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Drought Parches Florida

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Drought Parches Florida

A map of Florida shows the driest aquifers in red and orange.
Shallow groundwater aquifers are driest in northern and central Florida in this map based on observations acquired on March 30, 2026, by the GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) satellites.
NASA Earth Observatory/Lauren Dauphin

Florida is among the wettest U.S. states, but that doesn’t mean it is drought-free. Nearly all of Florida faced at least “moderate” drought, and nearly 80 percent faced “extreme” conditions in April 2026, according to data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Unusually dry conditions gripped the state for much of 2025, but the intensity and extent of the drought ratcheted up starting in January 2026.

Data from a NASA and German Research Center for Geosciences satellite mission show that the drought has left its imprint on the state’s underground water supplies, which are often tapped for drinking water and farming. The map above combines data from the twin GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) satellites and ground-based measurements to estimate the relative amount of groundwater stored underground as of March 30, 2026. The colors depict the wetness percentile, or how the amount of shallow groundwater compares to long-term records (1948–2010). Blue areas have more water than usual, and orange and red areas have less. Aquifers in the northern and central regions of the state are particularly dry.

The drought is being felt throughout Florida. Some water districts have imposed restrictions on when water can be used for certain activities, such as lawn watering and car washes. News reports suggest that the dry weather poses a threat to crops, many of which already suffered severe damage during hard freezes in February. Large wildland fires have flared up in some areas, and even wetland ecosystems like the Everglades face unusually dry conditions.  

Florida droughts are represented by red and orange spikes of varying sizes and widths in this time-series chart.
The 2025-2026 drought is the most severe to affect Florida since 2012, data from the U.S. Drought Monitor show.
NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin

U.S. Drought Monitor records indicate that the current drought is the most widespread and severe to affect the state since 2012. Many areas have received less than half their normal rainfall since September 1, 2025, according to the National Weather Service. St. Petersburg has seen only 7.7 inches (195.6 millimeters) of rain since September 1, compared to the normal 19.0 inches, making this the driest year on record for that period. 

However, the current drought does not yet rival the worst drought that has parched the state, according to data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Their analysis indicates that the 2000–2001 drought was more intense, lasted longer, and affected a larger area. GRACE-FO observations are among the sources of information that the U.S. Drought Monitor considers when mapping drought conditions in its weekly assessments. Forecasters anticipate that a slow-moving rainstorm set to hit Florida this week may offer some relief.

NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using GRACE-FO data from The National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Story by Adam Voiland.

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A map of Florida shows the driest aquifers in red and orange.

March 30, 2026

JPEG (1.01 MB)

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Crew Kicks Off Week Prepping for Cygnus Cargo Mission

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Crew Kicks Off Week Prepping for Cygnus Cargo Mission

A waxing gibbous Moon is pictured above Earth's atmosphere from the International Space Station as it soared 268 miles above far eastern Canada. A portion of the Canadarm2 robotic arm's latching end effector is captured in the top foreground of the image.
A waxing gibbous Moon is pictured above Earth’s atmosphere from the International Space Station as it soared 268 miles above far eastern Canada.
NASA/Chris Williams

The Expedition 74 crew continues preparing for the next U.S. cargo mission due to visit the International Space Station. The orbital residents also serviced spacesuits, configured scientific hardware, and studied how microgravity affects blood pressure at the beginning of the week.

NASA Flight Engineers Chris Williams and Jack Hathaway joined each other in the cupola on Monday and practiced maneuvering the Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture the Cygnus XL when it arrives to the space station. After the cargo spacecraft’s capture, ground controllers will remotely command Canadarm2 to install Cygnus XL on the Unity module’s Earth-facing port. Cygnus will be delivering advanced microgravity research gear to study quantum computing technology, test stem cell therapies, promote astronaut health, and more.

