to the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that could improve airflow and stability to the vehicle during the launch of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/artemis-ii\/\">Artemis II<\/a>. The collaborative effort between researchers is the next step on NASA\u2019s journey to send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>New Discoveries in Early Solar System Samples<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/orex-017-022-aligned.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1021\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/orex-017-022-aligned.gif?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">A microscopic particle of asteroid Bennu, brought to Earth by NASA\u2019s OSIRIS-REx mission, is manipulated under a transmission electron microscope. In order to move the fragment for further analysis, researchers first reinforced it with thin strips of platinum (the \u201cL\u201d shape on the particle\u2019s surface) then welded a tungsten microneedle to it. The asteroid fragment measures 30 micrometers (about one-one thousandth of an inch) across.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Researchers at NASA Ames discovered a never-before-seen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/osiris-rex\/sugars-gum-stardust-found-in-nasas-asteroid-bennu-samples\/\">\u201cgum-like\u201d material<\/a> in pristine asteroid samples delivered to Earth by NASA\u2019s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer) spacecraft. The surprising substance was likely formed in the early days of the solar system, as Bennu\u2019s young parent asteroid warmed. Such complex molecules could have provided some of the chemical precursors that helped trigger life on Earth, and finding them in the pristine samples from Bennu is important for scientists studying how life began and whether it exists beyond our planet. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><strong>VIPER Gets a Ride to the Moon\u2019s South Pole<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"This artist\u2019s concept shows Blue Origin\u2019s Blue Moon Mark 1 lander and NASA\u2019s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) on the lunar surface.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg 4000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mk1-viper-render100.jpg?resize=2000,1500 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">This artist\u2019s concept shows Blue Origin\u2019s Blue Moon Mark 1 lander and NASA\u2019s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) on the lunar surface.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: Courtesy of Blue Origin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/viper\/\" rel=\"noopener\">VIPER<\/a> (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. As part of the agency\u2019s Artemis campaign, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-selects-blue-origin-to-deliver-viper-rover-to-moons-south-pole\/\">NASA awarded<\/a> Blue Origin of Kent, Washington, a Commercial Lunar Payload Services task order with an option to deliver a rover to the Moon\u2019s South Pole region. With this new award, Blue Origin will deliver VIPER to the lunar surface in late 2027.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Taking to the Skies to Test Remote Wildfire Response<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg 8256w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/acd25-0024-031.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA Ames drone team tests the information sharing, airspace management, communication relay, and aircraft deconfliction capabilities of the x-altas drone as it communicates through the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) Portable Airspace Management System (PAMS) in Salinas, California in March 2025. This was a part of the project&#8217;s first flight demonstration.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\"><em>NASA\/Brandon Torres Navarrete<\/em><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NASA researchers are advancing airborne systems that can fight and monitor wildfires 24 hours a day, even during low-visibility conditions. NASA\u2019s Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/armd\/aosp\/acero-wildfire\/\">ACERO<\/a>) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/ames\/nasa-demonstrates-new-wildland-fire-airspace-management-system\/\">conducted field tests<\/a> of remotely piloted aircraft for monitoring, suppression, and logistics support in wildland fire situations. The ACERO team was able to safely conduct flight operations of a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft operated by Overwatch Aero, LLC, of Solvang, California, and two small NASA drones.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>NASA <a>Installs<\/a> Heat Shield on First Private Spacecraft Bound for Venus<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/nasa-installs-heat-shield-on-first-private-spacecraft-bound-for-venus\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg 6949w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0185-029.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Engineers at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center in California\u2019s Silicon Valley, Eli Hiss, left, and Bohdan Wesely complete a fit check of the two halves of a space capsule that will study the clouds of Venus for signs of life. Led by Rocket Lab of Long Beach, California, it will be the first private mission to the planet. <\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Brandon Torres Navarrete<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NASA helps the commercial space endeavor succeed by providing expertise in thermal protection of small spacecraft. NASA Ames teams <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/nasa-helps-emerging-space-companies-take-the-heat\/\">work with private companies<\/a> to turn NASA materials into solutions, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/nasa-installs-heat-shield-on-first-private-spacecraft-bound-for-venus\/\">heat shield tailor-made for a spacecraft destined for Venus<\/a>, supporting growth of the new space economy. Invented at NASA Ames, NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/what-is-heeet\/\">Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology<\/a> covers the bottom of the space capsule that will study the clouds of Venus for signs of life during the first private mission to the planet. This mission is led by Rocket Lab of Long Beach, California, and their partners at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Artemis Astronauts &amp; Orion Leadership Visit NASA Ames<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1069\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Two astronauts in blue jumpsuits stand at the left of the image, listening to a man speaking on the right side of the image. People and equipment fill the background.