Goddard Space Flight Center

Science

NASA's Perpetual Ocean animation turns ocean currents into art

NASA's stunning Perpetual Ocean animation visualizes ocean currents.

Front view of Curiosity Mars rover(Image: NASA)

Science

NASA's Curiosity Rover gears up for Mars

NASA's new Curiosity Mars rover is ready for launch.

The new super-black coating made from hollow carbon nanotubes prevents reflection because the tiny gaps between the tubes collect and trap light (Image: Stephanie Getty, NASA Goddard)

Science

NASA's new super-black nanotube-based material is good news for star-gazers

NASA engineers have developed a nanotech-based coating that absorbs on average more than 99 percent of the ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and far-infrared light that hits it.

Artist's concept of a NASA Mars Exploration Rover on the surface of Mars collecting samples using "tractor beam" technology (Image modified from original supplied by NASA/JPL/Cornell University)

Space

NASA evaluating "tractor beam" technologies

NASA researchers will evaluate three different "tractor beam" technologies with the goal of developing a system that can trap and move planetary or atmospheric particles using laser light.

Space

NASA to demonstrate laser beam communications system

NASA is turning to optical communications technology that would use lasers to increase data rates of space transmissions by anywhere from 10 to 100 times.

The Apollo 12 landing site, as photographed by LROC

Space

New NASA pics show Apollo astronauts' footpaths on the moon

NASA has released new low-altitude photos of the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 landing sites, that show details such as the astronauts' foot paths.

Solar particles interact with Earth's magnetosphere

Space

NASA’s Solar Shield to mitigate damage to power grid from severe solar storms

A new NASA project called “Solar Shield” is working to develop a forecasting system that can mitigate the impacts of severe solar storms on North American power grids.

These computer Images represent infrared snapshots of Kuiper Belt dust as seen by a distant observer (Image: NASA/Goddard/Marc Kuchner and Christopher Stark)

Space

Astronomers create 700 million year old view of our Solar System

For the first time researchers have simulated images of sections of our Solar System as they may have appeared some 700 million years ago.

NASA's DASS next-gen search and rescue system will pinpoint those in distress faster

Aircraft

NASA homes in on next-gen satellite-aided search and rescue technology

NASA’s new DASS satellite-aided search and rescue technology will more quickly identify the locations of people in distress and reduce the risk to rescuers.

This is an artist's concept of a quasar (bright area with rays) embedded in the center of a galaxy. (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle - SSC)

Telecommunications

GPS satellites tell us where we are, but what tells them where they are?

GPS devices have permeated society to the point where millions of us rely on them daily for directions, locations and traffic avoidance. But have you ever thought what tells the GPS satellites where they are in the first place?

An artist's concept of the heliosphere, a magnetic bubble that partially protects the solar system from cosmic rays - represented by the long, white arrows (Image: Richard Mewaldt/Caltech)

Space

Cosmic rays hit Space-Age high

NASA has a warning for everyone planning a trip to Mars in the near future – pack extra radiation protection. According to sensors on NASA's ACE (Advanced Composition Explorer) spacecraft, galactic cosmic rays have just hit a Space Age high.

Space

Astronomers like what they see from rejuvenated NASA Hubble Space Telescope

New images from the rejuvenated, more powerful NASA Hubble Space Telescope have universally delighted astronomers. Last week, observations from four of its six operating science instruments were released by NASA. They include colorful, multi-wavelength pictures of far-flung galaxies, a densely-pack