Earlier in the day, Williams and Hathway, along with NASA flight engineer Jessica Meir, worked on spacesuit maintenance. Hathway and Meir took turns cleaning and flushing the suit’s water-cooling loops that regulate an astronaut’s body temperature in the extreme environment of space. Williams swapped a pair of lithium-ion batteries that power spacesuits inside the Quest airlock’s battery stowage compartment to maintain optimum battery performance.

Meir began her shift powering up and replacing filters on the KERMIT fluorescence microscope, that supports biological, physical, and material science research in microgravity, inside the Destiny laboratory module. Next, she set up a physics experiment that studies how particles attach to droplets and rearrange in microgravity that used KERMIT to image the phenomena. Results may lead to improved engineering designs for additive manufacturing and optical materials.

Flight engineer Sophie Adenot of ESA (European Space Agency) kicked off her shift inside the Kibo laboratory module powering down the TUSK technology demonstration, a small experimental robotic arm being tested for precise, sub-millimeter manipulation in weightlessness. Afterward, Adenot cleaned portions of Kibo’s ventilation system then tested emergency communications with mission controllers from around the world.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, station commander and flight engineer respectively, took turns wearing a series of arm, wrist, and finger cuffs measuring their blood pressure for an ongoing cardiovascular study. Afterward, Kud-Sverchkov inspected spacecraft docking hardware while Mikaev worked on communications and electronics maintenance.

Roscosmos flight engineer Andrey Fedyaev practiced European robotic arm maneuvers using computer simulation software at the start of his shift on Monday. Fedyaev then moved on to a study using artificial intelligence tools to improve crew operations and communications. Finally, he adjusted the lens setting on Earth observation hardware for a visibility test.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Mark A. Garcia

NASA’s Artemis II Crew Eclipses Record for Farthest Human Spaceflight

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NASA’s Artemis II Crew Eclipses Record for Farthest Human Spaceflight

The Artemis II crew floats in Orion; NASA astronaut Christina Koch smiles at the camera as NASA a
On Monday, April 6, 2026, six days into the Artemis II mission, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen surpassed the record for human spaceflight’s farthest distance from Earth, which was previously set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.
Credit: NASA

Four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II test flight around the Moon made history at 12:56 p.m. CDT on Monday, traveling 248,655 miles from Earth, surpassing the record for human spaceflight’s farthest distance previously set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. At its farthest point, crew inside the Orion spacecraft will have traveled about 252,760 miles, before looping back toward our home planet, setting the new record for human spaceflight.

Six days into the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis program, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen continued collecting pictures of the Moon on their voyage away from Earth.

“At NASA, we dare to reach higher, explore farther, and achieve the impossible. That’s embodied perfectly by our Artemis II astronauts – Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy. They are charting new frontiers for all humanity,” said Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Their dedication is about more than breaking records – it’s fueling our hope for a bold future. Their mission is carrying our promise to return to the Moon’s surface, this time to stay as we establish a Moon Base.”

NASA’s Orion spacecraft began its journey to the Moon following a successful April 1 launch on an SLS (Space Launch System) rocket from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After conducting a series of burns to break free of Earth orbit the following day, the spacecraft set its path toward the Moon.

Following their record achievement, crew provided brief, emotional remarks. The world heard from CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen aboard Orion:

“From the cabin of Integrity here, as we surpass the furthest distance humans have ever traveled from planet Earth, we do so in honoring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human space exploration. We will continue our journey even further into space before Mother Earth succeeds in pulling us back to everything that we hold dear. But we most importantly choose this moment to challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

In addition to their spaceflight record, crew suggested naming two craters on the Moon during their flight. The first is named in honor of their spacecraft, Integrity. The second honors Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll. After this mission is complete, the crater name proposals will be formally submitted to the International Astronomical Union, the organization that governs the naming of celestial bodies and their surface features.

When they fly past the Moon later, crew will come within about 4,070 miles from its surface at the closest approach. The astronauts will be the first to see the far side of the Moon with human eyes and are the first to travel behind the Moon. Finally, they will witness a solar eclipse as the Moon passes in front of the Sun.