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg 5688w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg?resize=300,157 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg?resize=768,401 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg?resize=1024,535 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg?resize=1536,802 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg?resize=2048,1069 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg?resize=400,209 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg?resize=600,313 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg?resize=900,470 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg?resize=1200,627 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/acd25-0023-026.jpg?resize=2000,1044 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch tour the Arc Jet Facility at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center, learning more about the testing equipment\u2019s capabilities to analyze thermal protection systems from George Raiche, thermophysics facilities branch chief at Ames.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Donald Richey<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Artemis II astronauts Christina Koch and Victor Glover, along with Orion leaders Debbie Korth, deputy program manager, and Luis Saucedo, deputy crew and service module manager, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/ames\/artemis-astronauts-and-orion-leadership-visit-nasa-ames\/\">visited NASA Ames facilities<\/a> that support the Orion program to celebrate the achievements of employees. Ames facilities were used to develop and test Orion\u2019s thermal protection system and analyze the Artemis I heat shield after its successful return to Earth.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Curiosity Mars Rover Uncovers Subsurface Clues to the Planet\u2019s Evolution<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1840\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg?w=1840\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"An image of Mars shows rocks and small sand dunes, with a larger mountain range in the background. Two wheel tracks in the foreground show Curiosity rover&#039;s path before it captured the image.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg 1896w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg?resize=270,300 270w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg?resize=768,855 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg?resize=920,1024 920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg?resize=1380,1536 1380w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg?resize=1840,2048 1840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg?resize=359,400 359w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg?resize=539,600 539w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg?resize=809,900 809w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg?resize=1078,1200 1078w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-pia26554-curiosity-surveys-the-ubajara-sampling-site-4-figure-a.jpg?resize=1797,2000 1797w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1840px) 100vw, 1840px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA\u2019s Curiosity Mars rover sees its tracks receding into the distance at a site nicknamed \u201cUbajara\u201d on April 30, 2023. This site is where Curiosity made the discovery of siderite, a mineral that may help explain the fate of the planet\u2019s thicker ancient atmosphere.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/MSSS<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NASA\u2019s Curiosity Mars rover helped shed new light on what happened to the planet\u2019s ancient atmosphere. Researchers have long believed that Mars once had a thick, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere and liquid water on the planet\u2019s surface. That carbon dioxide and water should have reacted with Martian rocks to create carbonate minerals, but previous investigations haven\u2019t found expected amounts of carbonate on the planet\u2019s surface. Curiosity used onboard instruments to study powdered Martian rock samples from the subsurface of the planet, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/ames\/nasas-curiosity-rover-may-have-solved-mars-missing-carbonate-mystery\/\">finding the presence of siderite<\/a>, an iron carbonate mineral, within the sulfate-rich rocky layers of Mount Sharp in Mars\u2019 Gale Crater.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Managing Satellite Traffic in Orbit<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Illustrated image of four satellites orbiting Earth as the sun rises over the planet&#039;s horizon.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/starling-1-5-overhead-sunrise-v05.jpg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Starling swarm&#8217;s extended mission tested advanced autonomous maneuvering capabilities.