The night sky this month, May 2026, will include Eta Aquarid meteors and a Blue Moon. Here are videos and links to websites highlighting the top sights to observe.
** What’s Up: May 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA | NASA JPL
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower brings shooting stars before dawn, the Moon meets brilliant Venus after sunset, and May wraps up with a rare Blue Moon.
Look to the early morning sky around May 5-6 for meteors from Halley’s Comet, though bright moonlight may wash out some of the fainter streaks.
Then on May 18, spot the crescent Moon near Venus low in the western sky just after sunset. May ends with a Full Moon on May 31.
May ends with a Blue Moon, meaning the second full moon in a single calendar month, but it will not actually look blue.
0:00 Intro 0:09 Eta Aquarids 1:25 Moon and Venus conjunction 1:54 Blue Moon 2:35 May Moon phases
Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/.
Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky this month, from the planets and the Moon to the stars, constellations and deep-sky objects.
It’s been quite a while since I posted anything on space inspired art. Here are miscellaneous art items I’ve collected over the past few years.
Art In Space
** SRIC4 #16: “Gallery Space: Art and spaceflight” with Barbara Brownie | Space Renaissance
This video provides a nice overview of art “in space” given by Dr Barbara Brownie, Associate Dean (Education) at the Royal College of Art.
This is the preliminary webinar #16 of the IV SRI World Congress (SRIC4) Abstract: The expansion of the commercial spaceflight sector and democratization of space is creating new opportunities for artists to engage directly with the environment of space. For a new generation of space artists, space presents new physical and philosophic questions. This webinar explores how space artists are redefining their practice through direct engagement with space, using case-studies of work that has been deployed on board the ISS, sub-orbital flights, and zeroG flights. Through these, the webinar will explore how artists are revising traditional art methods and materials through interactions with microgravity; the relationships between artists, astronauts and audiences; and the disciplinary and hierarchy challenges faced by artists operating in the space sector.
An essential Bio: Dr Barbara Brownie is an Associate Dean (Education) at the Royal College of Art. Barbara’s research explores space as a site for art and design, with a particular focus on effects of weightlessness. Her book, Spacewear: Weightlessness and the Final Frontier of Fashion (Bloomsbury, 2019), considers the challenges and opportunities that the commercial space age presents to fashion designers, and how weightlessness necessitates new approaches to clothing and the dressed body. Her most recent book, Art in Orbit (Bloomsbury 2025), explores the relationship between the arts and space sectors, and the spaceworks that demonstrate art’s value in space exploration. In 2026 and 2027 she will be sending writing and artworks to space on three separate flights: one sub-orbital, one orbital, and one lunar. She co-leads the _Space research group at the RCA, a group of artists and researchers operating at the intersection of art and aerospace.
** A finger-tip painting travels aboard a space telescope
Mounted on its hull is the Fingertip Galaxy plaque with the finger marks of over 250 mission scientists and engineers, its goal to convey the spirit of the mission: a dedicated, and often personal, desire to unravel the structure of the universe through capturing images of billions of galaxies that point to the presence of dark matter. An international effort led by ESA, the initiative involves more than 1,700 people (including NASA astrophysicists) sharing their skills and determination to better understand the forces threading through space to almost three quarters back in time to the Big Bang.
The artwork comprises a handmade galaxy painting, surrounded by poetry related to its making, reduced and laser etched on to an aluminium A5-size plate and glued to the craft. Many of the scientists who worked with myself and Tom Kitching, the Euclid science lead, to achieve this effort were excited by the prospect of their marks going into space.
“After Euclid’s lifetime, it will just be floating in space. What if future beings found Euclid? How would they know anything about the humanity of the people?” – Tom Kitching, lead scientist of Euclid’s VIS instrument.
The team behind ESA’s Euclid mission has come together to create something special – a personal and collective galaxy-shaped fingerprint painting that has been attached to the spacecraft ready to launch into space. The collaborative nature of the artwork reflects the collaborative nature of the Euclid project overall; in both cases, people have come together to build something unique.
The Fingertip Galaxy was created by visual artist Lisa Pettibone and Euclid instrument scientist Tom Kitching. Since the very first fingerprint was pressed down in 2019, over 250 scientists and engineers have contributed to the piece of art.
So why a galaxy? Euclid is a galaxy-imaging machine that will observe billions of galaxies out to 10 billion light-years to make a 3D map of the Universe. The mission’s ultimate aim is to explore dark matter and dark energy.