NASA is expecting to lose communication with the astronauts for about 40 minutes during a planned blackout period. The break will occur as the Moon blocks signals between the spacecraft and the Earth through the Deep Space Network. When Orion reemerges from behind the Moon, it is expected to quickly reacquire contact with flight controllers in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. 

During their lunar flyby, a fleet of cameras will capture imagery of the Moon, including features humans have never directly seen. The astronauts will use a variety of digital handheld cameras to conduct high-resolution photography of the lunar surface. Artemis II is providing astronauts an opportunity to gather data as one of the most powerful scientific tools for observation are the four pairs of eyes observing lunar features with varying illumination and texture.

Photos, videos, mission telemetry, and communication information are all sources of data from the test flight, which will be used to inform future Artemis missions as the agency embarks on development of its Moon Base.

The Artemis II astronauts are more than halfway through their mission. The crew is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) on Friday, April 10. Following splashdown, recovery teams will retrieve the crew members using helicopters and deliver them to the USS John P. Murtha. Once aboard, the astronauts will undergo post-flight medical evaluations in the ship’s medical bay before traveling back to shore to meet with an aircraft bound for NASA Johnson.

Under the Artemis program, NASA will send Artemis astronauts on increasingly challenging missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

For the latest mission progress, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-ii

-end-

Cheryl Warner / Rachel Kraft
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov / rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov

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Last Updated

Apr 06, 2026

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Jennifer M. Dooren
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Jessica Taveau

NASA’s Northrop Grumman CRS-24 Mission Overview 

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NASA’s Northrop Grumman CRS-24 Mission Overview 

NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission, or Northrop Grumman CRS-24, will deliver approximately 11,000 pounds of science and supplies to the International Space Station. This mission will be the second flight of the Cygnus XL, the larger, more cargo-capable version of the company’s solar-powered spacecraft. 

The Cygnus XL will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following arrival, astronauts aboard the space station will use the Canadarm2 to grapple Cygnus XL before robotically installing the spacecraft to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port for cargo unloading. 

NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to deliver research and supplies to the International Space Station.
NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to deliver research and supplies to the International Space Station.
NASA
NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission will deliver more than 11,000 pounds of research and supplies to the International Space Station.
NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission will deliver more than 11,000 pounds of research and supplies to the International Space Station.
NASA
NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Mission 24 will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Mission 24 will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
NASA
NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 spacecraft is named in honor of NASA astronaut Steven Nagel. Selected by NASA in 1979, Nagel is a veteran of four space flights (STS-51G and STS-61AA in 1985, STS37 in 1991, and STS-55 in 1993) and has logged more than 723 hours in space. Nagel died in 2014.
NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 spacecraft is named in honor of NASA astronaut Steven Nagel. Selected by NASA in 1979, Nagel is a veteran of four space flights (STS-51G and STS-61AA in 1985, STS37 in 1991, and STS-55 in 1993) and has logged more than 723 hours in space. Nagel died in 2014.
NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams will be on duty during the Cygnus spacecraft’s approach and rendezvous. Hathaway will be at the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic arm ready to capture Cygnus as Williams monitors the spacecraft’s arrival.
NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams will be on duty during the Cygnus spacecraft’s approach and rendezvous. Hathaway will be at the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic arm ready to capture Cygnus as Williams monitors the spacecraft’s arrival.
NASA

Science Highlights 

Along with supplies and equipment for the crew, Cygnus XL will deliver a range of scientific investigations to the International Space Station that helps to advance knowledge and technology in support of the Artemis program. This research includes:  

A new module for the Cold Atom Lab to expand its research capabilities and improve our understanding of general relativity, planetary composition, and dark matter. The Cold Atom Lab advances quantum research to improve technologies, such as solar cells, MRI scanners, and components that power phones and computers.

