Feb 20, 2024 · CARVE (Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment) CATS (Cloud-Aerosol Transport System) CeREs (Compact Radiation Belt Explorer) CGRO (Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory) CHAMP (Challenging Mini-satellite Payload) Chandra X-ray Observatory. Chandrayaan-1 / Moon Impact Probe. Chandrayaan-2. Chandrayaan-3. e-Books. Read and download free NASA e-books on aircraft and aeronautics, astronomy and planetary exploration, Earth science, and the agency’s history.As an official NASA podcast, Curious Universe brings you mind-blowing science and space adventures you won’t find anywhere else. Explore the cosmos alongside astronauts, scientists, engineers, and other top NASA experts who are achieving remarkable feats in science, space exploration, and aeronautics. Learn something new …Introducing NASA’s new streaming service, NASA+, launching soon. More space. More rockets. More science. More missions. More NASA. All in one place. NASA's Global Climate Change website is going to look a little different in the coming months because we’re heading to a new home, a more integrated portal on science.nasa.gov. Keep your eyes on our new space as we transition. Explore the new space Explore the new space NASA’s Spot The Station has two ways to help you see the space station in the sky: Download and use the Spot The Station app to let your phone’s GPS calculate personalized sighting opportunities for you. Use the Spot The Station website, which calculates sightings for over 6,700 locations worldwide using data from Mission Control at NASA ... NASA had been pursuing spaceplanes since the 1960s, blending the administration's dual aeronautics and space missions. NASA viewed a spaceplane as part of a larger program, providing routine and economical logistical support to a space station in Earth orbit that would be used as a hub for lunar and Mars missions. 1 day ago · Exoplanet Exploration Program. NASA's science, technology and mission management office for the exploration of exoplanets. The program's primary goals, as described in the 2014 NASA Science Plan, are to discover planets around other stars, to characterize their properties and to identify planets that could harbor life. Program Home. Editor’s Note: NASA and Astrobotic are continuing to monitor this mission. Updates will be provided on https://blogs.nasa.gov/.. Carrying NASA scientific instruments as part of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander launched on United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket at 2:18 a.m. EST from Launch …For more information on Artemis, visit: -end-. Karen Fox / Alana Johnson NASA Headquarters, Washington 301-286-6284 / 202-358-1501 [email protected] / [email protected]. NASA has selected the geology team that will develop the surface science plan for the first crewed lunar landing mission in more than 50 years.NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission has logged a lot of flight miles since being lofted skyward on July 30 – 146.3 million miles (235.4 million kilometers) to be exact. Turns out that is exactly the same distance it has to go before the spacecraft hits the Red Planet’s atmosphere like a 11,900 mph (19,000 kph) freight train on Feb. 18, 2021.CARVE (Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment) CATS (Cloud-Aerosol Transport System) CeREs (Compact Radiation Belt Explorer) CGRO (Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory) CHAMP (Challenging Mini-satellite Payload) Chandra X-ray Observatory. Chandrayaan-1 / Moon Impact Probe. Chandrayaan-2. Chandrayaan-3.Agency User ID. By accessing and using this information system, you acknowledge and consent to the following: You are accessing a U.S. Government information system, which includes: (1) this computer; (2) this computer network; (3) all computers connected to this network including end user systems; (4) all devices and storage media attached to ...NASA’s heliophysics researches the ionosphere-thermosphere-mesosphere region where our neutral atmosphere transitions into the ionized plasma of space. In this thin shell that surrounds our home planet, the atmosphere is in constant motion, shaped by the influence of both solar activity and changes in the lower atmosphere and in near-Earth ...Home - NASA+. THE OFFICIAL NASA BROADCAST. Watch with us as a total solar eclipse moves across Mexico, the United States and Canada. Weather permitting, … Solar System Overview. The solar system has one star, eight planets, five dwarf planets, at least 290 moons, more than 1.3 million asteroids, and about 3,900 comets. It is located in an outer spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy called the Orion Arm, or Orion Spur. Our solar system orbits the center of the galaxy at about 515,000 mph (828,000 kph ... One idea is to simply define a planet as a natural object in space that is massive enough for gravity to make it approximately spherical. But some scientists objected that this simple definition does not take into account what degree of measurable roundness is needed for an object to be considered round.NASA and Lockheed Martin publicly unveil the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft at a ceremony in Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which seeks to solve one of the major barriers to supersonic flight over land, currently banned in the United States, …Learn about NASA's mission, vision, and achievements in air and space exploration, innovation, and discovery. Find out how to join NASA, explore the universe, …Members of the DSOC team react to the first high-definition streaming video to be sent via laser from deep space on Dec. 11 at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Sent by the DSOC transceiver aboard the Psyche spacecraft, nearly 19 million miles from