“Although Euclid has always been beautiful in concept and materials, it didn’t really say anything about the people involved and humanity as a whole. We asked ourselves whether we could do something artistic that would speak to people,” says Lisa.
Scientists and engineers involved in Euclid were invited to dip their fingertips in paint and make their mark on a large piece of paper.
“We wanted something authentic, not perfect, and not shaped too much,” continues Lisa. “The result is a piece of art with a wonderful energy to it that captures all the energy of the people involved.”
The artwork was photographed and engraved onto a plaque using lasers at Mullard Space Science Laboratory – the same lasers that are used to etch parts for satellites. The plaque was fixed to Euclid and revealed at a ‘Goodbye Euclid’ event on 1 July 2022, when Euclid left Thales Alenia Space in Turin to head to Cannes for final testing as a complete system.
Euclid’s project scientist René Laureijs suggested adding text to the plaque to explain the thoughts behind it. Continuing the artistic nature of the project, poet Simon Barraclough wrote a dedicated poem, from which a short extract was chosen to be etched on to the plaque in a typewriter font that swirls around the galaxy of fingerprints. This video ends with Simon reading part of Since his poem. Lisa summarises the Fingertip Galaxy:
“It is adding an element of humanity to a dark, vast space, where as far as we can see there is no other intelligent life.”
two new space-themed murals in New York’s Hudson Square neighborhood in Manhattan. The vision of the reimagined NASA Art Program is to inspire and engage the Artemis Generation with community murals and other art projects for the benefit of humanity.
Two murals created by artist Joel Kowsky for NASA. Credits: NASA
— The NASA Art Contest of 2025 had the theme “Our Wonder Changes the World”. The grand prize winning entry was “My Wonders with You” by high school student Dahyun Jung:
Dahyun Jung’s “My Wonders with You” won the grand prize in the 2025 NASA Art Contest. Credits: NASA & Dahyun Jung
[The] program studies innovative, technically credible, advanced projects that could one day “change the possible” in aerospace. To help people understand what these innovations might look like, NIAC has turned to artists and graphic designers in a global contest to create posters to visualize future technologies under development.
The challenge, hosted by contractor yet2 through NASA’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program, was open to artists from around the globe. Guidelines asked artists to consider NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture development effort, which uses engineering processes to distil NASA’s Moon to Mars Objectives into the systems needed to accomplish them. NASA received 313 submissions from 22 U.S. states and 47 countries.
Here’s a NASA collage of the top entrants:
Collage from NASA displaying the winning entries in the Moon to Mars Architecture Art Challenge. Clockwise, the entries from Jimmy Catanzaro, Jean-Luc Sabourin, Irene Magi, Pavlo Kandyba, Antonella Di Cristofaro, Francesco Simone, Mia Nickell, Lux Bodell, Olivia De Grande, Sophie Duan. Credits: NASA
Tasia Cobbs created the winning entry in the 2025 Mars Society Poster Contest. Credits: Mars Society
— National Space Society (NSS) art contest – NSS has sponsored many art contests over the years. NSS was a co-sponsor of a recent art contest as part of the Goddard100 celebration of the 100th anniversary (March 16, 2026) of the first liquid-fueled rocket flight by Robert H. Goddard. See winning entrants at the Goddard 100 Contests Art Gallery.
The AIR program expands upon the SETI Institute’s mission to explore, understand, and explain the origin, nature, and prevalence of life in the universe. The artworks, performances, and public projects resulting from the AIR collaborations are at the cutting edge of artistic and scientific practice. Our program encompasses various artistic disciplines, including visual arts, literature and spoken word, music, film, dance, and theatre.
Our curatorial direction emphasizes projects that consider the evolution of intelligence, ponder the beginnings of life, and critically reflect on our anthropocentric world view.
Our projects
Our community of artists in residence is at the core of the SETI AIR program. We actively support the development, creation, and exhibition of their projects. We are also actively engaged in project-based collaborations with arts organizations and artist groups. These dynamic partnerships include the SETI x AI residency with Ars Electronica and the Making Contact exhibition at the New Museum in Los Gatos. The Center for Art + Environment at the Nevada Museum of Art houses the SETI AIR archive, which allows us to share the AIR program’s creative outcomes with international researchers, artists, and academics.
