Anniversary - STS-33 (Space Shuttle Discovery) Launch (1989)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Frederick D. Gregory, Pilot John E. Blaha, Mission Specialists F. Story Musgrave, Manley L. Carter, Jr. and Kathryn C. Thornton. More info.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Saturday, November 22, 2025.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Bill Nye's 70th Birthday (1955)
Other
Bill Nye, the Science Guy, is a popular science communicator, known from television and radio, and other media. He is currently the CEO of the Planetary Society.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Thursday, November 27, 2025.
For more info visit www.jpl.nasa.gov. Anniversary - Mariner 4 Launch (1964)
Mars
One of the great successes of the early American space program, the Mariner 4 mission journeyed to Mars -- making its closest approach on July 15, 1965 -- and took the first photos of another planet from space.
In addition to providing key information about how to safely deliver future missions to the Martian surface, the spacecraft far outlasted its planned eight-month mission. It lasted about three years in solar orbit, continuing long-term studies of the solar wind and making coordinated measurements with the Mariner 5 spacecraft.
Friday, November 28, 2025, 6:22 AM.
For more info visit www.jpl.nasa.gov. Anniversary -STS-97 (Space Shuttle Endeavour) Launch (2000)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Michael Bloomfield, Mission Specialists Joseph Tanner, Marc Garneau and Carlos Noriega. More info here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Sunday, November 30, 2025.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. New "What's Up" Video Available
Our Sky
Get your monthly overview of the night sky.
Event Type: Online Presentation/Interaction. Online Event Type: For Classrooms.
Monday, December 1, 2025.
Computer Science Education Week
Other
Computer Science Educational Resources from NASA
Coding activities from JPL
Tynker’s space-themed coding activities.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Monday, December 1, 2025 – Friday, December 5, 2025.
For more info visit www.csedweek.org. NASA Space Place's Art Challenge
Other
Do you love making art and using your imagination? So do we! Every NASA mission starts with a creative idea about how to explore something in a new way. Get creative and submit your art before the deadline at the end of the month!
Monday, December 1, 2025.
Anniversary - STS-35 (Space Shuttle Columbia) Launch (1990)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Vance D. Brand, Pilot Guy S. Gardner, Mission Specialists Jeffrey A. Hoffman, John M. Lounge, Robert A. Parker and Payload Specialists Samuel T. Durrance and Ronald A. Parise. More info here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Anniversary - Gemini 7 Launch (1965)
Human Spaceflight
Gemini 7 was the fourth crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series, having been launched before Gemini 6A. It carried astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell on the 14 day mission. Its mission priorities were (1) to demonstrate a 2-week flight, (2) to perform stationkeeping with the Gemini launch vehicle stage 2, (3) to evaluate the 'shirt sleeve' environment and the lightweight pressure suit, (4) to act as a rendezvous target for Gemini 6, and (5) to demonstrate controlled reentry close to the target landing point. The crew members had three scientific, four technological, four spacecraft, and eight medical experiments to perform. More info here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Saturday, December 6, 2025.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Anniversary - Apollo 17 Launch (1972)
Human Spaceflight
The Apollo 17 lunar landing site was the Taurus-Littrow highlands and valley area. This site was picked as a location where rocks both older and younger than those previously returned from other Apollo missions, as well as from Luna 16 and 20 missions, might be found.
More on the mission here from the National Space Science Data Center, the permanent archive for NASA space science mission data.
Also see the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal for transcripts and more.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Saturday, December 6, 2025, 9:33 PM.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. International Civil Aviation Day
Aeronautics
The purpose of International Civil Aviation Day is to help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States, and of the unique role of ICAO in helping States to cooperate and realize a truly global rapid transit network at the service of all mankind.
Learn more about NASA Aeronautics.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Sunday, December 7, 2025.
