OPERA: Addressing Societal Needs with Satellite Data
Introduction The Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA) project represents a strategic initiative designed to…
Sentinel-6B Extends Global Ocean Height Record
Introduction On November 16, 2025, the Sentinel-6B satellite launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California. The…
The Doomsday Glacier Is Getting Closer and Closer to Irreversible Collapse
Known as the “Doomsday Glacier,” the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is one of the most rapidly changing glaciers…
The Oceans Are Going to Rise—but When?
The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. In May 2014, NASA announced at a press…
NASA Sets Launch Coverage for International Ocean Tracking Mission
NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch and launch activities for Sentinel-6B, an international mission delivering critical sea…
Earth’s magnetic field flipped wildly 565 million years ago and life changed forever
Long before life thrived in Earth’s oceans, the planet’s magnetic field became disorganized. Deep within the ancient rocks…
Earth’s magnetic field is shifting — and satellites are feeling it
More than a decade of satellite monitoring has mapped Earth’s magnetic field as it subtly altered between 2014…
Six Ways Supercomputing Advances Our Understanding of the Universe
At NASA, high-end computing is essential for many agency missions. This technology helps us advance our understanding of…
Last night’s harvest moon made for stunning photos. When is the next supermoon?
If you noticed the Moon seemed a little bit bigger and brighter last night, you are not alone.…
How a planetary crash with Theia brought water and life to Earth
About 4.6 billion years ago, the Solar System formed from a cloud of dust and gas collapsing in…
Earth is getting darker and it’s changing the planet’s climate balance
For nearly twenty years, satellites have quietly gauged the flow of sunlight and heat through the Earth’s atmosphere.…
Scientists Crack the Billion-Year-Old Mystery of the Magnetic Field
A view of the Earth’s interior around 1 billion years ago: Tangled magnetic field lines inside the core…