Here is an AIR video about Exoplanetary Poetry: AI, Chemistry, and Alien Communication
Our Cosmic Consciousness residency artists daniela brill estrada, Bart Kuipers, and Julie-Michèle Morin, discuss an art-science collaboration that imagines how language might emerge from alien worlds. Hosts: Bettina Forget and Cosmic Consciousness residency advisor Gregory Betts.
Join SETI AIR program Director Bettina Forget for a conversation with Cosmic Consciousness artists in residence daniela brill estrada, Bart Kuipers, and Julie-Michèle Morin, joined by residency advisor Gregory Betts. Together, they will discuss Exoplanetary Poetry, an art-science collaboration that imagines how language might emerge from alien worlds.
Using atmospheric data from real exoplanets, the team trains an artificial intelligence to write poems alongside human collaborators. The resulting texts are translated back into chemistry, forming multisensory installations where reactions generate visual forms, textures, and scent. How can molecules become metaphors? What does it mean to co-author with a nonhuman intelligence shaped by planetary science? And can poetry help us think differently about life beyond Earth?
her space art with SpaceX and more regarding technology as the cathedral of today. Our guest is an award-winning artist with current work ‘exploring the philosophical underpinnings of modern technology and has involved series at SpaceX, Boston Dynamics, and Waymo’.“
** AAA 7 MOONS ART Video – full length, with the Moons Symphony by Amanda Lee Falkenberg
Astronomical and Space Artists of the International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA) contributed new and legacy art for the 7 MOONS ART Video. This video compiles a series of short 7 moon videos, and brings an artistic perspective to the inspired music of ’The Moons Symphony’ by composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg.
7 MOONS ART Video holds together stories of astronomical art history, show science as the basis of astronomical art, and places several of our longest standing and esteemed astronomical artists in the same show as some of our newest members from around the world.
The extraordinary 7 MOONS described in art and music include; three moons of the planet Jupiter – Io, Europa and Ganymede; two moons of planet Saturn – Titan and Enceladus; one moon of the planet Uranus – Miranda; and of course, our own Earth Moon. Individual short 7 Moons Art videos are also available for viewing.
** Moon Gallery aims to create the “first permanent museum on the Moon“. The nonprofit Dutch based cultural organization was founded in 2020 by Anna Sitnikova, Elizaveta Glukhova, Bernard Foing, and Charlotte ten Holder. The primary goal is to create an art gallery on the Moon as part of the establishment of the first lunar outpost. This will start with one hundred artworks integrated into a 10 x 10 x 1 grid tray. A preliminary grid went to the ISS in 2022:
The Moon Gallery is an international, collaborative art installation housing the seeds of a future, shared interplanetary culture. In collaboration with Nanoracks, powered by Voyager Space , the test payload of 64 artifacts, each no bigger than one cubic centimeter, is targeting launch aboard the NG-17 Cygnus resupply mission on February 19, 2022. The gallery is represented by artists from Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Africa.
The Moon Gallery ISS Payload is an 8×8 grid displaying 64 art works. It was taken to the Int. Space Station in 2022. Credits: Moon Gallery
What can a book the size of a finger-tip tell us about the Moon and humanity?
Moon Bound, a 1 cm³ miniature book being sent to the Moon this year as part of a science rover, will be presented in Plovdiv, inviting visitors to explore relationships among art, science, and the Moon. The exhibition centers on a single question: How does the Moon see the Earth? Alongside the book, the exhibition features artworks in multiple formats that create an immersive experience blending scientific research with artistic imagination.
Check out the night sky this month, April 2026. A sungrazing comet may become visible and the Lyrid meteor shower will peak on the night of April 21st. Here are videos and links to websites highlighting the top sights to observe.
** What’s Up: April 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA | NASA JPL
Mercury shines at its brightest for the year, the Lyrid meteor shower peaks, and a bright new comet makes an appearance in April’s night sky.
Catch Mercury low in the eastern sky before sunrise on April 3 at its greatest elongation. Then look up late April 21 into the 22nd for the Lyrids, with “shooting stars” radiating near the bright star Vega.
Also this month, Comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) may be visible with binoculars or a telescope, especially around April 17, before making its closest approach to Earth on April 27.
Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/.
This month’s episode showcases the stars and planets visible on April evenings. We’ll explore full-Moon quirks; spot Venus and Jupiter after sunset; learn about Gemini, the celestial twins; and hunt for meteors toward month’s end. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.
