The United States space agency has pioneered planetary science technologies as the world's leader in climate research for more than 40 years, but that may be about to change.

NASA's Artemis II mission, set to send four astronauts on a nearly 10-day mission around the moon and back, will advance the agency's goal to land astronauts at the moon's south polar region and will help set the stage for future crewed Mars missions.

Though the days are fast ticking by, that success is far from assured. DART is the first-ever test of what NASA calls a kinetic impactor—a projectile intent on transferring its momentum to an asteroid in an elegant suicidal smash. In other words, the team plans to ram a speeding spacecraft into an asteroid to knock it off its path.

An unpublished NASA memo reportedly warns of a change in how the space agency awards contracts to build private space stations. NASA appears to be leaning into the public-private partnership model, shifting more costs to space companies.

In a bold, strategic move for the U.S., acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced plans on August 5 to build a nuclear fission reactor for deployment on the lunar surface in 2030. Doing so would allow the United States to gain a foothold on the moon by the time China plans to land the first taikonaut,

As Hurricane Erin swirls around Florida, NASA is asking the public to submit their hurricane-related photos to help improve disaster response.

In their report, Lal and Myers estimate it would cost about $800 million annually for five years to build and deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon. Even if DoE support can prevent NASA's staffing cuts from kneecapping the project, its feasibility will hinge on if the Trump administration ponies up the cash to execute on its own bold claims.

NASA currently operates two rovers on Mars. The 'egg-shaped' rock has been spotted by the Curiosity rover. It could hold records of water flow on Mars.