NASA EXPRESS -- Your STEM Connection for April 2, 2026

Check out NASA's latest STEM opportunities and learning resources.

NASA STEM Engagement Follow Along With the Artemis II Mission The Artemis II mission lifted off yesterday at 6:35 p.m. EDT! The astronauts are now on a 10-day mission – the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. Along the way, the crew will test critical hardware and systems, conduct science experiments, and pave the way for missions to the lunar surface. Keep up with the latest mission updates on the Artemis II website. And bring the mission to students with the STEM resources and activities below. 3 Ways Students Can Get Involved With Artemis Where Is Orion? Track the Artemis II Mission Artemis Storybooks  for Children Who Is in Your  NASA Moon Crew? Activity: Observe the Moon Like an Astronaut Visit the NASA STEM Search to find more Artemis-related activities and resources. Virtual Learning Opportunity My NASA Data 2026 Encore Webinar Series Webinar Date: Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m. EDT Contact: larc-mynasadata@mail.nasa.gov   Join the My NASA Data team for a series of webinars spotlighting tools and resources to enhance Earth science learning in grades 3-12 with educational materials available through the My NASA Data website.   The webinar this month – My NASA Data: A Deep Dive Into Data Visualization – will explore the Earth System Data Explorer, a powerful tool for visualizing and analyzing NASA Earth science data. Discover how to use these visualizations to engage students, deepen their understanding of complex Earth system concepts, and support data-driven instruction.   Click here to find details about the webinar series and register to attend. Higher Education Opportunity NASA Glenn Faculty Fellowship Program Application Deadline: Monday, April 20 Contact: GRC-NGFFP@mail.nasa.gov   NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, is seeking applicants for a 10-week summer faculty fellowship opportunity. This program aims to enhance faculty professional knowledge and enrich the research and teaching at U.S. academic institutions by infusing NASA mission-related research and technology content into classroom teaching. Participants help to advance NASA’s mission by contributing to research, technology, and engineering work.   Applicants must be full-time STEM faculty members at U.S. universities and colleges. Visit the site for eligibility requirements, application guidelines, and additional information. More to Explore Explore Cosmic Collisions With Galaxy Zoo: Tidal Tales   Galaxies tend to form in symmetrical shapes. But as galaxies approach each other or collide, gravity pulls and distorts their stars into long tails, thin streams, and faint shells. These new shapes tell the story of these dramatic events.   The Galaxy Zoo: Tidal Tales project lets you help scientists identify these signs of galaxy interaction found in beautiful images captured by the European Space Agency’s Euclid spacecraft. Anyone with a smartphone or computer can help.   Click here to check out a project tutorial and get started. Partner Opportunities Code.org and NASA  AI-Themed Virtual Event: Call for  Student Questions Submission Deadline: Thursday, April 9 Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Virtual Planetarium Show Event Date: Saturday, April 18, at 1 p.m. EDT Eye on the Future Teen Video Contest Entry Deadline: Sunday, April 19 Want to subscribe to get this message delivered to your inbox each Thursday? Sign up for the NASA EXPRESS newsletter at https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/nasa-express. Are you looking for NASA STEM materials? Search hundreds of resources at https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/search. Check out the ‘Science for Everyone’ website! Science starts with questions, leading to discoveries. Visit https://science.nasa.gov/for-everyone. To view the site in Spanish, visit https://ciencia.nasa.gov. Are you looking for more NASA prizes, challenges, and crowdsourcing opportunities? Visit https://www.nasa.gov/get-involved/ to find ways to contribute to NASA’s work. Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email NASA Office of STEM Engagement We are engaging students in NASA’s exciting missions, broad range of careers, and unique opportunities. Visit nasa.gov/learning-resources/  Follow Us on Social Media The National Aeronautics and Space Administration As explorers, pioneers, and innovators, we boldly expand frontiers in air and space to inspire and serve America and to benefit the quality of life on Earth. Visit nasa.gov Follow NASA

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Space & Physics: BREAKING--Artemis II launches to the moon!

Breaking news alert in space and physics                    

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April 1—BREAKING—We have lift-off!!! For the first time in more than a half-century, humans are on their way to the moon. At 6:35 P.M. EDT, NASA's Artemis II mission launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Four brave astronauts are onboard—mission commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover, plus two mission specialists, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. Together, they'll spend the next 10 days on a trip around the moon, potentially becoming the farthest-traveled people in history and blazing a trail for future Artemis missions to land on the lunar surface. Read more in our article below and I'll be back tomorrow with more details! Thoughts? Questions? Let me know via e-mail (lbillings@sciam.com), X or Bluesky. —Lee Billings, Senior Editor, Physical Sciences *This is a special, breaking news edition of our space & physics newsletter.*

NASA's Artemis II launches on first crewed moon mission of the 21st century A daring 10-day voyage will take four astronauts on a loop around the moon and set the stage for future forays to the lunar surface

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Live: NASA's Artemis II moon mission launches The U.S. space agency on Wednesday evening launched four astronauts on what may be a record-breaking trip around the moon—see the spacecraft live Claire Cameron

Artemis II's journey to the moon, day by day The four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft will carry out a packed schedule during their trip around the moon's far side Joseph Howlett

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Artemis II's toilet is a moon mission milestone On their voyages to the moon, NASA's astronauts are finally getting some creature comforts of terrestrial toilets—such as having a door and being able to pee and poop simultaneously K. R. Callaway

How NASA will keep the Artemis II astronauts safe from space weather A major solar storm during the Artemis II mission could harm astronauts. Here's how NASA is protecting them Meghan Bartels

NASA's Artemis II astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of moon launch During their 10-day mission, this four-person crew will swing around the far side of the moon—and potentially travel farther from Earth than anyone in history Meghan Bartels

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