** The Night Sky | April 2026 | Sungrazer Comet A1 MAPS | Lyrid Meteor Showers | Late Night Astronomy
A sungrazing comet might be visible right after sunset and a major meteor shower peaks. Let’s take a look at what you can go out to see in the night sky for April of 2026. I’m Michael Martin and this is Late Night Astronomy.
Timestamps: 0:00 Sungrazer Comet MAPS 2:37 Lyrids Meteor Shower 3:40 Ouranos Ad 4:42 The Moon 5:15 The Planets 7:05 Comet R3 Panstarrs 7:45 Deep Sky Challenge
Step outside and explore the wonders of the April 2026 night sky. This month’s Night Sky Notebook highlights the best celestial events—from bright planets and close encounters to meteor showers and moonlit moments—helping you catch the sky at its most beautiful.
** April Sky 2026: Lyrid Meteor Shower and a Comet That Might Surprise | Astro Academy Global
In this video, we take a detailed look at the astronomical events of April 2026. We review the Lyrid meteor shower—one of the highlights of spring—the phases of the Moon and the best windows for deep-sky observation, as well as Mercury’s greatest elongation and several planetary conjunctions in the morning sky.
In addition, we track the evolution of a comet that could surprise us in the coming weeks, evaluating its viewing conditions and photographic potential. Content designed for astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts looking to plan their sessions carefully and anticipate the month’s most interesting events.
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0:00 Introduction 0:45 Lunar phases 1:30 Planetary events 2:23 Highlights of the month 3:34 Photography tips 4:42 Conclusion and closing remarks
Watch as NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir go on a spacewalk outside of the International Space Station.
Williams and Meir will make preparations to install additional International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSAs), which will provide additional power for the orbital laboratory. The spacewalk is scheduled to start at about 8:00 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC) and run for about six-and-a-half hours.
This spacewalk will be the first for Williams and fourth for Meir.
** U.S. Spacewalk 94 Animation – March 17, 2026 | NASA Johnson
An animation of U.S. spacewalk 94 scheduled for Wednesday, March 16 when NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams will prepare the 2A power channel for future installation of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSA) which will provide additional power ahead of safe and controlled space station deorbit. The duo will also swab the outside of the orbiting lab for microorganisms. This animation was narrated by flight director Diana Trujillo.
** U.S. Spacewalk 95 Animation – March 17, 2026 | NASA Johnson
An animation of U.S. spacewalk 95 scheduled in the coming weeks when two NASA astronauts will prepare the 3B power channel for future installation of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSA) which will provide additional power ahead of safe and controlled space station deorbit. This animation was narrated by flight director Ronak Dave.
Join NASA as we go forward to the Moon and on to Mars — discover the latest on Earth, the Solar System and beyond with a weekly update in your inbox.
** Watch the 1st ‘Cygnus XL’ cargo spacecraft depart the ISS after undocking | VideoFromSpace
The first Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on March 12, 2026. [Full Story] (https://www.space.com/space-explorati…)
The spacecraft was launched in Sept. 2025 atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and delivered “scientific research, crew supplies, and hardware” to the orbital outpost, according to NASA.
Ever wondered how a spacecraft hatch is made? Learn more about the design and development process for #AxiomStation‘s hatch from Hatch Design Lead Engineer Jonathan Morales. pic.twitter.com/8UhEU5euWT
The Axiom Station is designed with a high degree of modularity, which provides flexibility in the scenario of a module being deorbited or rearranged. The current space station is also of modular design, but was not built with the same level of flexibility. The… pic.twitter.com/oFeHjWfBGi
Space is becoming a practical R&D platform for life sciences.
Delta Biosciences has reserved space aboard Starlab Space to enable applied microgravity research that supports real-world product development. Through a space-as-a-service model, Delta Biosciences will provide… pic.twitter.com/9sPH6QT58O
A full year of continuous biotech research in orbit.
Yuri GmbH has reserved payload space for the entire first year of Starlab Space operations, marking a major step toward sustained, scalable life sciences research and manufacturing in microgravity. This dedicated capacity will… pic.twitter.com/WyTgK0na90
Microgravity isn’t just advancing research it’s transforming semiconductor manufacturing.