Earth, the video features a cat named Taters. A computer screen in the mission support area ...8.350022 minutes. While Earth is only the fifth largest planet in the solar system, it is the only world in our solar system with liquid water on the surface. Just slightly larger than nearby Venus, Earth is the biggest of the four planets closest to the Sun, all of which are made of rock and metal. Earth is the only planet in the solar system ...This visualization closely follows the Moon's umbra shadow as it crosses North America during the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. It covers the one hour and 50 minutes between 10:57 a.m. Pacific Standard Time and 4:47 p.m. Atlantic Daylight Time. Annotations include a running clock and the location of the center of the shadow.NASA selected the company to develop the modern suits for the Artemis III mission and participated in activities when the first prototype was revealed Wednesday during an event at Space Center Houston in Texas. Helping take a step forward in the agency’s goal to build a robust economy at the Moon by working with commercial service …This visualization closely follows the Moon's umbra shadow as it crosses North America during the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. It covers the one hour and 50 minutes between 10:57 a.m. Pacific Standard Time and 4:47 p.m. Atlantic Daylight Time. Annotations include a running clock and the location of the center of the shadow.While stationary for two weeks during Mars solar conjunction in November 2023, NASA’s Curiosity rover used its front and rear black-and-white Hazcams to capture 12 hours of a Martian day. The rover’s shadow is visible on the surface in these images taken by the front Hazcam. Videos from the rover show its shadow moving across the Martian ...Date of Birth: September 20, 1910 Hometown: Kansas City, MO Education: B.A., Mathematics, Wilberforce University, 1929 Hired by NACA: December 1943 Retired from NASA: 1971 Date of Death: November 10, 2008 Actress Playing Role in Hidden Figures: Octavia Spencer In an era when NASA is led by an African American man …It is the third brightest object in the sky and easy to spot if you know when to look up. NASA’s Spot the Station mobile application and website make knowing when to see it easy. Visible to the naked eye, the space station looks like a fast-moving plane, only flies much higher, and travels thousands of miles an hour faster! Space Station Website.Learn about Webb, the premier observatory of the next decade, that studies every phase in the history of our Universe. See the latest news, images, and science goals of this …Jul 11, 2022. RELEASE 22-070. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has produced the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. Known as Webb’s First Deep Field, this image of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 is overflowing with detail. Thousands of galaxies – including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared ...Quick Facts. The first class of NASA astronauts was selected in 1959. They are known as the Mercury 7. Since inception, NASA has selected 360 astronaut candidates: 299 men, 61 women; 212 military, 138 civilians; 191 pilots, 159 non-pilots. When Expedition 1 arrived at the International Space Station on Nov. 2, 2000, there has been a …Jul 11, 2022. RELEASE 22-070. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has produced the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. Known as Webb’s First Deep Field, this image of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 is overflowing with detail. Thousands of galaxies – including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared ...Introducing NASA’s new streaming service, NASA+, launching soon. More space. More rockets. More science. More missions. More NASA. All in one place.Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) is a series of analog missions that will simulate year-long stays on the surface of Mars. Each mission will consist of four crew members living in Mars Dune Alpha, an isolated 1,700 square foot habitat. During the mission, the crew will conduct simulated spacewalks and provide …Create art showing what wacky things could happen on Earth if there were no leap years! NASA’s award-winning Space Place website engages upper-elementary … Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun, and it's the third largest planet in our solar system – about four times wider than Earth. The diameter at its equator is 31,763 miles (51,120 kilometers). Uranus is a very cold and windy planet. It is surrounded by faint rings, and more than two dozen small moons as it rotates at a nearly 90-degree ... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse moved across North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. Safety is the […]Mar 28, 2024 · NASA HQ PHOTO: Best of 2023. The 100 best images from 2023 as captured and selected by the NASA HQ PHOTO office at NASA Headquarters in Washington. View Images about NASA HQ PHOTO: Best of 2023. Home - NASA+. THE OFFICIAL NASA BROADCAST. Watch with us as a total solar eclipse moves across Mexico, the United States and Canada. Weather permitting, …Home - NASA+. THE OFFICIAL NASA BROADCAST. Watch with us as a total solar eclipse moves across Mexico, the United States and Canada. Weather permitting, …Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Have you been awed by views of desolate Martian Valleys, swirling storms above Jupiter, and the icy blades ringing Saturn? Then you have journeyed with NASA JPL spacecraft and rovers. Our missions have flown to every planet and the Sun in a quest to understand our place in the universe, and to search for the ...Agency User ID. By accessing and using this information system, you acknowledge and consent to the