![Meredith Garofalo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BmPbd7wyTnqUPmJ87cu22P.jpg)
Meredith Garofalo
Latest articles by Meredith Garofalo
![a black and white rocket lifts off under a sunny blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e3PPNMfjfC4L2MqtMzBP8a-320-80.jpg)
US Space Force picks Rocket Lab for 2025 Victus Haze space domain awareness mission
By Meredith Garofalo published
A recent $32 million contract between the U.S. Space Force and Rocket Lab will lead to the creation of a spacecraft to enhance national security supporting space domain awareness.
![two images; the one on the left shows a small rectangle of glass covered in black dust; the one on the right shows a clear circle with no dust on the same glass rectangle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uDq92pG5L7TykoHrJFXenb-320-80.jpg)
Private moon mission to carry NASA electric moon dust shield in 2024
By Meredith Garofalo published
NASA is sending a technology demonstrator to the moon on the upcoming private Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1 in order to test how to repel and remove lunar dust using electricity.
![an image of earth taken by a satellite, showing white wispy clouds over blue oceans and green landmasses](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rjdGi9hmMPhbd6Z7f3rcdT-320-80.png)
Earth Day 2024: Witness our changing planet in 12 incredible satellite images
By Meredith Garofalo published
To commemorate Earth Day, enjoy these 12 NOAA satellite images that showcase the different ways this critical technology helps scientists keep an eye on our planet.
![earth against the blackness of space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A2zZsEd4niP9KVPJFpMyfH-320-80.jpg)
Happy Earth Day 2024! NASA picks 6 new airborne missions to study our changing planet
By Meredith Garofalo published
Six newly selected NASA airborne campaigns will focus on a range of studies focusing on Earth and its changing climate.
![A woman with shoulder length brown wavy hair holds one hand over her mouth and her other hand points up at the sun during the April 8 total solar eclipse.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/czs3gTKoHYVQBzyf2bFFsJ-320-80.jpg)
Those magic minutes during April 8's solar eclipse brought me to tears
By Meredith Garofalo published
There have been some cool moments in my life, but totality in Dallas moves to a top slot.
![The JunoCam instrument on NASA’s Juno captured this view of Jupiter’s moon Io — with the first-ever image of its south polar region — during the spacecraft’s 60th flyby of Jupiter on April 9.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B4584BseyzkpmhYgit7wkZ-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Juno probe captures amazing views of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
NASA's Juno probe continues to give us more insight into Jupiter and the giant planet's moons, including Io, the most volcanically active object in the solar system.
![a rocket floats in a calm sea beneath cloudy skies](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohg4EXw2EezyZ8e5FR3wM3-320-80.jpg)
Rocket Lab gearing up to refly Electron booster for 1st time
By Meredith Garofalo published
Rocket Lab has put a recovered Electron first stage back into its production line, a big step toward the company's first-ever rocket reflight.
![A bunch of cheerleaders in red outfits wearing solar eclipse glasses and looking up at the sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ePoyJJ7KAArqeWZrrvTeMi-320-80.jpg)
Southern Illinois will get its 2nd solar eclipse in a decade this year
By Meredith Garofalo published
It's already rare for a single location to experience a total solar eclipse, but on April 8, Carbondale, Illinois will see its second one within a decade.
![the sun can be seen in the sky above three tall spires of rock in the desert](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xgzYZYwTNiKXtyjHjfaQxH-320-80.jpg)
'Everything is interrelated.' For the Navajo Nation, the April 8 solar eclipse is a spiritual experience
By Meredith Garofalo published
A perspective on experiencing the total solar eclipse through the eyes of the Navajo Nation.
![Six black and white women (all white) stand behind a giant model of the space shuttle.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgBEhbaHN5KYBkWV8LoEwE-320-80.jpg)
We asked over 50 women space leaders for words of inspiration. Here's what they told us
By Meredith Garofalo published
Current leaders across the space industry share wisdom and advice as we reflect on the achievements of women in space during Women's History month.
![people wearing suits on a stage laugh as they hold paper eclipse glasses to their faces](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hvYaBWv4pv7HAv9Fdhvj9g-320-80.jpg)
NASA is super stoked for the 2024 total solar eclipse and hopes you are, too.
By Meredith Garofalo published
NASA is using the total solar eclipse on April 8 to increase public knowledge of science while encouraging safety during what could be a once-in-a-lifetime event.
