![Images of the trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) Pluto [left] and Arrokoth [right], the primary flyby targets of NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft in 2015 and 2019.](https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/missions/webb/outreach/sidebyside.png?w=872&h=456&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint)
Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) are icy bodies ranging in size from Pluto and Eris (dwarf planets with diameters of about 1,500 miles) down to tens of miles (Arrokoth) and even smaller. TNOs are on orbits comparable in size, or even much larger than, that of Neptune. The existence of TNOs was postulated by Kenneth Edgeworth, and …
On Feb. 6, NASA’s NEO Surveyor (Near-Earth Object Surveyor) passed its critical design review, or CDR, at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the project is managed. Capping three days of presentations, a NASA Standing Review Board determined that the mission meets all technical performance measures and requirements. The project will now …
While still an extremely low possibility, additional observations and analysis of asteroid 2024 YR4 indicate that its impact probability with Earth has increased to a 2.3% chance on Dec. 22, 2032. Ongoing observations from ground-based telescopes involved with the International Asteroid Warning Network will continue while the asteroid is still visible through April, after which …
Following a data outage in November 2024, some data from NASA’s SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory) and full data from NASA’s IRIS (Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph) has been successfully restored. This marks a significant step in resuming the flow of critical solar observations informing scientists and the space weather community. Repairs are ongoing at the Joint …
On Jan. 27, the three spacecraft of NASA’s EZIE (Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer) mission arrived at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, where they will undergo final preparations for launch.
NASA analysis of a near-Earth asteroid, designated 2024 YR4, indicates it has a more than 1% chance of impacting Earth on Dec. 22, 2032 – which also means there is about a 99% chance this asteroid will not impact. Such initial analysis will change over time as more observations are gathered. Currently, no other …
NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security – Apophis Explorer) spacecraft kept its cool again this past fall after passing within 46.5 million miles of the Sun, between the orbits of Mercury and Venus, and surpassing its designed heat tolerances. On Jan. 23 the mission team completed its review of all the data …
A major element of NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor is undergoing testing at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Called the instrument enclosure, the angular structure measures 12 feet (3.7 meters) long and is designed to protect the spacecraft’s infrared telescope while also removing heat from it during operations in space. After being built …
The four small satellites of NASA’s PUNCH mission arrived Saturday, Jan. 18, at Astrotech Space Operations located at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for final processing before launch.
With the installation of a charged particle detector on Dec. 3, 2024, all 10 of NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) science instruments have been fully integrated on the spacecraft.