A new module for the Cold Atom Lab to expand its research capabilities and improve our understanding of general relativity, planetary composition, and dark matter. The Cold Atom Lab advances quantum research to improve technologies, such as solar cells, MRI scanners, and components that power phones and computers. 

An investigation (InSPA-StemCellEX-H2) studying blood stem cell production in microgravity to create a larger number of therapeutic cells. Successful stem cell production could advance healthcare on Earth for patients with certain blood diseases and cancers.
NASA

An investigation (InSPA-StemCellEX-H2) studying blood stem cell production in microgravity to create a larger number of therapeutic cells. Successful stem cell production could advance healthcare on Earth for patients with certain blood diseases and cancers.  

An investigation (Nanoracks-ITSI) that measures how radio signals sent from Earth change as they pass through the upper atmosphere. These measurements could improve models that predict the impacts of solar activity and space weather, which can disrupt technologies like GPS navigation and radar tracking systems.
NASA

An investigation (Nanoracks-ITSI) that measures how radio signals sent from Earth change as they pass through the upper atmosphere. These measurements could improve models that predict the impacts of solar activity and space weather, which can disrupt technologies like GPS navigation and radar tracking systems.  

A study (CBIOMES) of how spaceflight impacts the relationship between organisms and their gut microbiome. Researchers will observe changes in roundworms down to the cellular level to identify ways to maintain microbiome stability and help protect astronaut health on future Moon and Mars missions.

A study (CBIOMES) of how spaceflight impacts the relationship between organisms and their gut microbiome. Researchers will observe changes in roundworms down to the cellular level to identify ways to maintain microbiome stability and help protect astronaut health on future Moon and Mars missions. 

Mission Hardware 

A study (CBIOMES) of how spaceflight impacts the relationship between organisms and their gut microbiome. Researchers will observe changes in roundworms down to the cellular level to identify ways to maintain microbiome stability and help protect astronaut health on future Moon and Mars missions. 

  • The European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device is a compact exercise system that help preserve muscle mass and bone health in microgravity. By enabling a broader and more adaptable range of resistance exercises, this device combines cycling, rowing, and resistance training in addition to the ability to perform rope-pulling and climbing movements, even when unpowered. The device was jointly developed by NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). 
  • The Supplemental Heat Rejection Evaporative Cooler provides heat rejection for the orbiting laboratory in the event of dual thermal control system loop failures. The cooler connects to the vacuum system and multiple onboard water sources to evaporate water through hollow fiber membranes.  
  • The Ocular Coherence Tomography is a noncontact medical imaging device that uses reflected light to produce detailed cross-sectional and 3D images to actively track the eye during imagery. Tracking eye movement with simultaneous dual-beam imaging minimizes motion artifact, enables noise reduction, and allows the instrument to precisely track changes in crew eye health over time. This unit will replace a degraded unit in orbit

Additional Hardware

  • 8 hatch seal covers, to be installed over current hatch seals 
  • 2 batteries to support the operations of the Zarya module 
  • 3 resupply water tanks for the water storage system 
  • 1 nitrogen tank and 1 oxygen tank, used for recharging spacesuits and maintaining a pressurized environment on space station 
  • 1 pretreat and water dispenser, a spare unit for the Waste and Hygiene Compartment 

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Mark A. Garcia

Night Sky Network Celebrates Artemis II

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Night Sky Network Celebrates Artemis II

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Night Sky Network Celebrates Artemis II

Today, the crew of Artemis II reaches a milestone, traveling farther than any humans in recorded history, as they orbit the far side of the Moon, roughly 4,000 miles above the lunar surface. 

You can watch this historic broadcast on NASA’s YouTube channel today, April 6, 2026, at 10 AM Pacific (1 PM Eastern), or on NASA+.

Be sure to celebrate with your communities with the following NSN resources:

From us here at Night Sky Network, Godspeed Integrity, and the crew of Artemis II!

–Vivian White and Kat Troche
The NASA Night Sky Network Team

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