NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Suit-up for Departure | Kennedy Space Center

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Suit-up for Departure | Kennedy Space Center

From left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France

From left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 crew members play the traditional card game with NASA astronaut Scott Tingle, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of launch to the International Space Station on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France (left) and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia conduct leak checks for their SpaceX spacesuits inside the crew suit-up room in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (left) and Jack Hathaway conduct leak checks for their SpaceX spacesuits

NASA Crew-12 emblem

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 members suit up in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of launch to the International Space Station on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. 

On Friday, February 13, 2026, at 5:15 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched Crew-12, Dragon’s 12th operational human spaceflight mission, to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral, Florida, with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia. Dragon will autonomously dock with the space station on Saturday, February 14 at approximately 3:15 p.m. ET. 

Follow Expedition 74:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineer: Sergei Mikaev
NASA Flight Engineer: Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani, SpaceX
Date: Feb. 13, 2026

#NASA #Space #ISS #SpaceX #SpaceXCrew12 #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Astronauts #JessicaMeir #JackHathaway #SophieAdenot #France #Europe #ESA #Cosmonauts #AndreyFedyaev #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #Expedition75 #KSC #MerrittIsland #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12: Falcon 9 & Dragon Launch | International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12: Falcon 9 & Dragon Launch | International Space Station

On Friday, February 13, 2026, at 5:15 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched Crew-12, Dragon’s 12th operational human spaceflight mission, to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral, Florida, with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia. Dragon will autonomously dock with the space station on Saturday, February 14 at approximately 3:15 p.m. ET. 

Follow Expedition 74:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineer: Sergei Mikaev
NASA Flight Engineer: Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
Date: Feb. 13, 2026

#NASA #Space #ISS #SpaceX #SpaceXCrew12 #Falcon9Rocket #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Astronauts #JessicaMeir #JackHathaway #SophieAdenot #France #Europe #ESA #Cosmonauts #AndreyFedyaev #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Pre-launch | International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Pre-launch | International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 seated inside their Dragon spacecraft prior to launch.

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, front right, Jack Hathaway, front left, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France, back right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, are seen as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building

From front to back, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, are seen as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building

From right to left, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, are seen as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir gestures to family as her and crew mates NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir gestures to family

NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway gestures to family

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, front left, Jack Hathaway, front right, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, back left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, are seen as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building

Members of Crew-12 are seen as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral to board the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for the Crew-12 mission launch, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

On Friday, February 13, 2026, at 5:15 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched Crew-12, Dragon’s 12th operational human spaceflight mission, to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral, Florida, with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia. Dragon will autonomously dock with the space station on Saturday, February 14 at approximately 3:15 p.m. ET. 

Follow Expedition 74:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineer: Sergei Mikaev
NASA Flight Engineer: Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani, SpaceX
Date: Feb. 13, 2026

#NASA #Space #ISS #SpaceX #SpaceXCrew12 #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Astronauts #JessicaMeir #JackHathaway #SophieAdenot #France #Europe #ESA #Cosmonauts #AndreyFedyaev #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #Expedition75 #KSC #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12: Falcon 9 & Dragon Launch | International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12: Falcon 9 & Dragon Launch | International Space Station

On Friday, February 13, 2026 at 5:15 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched Crew-12, Dragon’s 12th operational human spaceflight mission, to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral, Florida with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia. Dragon will autonomously dock with the space station on Saturday, February 14 at approximately 3:15 p.m. ET. 

Follow Expedition 74:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineer: Sergei Mikaev
NASA Flight Engineer: Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Video Credit: SpaceX
Duration: 1 minute, 42 seconds
Release Date: Feb. 13, 2026

#NASA #Space #ISS #SpaceX #SpaceXCrew12 #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Astronauts #JessicaMeir #JackHathaway #SophieAdenot #France #Europe #ESA #Cosmonauts #AndreyFedyaev #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #Expedition75 #KSC #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Roscosmos Proton-M Rocket Launches Russian Weather Satellite at Baikonur

Roscosmos Proton-M Rocket Launches Russian Weather Satellite at Baikonur

Russia’s Roscosmos successfully launched a heavy-lift Proton-M rocket carrying the Elektro-L No.5 weather satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday, February 12, 2026. The liftoff occurred at 11:52 AM Moscow time with the spacecraft set to reach geostationary orbit roughly six-and-a-half hours later.

