science

NASA has announced support for dozens of new research and technology projects aimed at advancing space exploration, with several initiatives linked to institutions and teams in the Northwestern United States. The funding spans a wide range of space frontier priorities, including propulsion systems, lunar and planetary research, advanced materials, and technologies designed to support long-duration human missions beyond Earth orbit. Officials said the selected projects are part of a broader effort to strengthen innovation pipelines between government, academia, and private industry as space exploration becomes increasingly collaborative. Universities and research centers in the Northwest are among those receiving backing for work focused on next-generation spacecraft systems, improved s...

In a significant return to orbital operations, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams are successfully conducting a high-stakes spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) today, March 18, 2026. This extravehicular activity (EVA) marks a triumphant resumption of maintenance tasks that were abruptly halted in January due to the first medical evacuation in the station's 25-year history. The mission was originally scheduled for early January but was postponed after NASA astronaut Mike Fincke experienced a medical event that required "advanced medical imaging" unavailable in orbit. This led to the expedited return of the four-member Crew-11 mission to Earth on January 15, leaving the station under a temporary "skeleton crew" until replacements could be launched. Following...