NASA Ames Hosts Largest Civil Servant Swearing-In Ceremony
On August 24, 2026, a significant group of new civil servants and their guests gathered for a group photograph within the impressive 80-by-120-foot test section of the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) at NASA's Ames Research Center. This event marked a historic milestone, as it was the largest swearing-in ceremony ever held at the California-based facility since its establishment almost 87 years ago.
Image credit: Brandon Torres Navarrete
English Translation and Paraphrasing:
NASA Ames Conducts Largest Civil Servant Swearing-In Ceremony
On August 24, 2026, new civil servants and guests assembled for a commemorative group photo. The picture was taken inside the expansive 80-by-120-foot test section of the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) at NASA's Ames Research Center. This ceremony holds particular significance as it was the largest swearing-in event hosted at the Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley since the center's founding nearly 87 years ago.
Image credit: Brandon Torres Navarrete
Fresh materials — MMA
NASA Welcomes Jeret Howard as a Civil Servant
Jeret Howard, a logistics management specialist at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, has transitioned from a long-time contractor to a civil servant. This move signifies a continuation of his commitment to national service, mirroring his early dedication as a U.S. Army combat medic at
Rare, Widespread Snowfall in the Atacama Desert
In August 2026, consecutive winter storms brought an unusual snow cover to parts of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. While the region has experienced snowfall before, notably in 2025 and 2011, one of the 2026 events was exceptionally extensive, reaching from the Andes mountains towards th
Astronauts Anil Menon and Sophie Adenot on Spacewalk
Astronauts Anil Menon of NASA and Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency (ESA) participated in a spacewalk on August 18, 2026. The Extravehicular Activity (EVA) lasted six hours and 23 minutes and took place outside the International Space Station (ISS). During this spacewalk, the two f
New Next-Gen Dish Strengthens NASA's Deep Space Network
NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) facility in California has welcomed a significant upgrade with the addition of a new 34-meter (114-foot) radio frequency antenna. This advanced dish is now a vital part of the agency's system for deep space communications and navigation, which utilizes large ant
Perseverance Captures Another Phobos Transit
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover successfully captured an image of Phobos, one of Mars' two moons, passing in front of the Sun. This event, known as a transit, was observed on August 12, 2026, which was the 1,948th Martian day (sol) of the mission. The rover utilized its Mastcam-Z camera for thi
Starstruck: NASA Research Reveals How the Sun's Ancient History Shaped Earth
New research supported by NASA sheds light on how pivotal events in the Sun's ancient history may have played a crucial role in establishing Earth's unique climate and triggering previously unexplained climatic fluctuations. Scientists have investigated the Sun's historical path throu