Intellect PlusSpace agencies
1,721 cards. Each one is a 40-second story with a five-minute read behind it. Page 23 of 29.
Can satellite rainfall data predict the next major global wildfire outbreak?NASA’s Global Fire Weather Database integrates satellite rainfall measurements to track fire danger worldwide. By monitoring fuel dryness and potential fire behavior, this system …
How satellites reveal the hidden patterns of Earth's fresh water reservoir in the skyPrecipitation is fundamental to life, yet tracking it globally is a monumental challenge. By uniting a network of satellites, the Global Precipitation Measurement mission provides…
How NASA is turning a gravitational wave observatory into a cosmic dust detectorLISA Pathfinder was built to detect ripples in space-time, but its extreme sensitivity makes it an ideal tool for tracking interplanetary debris. By monitoring the tiny thruster f…
How NASA prepares the massive RS-25 engines to carry humans back to the MoonNASA is systematically testing the RS-25 flight engines that will power the Space Launch System, the rocket designed to return humans to the Moon. By conducting rigorous hot-fire …
How NASA uses lasers to map the dramatic 3D transformation of Greenland's massive glaciersBy combining airborne laser altimetry with satellite radar, NASA’s Operation IceBridge has created a high-resolution 3D visualization of Helheim Glacier’s evolution. This unpreced…
How Astronauts Prepare for the Rigorous Demands of Long-Duration Space ExplorationFrom high-speed transit to complex biological experiments, life aboard the International Space Station is a masterclass in precision. As crews prepare for missions to the Moon and…
Astronauts execute a critical trio of maintenance spacewalks on the International Space StationIn October 2017, NASA astronauts conducted three complex spacewalks to maintain the International Space Station. The primary mission involved repairing the station's robotic arm, …
How Lasers Helped NASA Map a Mountain-Sized Asteroid and Bring It HomeTo retrieve a pristine sample from the asteroid Bennu, NASA needed more than just a landing site; it needed a precise 3D map. The OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter provided this critical…
Why Earth is the only planet in our solar system without a mythological nameEarth is unique among its celestial neighbors, holding the distinction of being the only planet whose name is not derived from Greek or Roman mythology. Instead, our home planet b…- Can NASA satellites stop malaria before it starts by tracking environmental shifts from space?Containing malaria is difficult because health officials often deploy resources to the wrong locations. By using satellite data to monitor environmental conditions like soil moist…
Why scientists are burying GPS sensors deep within the Antarctic ice shelfTo understand how rising sea levels might accelerate, researchers are tracking the subtle, rhythmic breathing of Antarctic ice. By installing GPS stations and tilt meters on the N…
How a South Carolina Middle School Connected Directly with the International Space StationIn October 2017, students at Laing Middle School engaged in a rare, live conversation with Expedition 53 Commander Randy Bresnik while he orbited Earth. This 20-minute downlink, f…
What happens when West Point cadets grill astronauts about life in orbit?From the mechanics of bench pressing in microgravity to the surprising culinary overlap between military rations and space food, NASA astronauts frequently bridge the gap between …
How do astronauts actually live and work aboard the International Space Station?Living in orbit requires solving mundane human challenges in an environment where gravity is absent. From drinking coffee and washing hair to exercising and voting, NASA engineers…- What is it actually like to live and work on the International Space Station?Living in orbit is more than just floating in microgravity. From the mundane realities of washing hair and using the bathroom to the complexities of voting from space, astronauts …
- What does a record-breaking astronaut actually do during a day in space?Living in orbit is far from a simple vacation. Beyond the technical demands of maintaining an orbital laboratory, astronauts must navigate the mundane realities of daily life in m…
- What is it actually like to live and work on the International Space Station?Living in orbit is more than just floating in microgravity. From the mundane tasks of washing hair and using the bathroom to the complex logistics of voting in elections, astronau…
- What is it actually like to live and work aboard the International Space Station?For over twenty years, humans have maintained a continuous presence in orbit. Beyond the technical marvel of the International Space Station, life there involves mundane human rea…
- How SpaceX Dragon missions bridge the gap between cargo delivery and human space explorationSpaceX has evolved its Dragon spacecraft from a robotic cargo hauler into a sophisticated vessel for human crews. By partnering with private industry, NASA is securing reliable ac…
- How do we bridge the gap between Earth and the vast, silent cosmos?Communicating from space requires ingenuity, whether speaking to a festival in Stockholm or sending a message to the stars. While ESA astronauts answer questions from children on …
