TotalEnergies in high-stakes French trial over climate changeParis, France (AFP) Feb 20, 2026 TotalEnergies faces cutting back oil and gas production if NGOs prevail in a trial that began Thursday over accusations the French energy giant failed to properly consider environmental risks. The case, brought by several NGOs and the city of Paris, is based upon a 2017 law that imposed a "duty of vigilance" on large companies. The law seeks to counter companies offloading responsibility
Smile sets sail for Europe’s Spaceport in French GuianaJust over a year since Smile arrived in the Netherlands in two parts, the now-complete and thoroughly-tested spacecraft has left for good. With a launch window set for 8 April – 7 May on a Vega-C rocket, the joint European-Chinese mission is almost ready to embark upon its unique space mission.
TB 26-02 Effects of Large Grain Size in Composite Overwrapped Pressure VesselThe NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) performed an assessment to characterize the effects of abnormal grain growth (AGG) within a metallic liner of a composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV). This effort focused on evaluating the mechanical response of the liner material, including the strain amplification factor (SAF), using a series of custom-designed coupons that […]
NASA, University of Texas Expand Research and Workforce DevelopmentNASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and the University of Texas System (UT System) announced the signing of a collaborative Space Act Agreement on Jan. 9, 2026. The agreement expands research and workforce development partnership opportunities across NASA centers and UT System facilities. The agreement builds upon decades of collaboration between NASA and the UT […]
Live coverage: SpaceX to fly Starlink mission using Falcon 9 booster flying for a 30th timeThe Falcon 9 rocket launching the Starlink 15-13 mission will fly on a south-easterly trajectory upon leaving pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Liftoff is for 7:22 a.m. PST (10:22 a.m. EST / 1522 UTC).
NASA Ignites New Golden Age of Exploration, Innovation in 2025With a second Trump Administration at the helm in 2025, NASA marked significant progress toward the Artemis II test flight early next year, which is the first crewed mission around the Moon in more than 50 years, as well as built upon its momentum toward a human return to the lunar surface in preparation to […]
Toxicology and Environmental ChemistryEnsuring Astronaut Safety Achieving safe exploration of space in vehicles that rely upon closed environmental systems to recycle air and water to sustain life and are operated in extremely remote locations is a major challenge. The Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry (TEC) group at Johnson Space Center (JSC) is made up of 2 interrelated groups: Toxicology […]
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandengerg SFBThe Starlink 11-25 mission will see the Falcon 9 rocket fly on a south-easterly trajectory upon leaving the pad. SpaceX is targeting liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 12:42 p.m. PST (3:42 p.m. EST / 2042 UTC).
Moss spores withstand long term exposure outside space stationTokyo, Japan (SPX) Nov 21, 2025 Researchers have demonstrated that moss sporophytes can withstand nine months of direct exposure to outer space and remain reproductively viable upon return to Earth. The study, published November 20 in the journal iScience, tested the durability of Physcomitrium patens spores affixed to the outside of the International Space Station. Lead author Tomomichi Fujita of Hokkaido University exp
ESA-supported test leads to better in-flight connectivityBetter in-flight streaming and video-calling might just become more accessible thanks to a project supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). Building upon the success of an experiment for a new type of antenna terminal together with ESA, Viasat – a global leader in satellite communications – now plans to commercialise its new in-flight connectivity solution called Viasat Amara.
NASA Launches 2026 Lunabotics ChallengeAs college students across the country embark upon the academic year, NASA is giving them something else to look forward to – the agency’s 2026 Lunabotics Challenge. Teams interested in participating can submit their applications and supporting materials through NASA’s Stem Gateway portal beginning Monday, Sept. 8. Key dates and challenge details are available in […]
Looking Forward to the MoonOn May 8, 2022, NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems’ Program Manager Shawn Quinn captured this crop of a full frame image of the Hadley–Apennine region of Earth’s Moon including the Apollo 15 landing site (very near the edge of the shadow of one of the lunar mountains in the area). Building upon the pioneers from the […]
Databricks and Microsoft Extend Strategic Partnership for Azure DatabricksThis announcement builds upon recent product innovations, including new native integrations between Azure Databricks, Azure AI Foundry and Microsoft Power Platform as well as the upcoming release of ...
Observing Storms from SkylabSkylab 3 astronauts witnessed many spectacular sights during their 858 orbital trips around the Earth in the summer of 1973. One involved watching powerful Hurricane Ellen take shape off the West African coast. “There’s a nice storm down there. She looks pretty big. She’s got a lot of clouds,” said astronaut Alan L. Bean upon […]
Risk of Impaired Control of Spacecraft/ Associated Systems and Decreased Mobility Due to Vestibular/ Sensorimotor Alterations Associated with Space FlightExposure to altered gravity leads to changes in sensorimotor/vestibular function that manifest in motion sickness, spatial disorientation, decrements in postural control and locomotion, and manual and fine motor control deficits. It takes hours to days for the body to readapt to gravity upon landing, with associated balance issues and visual inconsistencies. The risk of impairment […]
Risk of Cardiovascular Adaptations Contributing to Adverse Mission Performance and Health Outcomes (CV Risk)Exposure to the spaceflight environment can contribute to cardiovascular deconditioning, dysfunction, and remodeling. There is a possibility that crews will experience impaired performance and negative cardiovascular health outcomes during and after spaceflight and planetary operations. Manifestation of the cardiovascular risk outcomes varies depending upon the phase of the mission. The effect of interactions between altered […]
60 Years Ago: Ranger 8 Moon Photos Aid in Apollo Site SelectionBefore 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 […]
NASA’s Webb Reveals Intricate Layers of Interstellar Dust, GasOnce upon a time, the core of a massive star collapsed, creating a shockwave that blasted outward, ripping the star apart as it went. When the shockwave reached the star’s surface, it punched through, generating a brief, intense pulse of X-rays and ultraviolet light that traveled outward into the surrounding space. About 350 years later, […]
NASA Welcomes Thailand as Newest Artemis Accords SignatoryFollowing a signing ceremony Monday in Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok, NASA congratulates Thailand as the 51st nation to commit to the safe and responsible exploration of space that benefits humanity. “Thailand’s commitment to the Artemis Accords will enhance the country’s engagement with NASA and the international community,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “By signing the accords, Thailand builds upon […]


















