How did curiosity take Lucas Paganini from Mendoza, Argentina, to helping lead one of NASA’s next great space observatories? During Her Cosmic Orbit’s launch coverage, we spoke with Lucas Paganini, program executive for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at NASA Headquarters. Lucas shares his journey from looking up at the night sky and watching Space Shuttle missions to supporting the team that brought Roman to the launch pad. He also explains how Nancy Grace Roman’s commitment to accessibility continues through a mission designed to make its scientific data available to people around the world. Roman will produce approximately 1.4 terabytes of data every day. Through the cloud-based Roman Nexus, students, teachers, and scientists—from Tennessee and Florida to Guatemala, Argentina, and beyond—will be able to access that data and participate in the journey of discovery. We also discuss why understanding dark matter and dark energy matters, how space exploration drives innovation on Earth, and Lucas’s advice for young people who may feel that a future in STEM or space is out of reach. As Lucas puts it: exploration creates innovation—but it also creates inspiration. Subscribe to Her Cosmic Orbit for more human-centered stories about astronomy, NASA missions, and the people expanding our view of the universe. #RomanSpaceTelescope #NASA #LatinosInSTEM #stem #astronomy #science #nancyromangrace #universe #darkmatter #darkenergy #spaceducation #spacehistory #spacenews

What questions will NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope answer and what questions haven’t we even thought to ask yet? During Her Cosmic Orbit’s Roman launch coverage, we spoke with Dr. Dalia Kirschbaum, acting director of the Sciences and Exploration Directorate at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Dr. Kirschbaum reflects on Nancy Grace Roman’s legacy of asking “what if” at a time when space-based astronomy seemed impossible. She also explains why Roman’s wide view and openly accessible data could transform our understanding of the universe and give students, scientists, and curious people around the world opportunities to participate in discovery. We also discuss what success will look like beyond launch, the many people and professions that make NASA missions possible, and Dr. Kirschbaum’s own journey from student and intern to leading multiple NASA science divisions. Subscribe to Her Cosmic Orbit for more human-centered stories from space exploration, astronomy, and the people expanding our view of the universe. #RomanSpaceTelescope #NancyGraceRoman #HerCosmicOrbit #space #womeninspace #womeninstem #telescope #nasa #science #astronomy #darkmatter #darkenergy #stem #nasagoddard #spaceflight #spacenews #spacehistory

☄️ Every year, astronomers discover around 20,000 new asteroids and track more than 40,000 near-Earth objects. But how do those discoveries actually happen? →In this first mini episode of "Cosmic Sidequests", planetary scientist Dr. Allison McGraw and artist Rosie Johnson travel to Kitt Peak National Observatory to spend the night with the astronomers of SPACEWATCH®, a research program at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. Join us as we explore one of the world's most important observatories, watch astronomers search for near-Earth asteroids, learn how the same blinking technique used to discover Pluto is still used today, visit the historic Mayall 4-Meter Telescope, and create original astrophotography inspired by a night under some of the darkest skies in North America. 🌌 This is just the beginning of Cosmic Sidequests. →Next stop... we're going somewhere that doesn't just look at the universe—it listens. 📡 With planetary scientist Dr. Allison McGraw and artist Rosie Johnson, we explore incredible places, uncover the science that connects Earth to space, and create art inspired by the wonder we find along the way. ✨Subscribe for future episodes as we take you down the road to space right here on Earth. #AsteroidDay #Astronomy #Asteroids #KittPeak #Spacewatch #PlanetaryDefense #DART #Didymos #SpaceScience #WomenInSTEM #ScienceCommunication #HerCosmicOrbit #CosmicSidequests #roadtrip #roadside #science

Come with us inside NASA’s Mission Training Center at Johnson Space Center, where the Artemis II crew rehearsed humanity’s return to the Moon. In this exclusive visit with Dr. Allison McGraw, we step inside the Orion spacecraft simulator — the exact training environment used by NASA astronauts to prepare for the historic Artemis II mission. For years leading up to launch, the Artemis II crew trained here multiple times a week, practicing critical mission phases like: -Translunar Injection (TLI) -Lunar far-side flybys -Manual piloting and proximity operations -Emergency response scenarios in deep space conditions We also speak with NASA Exploration Project Manager Grace Lauderdale, who explains how this full-scale Orion simulator recreates spacecraft systems, cockpit layout, and external camera views to immerse astronauts in realistic mission conditions. Sitting in the same pilot seat used during Artemis II training, Allison reflects on what it means to “simulate leaving Earth” — and how this preparation made the real lunar journey possible. “With this burn, we do not leave Earth… we choose it.” — Christina Koch This is the behind-the-scenes story of how NASA practices going to the Moon...before it ever happens in space. 🚀 Subscribe for more Artemis II coverage, NASA interviews, women in STEM stories, and behind-the-scenes looks at the future of space exploration. #ArtemisII #NASA #WomenInSTEM #WomenInSpace #ArtemisProgram #MoonMission #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #SpaceExploration #HerCosmicOrbit

