Press Releases & Feature Stories Archive - Ionospheric, Thermospheric, Mesospheric (ITM) Physics Laboratory

Spritacular: NASA’s New Citizen Science Project to Capture Elusive Upper Atmospheric Electrical Phenomena on Camera

10.27.2022

NASA’s newest citizen science project, Spritacular (pronounced sprite-tacular), leverages the power of crowdsourcing to advance the study of sprites and other Transient Luminous Events, or TLEs. TLEs include a range of electrical phenomena that occur above thunderstorms and produce brief flashes of light.

Edward Stone Retires After 50 Years as NASA Voyager’s Project Scientist

10.27.2022

Edward Stone has retired as the project scientist for NASA’s Voyager mission a half-century after taking on the role. Stone accepted scientific leadership of the historic mission in 1972, five years before the launch of its two spacecraft, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.

NASA’s Economic Benefit Reaches All 50 States

10.27.2022

NASA released the results of its second agencywide economic impact report on Thursday, demonstrating how its Moon to Mars activities, investments in climate change research and technology, as well as other work generated more than $71.2 billion in total economic output during fiscal year 2021.

NASA Selects Investigation Teams to Join Geospace Dynamics Mission

04.26.2022

NASA has selected three investigation teams to join the agency’s Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) mission science team in studying Earth’s upper atmosphere, as well as five additional investigations that will be under consideration for inclusion in the mission.

Join NASA's Earth Day Event

04.22.2022

Join us in person or virtually. Registration is open for virtual events.

NASA Invites Media to 59th Annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium

03.16.2022

Media are invited to meet leaders in space exploration at the 59th annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium, taking place on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park, from March 23 to 25. Attendees also have the option to watch the symposium online.

One Year into the Biden Administration, NASA Looks to Future

01.19.2022

Over the past year, NASA has made valuable contributions to Biden-Harris Administration’s goals – leading on the global stage, addressing the urgent issue of climate change, creating high paying jobs, and inspiring future generations.

NASA Scientists Named AGU 2021 Union Honorees

12.13.2021

Several individuals with NASA affiliations have been named 2021 Union honorees or fellows by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and will receive honors bestowed by AGU for their excellence in scientific research, education, communication, and outreach.

NASA to Highlight New Science Findings, Missions During AGU Meeting

12.06.2021

NASA researchers and colleagues from around the world will present the latest findings on a range of Earth and space science topics at the annual American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting, being held virtually and in New Orleans from Monday, Dec.13, through Friday, Dec. 17.

Vice President Harris to Visit NASA Goddard Today, Deliver Live Remarks

11.05.2021

Vice President Kamala Harris will visit NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland today, Nov. 5, to get a firsthand look at the agency’s work to combat the climate crisis and protect vulnerable communities.

NASA Partnership Supports the Next Generation of Space and Science Professionals

11.03.2021

NASA's participation in the Mentoring365 program will provide connectivity and access to the next generation of space and science professionals.

Artificial Intelligence Helps Improve NASA’s Eyes on the Sun

07.23.2021

A group of researchers is using artificial intelligence techniques to calibrate some of NASA’s images of the Sun, helping improve the data that scientists use for solar research.

NASA Rocket, Satellite Tag-Team to View the Giant Electric Current in the Sky

07.02.2021

Some 50 miles up, where Earth’s atmosphere blends into space, the air itself hums with an electric current. Scientists call it the atmospheric dynamo, an Earth-sized electric generator. It’s taken hundreds of years for scientists to lay the groundwork to understand it, but the principles that keep it running are just now being revealed in detail.

Lab Experiments Shed New Light on NASA Satellite Observations

06.07.2021

New research confirms how particles from space can be sent careening down into Earth???s atmosphere to create the aurora, filling in a missing piece in how this stunning natural phenomenon is generated.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe Sees Venus Orbital Dust Ring in 1st Complete View

04.16.2021

NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission has given scientists the first complete look at Venus' orbital dust ring, a collection of microscopic dust particles that circulates around the Sun along Venus' orbit.

NASA Discoveries, R&D, Moon to Mars Exploration Plans Persevere in 2020

12.21.2020

"NASA has impressed the nation with our resilience and persistence during the pandemic," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

Aurora-Chasing Citizen Scientists Help Discover A New Feature of STEVE

11.13.2020

A new finding about the formation of streaks within the aurora-like STEVE phenomenon brings scientists one step closer to solving the mystery.

NASA’s AIM Spots First Arctic Noctilucent Clouds of the Season

05.28.2020

Ice-blue clouds are drifting high above the Arctic, which means the Northern Hemisphere’s noctilucent cloud season is here. NASA’s AIM spacecraft first spotted wisps of these noctilucent, or night-shining, clouds over the Arctic on May 17.

New NASA Podcast Helps Listeners Explore Our ‘Curious Universe’

04.06.2020

NASA’s newest podcast is taking listeners on an adventure to explore the wonders of Earth and help unravel the mysteries of the universe.

NASA Science Keeps the Lights On

04.02.2020

Across NASA’s many missions, thousands of scientists, engineers, and other experts and professionals all over the country are doing what they do best, but now from home offices and via video conferencing. With most personnel supporting missions remotely to keep onsite staff at a minimal level in response to COVID-19, the Agency is moving ahead strongly with everything from space exploration to using our technology and innovation to help inform policy makers.

Statement on NASA Goddard’s Coronavirus Prep Actions

03.13.2020

Goddard has canceled all non-mission-essential visits to its facilities. Goddard also is closing its Visitor Centers at Greenbelt and at Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.

NASA Highlights Solar Mission, Jupiter Cyclone at AGU Meeting

12.05.2019

NASA researchers will present new findings on a wide range of Earth and space science topics at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), Dec. 9-13 in San Francisco.

NASA Spacecraft Launches on Mission to Explore Frontier of Space

10.11.2019

After successfully launching Thursday night, NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) spacecraft is in orbit for a first-of-its-kind mission to study a region of space where changes can disrupt communications and satellite orbits, and even increase radiation risks to astronauts.