LND topic: nasa-observatory page 1

nasa observatory

Hidden Virus Hits West Coast, Experts Sound Alarm

March 7, 2026

A new virus that many people are unaware of is spreading fast along the West Coast. Scientists use wastewater samples to track how common it is in communities, and recent data show that the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is present in cities such as San Francisco, Sacramento and Davis. The virus reach

science

Moon Mission Revamp: NASA Sets a Faster, Safer Path Forward

March 7, 2026

NASA has announced big changes to its Artemis plan, aiming to get more rockets flying and reduce risks. The new strategy keeps the goal of landing astronauts on the Moon in 2028 but rearranges how that happens. Instead of waiting three years between launches, the agency now wants a flight every ten

politics

Science Money Keeps Maine’s Ocean Jobs Alive

March 4, 2026

Maine’s coastal economy depends on science money that comes from Washington. When federal agencies like the National Science Foundation, NOAA, and NASA receive cuts, the ripple effects hit fishermen in Portland, aquaculture farms in Brunswick, and towns such as Machias that rely on data to protect t

science

Astronaut’s Health Issue Forces Early Return from Space

February 26, 2026

A NASA crew left the International Space Station earlier than planned because one member experienced a medical problem. The team that had been working in orbit included Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui and Oleg Platonov. Fincke confirmed that his own health issue prompted the decision to

science

New Rocket Roadblocks Push NASA’s Moon Mission Back

February 24, 2026

NASA’s biggest space plan is facing a fresh snag. After a recent test, engineers discovered that helium – the gas used to keep fuel tanks full and clean – was not flowing properly in the upper section of the Space Launch System (SLS). Because the problem cannot be fixed on the launchpad, the rocket

science

Hydrogen Turbine Breaks Record, Powering a Greener Future

February 18, 2026

A new German invention has pushed the limits of gas turbines. Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology built a compressorless turbine that ran for 303 seconds—longer than NASA’s previous record of 250 seconds. Unlike conventional turbines, which waste half their energy compressing air,

science

Keeping Artemis II Astronauts Healthy: A Two-Week Lockdown

February 17, 2026

The Artemis II mission, set to be the first human moon voyage in half a century, is taking no chances with astronaut health. Before liftoff, the four crew members must spend 14 days in quarantine. This isn't just about avoiding major illnesses; even a simple cold can cause big problems in space. For

science

NASA Fixes Fuel Leak Issues Ahead of Moon Mission

February 15, 2026

NASA is working hard to stop fuel leaks on its big rocket before the next test. The Space Launch System (SLS) used for Artemis missions has had a problem with hydrogen leaking during fueling. The leak caused a practice countdown to stop early in February. Scientists traced the problem to the

science

Four New Astronauts Arrive at the Space Station After Early Return of Previous Crew

February 15, 2026

A new team of four astronauts touched down at the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, filling a vacancy left when the earlier crew had to head back to Earth sooner than planned. Two of them come from the United States, one is a European Space Agency scientist, and another is a Russian cos

science

Dark‑Cave Greens Show Life Can Thrive Without Sunlight

February 15, 2026

In 2018, two scientists walked deep into a remote part of the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. They found walls covered with a bright green substance that could not have been reached by any visible light. The green coating is made of tiny cyanobacteria that use two uncommon pigments, chlorophyl