NASA Archives

In a cleanroom at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, on April 3, 2026, (from left) Sean Gazarik, Tyler Radomsky, Amber Dubill and Emory Toomey complete a “fit check” of Dragonfly’s top deck on the rest of the rotorcraft lander’s body. NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Origin & Evolution of Life, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Saturn, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Astrobiology Exploration: Dragonfly Rotorcraft Hardware Integration and Parachute Test

by Keith CowingApril 24, 2026April 24, 2026

NASA’s Dragonfly rotorcraft is beginning to take shape – literally – with the delivery of the panels that make up the rotorcraft lander’s body. Built from ultra‑lightweight honeycomb panels designed […]

NASA ID: iss074e0490661 iss074e0490661 (April 16, 2026) Credit: ESA/Sophie Adenot https://images.nasa.gov/details/iss074e0490661

People Of Astrobiology, Space Life Science, Space Stations, Status Report

Offworld Life Science: Research Hardware For A Biotechnology Investigation

by Keith CowingApril 22, 2026April 22, 2026

NASA astronaut and Expedition 74 flight engineer Jessica Meir configures research hardware inside a portable glovebag for a biotechnology investigation exploring how bacteria affect heart tissue in the microgravity environment.

This is an annotated close-up of three holes NASA’s Curiosity drilled into Martian rock at a location nicknamed “Mary Anning” in October 2020. The sample where the rover found a diverse number of organic molecules came from “Mary Anning 3.” (A nearby spot nicknamed “Mary Anning 2” went unused.) NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Tricorders & Sensors

NASA’s Curiosity Finds Organic Molecules Never Seen Before on Mars

by Keith CowingApril 21, 2026April 21, 2026

After years of lab work, the results are in: A rock that NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover drilled and analyzed in 2020 includes the most diverse collection of organic molecules ever […]

Microgravity, Space Life Science, Space Stations, SPACELINE Current Awareness List, Status Report

NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,196 17 April 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)

by Keith CowingApril 21, 2026April 21, 2026

The abstract in PubMed or at the publisher’s site is linked when available and will open in a new window.

ID: ESP_076844_2550 date: 18 December 2022 altitude: 316 km -- NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona Larger image

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Desert Worlds, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Status Report

Translucent Ice On Martian Dunes

by Keith CowingApril 21, 2026April 21, 2026

Coordinating with the CaSSIS instrument on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, we acquired an image at this site for seasonal monitoring.

NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image, showing the polygonal sulfate unit currently being investigated by the rover after leaving the boxwork terrain. Curiosity captured the image using its Left Navigation Camera on March 27, 2026 — Sol 4848, or Martian day 4,848 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission — at 10:43:16 UTC. NASA/JPL-Caltech

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report

Mars Curiosity Blog Sols 4845-4851: Bye-Bye Boxwork, Bye-Bye

by Keith CowingApril 20, 2026April 20, 2026

Earth planning date: Friday, March 27, 2026

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report

Mars Curiosity Blog, Sols 4852–4858: When Data Take Their Time…

by Keith CowingApril 16, 2026April 16, 2026

Earth planning date: Friday, April 3, 2026 Written by Susanne P. Schwenzer, Professor of Planetary Mineralogy at The Open University, UK

A three-color image of the CygX region constructed from SPHEREx mosaics. In this image, blue is 1.13–1.19 μm, green is 2.9–3.20 μm (containing the H2O ice absorption feature), and red is 4.75–5.1 μm. Continuum emission from warm dust extends across the image, as evidenced by the extended orange clouds. Dark lanes are seen where the dust and H2O ice absorption are the strongest. Red sources appear in these dark lanes where there are background sources or embedded young stars shining through the dust. Blue stars are seen in regions with lower extinction or are foreground objects. -- The Astrophysical Journal

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release

Astrochemistry Update: SPHEREx Maps Vast Galactic Ice Regions

by Keith CowingApril 15, 2026April 15, 2026

NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) mission has mapped interstellar ice at an unprecedented scale.

ISS National Lab-Sponsored Investigation Aims to Expand Genes in Space™ Toolkit on Station A view of the miniPCR machine in the cupola on the International Space Station — NASA (larger image) — NASA

Microgravity, Space Life Science, Space Stations, SPACELINE Current Awareness List, Status Report

NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,195 10 April 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)

by Keith CowingApril 14, 2026April 14, 2026

The abstract in PubMed or at the publisher’s site is linked when available and will open in a new window. Papers deriving from NASA support: Other papers of interest: Astrobiology, […]

This image was acquired on April 3, 2026 (Sol 1820) at the local mean solar time of 11:29:28. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report

Astrobiology Droid Perseverance At Work On Mars

by Keith CowingApril 12, 2026April 12, 2026

This photo was selected by public vote and featured as “Image of the Week” for Week 268 (March 29 – April 4, 2026) of the Perseverance rover mission on Mars.

NASA

Astrobiology Exploration: Dragonfly Rotorcraft Hardware Integration and Parachute Test

Offworld Life Science: Research Hardware For A Biotechnology Investigation

NASA’s Curiosity Finds Organic Molecules Never Seen Before on Mars

NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,196 17 April 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)

Translucent Ice On Martian Dunes

Mars Curiosity Blog Sols 4845-4851: Bye-Bye Boxwork, Bye-Bye

Mars Curiosity Blog, Sols 4852–4858: When Data Take Their Time…

Astrochemistry Update: SPHEREx Maps Vast Galactic Ice Regions

NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,195 10 April 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)

Astrobiology Droid Perseverance At Work On Mars

Relevance of the Avalon Assemblage as an Astrobiological Analog for Icy Ocean Worlds

The Climate and Potential Habitability of a Warm and Oxygenated Mars

Variable X-ray flux May Explain Variable Helium Escape From The Habitable-zone Exoplanet LHS 1140b

Spacetime Contactability in Galactic Civilization Networks: Contact Counts and Percolation

Surprisingly Enriched CO and CH4 in Halley-type Comet 13P/Olbers: Clues to Its Interstellar Heritage