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In this week’s newsletter, learn how to prepare for International Observe the Moon Night; explore the ongoing human-driven warming of Earth’s climate; and take a look at recent wind tunnel testing of the Super Heavy rocket that will launch the Starship human landing system to the Moon for future crewed Artemis missions. Plus, more stories you might have missed.

THE SOLAR SYSTEM

International Observe the Moon Night

This Saturday, Sept. 14, unite with fellow Moon enthusiasts and curious people worldwide for International Observe the Moon Night! Everyone on Earth is invited to learn about lunar science and exploration, participate in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon.


EVENT DETAILS

THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Observe the Moon Broadcast


Tune in for lunar science updates from NASA, including preparations for Artemis, interviews with agency experts, solar eclipse highlights, observing tips, and a glimpse of participation around the world.


LIVE BROADCAST

EARTH & CLIMATE

Earth’s Hottest Summer


August 2024 set a new monthly temperature record, capping Earth’s hottest summer since global record-keeping began in 1880, according to NASA scientists. June, July, and August 2024 combined were about 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit warmer globally than any other summer in NASA’s record—narrowly topping the record just set in 2023.


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HUMANS IN SPACE

Establishing Coordinated Lunar Time


NASA will coordinate with U.S. government stakeholders, partners, and international standards organizations to establish a Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) following a policy directive from the White House in April.


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HUMANS IN SPACE

Starship Breezes Through Wind Tunnel


NASA and its industry partners continue to make progress toward the first crewed lunar landing missions under the agency’s Artemis campaign. Using the transonic Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel at Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, SpaceX recently tested a 1.2% scale model of the Super Heavy rocket, or booster, that will launch the Starship human landing system to the Moon.


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More NASA News

Tests on Earth appear to confirm that the spider-like shapes sprawled across the southern hemisphere of Mars are carved by carbon dioxide.

U.S. high school and college students are invited to join NASA internship specialists on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m. EDT, for an exclusive information session showcasing the vibrant and diverse next-generation STEM workforce.

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, arrived at the International Space Station on Wednesday, Sept. 11, bringing its number of residents to 12 for the 13-day handover period.

Astronomers have directed the James Webb Space Telescope to examine the outskirts of our Milky Way galaxy, enabling scientists to study star formation in the same depth of detail as observations of star formation in our own solar neighborhood.

Do You Know?

The three-day Gemini XI mission, with astronauts Charles "Pete" Conrad and Richard Gordon aboard, was the first to achieve a first-orbit rendezvous and docking with the Agena target vehicle soon after it launched on Sept. 12, 1966. On Sept. 14, their third day in space, the Agena's main engine was fired, raising the docked spacecraft to an apogee of 853 miles, the highest altitude in Earth orbit reached by any crewed mission. This record stood for nearly 58 years when it was broken by SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, which reached 875 miles on Sept. 10, 2024.

What did Conrad say when Agena boosted the Gemini XI spacecraft to the record-breaking apogee?
A. “I can’t believe I’m actually doing this!”
B. “Whoop-de-doo!”
C. “Whee!”

Find out the answer in next week's edition of the NASA newsletter 🤓

Last week we asked what mission, launching from Wallops Flight Facility on the night of Sept. 6, 2013, captured this photo with an airborne frog photobombing the scene. The answer? The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE)! The LADEE spacecraft orbited—and impacted—the Moon to gather information about the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface, and the environmental influences on lunar dust.

Hispanic History Month

NASA is proud to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept.15 to Oct. 15, the annual observance honoring the wide and rich histories, cultures, and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino community.


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