Anniversary - Apollo 16 Launch (1972)
Human Spaceflight
Apollo 16 lifted off at 12:54 p.m. EST April 16, 1972, from Launch Complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Two significant command and service module problems – one en route to the moon and one in lunar orbit – contributed to a delay in landing and a subsequent early termination of the mission by one day. An erroneous signal indicating guidance system gimbal lock during translunar coast was neutralized by real time programming change instructing the spacecraft computer to ignore input. After undocking of Casper and Orion, circularization burn of the CSM was delayed when backup circuit caused yaw oscillations of service propulsion system. Orion landing was held until engineers determined oscillations would not seriously affect CSM steering.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Mission Event Type: Launch.
Thursday, April 16, 2026, 10:54 AM.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Anniversary - Salyut 1 Launch (1st Space Station) (1971)
Human Spaceflight
Salyut 1 was the first space station launched into low Earth orbit, and was done so by the Soviet Union. The Salyut program followed this with five more successful launches of seven more stations. The final module of the program, Zvezda, became the core of the Russian segment of the International Space Station and remains in orbit.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Anniversary- STS-100 (Space Shuttle Endeavour) Launch (2001)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Kent Rominger, Pilot Jeffrey Ashby, Mission Specialists Chris Hadfield, Scott Parazynski, John Phillips, Umberto Guidoni and Yuri Lonchakov. More info here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Earth Day
Earth-Sun-Moon
Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970. It's not mere coincidence that was in the midst of the Apollo missions, where humanity first got to look back at ourselves as one whole, fragile planet. In the words of Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders: "We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered ." NASA is constantly studying our changing planet and helping everyone on it. Meet your home planet , Earth Science Overview , Earth Information Center , Images of Change , Earth Now , Beautiful Earth Gallery and more Earth images , Earth Day posters.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
For more info visit www.earthday.org. National Arbor Day
Earth-Sun-Moon
On this day when we celebrate trees, learn about the original "Moon Trees" of the Apollo missions, and those of Artemis. Also, help scientists by measuring trees on Earth.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Friday, April 24, 2026.
Anniversary - Hubble Space Telescope Launch (1990)
Astrophysics
Hubble is the first major optical telescope to be placed in space. Above the distortion of the atmosphere, far above rain clouds and light pollution, Hubble has an unobstructed view of the universe. Scientists have used Hubble to observe the most distant stars and galaxies as well as the planets in our solar system. More on the thumbnail (Lagoon Nebula) image here.
Event Type: Mission Event. Mission Event Type: Launch.
Friday, April 24, 2026.
For more info visit science.nasa.gov. World Malaria Day
Other
In many parts of the world, mosquitoes are more than just a summertime nuisance. Their ability to carry and spread disease to humans causes millions of deaths every year. (World Health Organization). Using the GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper, citizen scientists are able to augment broad scale satellite-based research with targeted ground-based observations at a high level of granularity.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Saturday, April 25, 2026.
National Space Day
National Space Day dedicates the first Friday of May to the extraordinary achievements, benefits and opportunities in the exploration and use of space.
Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Friday, May 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.
Friday, May 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!
Friday, May 1, 2026.
"Star Wars" Day
Other
May the Fourth be with you! Star Wars Day is a fun excuse to celebrate the cinematic universe- and the even more amazing real universe.
A few fun connections: "May the Force = Mass x Acceleration" Teachable Moment blog post, Brett Kennedy, a roboticist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, on which Star Wars robots actually have the right stuff for space travel. , Brian Muirhead, chief engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, weighs in on the best way to build a Death Star and navigate through asteroids. , An article about more NASA/Star Wars connections.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Monday, May 4, 2026.
National Astronaut Day
Human Spaceflight
May 5th celebrates the first American astronaut, Alan Shepard, and his flight aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft. Learn more about the flight on NASA's page.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
For more info visit nationalastronautday.uniphigood.com. Anniversary of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin's Birth (1900)
Our Sky
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin was a British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist who proposed in her 1925 doctoral thesis that stars were composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. Her groundbreaking conclusion was initially rejected because it contradicted the scientific wisdom of the time, which held that there were no significant elemental differences between the Sun and Earth. Independent observations eventually proved she was correct. More here and here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Sunday, May 10, 2026.
Anniversary - 1st Planetarium Opens in the US (1930)
Other
Happy birthday, Adler Planetarium! Learn more about the history of planetariums with this 8 minute video by the American Museum of Natural History.
Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Anniversary - STS-132 (Space Shuttle Atlantis) Launch (2010)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Ken Ham, Mission Specialists Garrett Reisman, Michael Good, Piers Sellers and Steve Bowen, Pilot Tony Antonelli.
More info here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary. Mission Event Type: Launch.