For more info visit www.un.org. Anniversary - Gemini 6 & 7 Make 1st Manned Spacecraft Rendezvous (1965)
Human Spaceflight
On December 15, 1965, Gemini VI and VII met for the first rendezvous in space. This was not NASA’s original plan. Gemini VI, commanded by Mercury astronaut Wally Schirra and piloted by Tom Stafford, was supposed to have orbited on October 25, to rendezvous and dock with an Agena target vehicle. But the unpiloted Agena spacecraft blew up during launch that morning, stranding the crew waiting in their vehicle on Launch Complex 19. This failure could set the program back months. But then Walter Burke and John Yardley of Gemini spacecraft contractor McDonnell Aircraft remembered an idea earlier floated by Titan II booster contractor Martin: launch two Geminis in quick succession. Gemini VII was to be next in early December. Stafford’s fellow Group 2 astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell were scheduled to endure a two-week medical mission, proving that humans could survive the longest possible Apollo mission to the Moon. Why not launch Gemini VII first, then clean up the launch pad and send VI, now called VI-A by…
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Monday, December 15, 2025.
Anniversary - Gemini 6 Launch (1965)
Human Spaceflight
Gemini 6A was the fifth crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series, having been launched after Gemini 7, with the intent of making rendezvous with Gemini 7 in Earth orbit. The astronauts on the 26 hour mission were Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford. The mission priorities were to demonstrate on-time launch procedures, closed-loop rendezvous capabilities, and stationkeeping techniques with Gemini 7. Other objectives were to evaluate the spacecraft reentry guidance capabilities, and conduct spacecraft systems tests and four experiments. This mission was originally designated Gemini 6 and scheduled for launch on 25 October but was cancelled when the Agena target vehicle failed to go into orbit an hour earlier. More info.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Monday, December 15, 2025.
Anniversary - 1st Song Performed in Space (1965)
Human Spaceflight
..it was "jingle Bells." Read the story here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
Anniversary - Discovery of the First Object in the Asteroid Belt (1801)
Our Sky
Dwarf planet Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and the only dwarf planet located in the inner solar system. It was the first member of the asteroid belt to be discovered when Giuseppe Piazzi spotted it in 1801. And when Dawn arrived in 2015, Ceres became the first dwarf planet to receive a visit from a spacecraft. Called an asteroid for many years, Ceres is so much bigger and so different from its rocky neighbors that scientists classified it as a dwarf planet in 2006. Learn more about Ceres here and more about the discovery here.
Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Thursday, January 1, 2026.
New "What's Up" Video Available
Our Sky
Get your monthly overview of the night sky.
Event Type: Online Presentation/Interaction. Online Event Type: For Classrooms.
Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Happy New Year
Other
How do we decide it's the start of a new year? More about calendars here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Thursday, January 1, 2026.
NASA Space Place's Art Challenge
Other
Do you love making art and using your imagination? So do we! Every NASA mission starts with a creative idea about how to explore something in a new way. Get creative and submit your art before the deadline at the end of the month!
Thursday, January 1, 2026.
National Trivia Day
Check out the NASA Kahoot! channel for some fun ways to test your knowledge!
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Anniversary - President Nixon Approves Space Shuttle Program (1972)
Human Spaceflight
After the United States achieved President John F. Kennedy’s goal of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth, policymakers asked the question, after Apollo, what next? Shortly after taking office in 1969, President Richard M. Nixon empaneled a group of experts to provide him with recommendations on the nation’s future direction in space. Faced with tight federal budgets, President Nixon could not support most of the panel’s recommendations due to their high cost. In January 1972, he directed NASA to develop and build a reusable space transportation system, commonly known as the space shuttle. The reusability of the shuttle’s components was expected to provide regular access to space to many customers, while at the same time reducing costs.
Read more here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Monday, January 5, 2026.
Anniversary - Jacob Bernoulli's Birthday (1655)
Aeronautics
In 1738, Bernoulli published “Hydrodynamica” his study in fluid dynamics, or the study of how fluids behave when they are in motion. Air, like water, is a fluid; however, unlike water, which is a liquid, air is a gaseous substance. Air is considered a fluid because it flows and can take on different shapes. Bernoulli asserted that as a fluid moves faster, it produces less pressure, and conversely, slower moving fluids produce greater pressure.