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Daniel Rutter<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Managed at NASA Ames, the Starling mission, in collaboration with SpaceX\u2019s Starlink constellation, successfully <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/ames\/nasa-starling-and-spacex-starlink-improve-space-traffic-coordination\/\">demonstrated autonomous coordination between spacecraft<\/a> to improve space traffic management in low Earth orbit. The extended mission, called Starling 1.5, tested how satellite swarms can share maneuver responsibilities and respond more quickly to avoid collisions without relying on time-consuming ground-based communication. This approach aims to streamline space traffic coordination as orbital congestion increases, enabling faster, safer, and more efficient satellite operations.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Proven True: A Companion Star to Betelgeuse<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png?w=1080\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png?resize=900,900 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">An image of Betelgeuse, the yellow-red star, and the signature of its close companion, the faint blue object.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Data: NASA\/JPL\/NOIRlab. Visualization: NOIRLAB.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Researchers validated a century-old hypothesis that there\u2019s an orbiting companion star to Betelgeuse, the 10th brightest star in our night sky. Steve Howell, a senior research scientist at Ames, used both the ground-based Gemini North telescope in Hawai\u2019i and a special, high-resolution camera built by NASA to directly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/science-research\/astrophysics\/nasa-scientist-finds-predicted-companion-star-to-betelgeuse\/\">observe the close companion<\/a> to Betelgeuse. This discovery may explain why other similar red supergiant stars undergo periodic changes in their brightness on the scale of many years.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Space-Fermented Foods Make Vital Nutrients<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Astronaut Suni Williams floats on the International Space Station, posing next to the BioNutrients experiment packs.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 47% 29%; object-position: 47% 29%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg 8256w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/iss072e616434.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams displays a set of BioNutrients production packs during an experiment aboard the International Space Station. The experiment uses engineered yeast to produce nutrients and vitamins to support future astronaut health.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/what-is-bionutrients\/\">BioNutrients<\/a> experiments are helping us better understand the shelf stability of nutrients essential to support astronaut health during future long-duration deep space exploration, such as missions to the Moon and Mars. The project uses microorganisms to make familiar fermented foods, such as yogurt, and includes specific types and amounts of nutrients that crew will be able to consume in the future. The first experiment tested the performance of a biomanufacturing system <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/nasa-continues-bionutrients-space-fermented-food-research\/\">for almost six years<\/a> aboard the International Space Station. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/station\/iss-research\/nasas-spacex-crew-11-mission-gears-up-for-space-station-research\/\">latest experiment<\/a> launched to the station in August.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Enabling Satellite Swarms for Future Astronauts<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A man stands in front of a computer server and gestures towards the racks and cables.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg 7454w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/acd24-0190-018.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Caleb Adams, Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy project manager, monitors testing alongside the test racks containing 100 spacecraft computers at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center in California\u2019s Silicon Valley. The DSA project develops and demonstrates software to enhance multi-spacecraft mission adaptability, efficiently allocate tasks between spacecraft using ad-hoc networking, and enable human-swarm commanding of distributed space missions. <\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Brandon Torres Navarrete<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NASA Ames&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/ames\/what-is-nasas-distributed-spacecraft-autonomy\/\">Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy (DSA)<\/a> project tested software that enables swarms of satellites to make decisions and adapt to changing conditions with minimal human intervention. By distributing decision-making autonomy across multiple spacecraft, the system allows satellites to coordinate tasks, optimize scientific observations, and respond to challenges in real time while freeing human explorers to focus on critical tasks. The technology was first demonstrated in space aboard the Starling mission, showcasing how autonomous swarms can enhance mission efficiency and resilience.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Exploring Remotely Piloted Aircraft in U.S. Airspace<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"NASA researchers stand in front of a floor-to-ceiling monitor displaying live flight data during a flight test of a Bell 206 helicopter.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg 8256w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/acd25-132-006.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA researchers Matt Gregory, right, Arwa Awiess, center, and Andrew Guion discuss live flight data being ingested at the Mission Visualization and Research Control Center (MVRCC) at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center on Aug. 21, 2025.