NASA Science

NASA Science seeks to discover the secrets of the universe, search for life elsewhere, and protect and improve life on Earth and in space.

June is national ocean month

The Ocean and Climate Change

Monitor earth and Space weatheR

GOES-U Launch

you can get involved

Citizen Science
The image depicts a visualization of ocean currents on Earth, particularly focusing on the Atlantic Ocean. The intricate, swirling patterns represent the movement of water, showcasing the dynamic flow of currents. The landmasses, including parts of North America, Greenland, and Europe, are shown in a brownish hue, contrasting with the blue of the ocean. The currents are illustrated with white, wavy lines, emphasizing their direction and motion, creating a mesmerizing, almost artistic depiction of the perpetual movement of the ocean.

NASA Science is Delivering

NASA Science is delivering: every second of every day, of every week, of every year. 2024 is proving to be yet another year of exceptional scientific discovery and achievement. From soft landing back on the Moon a few months ago, to celebrating the Heliophysics Big Year and a Total Solar Eclipse in the contiguous United States, to receiving stunning imagery from James Webb, NASA Science is as busy as ever. Recently launched earth science missions are also providing us unprecedented views of our planet and incredible insight into the health of our oceans and atmosphere, and helping decision-makers improve lives on Earth and safeguard our future. And we are charting a new, sustainable path for Mars Sample Return.
 
Looking ahead, we have many exciting launches on the horizon. At NASA, we are fortunate that our science and exploration endeavors are inextricably linked and help us discover and innovate for the benefit of humanity. Together, we explore to advance scientific understanding. Ultimately, exploration enables science, and science enables exploration.
 
The NASA Science team is continuing to deliver for the benefit of all.

Read Nicky Notes
Dr. Nicky fox casually chats with undergraduate students over coffee in a laboratory at the University of Delaware. Students take notes in front of a whiteboard while seated around Dr. Fox.
Dr. Nicola (Nicky) Fox, the Associate Administrator (AA) for the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) for NASA, visited the University of Delaware to discuss the scientific missions being undertaken by the SMD and to visit with various groups on campus. Pictured: Dr. Fox visiting with Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy Ben Maruca and students in the Delaware Space Observation Center (DSpOC).

Featured Missions

Our mission milestones showcase the breadth and depth of NASA science.

Artist concept of the GOES-U satellite in orbit around the earth

GOES-U

Launch is targeted for June 25, 2024. GOES-U will provide advanced detection and monitoring of environmental phenomena that directly affect public safety, protection of property, and the nation’s economic health.

artist's concept of Europa Clipper

Europa Clipper

Launching in October 2024, Europa Clipper’s main science goal is to determine whether there are places below the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, that could support life.

Illustration of NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) on the surface of the Moon

VIPER

VIPER launches late 2024 and will be NASA's first robotic Moon rover to measure the location and concentration of water ice and other resources. These resources could eventually be harvested to sustain human exploration on the Moon, Mars — and beyond!

Featured Story

First of Its Kind Detection Made in Striking New Webb Image

Alignment of bipolar jets confirms star formation theories For the first time, a phenomenon astronomers have long hoped to directly…

Read the Story
A rectangular image with black vertical rectangles at the bottle left and top right to indicate missing data. A young star-forming region is filled with wispy orange, red, and blue layers of gas and dust. The upper left corner of the image is filled with mostly orange dust, and within that orange dust, there are several small red plumes of gas that extend from the top left to the bottom right, at the same angle. The center of the image is filled with mostly blue gas. At the center, there is one particularly bright star, that has an hourglass shadow above and below it. To the right of that is what looks a vertical eye-shaped crevice with a bright star at the center. The gas to the right of the crevice is a darker orange. Small points of light are sprinkled across the field, brightest sources in the field have extensive eight-pointed diffraction spikes that are characteristic of the Webb Telescope.

The Sun and Heliophysics

NASA studies the star at the center of our solar system and its influence on space, Earth, and our solar system. This research helps us to not only understand how the universe works, but also protect our technology and astronauts in space.

Learn More about our Sun and Heliophysics
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What's out there?

An aqua-colorized satellite image of the sun with solar flares

Exploring the Sun's structure, behavior, and the effects of its radiant energy on the solar system and Earth.

Learning how protective magnetic fields surrounding planets shield them from solar wind and cosmic radiation.

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Studying the regions where Earth's atmosphere transitions into the ionized plasma of space.

Understanding how the invisible bubble surrounding our solar system is protecting life here on Earth.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This composite image, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelength of both 131 and 304 angstroms. Cropped.

Researching how environmental conditions in space can impact satellites, communications, and power grids on Earth.

A total solar eclipse is seen on Monday, August 21, 2017 above Madras, Oregon. A total solar eclipse swept across a narrow portion of the contiguous United States from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. A partial solar eclipse was visible across the entire North American continent along with parts of South America, Africa, and Europe. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Celebrating solar science and the Sun's influence on Earth and the solar system.