following: You are accessing a U.S. Government information system, which includes: (1) this computer; (2) this computer network; (3) all computers connected to this network including end user systems; (4) all devices and storage media attached to ...NASA’s Discovery Program gives scientists a chance to dig deep into their imaginations and find new ways to unlock the mysteries of our solar system. When it began in 1992, the program represented a breakthrough in the way NASA explores space. Discovery invites scientists and engineers to assemble a team to design exciting, …NASA Kids Science. Students grades k-4 can dig deeper into STEM topics and experience the thrill of exploration and discovery.2 days ago · Xander, 11. NASA’s award-winning Space Place website engages upper-elementary-aged children in space and Earth science through interactive games, hands-on activities, fun articles and short videos. With material in both English and Spanish and numerous resources for kids, parents and teachers, Space Place has something for everyone. Aug 27, 2018 · Under Artemis, NASA will return humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and scientific discovery, gaining the knowledge needed future missions to worlds beyond, including Mars. “The unique Artemis II mission profile will build upon the uncrewed Artemis I flight test by demonstrating a broad range of SLS and Orion capabilities needed on ... Editor’s Note: NASA and Astrobotic are continuing to monitor this mission. Updates will be provided on https://blogs.nasa.gov/.. Carrying NASA scientific instruments as part of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander launched on United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket at 2:18 a.m. EST from Launch …NASA. Jul 05, 2016. RELEASE 16-071. After an almost five-year journey to the solar system’s largest planet, NASA’s Juno spacecraft successfully entered Jupiter’s orbit during a 35-minute engine burn. Confirmation that the burn had completed was received on Earth at 8:53 p.m. PDT (11:53 p.m. EDT) Monday, July 4.July 12, 2022. Language. english. This landscape of “mountains” and “valleys” speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. Captured in infrared light by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, this image reveals previously invisible areas of star birth.Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) is a series of analog missions that will simulate year-long stays on the surface of Mars. Each mission will consist of four crew members living in Mars Dune Alpha, an isolated 1,700 square foot habitat. During the mission, the crew will conduct simulated spacewalks and provide …8.350022 minutes. While Earth is only the fifth largest planet in the solar system, it is the only world in our solar system with liquid water on the surface. Just slightly larger than nearby Venus, Earth is the biggest of the four planets closest to the Sun, all of which are made of rock and metal. Earth is the only planet in the solar system ... Explore the cosmos with Webb, the most powerful infrared telescope ever built. See the latest images of distant galaxies, planets, and stars, and learn about Webb's science, features, and team. WASHINGTON – NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has unveiled a previously unseen structure centered in the Milky Way. The feature spans 50,000 light-years and may be the remnant of an eruption from a supersized black hole at the center of our galaxy. “What we see are two gamma-ray-emitting bubbles that extend 25,000 light …Technology demonstrations enable NASA to mature the cutting-edge, laboratory-proven technologies and new capabilities that will transform future science and space exploration goals. Through these missions, we conduct ground-based or in-space testing to determine the feasibility of technologies and systems for use in NASA …Date of Birth: September 20, 1910 Hometown: Kansas City, MO Education: B.A., Mathematics, Wilberforce University, 1929 Hired by NACA: December 1943 Retired from NASA: 1971 Date of Death: November 10, 2008 Actress Playing Role in Hidden Figures: Octavia Spencer In an era when NASA is led by an African American man …NASA’s satellite mission to study ocean health, air quality, and the effects of a changing climate for the benefit of humanity launched successfully into orbit at 1:33 a.m. EST Thursday. Known as PACE, the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem satellite, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape …NASA/JPL-Caltech/VTAD. Goals. JUICE ( JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) will explore Jupiter and three of its icy moons in depth. Launch. April 14, 2023. Arrival at Jupiter. July 2031. Science Targets. Jupiter, Ganymede, Callisto, Europa.Ensuring that NASA’s international engagements are in alignment with Administration direction and U.S. laws and regulations; Negotiating cooperative and reimbursable agreements with foreign space and aeronautics partners; Providing advice and guidance to Agency leadership on the implementation of NASA interagency and …We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us.WASHINGTON – NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has unveiled a previously unseen structure centered in the Milky Way. The feature spans 50,000 light-years and may be the remnant of an eruption from a supersized black hole at the center of our galaxy. “What we see are two gamma-ray-emitting bubbles that extend 25,000 light …NASA has selected six new airborne missions that include domestic and international studies of fire-induced clouds, Arctic coastal change, air quality, landslide hazards, shrinking glaciers, and emissions from agricultural lands. NASA’s suite of airborne missions complement what scientists can see…Meet Perseverance Landing Site: Jezero