Artemis II Crew Rehearse Launch Day Demonstration

Artemis II Crew Rehearse Launch Day Demonstration

Crew depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to travel to the Vehicle Assembly Building to board their Orion spacecraft atop NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket as part of the Artemis II Countdown Demonstration Test, December 20, 2025

The four astronauts set to fly around the Moon during NASA’s Artemis II test flight depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, during a dress rehearsal for launch day on Dec. 20, 2025. From left are CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch.

The launch day rehearsal, called a countdown demonstration test, simulated the launch day timeline, including the crew suiting up in their spacesuits and climbing in and out of their Orion spacecraft. Because the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket upon which they will launch is not yet at the launch pad, the crew boarded Orion inside Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building, where engineers are conducting final preparations on the spacecraft, rocket, and ground systems.  

Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

Photo Credit: NASA/Jim Ross

Powered by WPeMatico

Get The Details…
Antonia Jaramillo

Wind-Sculpted Landscapes: Investigating the Martian Megaripple ‘Hazyview’

Wind-Sculpted Landscapes: Investigating the Martian Megaripple ‘Hazyview’

The inactive aeolian megaripple, “Hazyview,” that Perseverance studied while passing through the “Honeyguide” area.
The inactive aeolian megaripple, “Hazyview,” that Perseverance studied while passing through the “Honeyguide” area. NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image on Dec. 5, 2025 (Sol 1704) at the local mean solar time of 12:33:53, using its onboard Left Navigation Camera (Navcam). The camera is located high on the rover’s mast and aids in driving.
NASA/JPL-Caltech

Written by Noah Martin, Ph.D. student and Candice Bedford, Research Scientist at Purdue University

While much of Perseverance’s work focuses on ancient rocks that record Mars’ long-lost rivers and lakes, megaripples offer a rare opportunity to examine processes that are still shaping the surface today. Megaripples are sand ripples up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall that are mainly built and modified by wind. However, when water in the atmosphere interacts with dust on the ripple surface, a salty, dusty crust can form. When this happens, it is much harder for the wind to move or shape the megaripple. As such, megaripples on Mars are largely considered inactive, standing as records of past wind regimes and atmospheric water interactions over time. However, some have shown signs of movement, and it is possible that periods of high wind speeds may erode or reactivate these deposits again.

Despite Mars’ thin atmosphere today (2% of the Earth’s atmospheric density), wind is one of the main drivers of change at the surface, eroding local bedrock into sand-sized grains and transporting these grains across the ripple field. As a result, megaripple studies help us understand how wind has shaped the surface in Mars’ most recent history and support planning for future human missions, as the chemistry and cohesion of Martian soils will influence everything from mobility to resource extraction.

Following the successful investigation of the dusty, inactive megaripples at “Kerrlaguna,” Perseverance recently explored a more expansive field of megaripples called “Honeyguide.” This region hosts some of the largest megaripples Perseverance has seen along its traverse so far, making it an ideal location for a comprehensive study of these features. The megaripples at “Honeyguide” rise higher, extend farther, and have sharply defined crests with more uniform orientation compared to those at “Kerrlaguna.” The consistent orientation of the megaripples at “Honeyguide” suggests that winds in this area have blown predominantly from the same direction (north-south) for a long period of time.

At “Honeyguide,” Perseverance studied the “Hazyview” megaripple, where over 50 observations were taken across the SuperCam, Mastcam-Z, MEDA, PIXL and WATSON instruments, looking for grain movement, signs of early morning frost, and changes in mineralogy from crest to trough. The investigation of the “Hazyview” bedform builds directly on the results from “Kerrlaguna” and represents the most detailed look yet at these intriguing wind-formed deposits. As Perseverance continues its journey on the crater rim, these observations will provide a valuable reference for interpreting other wind-blown features and for understanding how Mars continues to change, one grain of sand at a time.

Powered by WPeMatico

Get The Details…

Brain Research, Heart Health Wrap Up Work Week Aboard Station

Brain Research, Heart Health Wrap Up Work Week Aboard Station

The ten International Space Station crew members representing both Expedition 73 and 74 pose for a portrait in the Kibo laboratory module after Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov (front right) handed over command of the orbital outpost to NASA astronaut Mike Fincke (front center). Directly behind the duo (from left) are NASA astronaut Chris Williams, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Mikaev, NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and NASA astronaut Jonny Kim. In the back are, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Platonov and Alexey Zubritsky.
The Expedition 73 and 74 crews pose for a portrait the day before NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky returned to Earth. In the front row from left, are NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Mike Fincke with Sergey Ryzhikov. In the middle row are, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Mikaev, NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and Jonny Kim. In the back are, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Platonov and Alexey Zubritsky.
NASA

The Expedition 74 crew explored how living in space affects the brain and blood circulation on Friday to ensure crews stay healthy and ensure long-term mission  success. The International Space Station residents also focused on spacewalking tools and science hardware maintenance wrapping up the week.