The three-stage Proton-M, built by the Khrunichev Center, stands 57.6 meters tall and has a launch mass of 705 tonnes. Thursday’s mission marked the 430th launch in the Proton family’s six-decade history and the latest flight of the modernized Proton-M variant introduced in 2001.

The Elektro-L No.5 spacecraft, developed by NPO Lavochkin, is part of a next-generation meteorological satellite series designed to operate over 35,000 km above the Earth. Once in position, it will beam back round-the-clock images of the Earth in visible and infrared bands with a resolution of 1 and 4 km per pixel.

Its data will aid weather forecasting, sea and ocean monitoring, aviation safety, and studies of the ionosphere and Earth’s magnetic field. The satellite also contributes to the international Cospas-Sarsat search-and-rescue system.

Elektro-L No.5 joins three active satellites of the same series already in orbit, each with a 120-degree field of view, together providing continuous full-disc coverage of the entire planet. The new spacecraft has a designed service life of at least ten years.

Video Credit: Roscosmos/RT
Duration: 2 minute, 18 seconds
Date: Feb. 12, 2026

#NASA #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #Space #Science #Satellites #Russia #Россия #ElektroLSatellite #ElektroLNo5 #ProtonMRocket #HeavyLiftLaunchVehicle #Earth #Meteorology #Weather #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #BaikonurCosmodrome #КосмодромБайконур #Kazakhstan #Қазақстан #STEM #Education #HD #Video

A Tour of Galaxy Merger Arp-Madore 417-391 in Eridanus | Hubble

A Tour of Galaxy Merger Arp-Madore 417-391 in Eridanus | Hubble

The galaxy merger Arp-Madore 417-391 steals the spotlight in this image from the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope. The Arp-Madore catalog is a collection of particularly peculiar galaxies spread throughout the southern sky, and includes a collection of subtly interacting galaxies as well as more spectacular colliding galaxies. Arp-Madore 417-391, located around 670 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus in the southern celestial hemisphere, is one such galactic collision. The two galaxies have been distorted by gravity and twisted into a colossal ring, leaving the cores of the two galaxies nestled side by side.

Hubble used its Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) to capture this scene—the instrument is optimized to hunt for galaxies and galaxy clusters in the ancient Universe. Hubble’s ACS has been contributing to scientific discovery for twenty years, and throughout its lifetime it has been involved in everything from mapping the distribution of dark matter to studying the evolution of galaxy clusters.

Image Description: Two galaxies right of center form a ring shape. The ring is narrow and blue, and the cores of the two galaxies form a bulge on the ring’s side. A bright, orange star lies above the ring. Two smaller spiral galaxies appear left of centre, as well as a few stars. The background is black and speckled with very small stars and galaxies.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA, J. Dalcanton

Duration: 30 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 21, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #GalacticMergers #AM0417391 #ArpMadore #EridanusConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #Europe #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Galaxy Merger Arp-Madore 417-391 in Eridanus | Hubble Space Telescope

Galaxy Merger Arp-Madore 417-391 in Eridanus | Hubble Space Telescope

The galaxy merger Arp-Madore 417-391 steals the spotlight in this image from the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope. The Arp-Madore catalog is a collection of particularly peculiar galaxies spread throughout the southern sky, and includes a collection of subtly interacting galaxies as well as more spectacular colliding galaxies. Arp-Madore 417-391, located around 670 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus in the southern celestial hemisphere, is one such galactic collision. The two galaxies have been distorted by gravity and twisted into a colossal ring, leaving the cores of the two galaxies nestled side by side.

Hubble used its Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) to capture this scene—the instrument is optimized to hunt for galaxies and galaxy clusters in the ancient Universe. Hubble’s ACS has been contributing to scientific discovery for twenty years, and throughout its lifetime it has been involved in everything from mapping the distribution of dark matter to studying the evolution of galaxy clusters.

Image Description: Two galaxies right of center form a ring shape. The ring is narrow and blue, and the cores of the two galaxies form a bulge on the ring’s side. A bright, orange star lies above the ring. Two smaller spiral galaxies appear left of centre, as well as a few stars. The background is black and speckled with very small stars and galaxies.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA, J. Dalcanton
Release Date: Nov. 21, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #GalacticMergers #AM0417391 #ArpMadore #EridanusConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #Europe #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Europe's First Ariane 6 Rocket Launch with Four Boosters: Amazon Satellites | ESA

Europe's First Ariane 6 Rocket Launch with Four Boosters: Amazon Satellites | ESA

At 16:45 GMT/17:45 CET the first Ariane 6 rocket with four boosters lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on February 12, 2026, taking 32 Amazon Leo satellites to orbit. 

