In 2014, NASA awarded a Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract to Boeing to fly astronauts to and from the International Space Station with its Starliner spacecraft. As part of its contract, Boeing was awarded up to six crewed flights to the orbital complex.
After a thorough evaluation, NASA and Boeing have mutually agreed to modify the contract. As part of the modification, the definitive order has been adjusted to four missions, with the remaining two available as options. The next Starliner flight, known as Starliner-1, will be used by NASA to deliver necessary cargo to the orbital laboratory and allow in-flight validation of the system upgrades implemented following the Crew Flight Test mission last year. NASA and Boeing are targeting no earlier than April 2026 to fly the uncrewed Starliner-1 pending completion of rigorous test, certification, and mission readiness activities. Following Starliner certification, and a successful Starliner-1 mission, Starliner will fly up to three crew rotations to the International Space Station.
“NASA and Boeing are continuing to rigorously test the Starliner propulsion system in preparation for two potential flights next year,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “This modification allows NASA and Boeing to focus on safely certifying the system in 2026, execute Starliner’s first crew rotation when ready, and align our ongoing flight planning for future Starliner missions based on station’s operational needs through 2030.”
Certification of Boeing’s Starliner remains important to NASA’s goal of sustained human presence in low Earth orbit and dissimilar redundancy is essential to supporting the agency’s goals and international obligations.
NASA’s Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche introduces the agency’s 24th astronaut class on Sept. 22, 2025.
Credits: NASA/James Blair
When NASA’s 2025 astronaut candidates arrived at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston this fall, they stepped into history, sharing a common mission to master the skills and teamwork that define NASA’s next era of exploration.
Selected from a pool of more than 8,000 applicants, the new class represents a range of backgrounds — military test pilots, engineers, a physician, and a scientist — but all were inspired by moments in their lives that set them on a path to space.
They will spend nearly two years in training before becoming eligible for missions to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and eventually, Mars. When they graduate, they will join NASA’s active astronaut corps, advancing science aboard the International Space Station and supporting Artemis missions that will carry human exploration farther than ever before.
During the class announcement at Johnson on Sept. 22, 2025, Center Director Vanessa Wyche celebrated the moment as a milestone for exploration.
“Today is an exciting day for our nation and for all of humanity as we introduce NASA’s 2025 astronaut candidates — the next generation who will help us explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond,” Wyche said. “Each one of these candidates brings unique experiences and perspectives that reflect the diversity of America and the spirit of exploration that defines NASA.”
Behind their new blue flight suits are years of preparation and stories as multifaceted as the missions they will one day support.
Different Roads to the Same Horizon
NASA’s new astronaut candidates greet the crowd for the first time at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA/James Blair
Some of the candidates built their careers in the air, where precision, communication, and teamwork were part of every mission. Former U.S. Navy pilot and test pilot Rebecca Lawler says that is exactly what drew her to NASA.
“All of these people are coming from different disciplines and levels of expertise, and you’re all working together to get science to fly,” she said. “That’s what excites me most — bringing those experiences together as a team.”
Imelda Muller, an anesthesiologist and former U.S. Navy undersea medical officer, said her experience supporting experimental diving teams taught her how people from different backgrounds can come together under one mission, something she sees echoed at NASA.
Muller remembers looking up at the night sky as a kid, able to see almost every star on a clear night. Her grandfather worked on the Apollo program and used to share stories with her, and she says the mix of stargazing and imagining those missions inspired her dream of becoming an astronaut.
Anna Menon, a biomedical engineer and former flight controller, has seen the human side of spaceflight from the ground and from space. She supported astronaut health aboard the space station from the Mission Control Center in Houston and served as a mission specialist and medical officer aboard SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission.
As more people venture into space, we have this incredible opportunity to learn how the human body changes in microgravity. That knowledge will help keep crews healthy as we go farther than ever before.
Anna Menon
Astronaut Candidate
A Houston native, she discovered her passion for exploration in the fourth grade during a field trip to Johnson. “That experience lit a fire in me to want to be part of the space industry,” she said.
The Language of Human Spaceflight
NASA astronaut candidate Erin Overcash speaks during the class announcement ceremony at Johnson Space Center.
NASA/James Blair
For the test pilots — including Adam Fuhrmann, Cameron Jones, Ben Bailey, and Erin Overcash — flight testing taught adaptability, composure, and the discipline to make quick decisions when it matters most. As Fuhrmann put it, it is about knowing when to lead and when to listen.
In flight test, nothing happens alone. We work with incredible engineers and professionals to plan and execute complex missions. That teamwork translates perfectly to human spaceflight.
Adam Fuhrmann
Astronaut Candidate
Every astronaut candidate will spend nearly two years learning spacecraft systems, practicing spacewalks in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, flying T-38 jets, and studying geology, robotics, and survival training.
As U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer and helicopter test pilot Ben Bailey said, it is not one skill that matters most — it is the combination.
“Each one is exciting on its own — flying, language training, spacewalks — but getting to do them all together, as a crew, that’s the best part,” Bailey said.