NASA Flight Engineer Chris Williams began his shift on Friday collecting his blood and urine samples for analysis then stowing them in a science freezer. Afterward, Williams participated in a pair of tests to document potential space-caused changes to brain structure and performance for the long-running CIPHER investigation.  The first test measured his spatial cognition, or ability to orient himself in weightlessness, while the second test recorded his reactions as he practiced Canadarm2 robotic arm maneuvers during a computer simulation to capture a cargo spacecraft. Doctors will use the results to evaluate cognitive performance and develop tools to monitor and protect the brain in microgravity.

Station Commander Mike Fincke of NASA and Flight Engineer Kimiya Yui of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) took turns studying how blood flows from the brain to the heart to understand cerebral and cardiac efficiency in space. The duo wore electrodes and sensors on their neck, collarbone, and ribs measuring blood flow and volume changes that may lead to space-related cardiac issues such as blood clots or arterial stiffness.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev also explored vascular health wearing chest electrodes and blood pressure cuffs on the arms, wrists, and fingers for their space agency’s Endothelium human research experiment. They were studying how the inner lining of blood vessels works to keep blood flowing smoothly, regulate pressure, and prevent clots in crew members. Doctors are monitoring how weightlessness and space radiation affect a cosmonaut’s arteries, blood pressure, and heart during a spaceflight.

NASA Flight Engineer Zena Cardman was back inside the Quest airlock on Friday organizing spacewalking tools and wearing virtual reality goggles training how to operate a spacesuit emergency jetpack. The jet pack, officially called Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue, or SAFER, enables a spacewalker to maneuver safely back to the orbital outpost in the unlikely event they become untethered.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Oleg Platonov finalized an overnight photography session that automatically photographed Earth landmarks in near-ultraviolet wavelengths during the crew’s sleep shift. Next, Platonov replaced a vacuum pump and transferred liquids during standard orbital plumbing maintenance. Finally, the first-time space flyer checked video recording gear and formatted video memory cards wrapping up his work week aboard the orbiting lab. The Expedition 74 crew members will call down to family members, share gifts and meals, and celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve in orbit.

Pending further mission updates in December this will be the last International Space Station blog post of 2025. The next regular blog update is planned for Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. You can also visit nasa.gov/station on the web or @space_station on X, ISS Facebook, and ISS Instagram on social media for the latest mission information.

Get the latest from NASA delivered every week. Subscribe here.

Powered by WPeMatico

Get The Details…

Mark A. Garcia

Meet NASA’s Astronaut Class of 2025 – Webby Submission

Meet NASA’s Astronaut Class of 2025 – Webby Submission

3 Min Read

Meet NASA’s Astronaut Class of 2025 – Webby Submission

Teams are evaluating how to train for lunar surface operations during Artemis missions, in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Credits:
NASA

NASA engineers are laying the foundation for the moonwalks the first woman and next man will conduct when they land on the lunar South Pole in 2024 as part of the Artemis program. At the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, teams are testing the tools and developing training approaches for lunar surface operations.

As part of a test series occurring in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL) at Johnson, astronauts in a demonstration version of the exploration spacesuit and engineers in “hard hat” dive equipment are simulating several different tasks crew could do on the surface of the Moon.

As part of a test series occurring in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL) at Johnson, astronauts in a demonstration version of the exploration spacesuit and engineers in “hard hat” dive equipment are simulating several different tasks crew could do on the surface of the Moon.

This early testing will help determine the best complement of facilities for hardware development and requirements for future Artemis training and missions

DAREN WELSH

DAREN WELSH

EVA Flight Controller & Crew Instructor

The tests are focused on evaluating Johnson’s facilities for Artemis spacewalk testing, development, and crew training. Astronauts are practicing a variety of tasks, including picking up samples of lunar regolith, examining a lunar lander, and planting an American flag. There are many fundamentals that the teams have to consider and work through, such as how crew might get up and down a ladder safely, how to swing a hammer safely, and how to conduct successful moonwalks in different lighting conditions than the Apollo-era moonwalks. The tests will inform future mission planning, including how many spacewalks to conduct during a mission, how long they’ll be, and how far away from a lander the crew will travel.

While NASA has extensive experience preparing astronauts for spacewalks in microgravity like those to construct and maintain the International Space Station over the past 20 years, preparing for Moon missions comes with different challenges.

We can evaluate tools in a lab or the rock yard, but you can learn so much when you put a pressurized spacesuit on and have to work within the limitations of its mobility.

Daren Welsh

Daren Welsh

EVA Flight Controller & Crew Instructor

There is a lot of work to do to get the facilities ready to work for lunar missions and figure out how to facilitate the training

Daren Welsh

Daren Welsh

EVA Flight Controller & Crew Instructor

In addition to testing in the NBL, teams also are using different analog environments to simulate lunar conditions. Tests are occurring at Johnson’s rock yard, a large, outdoor test area which simulates general features of the lunar surface terrain.