This is Ariane 6’s most powerful version yet. The new three-stage European rocket can be adapted according to each mission with either two or four boosters as well as the length of the fairing—the nosecone that splits vertically in two. This launch was the sixth Ariane 6 flight, the first to fly with four boosters and also the first with the long fairing.

Ariane 6 in its four-booster configuration, known as Ariane 64, doubles the rocket’s performance compared to the two-booster version that has flown five times including the inaugural flight in 2024. 

"The P120C boosters used by Ariane 6 are one of the most powerful one-piece motors in production in the world. Flying with four boosters takes Ariane 6 to a whole new class of rockets. With the extra thrust from two more boosters Ariane 6 can take around 21.6 tonnes to low Earth orbit, more than double the 10.3 tonnes it could bring to orbit with just two boosters."

Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)
Duration: 4 minutes, 25 seconds
Release Date: Feb. 12, 2026

#NASA #ESA #Space #Science #Satellites #Amazon #CommercialSpace #Arianespace #Ariane6 #Ariane6Rocket #HeavyLiftRocket #RocketLaunch #MissionVA267 #GuianaSpaceCentre #KourouSpaceport #Kourou #FrenchGuiana #SouthAmerica #France #CNES #ArianeGroup #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Experts Hail China’s Successful Heavy-lift Moon Rocket & Crewed Spacecraft Tests

Experts Hail China’s Successful Heavy-lift Moon Rocket & Crewed Spacecraft Tests

China's successful tests of its new-generation heavy-lift rocket and next-generation crewed spacecraft mark a significant step forward for the country's crewed lunar program, space technology experts say.

A low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test for the Long March-10 carrier rocket and a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test for the new-generation crewed spaceship system Mengzhou are successfully conducted at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan province on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.

It was the first ignition flight of the Long March-10 rocket, and saw the spacecraft power through Max Q—the most dangerous phase of ascent, when aerodynamic stress reaches its peak.

Both the return capsule and the rocket's first stage landed in their designated recovery zones.

It was also the first completion of a sea landing and recovery of Mengzhou's return capsule that will bring China's spacefarers back to earth.

Mengzhou, which means "Dream Vessel" in Chinese, is designed mainly for China's crewed lunar exploration but can also be used for space station operation. Its return capsule is capable of multiple reuses.

"We have successfully achieved a soft splashdown and retrieval from the sea. This marks a crucial and significant breakthrough in China's reusable carrier rocket technology and will also greatly promote the upgrading of China's carrier rocket technology," said Wang Zhifei, a researcher at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Zhong Wen'an, who works at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, said the mission laid a foundation for China to advance its crewed lunar exploration program.

"This laid the foundation for completing verification flights for the crewed lunar exploration program, and eventually, lunar landings. Efforts to build the equipment and facilities required for a comprehensive launch and test system are progressing as planned. It is estimated that by the end of this year, China will fully achieve testing and launch capabilities for the crewed lunar exploration program," said Zhong.

Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned space program, underscored the significance of Wednesday’s successful tests.

"This was a highly significant flight test, especially the retrieval technologies, which are entirely new to us. Achieving success on the very first attempt represents a leapfrog development," said Zhou.

Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 1 minute, 39 seconds
Release Date: Feb. 12, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Moon #MengzhouSpacecraft #梦舟 #CrewSpacecraft #LongMarch10 #长征十号 #RocketFirstStage #ReusableRockets #CASC #中国航天科技集团有限公司 #HumanSpaceflight #LunarMissions #Taikonauts #Astronauts #CNSA #国家航天局 #SpaceTechnology #SpaceExploration #WSLC #Hainan #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Mission to the International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Mission to the International Space Station

Four crew members are preparing to launch to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to perform research, technology demonstrations, and maintenance activities aboard the orbiting laboratory.

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia will lift off no earlier than 5:15 a.m. EST (1015 UTC) on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Launch coverage begins at 3:15 a.m. EST (0815 UTC).

Follow Expedition 74:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineer: Sergei Mikaev
NASA Flight Engineer: Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.Kennedy Space Center

Video Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Duration: 1 minute, 14 seconds
Release Date: Feb. 12, 2026

#NASA #Space #ISS #SpaceX #SpaceXCrew12 #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Astronauts #JessicaMeir #JackHathaway #SophieAdenot #France #Europe #ESA #Cosmonauts #AndreyFedyaev #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #Expedition75 #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Falcon 9 & Dragon Preflight | International Space Station

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Falcon 9 & Dragon Preflight | International Space Station

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Dragon spacecraft on top is seen on the launch pad at sunset at Space Launch Complex 40 as preparations continue for the Crew-12 mission, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at Cape Canaveral in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is the twelfth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot of France, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Russia are scheduled to launch at 5:15 a.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 13, from Space Launch Complex 40. 