Bernoulli's Principle On-Board the International Space Station video here
Demonstrate the Bernoulli Principle with these hands-on lessons:
K-4, Grades 5-8.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Anniversary- Jacques Etienne Montgolfier's Birthday (1745)
Other
In 1783, the Montgolfier brothers demonstrated the first hot air balloon. Constructed of silk and paper and fueled by heated air (which they named "Montgolfier gas"), the flight lasted 10 minutes, reaching a peak altitude of 2,000 meters (6,600 feet). A few months later, on September 19, 1783, a sheep, rooster and duck became the first hot air balloon passengers. The Montgolfier brothers then sent three passengers on the first human hot air balloon ride on November 21, 1783.
Learn about NASA's use of balloons for science here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Anniversary - 1st Exoplanets Discovered (1992)
Other
On 9 January 1992, radio astronomers Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail announced the discovery of two planets orbiting the pulsar PSR 1257+12. Explore the timeline of exoplanet exploration here and the most recent count of how many planets outside our solar system have been discovered here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Friday, January 9, 2026.
Anniversary- Radar Astronomy Born When Radar Bounced Off Moon by the US Army (1946)
Astrophysics
"Project Diana". Learn more about radar astronomy and maybe even try it yourself.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Saturday, January 10, 2026.
Anniversary STS-72 (Space Shuttle Endeavour) Launch (1996)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Brian Duffy, Pilot Brent W. Jett, Mission Specialists Leroy Chiao, Daniel T. Barry, Winston E. Scott and Koichi Wakata. More info here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Sunday, January 11, 2026.
Anniversary - STS-61-C (Space Shuttle Columbia) Launch (1986)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Robert L. Gibson, Pilot Charles F. Bolden, Jr. Mission Specialists Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Steven A. Hawley, George D. Nelson and Payload Specialists Robert J. Cenker and Congressman Bill Nelson. More info here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Monday, January 12, 2026.
Anniversary - STS-81 Launch (Space Shuttle Atlantis) Launch (1997)
Human Spaceflight
The first shuttle flight of 1997 which was highlighted by the return of U.S. astronaut John Blaha to Earth after 118-day stay aboard the Russian Space Station Mir and the largest transfer to date of logistics between the two spacecraft. Atlantis also returned carrying the first plants to complete a life cycle in space -- a crop of wheat grown from seed to seed. This fifth of nine planned dockings continued Phase 1B of the NASA/Russian Space Agency cooperative effort, with Linenger becoming the third U.S. astronaut in succession to live on Mir.
Commander Michael A. Baker, Pilot Brent W. Jett, Jr. Mission Specialists John M. Grunsfeld, Marsha S. Ivins, Peter J. Wisoff and Jerry M. Linenger.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Monday, January 12, 2026.
Anniversary - New Horizons Launch (2006)
Our Solar System
The New Horizons spacecraft gave us our first close look at Pluto with its historic July 14, 2015 flyby.
http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/.
Event Type: Mission Event. Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary. Mission Event Type: Launch.
Monday, January 19, 2026.
Anniversary - STS-42 (Space Shuttle Discovery) Launch (1992)
Human Spaceflight
STS-42's primary payload was the International Microgravity Laboratory-1 (IML-1), making its first flight and using the pressurized Spacelab module. The International crew was divided into two teams for around-the-clock research on the human nervous system's adaptation to low gravity and the effects of microgravity on other life forms such as shrimp eggs, lentil seedlings, fruit fly eggs, and bacteria.
Commander Ronald J. Grabe, Pilot Stephen S. Oswald, Mission Specialists Norman E. Thagard, David C. Hilmers, William F. Readdy and Payload Specialists Roberta L. Bondar and Ulf D. Merbold.
Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Anniversary - Great Comet of 1472 Near-Earth Flyby (10.5 million km)
Our Sky
Comets are frozen leftovers from the formation of the solar system composed of dust, rock, and ices. They range from a few miles to tens of miles wide, but as they orbit closer to the Sun, they heat up and spew gases and dust into a glowing head that can be larger than a planet. This material forms a tail that stretches millions of miles.
In 1998, The NASA Near-Earth Object Program Office was established at JPL to coordinate NASA-sponsored efforts to detect, track and characterize potentially hazardous asteroids and comets that could approach the Earth.
Learn more about "great comets".
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Thursday, January 22, 2026.
For more info visit science.nasa.gov. Anniversary - Lottie Williams Becomes 1st Person to be Hit by Space Debris (1997)
Other
Lottie Williams was walking through a park around 4 a.m. when she saw what looked like a shooting star. A little while later, Williams felt a tap on her shoulder. When she turned around, there was no one there — but something fell to the ground. It was a small piece of burned mesh. An analysis later showed that it's most likely part of a returning Delta II rocket. "I think I was blessed that it doesn't weigh that much," says Williams, noting that larger pieces of this rocket fell elsewhere. "I mean, that was one of the weirdest things that ever happened to me." Read more here. Learn about orbital debris here and here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Thursday, January 22, 2026.
NASA Day of Remembrance
Other
On the Day of Remembrance, NASA pays tribute to the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other members of the NASA family who lost their lives supporting NASA’s mission of exploration.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Thursday, January 22, 2026.
40th Anniversary (1986), Voyager 2, Uranus Flyby
Our Solar System
The primary mission of the twin Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft was the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn. After making a string of discoveries there — such as active volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io and intricacies of Saturn's rings — the mission was extended. Voyager 2 went on to explore Uranus and Neptune, and is still the only spacecraft to have visited those outer planets. The adventurers' current mission, the Voyager Interstellar Mission (VIM), will explore the outermost edge of the Sun's domain. And beyond.
Read first hand accounts of the event here. (Don't miss the posters!)
Simulate the Uranus flyby in realtime here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Mission Event. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary. Mission Event Type: Flyby.
Saturday, January 24, 2026.
Anniversary - Voyager 2, Uranus Flyby (1986)
Our Solar System
The primary mission of the twin Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft was the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn. After making a string of discoveries there — such as active volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io and intricacies of Saturn's rings — the mission was extended. Voyager 2 went on to explore Uranus and Neptune, and is still the only spacecraft to have visited those outer planets. The adventurers' current mission, the Voyager Interstellar Mission (VIM), will explore the outermost edge of the Sun's domain. And beyond.
Read first hand accounts of the event here. (Don't miss the posters of Voyager and Uranus!)
Simulate the Uranus flyby in real-time here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Mission Event. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary. Mission Event Type: Flyby.
Saturday, January 24, 2026.
For more info visit solarsystem.nasa.gov. Anniversary - Apollo 1 Fire (1967)
Human Spaceflight
Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee were killed in a fire in the Apollo Command Module during a preflight test at Cape Canaveral. They were training for the first crewed Apollo flight, an Earth orbiting mission scheduled to be launched on 21 February. Learn more.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
Anniversary - Apollo 14 Launch (1971l)
Human Spaceflight
"Shepard back in space..."
The primary objectives of this mission were to explore the Fra Mauro region centered around deployment of the Apollo Lunar Surface Scientific Experiments Package, or ALSEP; lunar field geology investigations; collection of surface material samples for return to Earth; deployment of other scientific instruments not part of ALSEP; orbital science involving high-resolution photography of candidate future landing sites; photography of deep-space phenomena, such as zodiacal light and gegenschein; communications tests using S-band and VHF signals to determine reflective properties of the lunar surface; engineering and operational evaluation of hardware and techniques; tests to determine variations in S-band signals; and photography of surface details from 60 nautical miles in altitude.
More on the mission here from the National Space Science Data Center, the permanent archive for NASA space science mission data. Presentation slides with notes are here.