During the event, current astronauts welcomed the new class and shared advice drawn from their own journeys in human spaceflight. “Thankfully, you will have some of the most talented, passionate instructors and an incredibly dedicated team here at NASA,” said NASA astronaut Chris Williams. “Some of the most special moments will come as you find how much you get to learn from each other.”
From the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Zena Cardman encouraged the candidates to “learn everything you can, get to know each other, and enjoy the ride.”
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim followed with a reminder every explorer carries forward: “The people sitting beside you now will become lifelong friends.”
Explorers of the Golden Age
The 2025 astronaut candidates with NASA leadership during their class announcement.
NASA/James Blair
From geologist Lauren Edgar, who worked on the Curiosity Mars Rover and the Artemis III science team, to engineers like Yuri Kubo, who completed seven NASA internships, and Katherine Spies, who designed and tested flight systems that make exploration possible, each brings a layer of expertise to the agency’s future on the Moon and beyond.
I’ve always loved figuring out how things work and finding ways to make them better. That’s what drew me to engineering, and it’s what keeps me excited about exploration.
Yuri Kubo
Astronaut Candidate
A New Era Begins
NASA’s astronaut candidate class pose for a selfie during their first week at Johnson Space Center.
NASA
At the announcement ceremony, NASA Flight Operations Director Norm Knight said, “Every lesson learned aboard station has paved the way for where we’re headed next – to the Moon, this time to stay, and on to Mars. We have a group of individuals who are not only exceptional, but who will be inspirational for the United States of America and for our planet.”
Together, the astronaut candidates reflect the spirit of Artemis — curiosity, courage, and continuous learning as humanity prepares for its next giant leap.
New NASA HEAT and My NASA Data Resources Bring Space Weather Science into Classrooms
3 min read
New NASA HEAT and My NASA Data Resources Bring Space Weather Science into Classrooms
Space weather is an important part of the Sun’s interaction with the space around it. Scientists called heliophysicists study these phenomena to help us better understand how and why it happens, and the effects it can have on the rest of our solar system.
As the Sun enters a period of heightened activity, students now have a new way to explore its powerful effects on Earth and space. NASA’s Heliophysics Education Activation Team (NASA HEAT), in collaboration with My NASA Data, has released a new set of classroom resources that invite students and educators to engage with real NASA mission data to study space weather phenomena in real time.
Hands-On Learning with Real NASA Data
Developed as part of NASA HEAT’s mission to increase awareness and understanding of heliophysics, these new materials help learners connect directly with the science of the Sun and its influence on the solar system. The resources include:
Lesson plans and mini-lessons for quick classroom engagement
Interactive web-based tools that let students visualize and analyze real mission data
StoryMaps, longer-form digital experiences that guide multi-day investigations into space weather events
These activities draw from data collected by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), and the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter, among others, giving students a chance to explore how scientists monitor and study the Sun’s behavior.
Understanding Space Weather
Space weather is driven by the Sun’s activity – its bursts of energy, radiation, and plasma that stream through space. When these events interact with Earth’s magnetic field, they can produce stunning auroras but also cause radio disruptions, satellite interference, and power grid issues.
By engaging with these new resources, students can learn how NASA monitors and predicts these solar phenomena and why studying space weather is essential for keeping astronauts, spacecraft, and technology safe.
Learning During Solar Maximum
This launch comes at a perfect time. In late 2024, the Sun entered solar maximum, the most active part of its 11-year cycle, providing students a front-row seat to increased solar flares, sunspots, and coronal mass ejections. The new NASA HEAT and My NASA Data resources encourage educators to use this unique moment to deepen classroom discussions on magnetism, energy, and the Sun–Earth connection through observation and data-driven exploration.
Inspiring Future Scientists
Both NASA HEAT and My NASA Data, part of GLOBE Mission Earth (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment), are part of the NASA Science Activation (SciAct) program, which connects learners of all ages with authentic NASA science content, experts, and experiences. By bringing real-world data and current scientific phenomena into the classroom, these new tools empower students to think like scientists and see themselves as contributors to ongoing discovery.
NASA, NOAA Rank 2025 Ozone Hole as 5th Smallest Since 1992
5 min read
NASA, NOAA Rank 2025 Ozone Hole as 5th Smallest Since 1992
While continental in scale, the ozone hole over the Antarctic was small in 2025 compared to previous years and remains on track to recover later this century, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported. The hole this year was the fifth smallest since 1992, the year a landmark international agreement to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals began to take effect.
At the height of this year’s depletion season from Sept. 7 through Oct. 13, the average extent of the ozone hole was about 7.23 million square miles (18.71 million square kilometers) — that’s twice the area of the contiguous United States. The 2025 ozone hole is already breaking up, nearly three weeks earlier than usual during the past decade.