Teams will continue to monitor weather → http://spacex.com/launches/crew12

Learn more about the mission:
https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

Follow Expedition 74:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineer: Sergei Mikaev
NASA Flight Engineer: Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.Kennedy Space Center

Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
Date: Feb. 10, 2026

#NASA #Space #ISS #SpaceX #SpaceXCrew12 #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Astronauts #JessicaMeir #JackHathaway #SophieAdenot #France #Europe #ESA #Cosmonauts #AndreyFedyaev #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #Expedition75 #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Red Aurora over Mongolia

Red Aurora over Mongolia

Also known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis), auroras are colorful, dynamic, and often visually delicate displays of an intricate dance of particles and magnetism between the Sun and Earth called space weather. When energetic particles from space collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, they can cause the colorful glow that we call auroras.

Learn more about auroras: 

https://science.nasa.gov/sun/auroras/

Mongolia is a landlocked country in the East Asia region. Bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It is the second largest landlocked country after Kazakhstan, as well as the largest landlocked country that does not border an inland sea.

Aurora Colors According to Altitude

Above 150 miles: red, oxygen

Up to 150 miles: green, oxygen

Above 60 miles: purple or violet, nitrogen

Up to 60 miles: blue, nitrogen

The Colors of the Aurora (U.S. National Park Service)

https://www.nps.gov/articles/-articles-aps-v8-i1-c9.htm

Image Credit: Max Moreiras
Location: Ulaanbataar, Mongolia
Date: Jan. 20, 2026

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Planets #Earth #Mongolia #EastAsia #Aurora #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #SolarSystem #Sun #Astrophotography #MaxMoreiras #Astrophotographers #Ulaanbataar #Mongolia #STEM #Education

China Long March 10 Reusable Moon Rocket: First Stage Sea Landing Test

China Long March 10 Reusable Moon Rocket: First Stage Sea Landing Test

🚀🌑Watch drone footage of reusable Long March 10 Moon rocket first stage sea landing beside the Ling Hang Zhe recovery ship.

Another critical China Moon program milestone has been achieved. China has successfully completed the maximum dynamic pressure escape test of the Mengzhou crewed Moon spacecraft and a key low-altitude verification flight test of the new-generation reusable Long March 10 launch vehicle system. After liftoff at 11:00 a.m. Beijing time (03:00UTC) on February 11, 2026, China completed the in-flight abort test for the Mengzhou spacecraft. This critical safety demonstration is a major step forward for China's crewed lunar program.

Upon receiving the abort command, the spacecraft successfully executed separation and initiated its escape sequence. As planned, both the Long March 10 rocket's first stage and the spacecraft's return module achieved controlled and safe splashdowns within their designated maritime zones. The crew module and the first stage were then recovered.

In a future flight, the Long March 10's first stage recovery ship, Ling Hang Zhe, will perform a catch attempt. Meanwhile, the hooking arms of Long March 10 first stage deployed in this test before the splashdown as designed.

The Long March-10 rocket is a type of three-stage rocket with two boosters. It has a diameter of 5 meters and a maximum height of 92.5 meters. It is responsible for launching China's crewed lunar spacecraft and lunar lander Moon missions.

The Long March-10A is a type of two-stage reusable rocket with a diameter of 5 meters and a maximum height of 67 meters. Its first stage can be recycled and reused. It will support launches of the Mengzhou crewed spacecraft for lunar missions and of the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft for China's space station.

Video Credit: China National Space Administration (CNSA)

Duration: 42 seconds
Date: Feb. 11, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Moon #MengzhouSpacecraft #梦舟 #CrewSpacecraft #LongMarch10 #长征十号 #RocketFirstStage #ReusableRockets #CASC #中国航天科技集团有限公司 #HumanSpaceflight #LunarMissions #Taikonauts #Astronauts #CNSA #国家航天局 #SpaceTechnology #SpaceExploration #WSLC #Hainan #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Transforming Our Understanding of Star Formation | James Webb Space Telescope

Transforming Our Understanding of Star Formation | James Webb Space Telescope

How are stars born? 

We have long known the fundamentals—stars form from collapsing clouds of gas and dust—and decades of research have shown more of the mechanics. Now, with the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers are peering more deeply into star-forming regions than ever before to reveal the nuances of the processes.