Crater NASA chose Jezero Crater as the landing site for the Perseverance rover. Scientists believe the area was once flooded with water and was home to an ancient river delta. The process of landing site selection involved a combination of mission team members and scientists from around the world, who […] Meet Perseverance Landing Site: Jezero Crater NASA chose Jezero Crater as the landing site for the Perseverance rover. Scientists believe the area was once flooded with water and was home to an ancient river delta. The process of landing site selection involved a combination of mission team members and scientists from around the world, who […] Heliophysics is the science of understanding our star, the Sun, and its interactions with Earth and the solar system. The NASA Heliophysics Education Activation Team, or NASA HEAT, is composed of NASA scientists, engineers, and educators passionate about making heliophysics accessible to multiple audiences and learners of all ages. NASA HEAT is …Technology demonstrations enable NASA to mature the cutting-edge, laboratory-proven technologies and new capabilities that will transform future science and space exploration goals. Through these missions, we conduct ground-based or in-space testing to determine the feasibility of technologies and systems for use in NASA …Jul 28, 2023 · NASA’s space shuttle fleet began setting records with its first launch on April 12, 1981 and continued to set high marks of achievement and endurance through 30 years of missions. Starting with Columbia and continuing with Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, the spacecraft has carried people into orbit repeatedly, launched ... Each NASA field center has a local NESC representative who serves as a point of contact for center-based issues related to the NESC. Contact the NESC Knowledge Products. Capturing and preserving critical knowledge for the future. The NESC is engaged in activities to identify, retain, and share critical knowledge in order to meet our future ...Ensuring that NASA’s international engagements are in alignment with Administration direction and U.S. laws and regulations; Negotiating cooperative and reimbursable agreements with foreign space and aeronautics partners; Providing advice and guidance to Agency leadership on the implementation of NASA interagency and … The Latest NASA Released Webb Image is featured on this page. The James Webb Space Telescope's revolutionary technology will study every phase of cosmic history—from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe. Webb’s infrared telescope will explore a wide range of science questions to help us understand the origins of the universe and our place in ... Latest Images – 2024 Webb’s most recent images released by NASA in 2024, displayed in reverse chronological order. The image below is a SLIDESHOW. Hover over the image to see the image title and controls. Click the image to go to a detail page with more info and the ability to download the image at […] How to Apply. The following steps will walk you through the process: Create a USAJOBS Account: In order to apply for a civil service job at NASA, you must first create a profile on USAJOBS.; Build your Resume: After you complete your profile, you will need to build or upload your resume.(Note: We encourage you to use the USAJOBs resume …NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio. The Monday, April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The total solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean. Weather permitting, the first location in continental North America that will experience totality is Mexico’s ...Apr 17, 2024 · At NASA, we explore the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all. And we’re looking for people who share our passion for exploration to join our team. Whether you're developing cutting-edge technologies to further human spaceflight or managing the operations of one of our facilities across the country, there is a place for you at NASA. Protective Services. Our security, fire, and medical services safeguard our facility, properties, personnel, visitors, and operations from harm. Whether the danger is manmade or natural, our team is prepared, ready, and able to respond to any situation that threatens the wellbeing of our site. Our responsibilities include enforcing state and ...The Chandra X-ray Observatory is the world's most powerful X-ray telescope. It has eight-times greater resolution and is able to detect sources more than 20-times fainter than any previous X-ray telescope. The Chandra X-ray Observatory is part of NASA's fleet of "Great Observatories" along with the Hubble Space Telescope, the Spitizer Space ...NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) is a coordinated series of polar-orbiting and low inclination satellites for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, solid Earth, atmosphere, and oceans. As a major component of the Earth Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, EOS enables an improved …Human Research Program. HRP uses research to develop methods to protect the health and performance of astronauts in space. With the goal of traveling to Mars and beyond, HRP is using ground research facilities, the International Space Station, and analog environments to enable cutting-edge science. Sitemap Submit Feedback. Earth's Moon is the brightest and largest object in our night sky. The Moon makes Earth a more livable planet by moderating our home planet's wobble on its axis, leading to a relatively stable climate. It also causes tides, creating a rhythm that has guided humans for thousands of years. IDMAX is a NASA service that allows you to manage your identity and access to various NASA systems and applications. You can use IDMAX to reset your Launchpad ...Mar 27, 2024 · Learn about