Rock yard testing is a critical analog environment for spacewalk tool development and operations. The interaction between the crewmembers and the Earth-based teams in mission control and the science control centers allows engineers to mature concepts of mission operations. The testing reveals spacewalking tool design improvements and helps formulate operational timelines. Analog environments allow iterations on designs to occur quickly such that the revisions can be reevaluated in subsequent tests.

“We have experience with space station, but we need to determine how we’re going to train the crew for surface operations during these specific missions,” Welsh said. “There is a lot of work to do to get the facilities ready to work for lunar missions and figure out how to facilitate the training.”

This collaborative effort is already paying dividends for the team as they are becoming more familiar with the surface operation concepts. As the tests continue, the team is expanding the scope of the testing, with plans to complete full lunar spacewalk timelines.

With the Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and next man on the Moon in 2024, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. We will collaborate with our commercial and international partners and establish sustainable exploration by the end of the decade. Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars.

About the Author

Kelcie Nicole Howren

Kelcie Nicole Howren

Share

Details

Last Updated

Dec 19, 2025

Related Terms

Powered by WPeMatico

Get The Details…
Kelcie Nicole Howren

NASA Shares SpaceX Crew-12 Assignments for Space Station Mission

NASA Shares SpaceX Crew-12 Assignments for Space Station Mission

From left to right, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
Credit: NASA

As part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission, four crew members from three space agencies will launch no earlier than Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, to the International Space Station for a long-duration science expedition.

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively, and will be accompanied by ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, who will both serve as mission specialists. Crew-12 will join Expedition 74 crew members currently aboard the space station.

The flight is the 12th crew rotation with SpaceX to the orbiting laboratory as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Crew-12 will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to help prepare humans for future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as benefit people on Earth.

This will be the second flight to the space station for Meir, who was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013. The Caribou, Maine, native earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Brown University, a master’s degree in space studies from the International Space University, and a doctorate in marine biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego. On her first spaceflight, Meir spent 205 days as a flight engineer during Expedition 61/62, and she completed the first three all-woman spacewalks with fellow NASA astronaut Christina Koch, totaling 21 hours and 44 minutes outside of the station. Since then, she has served in various roles, including assistant to the chief astronaut for commercial crew (SpaceX), deputy for the Flight Integration Division, and assistant to the chief astronaut for the human landing system.

A commander in the United States Navy, Hathaway was selected as part of the 2021 astronaut candidate class. This will be Hathaway’s first spaceflight. The South Windsor, Connecticut, native holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and history from the U.S. Naval Academy and master’s degrees in flight dynamics from Cranfield University and national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College, respectively. Hathaway also is a graduate of the Empire Test Pilot’s School, Fixed Wing Class 70 in 2011. At the time of his selection, Hathaway was deployed aboard the USS Truman, serving as Strike Fighter Squadron 81’s prospective executive officer. He has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours in 30 different aircraft, including more than 500 carrier arrested landings and 39 combat missions.

The Crew-12 mission will be Adenot’s first spaceflight. Before her selection as an ESA astronaut in 2022, Adenot earned a degree in engineering from ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse, France, specializing in spacecraft and aircraft flight dynamics. She also earned a master’s degree in human factors engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. After earning her master’s degree, she became a helicopter cockpit design engineer at Airbus Helicopters and later served as a search and rescue pilot at Cazaux Air Base from 2008 to 2012. She then joined the High Authority Transport Squadron in Villacoublay, France, and served as a formation flight leader and mission captain from 2012 to 2017. Between 2019 and 2022, Adenot worked as a helicopter experimental test pilot in Cazaux Flight Test Center with DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement – the French Defence Procurement Agency). She has logged more than 3,000 hours flying 22 different helicopters.

This will be Fedyaev’s second long-duration stay aboard the orbiting laboratory. He graduated from the Krasnodar Military Aviation Institute in 2004, specializing in aircraft operations and air traffic organization, and earned qualifications as a pilot engineer. Prior to his selection as a cosmonaut, he served as deputy commander of an Ilyushin-38 aircraft unit in the Kamchatka Region, logging more than 600 flight hours and achieving the rank of second-class military pilot. Fedyaev was selected for the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center Cosmonaut Corps in 2012 and has served as a test cosmonaut since 2014. In 2023, he flew to the space station as a mission specialist during NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission, spending 186 days in orbit, as an Expedition 69 flight engineer. For his achievements, Fedyaev was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation and received the Yuri Gagarin Medal. 

For more than 25 years, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and making research breakthroughs that are not possible on Earth. The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies concentrate on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a robust low Earth orbit economy, NASA is focusing its resources on deep space missions to the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign in preparation for future human missions to Mars.

Learn more about International Space Station research and operations at:

https://www.nasa.gov/station

-end-

Joshua Finch / Jimi Russell
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / james.j.russell@nasa.gov

Shaneequa Vereen
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
shaneequa.y.vereen@nasa.gov

Share

Details

Last Updated

Dec 19, 2025

Editor
Jessica Taveau

Powered by WPeMatico

Get The Details…
Jessica Taveau