Since its science operations began in 2022, Webb has “supercharged” discoveries about star formation with its high-resolution images and data. The telescope’s near-infrared observations can pierce through dust, uncovering the properties of actively forming stars far more clearly. Webb’s mid-infrared observations complement this by detecting a lot more of the dust itself, which helps researchers study the environments surrounding young stars.

In this video, learn about some of the most exciting discoveries Webb has made to date.

 

Video Credit: Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Duration: 4 minutes

Release Date: Feb. 11, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarFormation #Heliophysics #Astrophysics #Cosmos #Universe #JWST #NIRCam #MIRI #InfraredAstronomy #SpaceTelescopes #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #STEM #Education #HD #Video

China Recovers Mengzhou Crewed Moon Spacecraft after Launch Escape Test

China Recovers Mengzhou Crewed Moon Spacecraft after Launch Escape Test

🚀🌑Another critical China Moon program milestone has been achieved. China has successfully completed the maximum dynamic pressure escape test of the Mengzhou crewed Moon spacecraft and a key low-altitude verification flight test of the new-generation reusable Long March 10 launch vehicle system. After liftoff at 11:00 a.m. Beijing time (03:00UTC) on February 11, 2026, China completed the in-flight abort test for the Mengzhou spacecraft. This critical safety demonstration is a major step forward for China's crewed lunar program.

Upon receiving the abort command, the spacecraft successfully executed separation and initiated its escape sequence. As planned, both the Long March 10 rocket's first stage and the spacecraft's return module achieved controlled and safe splashdowns within their designated maritime zones. The crew module and the first stage were then recovered.

In a future flight, the Long March 10's first stage recovery ship, Ling Hang Zhe, will perform a catch attempt. Meanwhile, the hooking arms of Long March 10 first stage deployed in this test before the splashdown as designed.

The Long March-10 rocket is a type of three-stage rocket with two boosters. It has a diameter of 5 meters and a maximum height of 92.5 meters. It is responsible for launching China's crewed lunar spacecraft and lunar lander Moon missions.

The Long March-10A is a type of two-stage reusable rocket with a diameter of 5 meters and a maximum height of 67 meters. Its first stage can be recycled and reused. It will support launches of the Mengzhou crewed spacecraft for lunar missions and of the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft for China's space station.

Video Credit: China National Space Administration (CNSA)

Duration: 40 seconds
Date: Feb. 11, 2026

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #Moon #MengzhouSpacecraft #梦舟 #CrewSpacecraft #CrewModule #RocketAbortSystem #LongMarch10 #长征十号 #CASC #中国航天科技集团有限公司 #HumanSpaceflight #LunarMissions #Taikonauts #Astronauts #CNSA #国家航天局 #CMSA #国家航天局 #SpaceTechnology #SpaceExploration #WSLC #Hainan #STEM #Education #HD #Video

China Successfully Tests Mengzhou Crewed Moon Spacecraft Launch Escape System

China Successfully Tests Mengzhou Crewed Moon Spacecraft Launch Escape System

🚀Another critical China Moon program milestone has been achieved. China has successfully completed the maximum dynamic pressure escape test of the Mengzhou crewed Moon spacecraft and a key low-altitude verification flight test of the new-generation reusable Long March 10 launch vehicle system. After liftoff at 11:00 a.m. Beijing time (03:00UTC) on February 11, 2026, China completed the in-flight abort test for the Mengzhou spacecraft. This critical safety demonstration is a major step forward for China's crewed lunar program.

Upon receiving the abort command, the spacecraft successfully executed separation and initiated its escape sequence. As planned, both the Long March 10 rocket's first stage and the spacecraft's return module achieved controlled and safe splashdowns within their designated maritime zones. The crew module and the first stage were then recovered.

In a future flight, the Long March 10's first stage recovery ship, Ling Hang Zhe, will perform a catch attempt. Meanwhile, the hooking arms of Long March 10 first stage deployed in this test before the splashdown as designed.

The Long March-10 rocket is a type of three-stage rocket with two boosters. It has a diameter of 5 meters and a maximum height of 92.5 meters. It is responsible for launching China's crewed lunar spacecraft and lunar lander Moon missions.

The Long March-10A is a type of two-stage reusable rocket with a diameter of 5 meters and a maximum height of 67 meters. Its first stage can be recycled and reused. It will support launches of the Mengzhou crewed spacecraft for lunar missions and of the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft for China's space station.

Video Credit: China National Space Administration (CNSA)

Duration: 1 minute
Date: Feb. 11, 2026

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