NASA's mission, vision, and achievements in air and space exploration, innovation, and discovery. Find out how to join NASA, explore the universe, and support the agency's work. NASA's Global Climate Change website is going to look a little different in the coming months because we’re heading to a new home, a more integrated portal on science.nasa.gov. Keep your eyes on our new space as we transition.Earth's Moon is the brightest and largest object in our night sky. The Moon makes Earth a more livable planet by moderating our home planet's wobble on its axis, leading to a …NASA Image Library. NASA's image library, images.nasa.gov, consolidates imagery and videos in one searchable location. Users can download content in multiple sizes and resolutions and see the metadata associated with images, including EXIF/camera data on many images. Image Library about NASA Image Library.Mar 28, 2024 · NASA HQ PHOTO: Best of 2023. The 100 best images from 2023 as captured and selected by the NASA HQ PHOTO office at NASA Headquarters in Washington. View Images about NASA HQ PHOTO: Best of 2023. Monika Luabeya. The most recent astronaut candidates wave to the crowd in this image from their March 5, 2024, graduation ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Nicknamed “The Flies,” this cohort is now eligible for spaceflight assignments to the International Space Station, future orbiting destinations, the Moon, …NASA is taking a steppingstone approach to human exploration in space. Building on NASA’s 60 years of exploration experience and more than 20 years of continuous human presence on the International Space Station in low Earth orbit, we will extend humanity farther into space than ever before. The International Space Station has …Welcome to NASA's Eyes, a way for you to learn about your home planet, our solar system, the universe beyond and the spacecraft exploring them.
Rockets aren’t the only thing we launch. Welcome to our improved NASA website! If you don't find what you are looking for, please try searching above, give us feedback , or return to the main site . Since its 1990 launch, the Hubble Space Telescope has changed our fundamental understanding of the universe. . Google nest video doorbell
NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate is responsible for enabling sustained human exploration missions and operations in our solar system. Space Operations manages NASA’s current and future space operations in and beyond low Earth orbit, including commercial launch services to the International Space Station.Anyone can register for an api.nasa.gov key, which can be used to access data across federal agencies. API Key Recovery. Please contact us for help recovering an old API key You may apply for multiple keys as needed. Browse APIs. Search big Search. APOD: Astronomy Picture of the ...8.350022 minutes. While Earth is only the fifth largest planet in the solar system, it is the only world in our solar system with liquid water on the surface. Just slightly larger than nearby Venus, Earth is the biggest of the four planets closest to the Sun, all of which are made of rock and metal. Earth is the only planet in the solar system ...Feb 20, 2024 · CARVE (Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment) CATS (Cloud-Aerosol Transport System) CeREs (Compact Radiation Belt Explorer) CGRO (Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory) CHAMP (Challenging Mini-satellite Payload) Chandra X-ray Observatory. Chandrayaan-1 / Moon Impact Probe. Chandrayaan-2. Chandrayaan-3. Introducing NASA’s new streaming service, NASA+, launching soon. More space. More rockets. More science. More missions. More NASA. All in one place.Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) is a series of analog missions that will simulate year-long stays on the surface of Mars. Each mission will consist of four crew members living in Mars Dune Alpha, an isolated 1,700 square foot habitat. During the mission, the crew will conduct simulated spacewalks and provide …NASA’s award-winning Space Place website engages upper-elementary-aged children in space and Earth science through interactive games, hands-on activities, fun articles and short videos. With material in both English and Spanish and numerous resources for kids, parents and teachers, Space Place has something for everyone.When the first edition of NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology State-of-the-art report was published in 2013, 247 CubeSats and 105 other non-CubeSat small spacecraft under 50 kilograms (kg) had been launched worldwide, representing less than 2% of launched mass into orbit over multiple years. Since 2013, the fight heritage for …As part of NASA’s ongoing commitment to supporting American innovators and advancing new aerospace technologies the agency announced its second round of Phase I awards for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Ignite.The 10 selected small businesses will each receive up to $150,000 and have six months to establish the …NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has delivered the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe so far. Webb’s First Deep Field is galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, and it is teeming with thousands of galaxies – including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared. Webb’s image is approximately the size of a grain …NASA and Lockheed Martin publicly unveil the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft at a ceremony in Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which seeks to solve one of the major barriers to supersonic flight over land, currently banned in the United States, …Welcome to NASA's Eyes, a way for you to learn about your home planet, our solar system, the universe beyond and the spacecraft exploring them..