Jorge Chong is helping shape the future of human spaceflight, one calculation at a time. As a project manager for TRON (Tracking and Ranging via Optical Navigation) and a guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) test engineer in the Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division, he is leading efforts to ensure the Orion spacecraft can navigate deep [...]

Before Apollo astronauts set foot upon the Moon, much remained unknown about the lunar surface. While most scientists believed the Moon had a solid surface that would support astronauts and their landing craft, a few believed a deep layer of dust covered it that would swallow any visitors. Until 1964, no closeup photographs of the [...]

With two months to go before flight, the Apollo 13 prime crew of James Lovell, Thomas Mattingly, Fred Haise, and backups John Young, John Swigert, and Charles Duke continued to train for the 10-day mission planned to land in the Fra Mauro highlands region of the Moon. Engineers continued to prepare the Saturn V rocket [...]

The Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) team hosts a Media Day at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on April 11, 2023.Credit: NASA Media are invited to visit NASA’s simulated Mars habitat on Monday, March 10, at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The simulation will help prepare humanity for future missions [...]

Explore This SectionEarth HomeEarth Observer HomeEditor’s CornerFeature ArticlesMeeting SummariesNewsScience in the NewsCalendarsIn MemoriamMoreArchives 3 min read In Memoriam: Jeff Dozier [1944–2024] Jeff Dozier [1944–2024]Photo credit: Dozier’s family obituary Jeff Dozier, an environmental scientist, snow hydrologist, researcher, academic – and former Earth Observing System Project Scientist – died on November 17, 2024. Jeff’s research focused on [...]

Explore This SectionEarth HomeEarth Observer HomeEditor’s CornerFeature ArticlesMeeting SummariesNewsScience in the NewsCalendarsIn MemoriamMoreArchives 3 min read In Memoriam: Berrien Moore III [1941–2024] Berrien Moore III [1941–2024]Photo credit: Moore’s obituary on the University of Oklahoma’s (OU) website Berrien Moore III, Dean of the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences at the University of Oklahoma (OU), director [...]

NASA/Kim Shiflett Engineers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida completed stacking the twin SLS (Space Launch System) solid rocket boosters – seen in this Feb. 19, 2025, photo – inside the Vehicle Assembly Building for the agency’s Artemis II crewed test flight around the Moon. During stacking operations, which began Nov. 20, 2024, technicians used a massive overhead [...]

2 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA marked a key milestone Feb. 18 with installation of RS-25 engine No. E20001, the first new production engine to help power the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on future Artemis missions to the Moon. The engine, built by lead SLS engines contractor L3Harris [...]

Explore This Section Earth Home Earth Observer Home Editor’s Corner Feature Articles Meeting Summaries News Science in the News Calendars In Memoriam More Archives 3 min read In Memoriam: Pierre Morel [1933–2024] Pierre Morel [1933–2024] Photo Credit: Morel’s obituary on the Ecole Normale Supérieure website Pierre Morel, the first director of the World Climate [...]

3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) How to Attend The workshop will be hosted by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Virtual and in-person attendance are available. Registration is required for both. (Link coming soon!) Virtual attendees will receive connection information one week before the workshop. Background, Goals and Objectives The NASA [...]