This self-portrait of NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover shows the vehicle at “Namib Dune,” where the rover’s activities included scuffing into the dune with a wheel and scooping samples of sand for laboratory analysis. via NASA http://ift.tt/1PK1POl

Chuck Resnik, brother of Space Shuttle Challenger astronaut Judith Resnik, left, and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, right, visit the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial during a wreath laying ceremony that was part of NASA’s Day of Remembrance on the 30th anniversary of the Challenger accident, January 28, 2016, at Arlington National Cemetery. via NASA http://ift.tt/1OSseWB

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is another step closer to launching on its first mission to deep space atop the agency’s Space Launch System rocket. On Jan. 13, technicians at Michoud Assembly Facility finished welding together the primary structure of the Orion spacecraft destined for deep space, marking another important step on the journey to Mars. via NASA http://ift.tt/1OPBnPJ

Expedition 46 flight engineer Tim Peake of the European Space Agency (ESA) shared this stunning nighttime photograph with his social media followers on Jan. 25, 2016, writing, “Beautiful night pass over Italy, Alps and Mediterranean.” via NASA http://ift.tt/201CFPP

This half-lit view of Enceladus bears a passing resemblance to similar views of Earth’s own natural satellite, but the similarities end there. via NASA http://ift.tt/1UmfrwW

An image from Suomi NPP shows the Eastern United States covered with snow and lit by a blizzard. via NASA http://ift.tt/1PqCo4e

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite snapped this image of the blizzard approaching the U.S. East coast around 2:35 a.m. EST on Jan. 22, 2016 using the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument’s Day-Night band. via NASA http://ift.tt/1NpA4CQ

NASA and NOAA satellites are tracking a large winter storm that is expected to bring heavy snowfall to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region on Jan. 22 and 23. Data from NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP and NOAA’s GOES-East satellite were used to create images and an animation of the movement of the powerful storm. via NASA http://ift.tt/1PqWTr2

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and ESA astronaut Tim Peake shared a series of aurora photographs taken from the International Space Station on Jan. 20, 2016. Kelly wrote, “#goodmorning #aurora and the Pacific Northwest! #YearInSpace” and Peakefollowed up with, “Getting a photo masterclass from @StationCDRKelly – magical #aurora” via NASA http://ift.tt/1lvCOYX

On Jan. 16, 2016, Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly shared photographs of a blooming zinnia flower in the Veggie plant growth system aboard the International Space Station. Kelly wrote, “Yes, there are other life forms in space! #SpaceFlower #YearInSpace” via NASA http://ift.tt/1PDkPbc