Thursday, May 14, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Anniversary - Nancy Grace Roman's Birth (1925)
Our Sky
Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, often called the "Mother of Hubble," is shown with a model of the Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO) in 1962. She was the first Chief of Astronomy in the Office of Space Science at NASA Headquarters and the first woman to hold an executive position at NASA. In her role, she had oversight for the planning and development of programs including the Cosmic Background Explorer and the Hubble Space Telescope. The Roman Space Telescope, named in her honor,will have a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble's, potentially measuring light from a billion galaxies in its lifetime. This observatory will also be able to block starlight to directly see exoplanets and planet-forming disks, complete a statistical census of planetary systems in our galaxy, and settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Saturday, May 16, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. 15th Anniversary (2011) - STS-134 Launch
Human Spaceflight
The Final Flight of Space Shuttle Endeavor.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 5:56 AM.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Anniversary - Discovery of Jupiter's Belts (1630)
Our Solar System
Jupiter is the fifth planet from our Sun and is, by far, the largest planet in the solar system – more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined. Jupiter's stripes and swirls are actually cold, windy clouds of ammonia and water, floating in an atmosphere of hydrogen and helium. Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot is a giant storm bigger than Earth that has raged for hundreds of years.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Sunday, May 17, 2026.
Anniversary - Mt. St Helens Eruption (1980)
Earth-Sun-Moon
Mount St. Helens has provided unprecedented opportunities for U.S. researchers to collect scientific observations of the geology of an active volcano and document the regional ecological impact and recovery from an eruption.
Earth Observatory's World of Change: Devastation and Recovery at Mt. St. Helens story here, topographic change here and 2002 image here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Monday, May 18, 2026.
Anniversary - Earth Passes Through Halley's Comet's Tail (1910)
Comets/Asteroids
1P/Halley is often called the most famous comet because it marked the first time astronomers understood comets could be repeat visitors to our night skies. Astronomers have now linked the comet's appearances to observations dating back more than 2,000 years. Halley was last seen in Earth's skies in 1986 and met was met in space by an international fleet of spacecraft. It will return in 2061 on its regular 76-year journey around the Sun. Learn more here.
Event Type: Celestial Event. Celestial Event Type: Comet.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
For more info visit science.nasa.gov. Anniversary - STS-101 (Space Shuttle Atlantis) Launch (2000)
Human Spaceflight
Commander James D. Halsell Jr. Pilot Scott J. "Doc" Horowitz, Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, Jeffrey N. Williams, James S. Voss, Susan J. Helms and Yury Vladimirovich Usachev.
More info here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary. Mission Event Type: Launch.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. NASA Fall Internships Application Deadline
Throughout the year, thousands of student interns contribute to NASA's missions of human spaceflight, aeronautics, space science and Earth research. NASA interns use their creativity and innovation to work on projects that impact NASA’s mission, like sending the first woman and next man to the Moon. Be part of an amazing virtual team while contributing to NASA missions. Learn more at https://intern.nasa.gov/. (And for internships at NASA JPL, visit https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/internships/)
Visit the 10 Things You Can Do Now to Prepare for a NASA Internship webpage.
Event Type: Registration Deadline.
Friday, May 22, 2026.
Towel Day
Other
“Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.”
― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Of course the ISS Expedition 42 crew had to do this for their fun poster.
ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti reads from Douglas Adams's “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” for Towel Day from the European laboratory Columbus on the International Space Station.
The science of a wet towel in space.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Monday, May 25, 2026.
For more info visit www.towelday.org. 75th Anniversary (1951) - Dr. Sally Ride's Birthday
Human Spaceflight
Born on May 26, 1951, NASA Astronaut Dr. Sally K. Ride became the first American woman in space, when she launched with her four crewmates aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-7 in 1983.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. National Paper Airplane Day
Aeronautics
Take flight and celebrate this high-flying day with fun hands-on activities. 3..2..1.. Takeoff! Small Steps to Giant Leaps Lesson Plan , Shape Your Flight: Small Steps to Giant Leaps Lesson Plan , Paper Jet Model , Classroom Activity: The Ring Wing Glider , Paper Airplanes.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
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, June 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!
Monday, June 1, 2026.
Anniversary - Gemini 4 Launch, USA's First Spacewalk (1965)
Human Spaceflight
Ed White made the United States' first spacewalk on 03 June 1965 during the Gemini 4 mission. The extra-vehicular activity (EVA) started at 19:45 UT (3:45 p.m. EDT) on the third orbit when White opened his hatch and used the hand-held maneuvering oxygen-jet gun to push himself out of the capsule. The EVA started over the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii and lasted 23 minutes, ending over the Gulf of Mexico. Initially, White propelled himself to the end of the 8 meter tether and back to the spacecraft three times using the hand-held gun. After the first three minutes the fuel ran out and White maneuvered by twisting his body and pulling on the tether. More info here and here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary. Mission Event Type: Launch. Mission Highlight.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. World Environment Day
Earth-Sun-Moon
NASA offers many ways for community scientists to get involved with Earth Science research. Check out climate.nasa.gov and https://science.nasa.gov/citizenscience and get started!
