| In this week’s newsletter, explore how NASA is laying the groundwork for the first United States Space Academy; get an update on NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman as they transition to emeritus status; and discover how scientists are using the combined power of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope to study some of the most distant objects in our solar system. Plus, more stories you might have missed. |
| ABOUT NASA Creating the US Space Academy |
 |
| NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman chaired the first Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy meeting on Sept. 9. Isaacman and Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson welcomed key commission members from multiple agencies and organizations to NASA Headquarters in Washington for a collaborative Commission discussion. Participants included U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett, Secretary of the United States Air Force Troy Meink, and U.S. Chief Technology Officer Ethan Klein, representing Director of Office and Technology Policy Michael Kratsios, along with representatives from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, and the White House. During the meeting, commission members began working through the structure and priorities of the proposed U.S. Space Academy, including its governance, curriculum, service commitments, partnerships, and implementation. LEARN MORE |
 | ARTEMIS Peaceful Purposes The science derived from every Moon rock sample, lunar dataset, and discovery produced through NASA’s Artemis program will be shared with the global scientific community. This commitment is upheld by all 71 countries that have signed the Artemis Accords, a set of principles designed to ensure safe and transparent civil space exploration. NASA put those principles into action by hosting a two-part virtual workshop series, held from July 28 to Sept. 8, focused on one key tenet of the Artemis Accords: the timely release of scientific data to the public and the international scientific community. ARTEMIS AND OPEN SCIENCE |
| HUMANS IN SPACE Artemis II Astronauts Join Emeritus Program Following the landmark Artemis II mission earlier this year, NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman are transitioning to emeritus status. In this role, both astronauts will continue contributing to NASA by volunteering their time to train and mentor the current workforce. This approach allows NASA to retain access to top-tier expertise in a specialized consulting capacity, while also giving Glover and Wiseman the flexibility to pursue new opportunities. LEARN MORE |  |
 THE UNIVERSE Mysterious X-Ray Objects Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, scientists have identified a new class of objects that behave unlike anything observed before. These mysterious sources emit extremely low-energy X-rays while producing unusually strong ultraviolet radiation. By analyzing publicly available data in the Chandra archive, researchers uncovered 84 of these “hypersoft X-ray sources” across six galaxies. Their discovery suggests that a large, previously overlooked population of binary systems may be emitting powerful ultraviolet radiation that has gone undetected until now. LEARN MORE |  EARTH Predicting Hurricane Strength Last November, NASA and European partners launched the Sentinel-6B satellite to improve hurricane forecasts, safeguard infrastructure, and support industries like shipping. Flying 30 seconds behind Sentinel‑6 Michael Freilich, the pair now delivers precise sea‑level measurements during what could be a historic El Niño. LEARN MORE |
| More NASA News |
 | For the first time, scientists used the combined power of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope to study some of the most distant bodies in our solar system — trans-Neptunian objects. |
 | NASA interns contribute to every program at the agency and play a vital role in our mission to explore the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all. The interns of today are the Artemis Generation leaders of tomorrow. Do you have what it takes? Spring internship applications close on Monday, Sept. 14. |
 | Through a new collaboration with the National Football League (NFL), NASA is bringing the thrill of space exploration to the gridiron. This fall, fans across the country will experience the agency’s aeronautics innovation and mission excitement through special flyovers, astronaut appearances, and interactive experiences at NFL games. |
| Do You Know? |
 |
| This week, NASA marked the tenth anniversary of the launch of its OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security–Regolith Explorer) spacecraft. From 2018 to 2021, the spacecraft explored an asteroid named Bennu and took a sample of rocks and dust from its surface. In September 2023, this mission culminated in the successful delivery of the sample to Earth. |
| What was the asteroid Bennu named after? A. A Star Wars outpost in the Outer Rim B. A Norse fire spirit C. The son of the astronomer who found the asteroid D. An ancient Egyptian mythological bird |
| Find out the answer in next week’s NASA newsletter! |
 | Last week, we asked which spacecraft has operated the longest on another planet or moon in our solar system. The answer? Opportunity. NASA’s Opportunity rover landed on Mars in Jan. 2004 for a planned 90-day mission but went on to explore the Red Planet for nearly 15 years, traveling more than 28 miles across its surface. Today, the agency’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers continue that exploration, searching for evidence of past Martian life and helping pave the way for future human missions to Mars. |
 |
| Step into the newly reimagined exhibit space at NASA Headquarters in Washington, where space exploration comes to life. Wander through immersive exhibits, get an up‑close look at Apollo and Artemis artifacts, and join in‑person events at the James Webb Auditorium. Then, unwind with a coffee or tea — and maybe a NASA‑themed donut — from the pop‑up café before browsing space‑inspired gifts at the NASA Employee Exchange Store. Whether you’re captivated by today’s cutting‑edge missions or inspired by the history of America’s space program, NASA Headquarters offers a welcoming gateway to explore, learn, and experience NASA up close. |
| Upcoming In Person Events |
 WED, SEPT. 16 3:30 p.m. EDT Revolutionizing Medicine – In Space Dr. Lisa Carnell, director of NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division, will discuss how studying human cells in deep space can advance healthcare on Earth, the Moon, and beyond. REGISTER |  FRI, SEPT. 25 11 a.m. EDT From Drone Deliveries to Wildfire Tracking Parimal Kopardekar, acting director of NASA’s Airspace Operations and Safety Program, will discuss how NASA is defining the future of our skies with drone delivery; aircraft that can identify, monitor, and suppress wildfires; and automations that support faster, safer air travel. REGISTER |  MON, SEPT. 28 11 a.m. EDTFlight on Other Worlds Explore how flying robots are reshaping planetary exploration in this talk with NASA experts. Learn about Ingenuity, the first helicopter to fly on Mars; meet the new SkyFall trio designed to map subsurface ice and scout the terrain; and look ahead to Dragonfly, a rotorcraft headed to Saturn’s moon Titan to study the chemical building blocks that may have preceded life. REGISTER |
NOTE: This is a NASA publication. Used with permission and formatted to fit this web page.