This map shows the size and shape of the ozone hole over the South Pole on the day of its 2025 maximum extent. Moderate ozone losses (orange) are visible amid areas of more potent ozone losses (red). Scientists describe the ozone “hole” as the area in which ozone concentrations drop below the historical threshold of 220 Dobson units.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using data courtesy of NASA Ozone Watch and GEOS-5 data from the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at NASA GSFC
The hole reached its greatest one-day extent for the year on Sept. 9 at 8.83 million square miles (22.86 million square kilometers). It was about 30% smaller than the largest hole ever observed, which occurred in 2006, and had an average area of 10.27 million square miles (26.60 million square kilometers).
“As predicted, we’re seeing ozone holes trending smaller in area than they were in the early 2000s,” said Paul Newman, a senior scientist with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and leader of the ozone research team at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “They’re forming later in the season and breaking up earlier. But we still have a long way to go before it recovers to 1980s levels.”
NASA and NOAA scientists say this year’s monitoring showed that controls on ozone-depleting chemical compounds established by the Montreal Protocol and subsequent amendments are driving the gradual recovery of the ozone layer in the stratosphere, which remains on track to recover fully later this century.
The ozone-rich layer acts as a planetary sunscreen that helps shield life from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun. It is located in the stratosphere, which is found between 7 and 31 miles above the Earth’s surface. Reduced ozone allows more UV rays to reach the surface, resulting in crop damage as well as increased cases of skin cancer and cataracts, among other adverse health impacts.
The ozone depletion process starts when human-made compounds containing chlorine and bromine rise high into the stratosphere miles above Earth’s surface. Freed from their molecular bonds by the more intense UV radiation, the chlorine and bromine-containing molecules then participate in reactions that destroy ozone molecules. Chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting compounds were once widely used in aerosol sprays, foams, air conditioners, and refrigerators. The chlorine and bromine from these compounds can linger in the atmosphere for decades to centuries.
“Since peaking around the year 2000, levels of ozone-depleting substances in the Antarctic stratosphere have declined by about a third, relative to pre-ozone-hole levels,” said Stephen Montzka, a senior scientist with NOAA’s Global Monitoring Laboratory.
As part of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, countries agreed to replace ozone-depleting substances with less harmful alternatives.
“This year’s hole would have been more than one million square miles larger if there was still as much chlorine in the stratosphere as there was 25 years ago,” Newman said.
Still, the now-banned chemicals persist in old products like building insulation and in landfills. As emissions from those legacy uses taper off over time, projections show the ozone hole over the Antarctic recovering around the late 2060s.
NASA and NOAA previously ranked ozone hole severity using a time frame dating back to 1979, when scientists began tracking Antarctic ozone levels with satellites. Using that longer record, this year’s hole area ranked 14th smallest over 46 years of observations.
Factors like temperature, weather, and the strength of the wind encircling Antarctica known as the polar vortex also influence ozone levels from year to year. A weaker-than-normal polar vortex this August helped keep temperatures above average and likely contributed to a smaller ozone hole, said Laura Ciasto, a meteorologist with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.
NOAA scientists also use instruments carried on weather balloons and upward-looking surface-based instruments to measure stratospheric ozone directly above the South Pole Atmospheric Baseline Observatory. Balloon data showed that the ozone concentration reached its lowest value of 147 Dobson Units this year on Oct. 6. The lowest value ever recorded over the South Pole was 92 Dobson Units in October 2006.
NOAA scientists launch a weather balloon carrying an ozonesonde near the South Pole in September 2025.
Simeon Bash/IceCube – courtesy of NOAA
The Dobson Unit is a measurement that indicates the total number of ozone molecules present throughout the atmosphere above a certain location. A measurement of 100 Dobson Units corresponds to a layer of pure ozone 1 millimeter thick — about as thick as a dime — at standard temperature and pressure conditions.
View the latest status of the ozone layer over the Antarctic with NASA’s ozone watch.
Librarians: NASA Citizen Science has something for you!
Our new Toolkit for Librarians can help you share NASA citizen science opportunities with your patrons and community members. Rural and urban libraries, informal educators, youth group leaders, and retirement community coordinators can all benefit from this resource. Together, we can open the door for more people to join the fun, learning, and thrill of doing NASA science.
The toolkit prepares a program leader to lead a NASA Science event for people ages 8 and up. The toolkit includes:
A guide to help you prepare for the event, from choosing and equipping the space, to becoming familiar with the citizen science project that will be the focus of the event
An editable 8.5” by 11” poster to advertise your event
A model agenda to follow during your event
A handout for you and your participants to help you explore NASA-sponsored citizen science project opportunities
The toolkit creators, Sarah Kirn (Participatory Science Strategist, NASA, from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute) and Kara Reiman (librarian), together with NASA’s Citizen Science Officer Marc Kuchner, also recorded a video walk-through of this Toolkit.
“I appreciate this so much!” said one participant. “I have started Citizen Science Kits for circulation over this past year and am excited to share new opportunities with our patrons!”
“Living in a very rural and primarily native community, the kids here are limited with their nearby opportunities, so sharing this with them is a huge win…” said another.