![four people look up at a solar eclipse while holding paper glasses to their eyes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/69QNWivDAMeAvMGqApbhWC-320-80.jpg)
Texas Eclipse Festival offers a 'choose your own adventure experience' for April total solar eclipse
By Meredith Garofalo published
The Texas Eclipse Festival will be unlike any camping experience you've ever imagined with its "out of this world" lineup of live music, arts, yoga, speakers and more.
![An artist's impression of the James Webb Space Telescope. It's golden mirror is seen atop its silvery sunshield floating in space.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cwo2pjvHbG5hfbkPWErPya-320-80.jpg)
A new ultrablack coating for telescopes could bring more stars into focus
By Meredith Garofalo published
Next-gen telescopes could see a much clearer picture using a new thin film coating that's incredibly dark.
![A graphic showing the path of totality for the april 8 solar eclipse and the mean cloud cover.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ngtn7DLLu8soamFQnJ9M4M-320-80.jpg)
Solar eclipse 2024 weather prospects: Q&A with an expert
By Meredith Garofalo published
Taking a deeper look into climatology and other factors to better understand an early outlook for eclipse weather along the path of totality on April 8.
![a number of planets orbit around a central orange star in perfect circles](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2yefVycVt8o9sfDW4Jifv8-320-80.gif)
Can you solve NASA's Pi Day 2024 challenge?
By Meredith Garofalo published
Hungry for Pi? Check out NASA's Pi Day challenge and put your wits to the test solving problems just like NASA scientists and engineers.
![a bright mass errupts from a red circle.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ya3MWq8kq3acHh9EAXMurb-320-80.gif)
Widespread solar storm struck spacecraft near the sun, Earth and even Mars
By Meredith Garofalo published
Different spaceborne perspectives of a 2021 solar storm in 2021 reveal new insights on dangers in space posed by solar particles.
![a total solar eclipse seen through an airline window](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oLGq84fPXGvuMXNRg6WRib-320-80.jpg)
April 8 total solar eclipse boosts ticket sales for United Airlines
By Meredith Garofalo published
Demand is soaring for United Airlines flights to and from cities in the April 8 solar eclipse's path of totality.
![A visual of a digitized-looking Earth. It's super blue.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BErgrxdrEtmugwgH745r3J-320-80.jpg)
Scientists made a 'digital twin' of Earth to simulate possible natural disasters
By Meredith Garofalo published
By creating a virtual model of Earth, scientists hope to use countless types of data to map natural disaster risks ahead of time.
![a total solar eclipse seen through an airline window](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oLGq84fPXGvuMXNRg6WRib-320-80.jpg)
Delta Air Lines opens up 2nd 'totality' flight for 2024 total solar eclipse
By Meredith Garofalo last updated
Delta Air Lines is offering special flights that allow passengers to experience the total solar eclipse from 30,000 feet up in the sky along the path of totality.
![a woman smiles while posing for a portrait in a white spacesuit](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fCqKR8srzeatgmJVLfTZzK-320-80.jpg)
Sian Proctor on her legacy of being the 1st Black woman to pilot a spacecraft
By Meredith Garofalo published
Sian Proctor spoke to Space.com about her captivating story of a woman who soared past barriers to pave the way for more diversity and inclusivity in space.
![An illustration of a frozen white Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2NJRkP5CWR878m4fZ4vUGB-320-80.jpg)
Our luscious blue Earth used to be a frozen snowball
By Meredith Garofalo published
More than 700 million years ago, our planet would have been unlivable due to an extreme ice age, and Australian geologists have a suggestion as to how this could have happened.
![Wildfires burning across the Pacific Northwest as seen from NOAA's GOES-18 satellite on August 16, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7m2prLJr3Ci732WKxdPnpX-320-80.png)
How scientists are using artificial intelligence to predict wildfires
By Meredith Garofalo published
AI continues to prove successful as an important tool for fire weather forecasters, both with thunderstorm prediction and increasing situational awareness for active fires caused by lightning.
![a black and white space plane stands vertically inside a large white-walled room, with scaffolding in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6bZS4K7bsXCbEDYTh3xfA8-320-80.jpg)
Sierra Space unveils Dream Chaser space plane ahead of 1st flight to ISS (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
Sierra Space and NASA revealed the company's first Dream Chaser cargo spacecraft, which is undergoing testing before its inaugural spaceflight later this year.