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Friday, June 5, 2026.
For more info visit www.worldenvironmentday.global. Anniversary - STS-111 (Space Shuttle Endeavour) Launch (2002)
Human Spaceflight
STS-111
Commander Kenneth Cockrell, Pilot Paul Lockhart, Mission Specialists Franklin Chang-Diaz and Philippe Perrin.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Friday, June 5, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. World Ocean Day
Earth-Sun-Moon
NASA’s Earth-observing instruments help scientists understand how Earth’s ocean supports a vast diversity of life and the role it plays in influencing global temperature, weather patterns, climate, and food supply. Plus we’re also exploring the other ocean worlds in our solar system!
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Monday, June 8, 2026.
For more info visit www.worldoceansday.org. Anniversary- STS-117 (Space Shuttle Atlantis) Launch (2007)
Human Spaceflight
STS-117
Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault, Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester, John "Danny" Olivas, Clayton Anderson, Jim Reilly and Steven Swanson.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Monday, June 8, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Anniversary - NuSTAR Launch (2012)
Astrophysics
The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, mission studies the universe in high energy X-rays to better understand the dynamics of black holes, exploding stars and the most extreme active galaxies.
In addition to complementing astrophysics missions studying the universe in various spectra, NuSTAR, the first hard-focusing X-ray telescope to orbit Earth, is expected to greatly improve on observations from ground-based observatories.
Event Type: Mission Event. Annual /Historic. Mission Event Type: Mission Highlight. Launch.
Saturday, June 13, 2026.
For more info visit www.jpl.nasa.gov. Anniversary - Ben Franklin's Kite-Flying Lightning Experiment (1752)
Other
Franklin, along with his son William, performed his famous kite-flying experiment which proved that lightning is a naturally-occurring electrical phenomenon. The kite was constructed with a sharp metallic wire situated on top and at the end of the kite string, and a key tied to the end of the string with a silk ribbon. When Franklin saw loose threads on the kite string stand up, he grounded the makeshift insulated conductor by touching his knuckle to the metal key on the string. Consequently, he observed a passing spark between his knuckle and the key, which presented the final proof of lightning's electrical nature. Learn more.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Monday, June 15, 2026.
National Mosquito Control Awareness Week
Other
Held each June, National Mosquito Control Awareness Week recognizes the deadly nature of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. With the GLOBE Observer app, anyone can report potential mosquito habitat and the presence of mosquito larvae. Paired with satellite observations of temperature, water and vegetation, scientists can forecast a communities’ risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Local/state awareness activities also happen throughout the spring.
GLOBE Observer Mosquito App, Mosquito Habitat Mapper toolkit, Mission Mosquito Larvae Hunters Guide.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Monday, June 15, 2026.
Valentina Tereshkova Becomes 1st Woman in Space (1963)
Human Spaceflight
Cosmonaut Tereshkova spent almost three days in space, orbiting Earth 48 times in her space capsule, Vostok 6. Twenty years and two days later, the first US woman, Sally Ride, went into space.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
Anniversary - STS-51-G (Space Shuttle Discovery) Launch (1985)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Daniel C. Brandenstein, Pilot John O. Creighton, Mission Specialists Shannon W. Lucid, John M. Fabian, Steven R. Nagel and Payload Specialists Patrick Baudry and Sultan Salman Al-Saud. More here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Sally Ride Becomes 1st US Woman in Space (1983)
Human Spaceflight
On June 18, 1983, NASA Astronaut Sally K. Ride became the first American woman in space, when she launched with her four crewmates aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-7. Ride and five other women had been selected in 1978 for NASA Astronaut Group 8, the first American selection class to include females. With the advent of the space shuttle, NASA expanded astronaut selection from only pilots to scientists and engineers, and women became eligible for selection. NASA announced Ride and her classmates to the public on Jan. 16, 1978. See full article. Images , Article/interview , Article for kids.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Summer Solstice (in Northern Hemisphere)
Our Sky
Each year, within June 20-21 is the point in the Earth's orbit where the Sun is most illuminating the northern hemisphere. Astronomers consider this the beginning of the Summer in the northern hemisphere.
What is a solstice? Seeing equinoxes and solstices from space, Build a model.
Event Type: Celestial Event. Celestial Event Type: Solstice / Equinox.
