Supporting Artemis II From JPL’s Space Flight Operations FacilityDescription The Artemis II mission patch appears in the center screen of the Space Flight Operations Facility at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California on April 1, 2026, shortly before the mission launched to the Moon. A graphical representation of the antennas of the agency’s Deep Space Network (DSN), left, indicates which antennas are […]
Snow in the Shadow of the AndesAn early autumn storm left higher elevations in southern Argentina with a fresh and fleeting coat of white.
Twin NASA Control Rooms Support Artemis Safety, SuccessTwin control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, are actively supporting real-time mission operations in lunar orbit as part of the agency’s Artemis II mission, helping ensure astronaut safety and mission success as the crew prepares to return to Earth Friday, April 10. The LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA […]
Solar Eclipse of the HeartThe Moon, seen here backlit by the Sun during a solar eclipse on April 6, 2026, is photographed by one of the cameras on the Orion spacecraft’s solar array wings. During lunar flyby, the Artemis II astronauts observed a solar eclipse that only they could see due to their unique position. See more photos from […]
A Volcanic Medley Near Mammoth Lakes A massive, old caldera and more recently formed craters shape the landscape in the eastern Sierra Nevada.
Celestial Wonders in LeoLeo is a prominent sight for stargazers in April. Its famous sickle, punctuated by the bright star Regulus, draws many a beginning stargazer’s eyes, inviting deeper looks into some of Leo’s celestial delights, including a great double star and a famous galactic trio. Leo’s distinctive forward sickle, or “reverse question mark,” is easy to spot […]
NASA’s Artemis II Crew Beams Official Moon Flyby Photos to EarthEditor’s note: Some photo captions were updated on April 8, 2026, to reflect ongoing scientific observations and discussion about the images. The first flyby images of the Moon captured by NASA’s Artemis II astronauts during their historic test flight reveal some regions no human has seen, including a rare in-space solar eclipse. Released Tuesday, astronauts […]
EarthsetThe Artemis II crew captured this view of Earth setting on April 6, 2026, as they flew around the Moon. As the astronauts flew over the Moon’s far side, the crew photographed and described terrain features including impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface cracks and ridges formed as the Moon slowly evolved over time. […]
Experience the Rollout of SLS Hardware for Artemis IIIDigital creators and social media users are invited to register to attend the rollout of the third SLS (Space Launch System) core stage as it is prepped to head from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Are you passionate about social media and communications? Do you love to create content for an […]
NASA to Host Media Call with Artemis II Crew on Way Home from MoonEditor’s note: This advisory was updated Wednesday, April 8, 2026, to reflect a time change in the event. Media will have an opportunity at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 8, to speak with NASA’s Artemis II crew members as they continue their journey toward Earth during their historic mission around the Moon. The 20-minute […]