How NASA's 2019 Budget Proposal Shapes the Future of Deep Space ExplorationOn February 12, NASA centers nationwide opened their doors to showcase the agency's ambitious roadmap for the future. Following the delivery of the Fiscal Year 2019 budget proposa…- The European Space Agency is the only agency covering the entire spectrum of spaceWhile many space organizations focus on specific niches, the European Space Agency stands alone in its comprehensive scope. From deep-space exploration to protecting our planetary…
- How a Retired Jet Airliner Became a Launchpad for NASA’s Space ExplorationOn November 7, 2018, NASA launched the Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, to study the boundary where Earth meets space. Rather than a traditional ground-based launch, the …
- Commercial cargo ships are the lifeblood of the International Space Station's scientific research missionModern space logistics rely on private commercial partners to sustain the International Space Station. From SpaceX Dragon capsules to Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL vessels, these unp…
- How the Kennedy Space Center is evolving into a modern multi-user spaceportVice President Mike Pence recently toured the Kennedy Space Center to inspect the facility's shift toward serving both commercial and government clients. During his visit, he exam…
Why NASA is mapping the invisible halo surrounding our planet to protect future explorersEarth is wrapped in a vast, invisible cloud of hydrogen known as the geocorona. While it stretches halfway to the Moon, we are only now launching dedicated missions to capture con…- Why the future of space exploration depends on fixing satellites in orbitSpacecraft are expensive, but they often become obsolete or run out of fuel while their hardware remains functional. Space servicing—the practice of repairing, refueling, and upgr…
- Beyond the Moon landing: How NASA Goddard kept the Apollo 11 mission connectedWhile the world watched the lunar surface, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center worked behind the scenes to ensure the mission succeeded. By operating a worldwide network of ground …
From Earth to Mars: How Astronauts Master the Art of Living in SpaceBecoming an astronaut requires more than just technical brilliance; it demands rigorous physical conditioning and years of specialized preparation. Whether training for the Intern…- How NASA tracks the hidden movement of water across our changing planetWater sustains two-thirds of the United States' drinking supply, yet managing this resource is increasingly difficult. By integrating satellite observations with ground-based data…
Three astronauts celebrate Pi Day with a high-speed launch to the International Space StationOn March 14, 2019, three crew members launched toward the International Space Station in a Soyuz capsule. The timing was a nod to Pi Day, with the rocket lifting off from Baikonur…
How NASA pilots navigate treacherous Alaskan glaciers to measure our planet's melting iceFlying low over Icy Bay in a bright-red De Havilland Otter, researchers are tracking the dramatic retreat of Alaska's glaciers. By hand-flying through narrow mountain ridges, they…
From Space Pioneer to Workforce Crisis: The Tumultuous Evolution of NASA GoddardEstablished in 1959 as NASA's first spaceflight center, Goddard has spent six decades pushing the boundaries of discovery. Yet, recent years have brought unprecedented upheaval, w…- When Hubble went blind, NASA executed a desperate, record-breaking rescue mission in space.In 1999, Hubble’s gyroscopes failed, forcing the telescope into a dormant safe mode. With the observatory unable to lock onto targets, NASA split a planned maintenance mission int…
- What connects a WNBA championship run to NASA’s asteroid sample return mission?Elite performance requires relentless preparation, whether on the basketball court or in deep space. Both a professional athlete and a NASA mission manager must sustain focus over…
How NASA engineers built a custom plate to rescue Hubble's failing vision in spaceIn 2009, astronauts faced a daunting challenge: repairing the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph while orbiting Earth. To prevent 111 tiny screws from floating away during the d…
How NASA’s orbital fleet tracked the catastrophic path of Hurricane Florence in 2018When Hurricane Florence barreled toward the Carolinas in September 2018, NASA deployed an expansive orbital arsenal to monitor the storm. By combining satellite radar, infrared se…- From Earth to Mars: How NASA Prepares the Next Generation of Space ExplorersNASA’s 2025 astronaut candidates are embarking on a rigorous two-year journey to master the skills required for deep space exploration. Selected from over 8,000 applicants, these …
- Why NASA scientists are racing to measure the rapid melting of Earth's frozen regionsThe cryosphere is a global life-support system that most people will never visit. As temperatures climb, these frozen landscapes are shifting at an alarming rate. NASA Explorers a…
