NPR: NASA https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126925728 NASA en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 06:05:10 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR: NASA https://www.npr.org/tags/126925728/nasa NASA website axes a pledge to land a woman and a person of color on the moon In deference to President Trump's anti-DEI order, the space agency has removed a promise to send the "the first woman, first person of color" to walk on the moon aboard the Artemis III mission. Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:18:24 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2025/03/25/g-s1-55665/nasa-moon-dei-artemis https://www.npr.org/2025/03/25/g-s1-55665/nasa-moon-dei-artemis

In deference to President Trump's anti-DEI order, the space agency has removed a promise to send the "the first woman, first person of color" to walk on the moon aboard the Artemis III mission.

(Image credit: Gregg Newton)

]]> Scott Neuman This astronaut spent over 100 days in space. Here's how he says that affected him Jack Fischer spent more than 100 days aboard the International Space Station in 2017. He described to NPR what being in space for so long does to the body and what it feels like to return home. Wed, 19 Mar 2025 04:24:01 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2025/03/19/nx-s1-5332181/astronauts-space-body-effects-jack-fischer https://www.npr.org/2025/03/19/nx-s1-5332181/astronauts-space-body-effects-jack-fischer

Jack Fischer spent more than 100 days aboard the International Space Station in 2017. He described to NPR what being in space for so long does to the body and what it feels like to return home.

(Image credit: Sergei Ilnitsky)

]]> A Martínez 2 NASA astronauts return to Earth after an unexpectedly long mission in space NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were on the International Space Station more than nine months, despite launching into space in June for what was expected to be an eight-day mission. Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:27:50 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2025/03/18/nx-s1-5331907/nasa-astronauts-return-long-space-station-suni-williams-butch-wilmore https://www.npr.org/2025/03/18/nx-s1-5331907/nasa-astronauts-return-long-space-station-suni-williams-butch-wilmore

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were on the International Space Station more than nine months, despite launching into space in June for what was expected to be an eight-day mission.

(Image credit: AP)

]]> Joe Hernandez Crew arrives on ISS to replace astronauts 'stranded' in space for 9 months Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were only supposed to be in space for about a week when they launched in June, but problems with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft extended their journey for months. Sun, 16 Mar 2025 02:44:34 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2025/03/16/g-s1-54130/nasas-stuck-astronauts-welcome-replacements https://www.npr.org/2025/03/16/g-s1-54130/nasas-stuck-astronauts-welcome-replacements

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were only supposed to be in space for about a week when they launched in June, but problems with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft extended their journey for months.

(Image credit: AP)

]]> Joe Hernandez NASA and SpaceX launch astronauts to the ISS The arrival of the new crew will pave the way for the return of two astronauts who have been "stuck" on the station since June of last year. Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:12:02 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2025/03/14/nx-s1-5328536/nasa-and-spacex-make-second-attempt-to-launch-astronauts-this-week https://www.npr.org/2025/03/14/nx-s1-5328536/nasa-and-spacex-make-second-attempt-to-launch-astronauts-this-week

The arrival of the new crew will pave the way for the return of two astronauts who have been "stuck" on the station since June of last year.

(Image credit: Brandon Bell)

]]> Geoff Brumfiel Failure is an option. Here's why some new space ventures go sideways Within the span of a few days, another SpaceX Starship broke up on re-entry, and two other space companies faced failures. This reflects a new "fail-fast, learn-fast" ethos of spacecraft development. Sat, 08 Mar 2025 08:03:15 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2025/03/08/g-s1-52745/spacex-nasa-commercial-spacecraft https://www.npr.org/2025/03/08/g-s1-52745/spacex-nasa-commercial-spacecraft

Within the span of a few days, another SpaceX Starship broke up on re-entry, and two other space companies faced failures. This reflects a new "fail-fast, learn-fast" ethos of spacecraft development.

(Image credit: Eric Gay)

]]> Scott Neuman SpaceX's latest Starship test flight ends with another explosion Nearly two months after an explosion sent flaming debris raining down on the Turks and Caicos, SpaceX launched another mammoth Starship rocket but lost contact minutes into the test flight. Thu, 06 Mar 2025 19:47:49 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2025/03/06/g-s1-52507/spacex-starship-test-flight-boca-chica-texas https://www.npr.org/2025/03/06/g-s1-52507/spacex-starship-test-flight-boca-chica-texas

Nearly two months after an explosion sent flaming debris raining down on the Turks and Caicos, SpaceX launched another mammoth Starship rocket but lost contact minutes into the test flight.

(Image credit: Eric Gay)

]]> The Associated Press NASA's upcoming telescope launch aims to address some existential questions The new 8.5-foot telescope is set to launch this Tuesday by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory with a clear objective: to explore the origins of the universe. Mon, 03 Mar 2025 16:30:27 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2025/03/03/nx-s1-5316164/nasa-new-telescope-sphere-x-launch-tuesday https://www.npr.org/2025/03/03/nx-s1-5316164/nasa-new-telescope-sphere-x-launch-tuesday

The new 8.5-foot telescope is set to launch this Tuesday by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory with a clear objective: to explore the origins of the universe.

(Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

]]> Manuela López Restrepo Is Trump preparing to cancel America's ride back to the moon? President Trump launched the Artemis program to return U.S. astronauts to the moon for the first time since Apollo. Now, the plan could be a casualty of the cost-cutting drive overseen by Elon Musk. Wed, 19 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2025/02/19/g-s1-49451/artemis-moon-nasa-sls-rocket-doge-musk https://www.npr.org/2025/02/19/g-s1-49451/artemis-moon-nasa-sls-rocket-doge-musk

President Trump launched the Artemis program to return U.S. astronauts to the moon for the first time since Apollo. Now, the plan could be a casualty of the cost-cutting drive overseen by Elon Musk.

(Image credit: Joel Kowsky)

]]> Scott Neuman He once made food for astronauts. Will his new idea survive Trump's funding freeze? Ryan Dowdy, a former NASA food scientist, won a USDA innovation grant to further develop a meal replacement bar for first responders. Trump's freeze on government awards has jeopardized those plans. Mon, 17 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2025/02/17/nx-s1-5293172/trump-small-business-grant-freeze-usda-nasa https://www.npr.org/2025/02/17/nx-s1-5293172/trump-small-business-grant-freeze-usda-nasa

Ryan Dowdy, a former NASA food scientist, won a USDA innovation grant to further develop a meal replacement bar for first responders. Trump's freeze on government awards has jeopardized those plans.

(Image credit: Ryan Dowdy)

]]> Andrea Hsu