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We're NASA's center in Silicon Valley.

California
Joined July 2008
Photo by NASA Ames (@NASAAmes)Photo by NASA Ames (@NASAAmes)Photo by NASA Ames (@NASAAmes)Photo by NASA Ames (@NASAAmes)Photo by NASA Ames (@NASAAmes)Photo by NASA Ames (@NASAAmes)Photo by NASA Ames (@NASAAmes)Photo by NASA Ames (@NASAAmes)Photo by NASA Ames (@NASAAmes)
Last week, we welcomed NASA astronaut Douglas "Wheels" Wheelock to our Silicon Valley center! Wheelock became one of the first to pilot a newly integrated lunar lander simulation in our Vertical Motion Simulator, the world’s largest flight simulator for high-fidelity testing of new and experimental aircraft and spacecraft designs. The simulation will provide insights that will help shape the future of landing vehicles and crew controls for Artemis missions.
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From Apollo to Artemis: Wind tunnel edition. In the '60s, we tested early designs of Apollo parachutes to inform steering maneuvers and assess aerodynamic drag. Decades later, we tested Orion parachutes—designed for Artemis missions—to evaluate canopy performance and stability.
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We've been putting parachutes to the test for decades in the world’s largest wind tunnel here at our Silicon Valley center. Learn more about this world-class facility and the work that continues today: go.nasa.gov/3WtZ2BV
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I ain’t afraid of no ghost 🎶 👻 550 light-years from Earth, the Ghost Nebula haunts the cosmos, sculpted by ultraviolet rays from a nearby star. Light reflected by dust gives this nebula its blue tint, and interactions between gas and radiation cast an eerie red glow.
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NASA Ames retweeted
“We’ve never been in this vantage point in the history of humankind.” The Artemis II solar eclipse was a lot. In a good way. (54 minutes of totality! That's way longer than we get on Earth.) Explore more from the mission: go.nasa.gov/Artemis2LunarSci…
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One year. New heights. Faster speeds. ✈️ Since its first flight on Oct. 28, 2025, NASA's X-59 has continued pushing the boundaries of aviation. See how far we've come in just one year! go.nasa.gov/4jLT7Su #NASAaero #Quesst
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Feeling brave? We dare you trick or treat at the house with the cosmic keyhole. 🔑 1,350 light-years away, young stars illuminate dusty wisps of NGC 1999. This nebula skirts around a keyhole-shaped void – a gap that continues to puzzle scientists today! Learn more: go.nasa.gov/4BxvSSD
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Members of the media are invited to tour a new lunar landing simulation at @NASAAmes on Oct. 29 & 30. Using simulators will give astronauts and engineering teams experience before crews pilot commercial human landing systems to the surface of the Moon. 🔗go.nasa.gov/47EhM4h
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On the hunt for a full moon? Keep an eye out this weekend! 🌕 The Hunter’s Moon will reach peak illumination late Sunday evening. The best time to view will be shortly after sunset.
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NASA Ames retweeted
Ready for an Artemis update? Tune in Friday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. ET (1800 UTC) to hear our latest progress and accelerated plans for Artemis lunar missions. Watch live: youtube.com/live/pAKqJxuxDgk
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A cosmic butterfly 🦋 In this shimmering view captured by @NASAHubble, the complexities of the Twin Jet Nebula are seen in striking detail, with lobes of material stretching outward while jets of gas stream from a central star system.
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Reimagining Mars helicopter blades 🚁 NASA engineers are testing new rotorcraft blade designs using computer simulations and wind tunnels. This innovation could help future Mars flyers travel higher and farther, while carrying out science missions. Learn more: go.nasa.gov/4z0Wn0Y
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NASA Ames retweeted
There's a lot of ground to cover when you're building a Moon Base. During the first phase of @NASAMoonBase development, robotic rovers will gather new details about the lunar South Pole region, while lunar terrain vehicles will extend the reach of each Artemis mission.
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NASA Ames retweeted
Post-flight analysis confirms the Artemis II Orion heat shield performed as expected during its Mach 39 reentry, protecting the spacecraft and the astronauts aboard as they returned from the 694,481-mile journey around the Moon. go.nasa.gov/4B7EWNT
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Snapshots of Saturn 🪐 OTD in 1997, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft launched to explore the wonders of Saturn. For more than a decade, Cassini studied the jewel of our Solar System, including its spectacular rings and icy moons. Take a look at some images captured along the way!
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Built to survive scorching heat 🔥 Our KREPE‑3 experiment is testing some flexible, faster‑to‑produce, lower cost heat shield materials. Today, the Cygnus XL spacecraft left @Space_Station with twelve capsules that will eject during Earth re-entry, sending back performance data on next generation heat shields. Learn more: go.nasa.gov/4jTNVMe
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New tech is in orbit! 🛰️ Last week, our Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability mission launched to low Earth orbit to demonstrate new technologies that could one day support autonomous guidance for in-space repairs. Learn more about the SSPICY mission: go.nasa.gov/4jdDItV
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NASA Ames retweeted
A huge library of Artemis II data just dropped! Science is a relay race, and today marks the latest in a long series of handoffs. 814 GB of observations. 996 new images. 521 min of never-before-released crew audio. Dig in: go.nasa.gov/Artemis2LunarSci…
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Quite the planetary view 🪐 While Saturn’s rings put on a stellar display in this image captured by our Cassini spacecraft, take a closer look at the bright spot gleaming within them—that’s Venus!
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Though Venus only appears as a white dot just above and to the right of the image center, this view was made possible as Cassini entered the shadow of Saturn and looked toward the Sun.
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