X-ray and hyperspectral analysis confirms that the lunar samples gifted by the USA to the Netherlands after the Apollo 11 landings are genuine and demonstrates the feasibility of non-destructive examination of precious or unique collection items

Simulations of micrometeoroid impacts into Saturn’s icy ring particles find limited pollution of the particles by non-icy material, suggesting Saturn’s rings may appear younger than their actual age.

Experiments conducted at radiation and temperature conditions representative of the surfaces of Europa and Enceladus suggest the structure and morphology of bacterial spores remain intact despite loss of viability

Single-crystal paleointensity measurements of Apollo samples suggest that if the Moon’s core produced a magnetic field, it disappeared by 4.36 billion years ago, possibly allowing a record of Earth’s Hadean atmosphere to be preserved in the lunar regolith.

In October 2024, two spacecrafts were successfully launched towards different bodies: Europa, a prime astrobiological target, and Dimorphos, the first test of planetary defence. Joined in their exploration by other missions, they are perfect examples of intra-agency synergy to enhance our knowledge of the Solar System.

In his previous Thesis, Bruce Gibb introduced us to the chemistry of Jupiter’s moons. Now, he takes us on a tour of NASA’s Europa Clipper, the spacefaring chemistry lab set to revolutionize our understanding of Jupiter’s most intriguing satellite.

In response to concerns raised by the Navajo Nation on treating the Moon as a grave, NASA has a unique opportunity to advance the conversation with Indigenous communities regarding how we interact with space environments, and who gets to decide.

The Moon’s primordial solidification is believed to have produced a layer of dense ilmenite cumulates beneath the crust. Remnants of this layer have now been detected under the lunar nearside.