Also see the Apollo Lunar…
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 1:03 PM.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. New "What's Up" Video Available
Our Sky
Get your monthly overview of the night sky.
Event Type: Online Presentation/Interaction. Online Event Type: For Classrooms.
Sunday, February 1, 2026.
Groundhog Day
February 2 lies midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Learn more at NASA Space Place Reasons for Seasons. Use the Exploring Earth: Bear's Shadow activity to make and experiment with shadows.
Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Monday, February 2, 2026.
Anniversary -1st Rocket Mail Launch (1931)
Other
From Wikipedia: "On 2 February 1931 Schmiedl launched a rocket from Schöckl, which contained 102 letters. It was operated by remote control and landed by parachute at St Radegund, a village about 3 km away. More successful launches were subsequently made, to St Radegund and to Kumberg, a village about 6 km away. Philatelists became interested in collecting letters which had been sent by rocket. Schmiedl envisaged that mail could be sent between towns by rocket; however the Austrian Post Office was not persuaded.".
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Monday, February 2, 2026.
NASA Space Place's Art Challenge
Other
Do you love making art and using your imagination? So do we! Every NASA mission starts with a creative idea about how to explore something in a new way. Get creative and submit your art before the deadline at the end of the month!
Monday, February 2, 2026.
Anniversary - STS-63 (Space Shuttle Discovery) Launch (1995)
Human Spaceflight
First shuttle flight of 1995 included several history- making achievements: First flight of a female shuttle pilot and, as part of Phase I of International Space Station Program, second flight of Russian cosmonaut on shuttle and first approach and flyaround by shuttle with Russian space station Mir. More here.
Commander James D. Wetherbee, Pilot Eileen M. Collins, Missions Specialists C. Michael Foale, Janice E. Voss, Bernard A. Harris, Jr. and Vladimar G. Titov.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary. Mission Event Type: Launch.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Anniversary - Apollo 14 Lunar Landing (1971)
Human Spaceflight
"Shepard back in space..."
The primary objectives of this mission were to explore the Fra Mauro region centered around deployment of the Apollo Lunar Surface Scientific Experiments Package, or ALSEP; lunar field geology investigations; collection of surface material samples for return to Earth; deployment of other scientific instruments not part of ALSEP; orbital science involving high-resolution photography of candidate future landing sites; photography of deep-space phenomena, such as zodiacal light and gegenschein; communications tests using S-band and VHF signals to determine reflective properties of the lunar surface; engineering and operational evaluation of hardware and techniques; tests to determine variations in S-band signals; and photography of surface details from 60 nautical miles in altitude.
More on the mission here from the National Space Science Data Center, the permanent archive for NASA space science mission data. Presentation slides with notes are here.
Also see the Apollo Lunar…
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Thursday, February 5, 2026, 1:18 AM.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Anniversary (1971), Alan Shepard's Golf Shot on the Moon (Apollo 14)
Human Spaceflight
Shepard carried a modified Wilson six-iron in his spacesuit pocket, afixing the club head to the handle of a contingency sample return device. Here's what the club looks like; video is here. Transcript (includes commentary) and timeline are available.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Mission Event. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Friday, February 6, 2026, 4:11 AM – 4:13 AM.
For more info visit www.youtube.com. Anniversary - STS-98 Launch (Space Shuttle Atlantis) Launch (2001)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Kenneth Cockrell, Pilot Mark Polansky, Mission Specialists Robert Curbeam, Thomas Jones and Marsha Ivins. More info here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Saturday, February 7, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Anniversary STS-130 (Space Shuttle Endeavour) Launch (2000)
Human Spaceflight
Commander George Zamka, Pilot Terry Virts, Mission Specialists Nicholas Patrick, Robert Behnken, Kathryn Hire, and Stephen Robinson. More here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary. Mission Event Type: Launch.
Sunday, February 8, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. National Pizza Day
Other
Solar Pizza Box Cooker , Video: Pizza Night on the International Space Station! , Space Place: GPS and the Quest for Pizza.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Monday, February 9, 2026.
