Are you interested in sharing your science and expertise with the public? Education and public engagement opportunities may be available online or in your community. Explore ways to get involved by contacting your local museums and planetariums, libraries, Solar System Ambassadors, or amateur astronomy clubs.

Launch of Artemis I Approaches

On April 1, NASA engineers began conducting the final test of the new Space Launch System (SLS) Orion spacecraft, and Exploration Ground Systems, known as the ‘wet dress rehearsal.’ The results of the rehearsal will help determine the target launch date for the Artemis I launch. The Artemis missions will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon and establish long-term exploration in preparation for missions to Mars. Find all the latest developments on NASA’s blog.

Webb’s NIRCam Alignment Selfie. In this image, all of Webb’s 18 primary mirror segments are shown collecting light from the same star in unison. Credit: NASA/STScI.

Aligning the Webb’s Mirrors

Presently, the Webb Telescope is cooling and aligning its mirrors. On March 11, the telescope completed a critical milestone in the alignment process, known as “fine phasing.” With Webb’s optical systems performing beyond expectations, the first full-resolution imagery and science data are on track to be released in the summer. Stay apprised of the JWST’s commissioning progress here.

Illustration showing different types of possible exoplanets. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Achievement Unlocked: 5,000 Exoplanets

In late March, the number of planets confirmed to exist beyond our solar system surpassed 5,000. Learn more about this milestone here. Help your audience explore the universe with NASA’s Eyes on Exoplanets, get involved with citizen science projects, and find more amazing resources.