- How NASA satellites track the planet's most vital, constantly moving resource from spaceWater is essential for life, yet it constantly shifts between liquid, solid, and gas across the globe. NASA uses a fleet of satellites to monitor these complex movements, helping …
- From UFO investigations to mirror damage, a snapshot of early June space developmentsAs China establishes a permanent presence on its Tiangong space station, NASA is navigating a complex landscape of its own. From investigating unexplained aerial phenomena to addr…
- NASA uses supercomputers to map the invisible chemical reactions shaping our daily air qualityWhile urban haze is visible to the naked eye, the complex chemical dance creating it remains hidden. NASA is now using the GEOS Composition Forecasting model to track hundreds of …
- NASA has finally unified two decades of global rain and snow dataFor the first time, scientists can access a seamless 19-year record of global precipitation. By fusing data from the retired TRMM satellite with the ongoing GPM mission, NASA’s ne…
- How NASA used a decade of airborne missions to map the world's melting iceBetween 2009 and 2019, NASA’s Operation IceBridge filled a critical gap in satellite coverage by flying specialized aircraft over the Arctic and Antarctic. By deploying advanced s…
- Arctic sea ice is reaching record lows, but recent years show a surprising plateau.Arctic sea ice typically hits its minimum in September, following a seasonal melt. While the region warms three times faster than the rest of the planet, recent data reveals a com…
- How NASA engineers maintained mission-critical progress during the global COVID-19 pandemicWhen the COVID-19 pandemic forced social distancing in 2020, the team building NASA’s PACE climate observatory faced a daunting challenge. With fabrication areas off-limits, engin…
- How the European Space Agency selects the next generation of space explorersWith over 22,500 hopefuls vying for just four to six spots, the European Space Agency is currently navigating an intense 18-month selection process. Beyond standard physical and p…
How aging World War II cargo ships became the backbone of early space explorationDuring the 1950s and 60s, NASA faced a massive logistical hurdle: maintaining constant contact with astronauts. To bridge the gaps between ground stations, they repurposed nearly …- Why NASA's Deep Space Network is the most vital component of any space missionWithout the Deep Space Network, our robotic explorers would be effectively deaf and blind. This global array of massive antennas acts as an interplanetary switchboard, ensuring co…
- The grueling odds of becoming one of America's newest astronautsSelecting a single astronaut is a needle-in-a-haystack endeavor. In 2017, NASA faced a pool of over 18,000 applicants to find just 12 individuals capable of carrying the torch for…
- To save its moons, Cassini will intentionally destroy itselfAfter two decades of orbiting Saturn, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft is preparing for a deliberate, fiery end. By plunging into the gas giant's atmosphere on September 15, 2017, the pr…
- NASA prepares for a trio of critical maintenance spacewalks on the ISSBeyond the station's pressurized hull, astronauts must perform high-stakes repairs to keep operations running. From upgrading solar arrays to connecting vital data cables, these e…
- NASA pivots its lunar strategy by sidelining the Gateway stationThe blueprint for reaching the lunar surface is shifting. Watch to understand why NASA is moving away from its planned orbital staging site in favor of a more direct approach.
- What is life really like aboard the International Space Station?NASA astronauts connect with students to discuss the realities of living and working in orbit, offering a rare glimpse into life aboard the orbital outpost.
- Inside the Vice President's visit to NASA's Kennedy Space CenterWatch coverage of Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Florida's Kennedy Space Center, where he inspected the progress of America's next era of deep space exploration.
- The invisible choreography of surviving life in microgravityWhen you leave Earth, your first days are defined by a paradox: the freedom of weightlessness combined with the rigid discipline of orbital safety. From unpacking personal items t…
- How life unfolds aboard the International Space StationWatch as NASA astronauts connect live from orbit with elementary students to discuss the realities of scientific research and daily existence in microgravity.
How your backyard trees help NASA track global carbon storageNASA uses advanced lasers from space to measure Earth's surface height, but they need your help on the ground to make the data accurate. This video explains how citizen science br…- The International Space Station as a laboratory for MarsNASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine sits down with astronauts Joe Acaba and Mark Vande Hei to discuss the transition from orbital living to deep space exploration. This conversatio…
Cristoforetti's Return: A Second Chapter in Orbital ScienceESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, a member of the 2009 class, is preparing for another journey to the International Space Station. Following her initial 200-day mission in 201…