United Semiconductors has reserved payload space with Starlab to transition its microgravity crystal growth technology from ISS demonstrations to sustained, commercial-scale production in… pic.twitter.com/abR8K3wWng
— The Starlab station has plenty of room for commercial and government customers:
Starlab is designed to enable advanced biomedical breakthroughs.
Its 8-meter diameter habitat, and approximately 400 cubic meters of pressurized volume, allows Starlab to support 100% of the International Space Station’s research payload capacity.
— Vast deorbits Haven Demo, a testbed for the company’s space station technologies and designs:
Mission complete. After three months in orbit and 49 tests completed validating critical systems, components, and processes, we have successfully performed a controlled deorbit of Haven Demo, our in-space testbed for Haven-1 technologies.
.@Arenamagdotcom stopped by Vast to see where America’s next space station is being built and what makes our approach different. From day one, we’ve been committed to bringing space station manufacturing back to the United States. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/XMrteHXA8uhttps://t.co/U0PzPhpkTg
Vast CEO @maxhaot joined @TBPN hosts @johncoogan and @jordihays to discuss our $500M in funding and how it will accelerate our mission to ensure a continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit while fueling the growth of this new space economy. pic.twitter.com/vBaM8p9dWc
The Haven-1 sleep system addresses challenges that hinder sleep in space through optimized lighting, airflow, comforting pressure, and easy egress. Here, Vast Astronaut Advisor @astro_megan provides feedback on the design so that we can maximize quality rest for crew. pic.twitter.com/4B2QNTDta0
— A regulatory step forward towards launch in 2027 of the pilot test station called Haven-1:
The @FAANews has made a favorable payload determination for Haven-1 following interagency review with NASA, the State Department, the Commerce Department, and national security stakeholders. This marks another step forward in launching Haven-1, expected to be the world’s first… pic.twitter.com/HOxCU6SK6h
** Shenzhou-21 astronauts complete second spacewalk | SciNews
According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the second extravehicular activity (EVA) of the Shenzhou-21 (神舟二十一) mission was completed on 16 March 2026, at 11:35 UTC (19:35 China Standard Time). During the ~7 hours spacewalk, astronauts Zhang Lu (张陆, commander) and Wu Fei (武飞) “completed the installation of a space debris protection device for the space station along with other tasks”. Astronaut Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章) assisted them from inside the Tianhe Core Module (天和核心舱) by operating the robotic arm of the China Space Station (中国空间站). Credit: China National Space Administration (CNSA)/China Central Television (CCTV)
** Shenzhou-21 Crew Advances Space Experiments, Health Monitoring Aboard China’s Space Station | CCTV Video News Agency
Shenzhou-21 Crew Advances Space Experiments, Health Monitoring Aboard China’s Space Station
** Decoding NASA’s New Moon Strategy – Deep Space Updates – March 13th 2026 | Scott Manley
** Jim Muncy on Artemis, a commercial lunar base and more. | The Space Show, Broadcast 4514, Sunday, March 10, 2026
Quick Summary: Our discussion focused on NASA’s Artemis program changes and lunar development strategy, with Jim Muncy discussing NASA Administrator Jared’s recent modifications to Artemis missions, including standardizing on the Centaur 5 upper stage and adding an Earth orbit rendezvous mission before lunar landing attempts. The discussion explored how these changes improve odds for a 2028 moon landing, with both HLS providers (SpaceX and Blue Origin) being encouraged to demonstrate their lander systems in Earth orbit by mid-2027. The conversation concluded with a debate about commercial lunar development, where Jim advocated for establishing a commercial lunar base from day one rather than creating a government-built facility, arguing that commercial solutions would drive more economic activity and scientific research on the moon than a government-only approach.
The Space Show Presents Jim Muncy on Artemis, a commercial lunar base and more. by Dr. David M. Livingston
NASA has officially paused the Lunar Gateway in its current form and pivoted its hardware, funding, and leadership to the first sustained crewed Moon Base at the lunar south pole. In this detailed breakdown of NASA’s Ignition event, we unpack the three-phase plan: Phase 1 delivers 21 CLPS landings by 2028 with 4-tonne payloads, Lunar Terrain Vehicles, hoppers, radioisotope heaters, and lunar comms satellites for $10 billion; Phase 2 (2029–2032) establishes the initial outpost with JAXA’s pressurized rover, solar arrays, RTGs, and 60 tonnes of cargo; and Phase 3 (2033–2036) scales to 8-tonne landers, 150 tonnes of payload, ISRU oxygen production, regolith construction, and semi-annual crew missions. We also examine what happens to the nearly complete Gateway modules (PPE, HALO, I-Hab), the shift to commercial launch providers beyond Artemis V, and the $30+ billion investment driving real hardware already in production. If you want the clearest picture yet of how NASA is moving from orbit to the lunar surface, this is it.