What is Artemis II teaching us about the Moon? In this conversation Dr. Alison McGraw of Her Cosmic Orbit speaks with Dr. Jennifer Heldmann, planetary scientist and Artemis II Science Team Lead, about what it means to study the Moon in real time during humanity’s return to deep space exploration. From newly observed impact flashes on the lunar surface to the search for water ice at the Moon’s south pole, Artemis II is reshaping how we understand our nearest celestial neighbor. 🌙 Together, two planetary scientists break down: -How Artemis II is capturing real-time lunar impact events -Why the Moon is far more geologically active than we once thought -The importance of citizen science and public lunar data -What permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) reveal about lunar ice -How Artemis science will shape future human exploration and lunar bases One of the most exciting shifts in Artemis science is not just what we are discovering — but who gets to discover it. With publicly available data and global collaboration, lunar science is becoming more open than ever. As Dr. Heldmann notes, we are still at the beginning of understanding what these observations mean — but Artemis is already changing the way we see the Moon. 🚀 Subscribe for more conversations from the front lines of space exploration, Artemis science, and the future of human spaceflight. #Artemis #NASA #Moon #SpaceExploration #PlanetaryScience

What happens to the incredible Moon photos taken by astronauts before NASA shares them with the world to collectively lose their minds? In this video, we take you inside NASA’s Science Mission Operations Room (SMOR) at Johnson Space Center, where scientists were the first to receive and analyze images, astronaut observations, and health data from the Artemis II mission. This behind-the-scenes science backroom supports the Science Evaluation Room, helping Mission Control determine which observations matter most in real time. Featuring insights from Dr. Sarah Noble, this video explores how astronauts used their own eyes and experience to identify subtle details on the lunar surface that cameras alone might miss. Now that Artemis II is complete, NASA says these first-look observations are already helping scientists better understand the Moon and prepare for future human missions to the lunar surface and beyond. 🚀 In this video: -Inside NASA’s Science Mission Operations Room -How Artemis II Moon photos were analyzed -Dr. Sarah Noble on the value of human observation -New lunar science discoveries from Artemis II -How Artemis II is preparing us for future Moon missions 🚀 Subscribe for more Artemis II coverage, NASA interviews, women in STEM stories, and behind-the-scenes looks at the future of space exploration. #ArtemisII #NASA #MoonMission #LunarScience #WomenInSTEM #planetaryscience

For the first time in over 50 years, humanity is preparing to return to deep space with NASA’s Artemis II mission — and this time, women are helping lead the way. In this special Her Cosmic Orbit interview, we asked four women working on Artemis II one powerful question: “How does it feel to work on Artemis II knowing how few women were part of the Apollo missions?” Their answers are a reminder of how far the space industry has come — and how much representation matters as we prepare to send humans around the Moon once again. Featured in this video: ✨ Dr. Jennifer Helmann — Planetary Scientist and Artemis II Science Team Lead ✨ Dr. Sarah Noble — Artemis II Lunar Science Lead ✨ Dr. Amanda Nahm — NASA Headquarters Program Scientist ✨ Dr. Marie Henderson — Deputy Lunar Science Lead for Artemis II From science and mission planning to operations and leadership, these women are helping shape the future of human spaceflight. Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis program and will send four astronauts around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, paving the way for future lunar landings and long-term exploration. At Her Cosmic Orbit, we believe space exploration is for everyone. Stories like these show why visibility and representation matter — because the next giant leap should include all of us. 🚀 Subscribe for more Artemis II coverage, NASA interviews, women in STEM stories, and behind-the-scenes looks at the future of space exploration. #ArtemisII #NASA #WomenInSTEM #WomenInSpace #ArtemisProgram #MoonMission #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #SpaceExploration #HerCosmicOrbit

What does life on Mars really look like? 👀 We got a behind-the-scenes look inside CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) NASA’s year-long Mars simulation at Johnson Space Center, where volunteers are living as if they’re on the Red Planet to help humanity prepare for real missions to Mars. In this walkthrough, we explore the 3D-printed habitat, the mission control setup, and what daily life looks like when you’re 140 million miles from home (without actually leaving Earth). From growing food to managing limited resources, CHAPEA is teaching us what it takes to not just survive Mars, but thrive there. 💫 The best part? The lessons learned here don’t just shape the future of spaceflight — they can help us build a more sustainable life right here on Earth. ✨ Read more about CHAPEA and our media day experience at: hercosmicorbit.com 🪐 Explore more cosmic stories, interviews, and insights on our site. #CHAPEA #NASA #MarsHabitat #SpaceExploration #MarsMission #WomenInSTEM #ScienceCommunication #LifeOnMars #spacenews #mars