Anniversary - STS-82 (Space Shuttle Discovery) Launch (1997)
Human Spaceflight
STS-82 demonstrated anew the capability of the space shuttle to service orbiting spacecraft as well as the benefits of human spaceflight. A six-member crew completed servicing and upgrading of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during four planned extravehicular activities (EVAs) and then performed a fifth unscheduled space walk to repair insulation on the telescope.
Commander Kenneth D. Bowersox, Pilot Scott J. Horowitz, Mission Specialists Mark C. Lee, Steven A.Hawley, Gregory J. Harbaugh, Steven L. Smith and Joseph R. Tanner.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Anniversary - STS-99 (Space Shuttle Endeavour) Launch (2000)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Kevin R. Kregel, Pilot Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie, Mission Specialists Janet L. Kavandi, Janice E. Voss, Mamoru Mohri and Gerhard P. J. Thiele. More here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Online Presentation/Interaction. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Other
Declared by the UN, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science recognizes the role of women and girls in science as agents of change, including by accelerating progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
National Inventors' Day
Other
National Inventors' Day recognizes the ingenuity and creativity of inventors nationwide. Celebrate inventors of all backgrounds, like NASA engineer George Edward Alcorn, Inductee of the National Inventor's Hall of Fame. Find other inductees by name, university, company, state, and more. Spinoff highlights NASA technologies that benefit life on Earth in the form of commercial products.
Videos: NASA Spinoff Channel, Artemis Student Challenges, NASA Solve.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
For more info visit technology.nasa.gov. Anniversary of "A Pale Blue Dot" (1990)
Our Solar System
February 14th, 1990 - Voyager 1 turns around to take a picture of the Earth a distance of more than 4 billion miles (6.4 billion kilometers), now known as the "Pale Blue Dot."
Watch the JPL lecture about the anniversary.
See the feature "Pale Blue Dot" Revisited, including a remastered poster.
Event Type: Mission Event. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary. Mission Event Type: Mission Highlight.
Saturday, February 14, 2026.
For more info visit solarsystem.nasa.gov. Space Valentines!
Other
Printable Valentine's Day cards from NASA Space Place
More themes: exoplanets, our solar system, OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample mission, and images from across NASA.
Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Saturday, February 14, 2026.
Galileo Day
Other
A great day to celebrate Galileo Galilei, on the anniversary of his birth.
Galileo Galilei was an Italian physicist and astronomer. In 1609, Galileo heard about the invention of the spyglass, a device which made distant objects appear closer. Galileo used his mathematics knowledge and technical skills to improve upon the spyglass and build a telescope. Later that same year, he became the first person to look at the Moon through a telescope and make his first astronomy discovery. He found that the Moon was not smooth, but mountainous and pitted - just like the Earth! He subsequently used his newly invented telescope to discover four of the moons circling Jupiter, to study Saturn, to observe the phases of Venus, and to study sunspots on the Sun.
Galileo's observations strengthened his belief in Copernicus' theory that Earth and all other planets revolve around the Sun. Most people in Galileo's time believed that the Earth was the center of the universe and that the Sun and planets revolved around it.
Learn…
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Sunday, February 15, 2026.
Anniversary - Discovery of Life Living Off Of Geothermal Vents on Pacific Ocean Floor (1977)
Other
Extremophiles are organisms that live in places on Earth that humans would consider “extreme” like hot spring pools, glaciers, or the bottom of the ocean. Astrobiologists are interested in extremophiles on Earth because they study similar environments on other planets and moons that may have extremophiles, too.
Extremophiles trading cards activity, "What is an Extremophile?" video and activities.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Anniversary - Clyde Tombaugh's Discovery of Pluto (1930)
Our Solar System
Pluto is a dwarf planet that lies in the Kuiper Belt, an area full of icy bodies and other dwarf planets out past Neptune. Pluto is very small, only about half the width of the United States and its biggest moon Charon is about half the size of Pluto.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
For more info visit science.nasa.gov.