Saturday, June 20, 2026 – Sunday, June 21, 2026.
For more info visit scijinks.gov. National Selfie Day
Other
Learn how the Perseverance rover takes a selfie, here!
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
International Women in Engineering Day
Other
Organized by the Women’s Engineering Society, International Women in Engineering Day is an international awareness campaign which raises the profile of women in engineering and focuses attention on the amazing career opportunities available to women and girls in this exciting industry. Learn more and get resources here.
Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Anniversary - STS-50 (Space Shuttle Columbia) Launch (1992)
Human Spaceflight
STS-50
Commander Richard N. Richards, Pilot Kenneth D. Bowersox, Mission Specialists Bonnie J. Dunbar, Ellen S. Baker, Carl J. Meade and Payload Specialists Lawrence J. DeLucas and Eugene H. Trinh.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Thursday, June 25, 2026.
Anniversary - STS-4 (Space Shuttle Columbia) Launch (1982)
Human Spaceflight
STS-4
Commander Thomas K. Mattingly II and Pilot Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Anniversary - STS-71 Launch (Space Shuttle Atlantis) Launch (1995)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Robert L. Gibson, Pilot Charles J. Precourt, Mission Specialists Ellen S. Baker, Bonnie J. Dunbar, Gregory J. Harbaugh. More here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Saturday, June 27, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Tau Day
Other
Related to Pi Day, Tau is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its RADIUS, approximately 6.28, or 2 times Pi.
Celebrate math and all its applications, including space exploration!
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Annual Event.
Sunday, June 28, 2026.
For more info visit www.jpl.nasa.gov. International Asteroid Day
Comets/Asteroids
This is the United Nations day "to raise public awareness about the asteroid impact hazard." See What you Need to Know and the NASA asteroids site, plus activities, visuals, and articles from JPL Education. Check out the Planetary Defenders documentary and the Planetary Defense Coordination Office. Asteroid Watch and the Near Earth Object Program site are also resources for staying up to date.
Virtually examine some asteroids (and even some pieces of Mars!) with the Astromaterials 3D Interactive and NASA's Eyes on Asteroids.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
For more info visit asteroidday.org. Anniversary - 1st Leap Second (1972)
Other
A leap second is a one-second adjustment that is occasionally applied to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), to accommodate the difference between precise time (International Atomic Time (TAI), as measured by atomic clocks) and imprecise observed solar time, which varies due to irregularities and long-term slowdown in the Earth's rotation. Learn more.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Tuesday, June 30, 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.
Wednesday, July 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!
Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Anniversary- Deep Impact, Comet Tempel 1 Impact/Flyby (2005)
Comets/Asteroids
Famous for its planned impact with comet Tempel 1 that generated a brilliant flash of light later discovered to be ice and dust debris ejecting from the fresh impact crater, the Deep Impact mission was the first attempt to peer beneath the surface of a comet.
Event Type: Mission Event. Mission Event Type: Launch.
Saturday, July 4, 2026.
For more info visit www.jpl.nasa.gov. Nikola Tesla's 170th Birthday (1856)
Other
"Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American scientist and inventor whose work helped pave the way for alternating currents, electric motors, radios, fluorescent lights, lasers, and remote controls. He was posthumously awarded a U.S. patent for the radio in 1943."
Read this paper about Tesla and planetary radio signals.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Friday, July 10, 2026.
Anniversary - STS-70 (Space Shuttle Discovery) Launch (1995)
Human Spaceflight
Commander Terence T. Henricks, Pilot Kevin R. Kregel, Mission Specialists Nancy Jane Currie, Donald A. Thomas and Mary Ellen Weber. More here.
Event Type: Annual /Historic.
Monday, July 13, 2026.
For more info visit www.nasa.gov. Anniversary (1964), Mariner 4 - first close-range picture of Mars
Mars
One of the great successes of the early American space program, the Mariner 4 mission journeyed to Mars, 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.
A "real-time data translator" machine converted a Mariner 4 digital image data into numbers printed on strips of paper. Too anxious to wait for the official processed image, employees from the Telecommunications Section at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, attached these strips side by side to a display panel and hand colored the numbers like a paint-by-numbers picture.
Event Type: Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary.
Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
For more info visit www.jpl.nasa.gov. Anniversary - New Horizons, Pluto Flyby (2015)
Our Solar System
The New Horizons spacecraft was the first to explore Pluto up close, flying by the dwarf planet and its moons on July 14, 2015. In early 2019, New Horizons flew past its second major science target – Arrokoth (2014 MU69), the most distant object ever explored up close.
Event Type: Mission Event. Annual /Historic. Annual / Historic: Historic Anniversary. Mission Event Type: Flyby.
Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
For more info visit science.nasa.gov.