NASA has plans to return to the Moon in a few years time through the Artemis space program, in the hopes of sending the next man and the first woman on the lunar surface. The agency has revealed that it will be unveiling some good news related to the Moon next week.
NASA is set to announce its newest Moon-related discovery next week, October 26. The announcement follows observations made by its SOFIA telescope and the agency revealed that it is related to future missions under the Artemis program. The moon mission in 2024 is part of a larger goal to send the first humans to Mars. The discovery will be unveiled by scientists such as director of Astrophysics Paul Herts and SOFIA project scientist Naseem Rangwala.
Aside from the much-awaited Artemis mission, the SOFIA mission is currently under scrutiny due to its $85 million annual budget. The Trump administration had suggested cutting the funding despite Germany contributing around 20 percent to its annual budget. The Artemis program, on the other hand, will involve a lot of new technology including new spacesuits for the astronauts that will be going on the mission.
NASA also has plans to build another space laboratory called Gateway, which will orbit the Moon and serve as a base for astronauts above the lunar surface. Gateway will also act as a port for future missions to other planets, like Mars. SpaceX has already been chosen by NASA to be in charge of transporting cargo containing supplies to Gateway once it is fully operational. Gateway is an international collaboration between NASA and the respective space agencies in Europe, Canada, and Japan. Russia’s Rocosmos has also expressed interest in co-operating.
Meanwhile, one of the biggest natural disasters that have happened this year was the wildfires in the state of California. NASA released satellite images of the damage the wildfires have done to the state, revealing that there is hardly any vegetation left. With data from the Landsat 8 satellite, the agency created a map that shows how far the fires have gotten, and NASA was revealed to have waited until September 26 to get a clearer image of the California landscape due to the amount of smoke that covered the skies.


Tabletop particle accelerator could transform medicine and materials science
Astronomers have discovered another puzzling interstellar object − this third one is big, bright and fast
Lost in space: MethaneSat failed just as NZ was to take over mission control – here’s what we need to know now
NASA Astronauts Wilmore and Williams Recover After Boeing Starliner Delay
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Achieves Breakthrough Success With First NASA Mission
Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman
FDA Lifts REMS Requirement for CAR-T Cell Cancer Therapies
Ancient Mars may have had a carbon cycle − a new study suggests the red planet may have once been warmer, wetter and more favorable for life
Neuralink Expands Brain Implant Trials with 12 Global Patients
SpaceX Starship Explodes in Texas During Test, Citing Nitrogen Tank Failure
Trump and Merck KGaA Partner to Slash IVF Drug Costs and Expand Fertility Coverage
Trump Administration to Launch Autism Initiatives Targeting Acetaminophen Use and New Treatment Options 



