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NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program nurtures visionary ideas from America's innovators and entrepreneurs that could transform future NASA missions with the creation of radically better or entirely new aerospace concepts. NIAC projects study innovative, technically credible, advanced concepts to turn science fiction to science fact.

Find out why July 2023 was a record-breaking month, a high-flying NASA aircraft is helping to study lighting, and making landings safe for flights of the future … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

The 29th SpaceX commercial resupply services (CRS) mission for NASA carries scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, including studies of enhanced optical communications and measurement of atmospheric waves. The uncrewed SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than Nov. 5.

Where do moons come from? From cataclysmic impacts to gravitational capture, NASA planetary scientist Joe Renaud walks us through some of the many theories of how the unique and captivating moons in our solar system came to be.

The Earth is seen rising from behind the shadowed surface of the Moon in this video taken on the sixth day of the Artemis I mission by a camera on the tip of one of Orion’s solar arrays. The spacecraft had just successfully executed the Outbound Powered Flyby maneuver which brought it within 80 miles of the lunar surface, the closest approach of the uncrewed Artemis I mission, before moving into a distant retrograde orbit around the Moon. The spacecraft entered the lunar sphere of influence Sunday, Nov. 20, making the Moon, instead of Earth, the main gravitational force acting on the spacecraft.

SpaceX's 26th commercial resupply mission (CRS-26) is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 18. The Dragon spacecraft carries dozens of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, including investigations to explore growing plants in space, creating nutrients on-demand, and in-space construction.

Our journey back to the Moon and onto Mars starts at home, and NASA’s Veterans are a big part of accomplishing that mission. Veterans currently make up 12% of the NASA workforce. Many of the most iconic figures at the agency—our astronauts—have a strong veteran tie. In fact, all NASA astronauts were military pilots until 1965. Of the 385 total NASA Astronauts, 223 are Veterans! Veterans continue to have a sweeping impact on NASA, in every corner of our workforce. Thanks to all the men and women who have served in our armed forces. Have a safe and happy Veterans Day.

Does anything orbit the Moon? Yes. There are a handful of satellites currently orbiting our closest celestial neighbor. On Nov. 13, 2022, they will welcome CAPSTONE, a CubeSat designed to test a new and unique halo-shaped orbit that will offer stability for long-term missions like our upcoming lunar Gateway space station. NASA Small Satellites Engineer Ahn Nguyen tells us about it.

Raw NASA camera footage, taken from the Space Launch System's (SLS) core stage, shows the SLS separation of the solid rocket boosters two minutes and 11 seconds after liftoff. At 1:47 am EST (6:47 UTC), NASA’s Orion spacecraft launched aboard the SLS rocket from historic Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on a path to the Moon, officially beginning the Artemis I mission. This mission is the first integrated test of NASA’s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, the SLS rocket, and Kennedy Space Center ground systems.

On Saturday, at 8:42 a.m EST (13:42 UTC) the Orion spacecraft will break the record for farthest distance traveled by a spacecraft designed to carry humans to deep space and safely return them to Earth. This distance is currently held by the Apollo 13 spacecraft. In this video, Apollo astronauts and flight directors give their insights into the Apollo program, the nation’s reaction then, and how the Artemis program will benefit the nation today. As we go back to the Moon, Artemis will prepare us to travel even deeper into space.

Check in with NASA astronauts Frank Rubio, Josh Cassada, Nicole Mann, and JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata to learn more about what the holiday means to them – and get a look at what Thanksgiving in space is like!

Experience the Artemis I launch from the engine ignition to Orion's separation on it's journey to the Moon.

Are there rivers and lakes on other worlds? You bet. Just like Earth, Saturn’s moon Titan is home to these fairly unique features, except these lakes and rivers aren’t filled with water.

On Dec. 7, 1972, NASA astronauts Harrison Schmitt, Eugene Cernan, and Ronald Evans lifted off on Apollo 17—the final mission of the Apollo program. Cernan and Schmitt landed on the Moon on Dec. 11, spending three days on the lunar surface before rejoining Evans in orbit and returning to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 19. Apollo 17 was the most recent mission to land humans on the Moon—and our next one isn't far away. As our Artemis missions prepare to return humans to the Moon and build a sustainable lunar presence, join us for a look back at Apollo 17.

In 2022, we launched our mega Moon rocket for the first time – sending the uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon, we kicked off a new era in astronomy with record-breaking new imagery from the Webb Space Telescope, we moved an asteroid in humanity’s first ever planetary defense demonstration and much more.

Throughout America's story, there are defining days. Days when minds change, hearts fill and imagination soar. NASA’s mission is to explore the unknown in air and space, innovate for the benefit of humanity, and inspire the world through discovery.

Where did our Moon come from? Over the years, there have been several theories, but most scientists think it’s likely that a Mars-sized object smashed into Earth, creating what we now see in the sky.

Are wildfires getting worse? Unfortunately, yes. Changes in our climate, along with other factors, have led to wildfires increasing in intensity, severity, size and duration. NASA climate and wildfire expert Liz Hoy explains how and why NASA studies these events from the ground, air, and space to better understand the impacts they have on both a local and global scale.

What happens to old satellites? Currently, they either burn up safely upon reentry into the atmosphere or they remain in space. But NASA is working on new technology that could make spaceflight more sustainable by refueling or upgrading satellites in space, greatly expanding their lifespans.

Is there life on Mars? No, we have never discovered life on the Red Planet, but we have found lots of evidence that suggests Mars could have once supported life in its ancient past. There’s even a chance that Mars could be habitable beneath its surface.

The Orion spacecraft is back in Florida after Artemis I, a direct deposit on Mars, and an insightful mission comes to an end.

Honoring our fallen heroes, working on a nuclear option for space travel, and the next crewed mission to the space station

In 2022, we made history. In 2023, we are preparing for our future by exploring the secrets of the universe. All for the benefit of humanity.

The Purposeful Passengers consist of one manikin and two phantoms that flew aboard the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis I mission in order to collect important data that will prepare astronauts for future Artemis missions. The manikin was used to study vibrations and accelerations during the flight and was named Commander Moonikin Campos after NASA held a public naming contest in June 2021. The name "Campos" is a dedication to Arturo Campos, a Mexican-American electrical engineer who worked for NASA’s Johnson Space Center and contributed to the rescue of the Apollo 13 mission and crew.

Why is Venus called Earth’s evil twin? The two planets actually have a lot in common, but somewhere along the way Venus and Earth took two very different paths. NASA Director of Planetary Science, Dr. Lori Glaze, explains how Venus became a hot, hellish, and unforgiving place.