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Brandon Torres Navarrete<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NASA Ames&nbsp;partnered to ensure that remotely piloted aircraft can take to the skies safely without overburdening air traffic controllers. NASA\u2019s Air Traffic Management eXploration Project (ATM-X) supported Wisk Aero in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/nasa-partners-push-forward-with-remotely-piloted-airspace-integration\/\">flight test<\/a> designed to evaluate a ground-based radar developed by Collins Aerospace, which could be used during future remotely piloted operations to detect and avoid other aircraft.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pushing the Boundaries of Autonomous Cargo Drones<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg 8256w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/acd25-0074-007.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Christopher Bryant shows the simulated vehicle as part of the Federal Uncrewed Aircraft System Service Supplier Synthesis Effort (FUSE) live flight simulation in the Verification and Validation (V&amp;V) lab in N210.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Donald Richey<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NASA partnered with the Department of War in a live <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/ames\/nasa-war-department-partnership-tests-boundaries-of-autonomous-drone-operations\/\">flight demonstration<\/a> showcasing how drones can successfully fly without their operators being able to see them, a concept known as beyond visual line of sight. Cargo drones successfully carried payloads more than 75 miles across North Dakota in tests designed to demonstrate that the aircraft could operate safely even in complex, shared airspace.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Advancing Mixed Reality for Pilot Training<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A pilot, Damien Hischier, of the National Test Pilot School dons virtual reality goggles inside a Virtual Motion Simulator at NASA&#039;s Ames Research Center.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg 7611w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/acd25-0061-018.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Damian Hischier of the National Test Pilot School in Mojave, California, takes part in testing of a virtual reality-infused pilot simulation in the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center in California\u2019s Silicon Valley on May 30, 2025. <\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Brandon Torres Navarrete<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A NASA research project is accelerating alternatives to conventional flight simulator training, using mixed reality systems that combines physical simulators with virtual reality headsets to train pilots. The agency <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/nasa-tests-mixed-reality-sim-in-vertical-motion-simulator\/\">invited a dozen pilots<\/a> to NASA Ames to participate in a study to test how a mixed-reality flight simulation would perform in the world\u2019s largest flight simulator for the first time. The technology could reduce costs and allow for a smaller footprint while training pilots on next-generation aircraft.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Flies and Fly Food for Space Station DNA Studies<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"The Vented Fly Box (VFB) holds and safely transports vials containing flies and fly food.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg 6048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/acd15-0177-013_v2.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Vented Fly Box holds and safely transports vials containing flies and fly food. It includes environmental sensors that monitor temperature and relative humidity.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Dominic Hart<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>New technology for housing and supporting fruit flies is enabling new research on the effects of space travel on the human body. Through a Space Act Agreement between NASA and Axiom Space, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/station\/iss-research\/nasa-provides-hardware-for-space-station-dna-repair-experiment\/\">Vented Fly Box contained fruit flies<\/a> (Drosophila melanogaster) launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Because humans and fruit flies share a lot of similar genetic code, they squeeze a lot of scientific value into a conveniently small, light package.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Studying Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Space<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iss071e041625large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iss071e041625large.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Astronaut Jeanette Epps is shown squeezing a pipette into bacteria samples onboard the International Space Station.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iss071e041625large.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iss071e041625large.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iss071e041625large.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iss071e041625large.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iss071e041625large.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iss071e041625large.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iss071e041625large.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iss071e041625large.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iss071e041625large.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Astronaut Jeanette Epps extracts DNA samples from bacteria colonies for genomic analysis aboard the International Space Station&#8217;s Harmony module.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>New studies aboard the International Space Station are advancing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/station\/nasa-sends-experiment-to-space-to-study-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria\/\">detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria<\/a>, thus improving the health safety not only of astronauts but patients back on Earth. Future astronauts visiting the Moon or Mars will need to rely on a pre-determined supply of antibiotics in case of illness, and ensuring those antibiotics remain effective is an important safety measure for future missions. Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be difficult or impossible to treat, making antibiotic resistance a leading cause of death worldwide and a global health concern.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Happy Third Anniversary to BioSentinel Deep Space Mission!<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/biosentinel-underway-after-successful-lunar-flyby\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"586\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/biosentinel_1920x1080.png?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Illustration of the BioSentinel spacecraft, flying past the Moon with the CubeSat&#039;s solar arrays fully deployed, facing the Sun.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/biosentinel_1920x1080.png 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/biosentinel_1920x1080.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/biosentinel_1920x1080.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/biosentinel_1920x1080.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/biosentinel_1920x1080.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/biosentinel_1920x1080.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/biosentinel_1920x1080.png?resize=900,507 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA\u2019s BioSentinel \u2013 a shoebox-sized CubeSat \u2013 is travelling far from Earth. But that also means it\u2019s closer than ever to being the first long-duration biology experiment in deep space. \u200b<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Daniel Rutter<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/ames\/what-is-biosentinel\/\">BioSentinel mission<\/a>, currently orbiting the Sun more than 48 million miles from Earth, celebrated three years in deep space after launching aboard NASA\u2019s Artemis I in 2022. BioSentinel, managed at NASA Ames, continues to collect valuable information for scientists trying to understand how solar radiation storms move through space and where their effects \u2013 and potential impacts on life beyond Earth \u2013 are most intense.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Astrobee Partners to Advance Space Robotics<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/nasas-astrobee-robots-advance-through-strategic-partnership\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss073e0098595\/iss073e0098595~large.jpg?w=1920&amp;h=1280&amp;fit=clip&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Anne McClain shows off a pair of Astrobee robotic free-flyers inside the International Space Station&#039;s Kibo laboratory. Ground controllers were monitoring the cube-shaped, toaster-sized devices as they autonomously performed docking maneuvers using multi-resolution scanning units installed earlier by McClain.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss073e0098595\/iss073e0098595~large.jpg?w=1920&amp;h=1280&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1920w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss073e0098595\/iss073e0098595~large.jpg?w=300&amp;h=200&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss073e0098595\/iss073e0098595~large.jpg?w=768&amp;h=512&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss073e0098595\/iss073e0098595~large.jpg?w=1024&amp;h=683&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss073e0098595\/iss073e0098595~large.jpg?w=1536&amp;h=1024&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss073e0098595\/iss073e0098595~large.jpg?w=400&amp;h=267&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss073e0098595\/iss073e0098595~large.jpg?w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss073e0098595\/iss073e0098595~large.jpg?w=900&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss073e0098595\/iss073e0098595~large.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=800&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA astronaut Anne McClain poses with Astrobee robots Bumble (left) and Honey during their latest in orbit activity in May, 2025<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NASA is working with Arkisys, Inc., of Los Alamitos, California, to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/nasas-astrobee-robots-advance-through-strategic-partnership\/\">sustain the Astrobee robotic platform<\/a> aboard the International Space Station. NASA launched the Astrobee mission to the space station in 2018. Since then, the free-flying robots have marked multiple first-in-space milestones for robots working alongside astronauts. As the agency returns astronauts to the Moon, robotic helpers like Astrobee could one day take over routine maintenance tasks and support future spacecraft at the Moon and Mars without relying on humans for continuous operation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center in California\u2019s Silicon Valley continued to make strides in research, technology, engineering, science, and innovation this past year. Join us as we take a look back at some of the highlights from 2025. From Supercomputers to Wind Tunnels: NASA\u2019s Road to Artemis II By combining the technologies of the NASA Advanced [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15640,18131,15819,19050,15621,15689,19051,15606],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-332680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aeronautics","category-aeronautics-research","category-aeronautics-research-mission-directorate","category-aeronautics-technology","category-ames-research-center","category-ames-research-centers-science-directorate","category-ames-space-biosciences","category-general"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=332680"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":332681,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332680\/revisions\/332681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=332680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=332680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=332680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}