discoveries

- Hubble imaged NGC 1266, a lenticular (lens-shaped) galaxy ~100 million light-years away whose face hints at spiral structure but shows no distinct arms, with dust lanes and background galaxies visible. - NGC 1266 is a rare post-starburst galaxy: it hosts a young stellar population but has little ongoing

- NASA and Eta Space are partnering on LOXSAT, an in‑orbit Liquid Oxygen Flight Demonstration to test cryogenic fluid management for in-space propellant depots. - LOXSAT, built by Eta Space and integrated on a Rocket Lab Photon bus, will launch on an Electron rocket no earlier than July 17 for

- NASA and Eta Space are partnering on LOXSAT, a liquid-oxygen flight demonstration to test cryogenic fluid management in low Earth orbit. - Eta Space built the payload under NASA’s Tipping Point program; Rocket Lab will provide a Photon bus and launch on an Electron rocket no earlier than July

- Landsat 9 OLI images from April 21 and May 7, 2026 show the Kuskokwim River near Aniak shifting from frozen to partial ice breakup as spring melt began. - A grounded ice sheet produced a roughly 21-mile (34 km) ice jam upstream; ice later became unstuck and flowed downstream. - Ice

- Branch Technology Inc. developed Freeform 3D Printing that creates lightweight lattice structures for modular building elements (wall panels, cladding). - The process arose from the company’s participation in NASA’s 3D‑Printed Habitat Challenge and a cooperative agreement with Marshall Space Flight Center. - Branch refined nozzles to extrude lattice and

- Branch Technology developed Freeform 3D Printing to create lightweight lattice structural elements for modular building components. - The process originated from Branch’s work on NASA’s 3D‑Printed Habitat Challenge and a cooperative agreement with Marshall Space Flight Center. - Innovations include custom nozzles for lattice extrusion and basalt fiber‑reinforced