Curiosity Blog, Sols 4580-4581: Something in the Air…
Original Publication Date: 2025-06-26 16:30
Curiosity was back at work on Monday, with a full slate of activities planned. While summer has officially arrived for much of Curiosity’s team back on Earth, Mars’ eldest active rover is trending toward warmer temperatures itself. Warmer temperatures mean less component heating is required and therefore more power is freed up for science and driving.
Hubble Captures an Active Galactic Center
Original Publication Date: 2025-06-27 09:17
The image shows the spiral galaxy UGC 11397, which resides in the constellation Lyra (The Lyre) At its center, a supermassive black hole containing 174 million times the mass of our Sun grows. As a black hole ensnares gas, dust, and even entire stars from its vicinity, this doomed matter heats up and puts on a fantastic cosmic light show.
NASA Announces Winners of 2025 Human Lander Challenge
Original Publication Date: 2025-06-27 15:22
NASA awarded $18,000 in prize money to three university teams for their solutions for long-duration cryogenic, or super chilled, liquid storage and transfer systems for spaceflight. Students and advisors with the 12 finalist teams for the 2025 Human Lander Challenge competed in Huntsville, Alabama, near the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
Northrop Grumman tests SLS Block 2 BOLE booster in Utah; nozzle issue seen
Original Publication Date: 2025-06-26 13:40
Northrop Grumman conducted the first test firing of its Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) five-segment solid rocket motor. The BOLE motor is intended for use on the Block 2 version of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The booster generated over 4 million pounds of thrust upon ignition and burned for approximately two minutes and 20 seconds.