Join us as we provide an update on the implementation of the National Space Policy and how we’re accelerating preparations for America’s return to the surface of the Moon by 2028.
The program will open with remarks from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, followed by a series of high-level panels. Participants include:
Administrator Jared Isaacman Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya Dana Weigel, program manager, International Space Station Program Carlos Garcia-Galan, program executive, Moon Base Steve Sinacore, program executive, Fission Surface Power Dr. Nicola Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
** Stopping Power! Why Radiation Shielding Is More Than Just Lead Bricks. | Scott Manley
Radiation Shielding is a standard trope in storytelling, and you may well have heard about different radiation types and how materials work differently. However it’s more complicated that you think, sometimes a shield that’s good for one source is bad for others, and this comes down to the physics of radiation interacting with matter.
So here’s an overview of how radiation shielding works and what’s going on at the subatomic level.
ISS in Real Time – “Explore 25 years onboard the International Space Station. This multimedia project replays every day of the past 25 years onboard and consists entirely of historical mission material.“
** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) | NASA
Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.
The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8
Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov
Students from New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the Albuquerque Heights Composite Squadron (a.k.a. Spirit Squadron), unit NM-083 of the Civil Air Patrol, completed a series of rocket launches at Spaceport America on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
Saturday’s event was coordinated in part by NMSU Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student Joshua Davila, who serves as the Atomic Aggies’ (the competition rocketry team of NMSU) National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Section #982 President and Solid Propulsions Lead. In addition to identifying the NAR fliers from NMSU, Davila also involved seven American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) teams throughout the region to promote Saturday’s event as an opportunity to conduct preliminary launches.
“We, the Atomic Aggies, are incredibly proud of the growing community of local rocketry enthusiasts we are building connections with,” said Davila. “We’re thrilled to have local American rocketry challenge teams joining us for launches at Spaceport America.” The NMSU students who launched represented the Atomic Aggies Rocketry Team. Of the team members in attendance, 10 earned their Level 1 certifications from the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) for succeeding in launching their rockets up to 1,700 feet. Of the 11 rockets launched from the spaceport, 10 achieved successful flights.
Led by Lt. Col. Michael O’Dell, the Albuquerque Civil Air Patrol team members were able to launch their rocket three times, completing the preliminary work for their ARC launches. The ARC is the world’s largest student rocket competition, and boasts over 1,100 middle and high school teams who will be competing at Great Meadow Foundation in The Plains, Va., in May of 2026.
“The annual American Rocketry Challenge provides our Civil Air Patrol cadets a five-month long hands-on science and engineering challenge, and they love it,” O’Dell commented. “I brag about our students and how bright they are, but for me this represents another opportunity; to showcase New Mexico. This group and those that follow will all go off to universities and set loftier goals and with this experience coupled with these types of partnerships, we can keep some of them right here in our state.”
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New Mexico students brought rockets they designed and built to Spaceport America on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 and launched them. Credits: Spaceport America
The Friends of Amateur Rocketry – Oxidizers Uninhibited Tournament (FAR‑OUT) is back, bringing one of the most innovative grassroots rocketry competitions in the country to the Mojave Desert. This first‑of‑its‑kind event showcases commercial‑off‑the‑shelf (COTS) hybrids, research hybrids, and research liquid engines as teams compete to most accurately hit a pre‑simulated “contract” apogee. With scoring groups ranging from 5,000’ to 110,000’—and exhibition flights reaching up to 240,000’—FAR‑OUT highlights precision engineering at every level. Teams may also static fire on‑site to demonstrate motor efficiency.
The tournament kicks off Wednesday, May 27, 2026, with an opening ceremony and technical conference at the Stuart Witt Event Center at Mojave Air & Space Port. The conference features poster sessions, podium presentations, and industry tours with local aerospace partners. Setup and test days run Thursday and Friday, followed by three full days of launches from May 30 through June 1 at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry site. FAR‑OUT continues to grow as a celebration of experimental rocketry, hands‑on engineering, and the unique flight‑test ecosystem of Mojave.
