Ever looked up at the night sky and wondered why everything seems to move with such quiet precision? The sistema solar is not just a list of planets—it’s a dynamic neighborhood where gravity, sunlight, and motion work together like clockwork. Once you understand a few simple patterns, stargazing becomes less guessing and more noticing.
Sistema Solar Basics: Gravity, Orbits, and the Sun’s Influence
At the center sits the Sun, holding the solar system together with its massive gravitational pull. Planets follow elliptical orbits, and their speeds change depending on how close they are to the Sun. This is why Mercury races around quickly while Neptune takes its time far out in the cold.
Just as important, the Sun is the system’s energy source. Sunlight powers planetary climates, drives auroras, and reveals surfaces and cloud bands through reflected light.
Inner vs. Outer Planets in the Sistema Solar
Next, it helps to divide the planets into two families. The inner planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars—are rocky worlds with solid surfaces and comparatively thin rings of debris nearby, like the asteroid belt farther out.
Meanwhile, the outer planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—are gas and ice giants. They host powerful magnetic fields, deep atmospheres, and extensive moon systems, with Saturn’s rings acting as the most iconic example of orbiting ice and dust.
Moons, Rings, and Small Bodies: The Busy Middle of Space
Beyond planets, the sistema solar includes dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, and countless meteoroids. Many of these objects are leftovers from early formation, making them valuable “time capsules” for understanding how everything began.
Additionally, moons shape what we see: Jupiter’s Galilean moons, Saturn’s Titan, and Earth’s Moon each influence tides, orbital stability, and even where scientists search for possible habitability.
How to Observe the Sistema Solar Tonight (Without a Telescope)
Now for the practical part: start by locating the brightest “stars” that don’t twinkle much—those are often planets. Venus and Jupiter are usually the easiest targets, and a simple sky app can confirm what you’re seeing in seconds.
Then, track positions over several nights. If you note where a planet sits relative to nearby stars, you’ll witness orbital motion firsthand—a real-time lesson in celestial mechanics that makes the sistema solar feel close, personal, and understandable.
Ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what’s actually moving above you—and how you can spot it with your own eyes? The sistema solar isn’t just a textbook diagram; it’s a living neighborhood of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets that you can begin exploring in a single evening. With a few simple cues, the sky becomes less mysterious and far more personal.
What the sistema solar includes (beyond the planets)
At its core, our solar system is shaped by the Sun’s gravity, binding together eight planets and countless smaller bodies. Alongside the familiar worlds are dwarf planets like Pluto and Ceres, plus asteroid families and icy comets that travel on long, dramatic orbits.
In addition, regions such as the Asteroid Belt and the Kuiper Belt act like “storage zones” for rocky and icy remnants from the system’s formation. Seeing the sistema solar this way helps explain why some objects are clustered, while others roam farther out.
Planets and orbits: how the solar system stays in motion
The planets follow elliptical paths, each with its own pace—Mercury races, while Neptune takes its time. This orbital variety influences how often planets appear in our sky and when they line up for viewing opportunities.
Meanwhile, rotation and axial tilt drive day lengths and seasons, shaping climates across the planets. As a result, the solar system becomes a lab for understanding weather, geology, and even the conditions that might support life elsewhere.
Moons, rings, and small bodies in the sistema solar
Moons are some of the most dynamic places we know: Jupiter’s Europa may hide a subsurface ocean, and Saturn’s Titan has lakes of hydrocarbons. Rings—especially Saturn’s—are made of countless particles, from dust to boulder-sized chunks.
Transitioning from big worlds to small ones, asteroids and comets offer clues to the early solar system’s raw materials. Meteor showers on Earth often trace back to comet debris, turning ancient leftovers into modern sky events.
How to observe the sistema solar tonight (simple, actionable tips)
Start by finding the Moon and a bright “star” that doesn’t twinkle much—often a planet like Venus or Jupiter. A free sky app can confirm what you’re seeing and show when a planet rises or sets.
Next, use binoculars to reveal lunar craters and the moons of Jupiter under dark skies. If you keep a short observing log—date, time, and what you noticed—you’ll quickly learn the rhythms of the sistema solar and spot changes week to week.
Once you recognize that planets wander, the Moon shifts nightly, and meteor showers have origins, the sky turns into a map you can read. Step outside, pick one target, and observe for five minutes—small habits are the fastest way to build a real connection with the sistema solar.
El universo es vasto y misterioso, pero nuestro rincón más cercano, el sistema solar, alberga maravillas que podemos explorar y comprender. Desde el ardiente Sol hasta los helados confines del cinturón de Kuiper, cada cuerpo celeste cuenta una historia de formación, evolución y secretos aún por desvelar. Embárquese en un viaje para redescubrir nuestro propio sistema planetario.
El Corazón Brillante: Nuestro Sol
En el centro de todo se encuentra el Sol, una estrella de tipo G que domina nuestro sistema. Es una esfera de gas incandescente, principalmente hidrógeno y helio, que genera energía a través de la fusión nuclear. Esta energía es lo que ilumina y calienta a todos los planetas, lunas y otros objetos que orbitan a su alrededor.
La actividad solar, como las erupciones y las eyecciones de masa coronal, tiene un impacto directo en el entorno espacial. Estas manifestaciones pueden afectar las comunicaciones en la Tierra y crear espectaculares auroras boreales y australes.
Los Planetas Interiores: Rocas y Calor
Cerca del Sol encontramos los planetas rocosos: Mercurio, Venus, la Tierra y Marte. Estos mundos son relativamente pequeños y están compuestos principalmente de roca y metal. Cada uno posee características únicas, desde la superficie abrasada de Mercurio hasta la densa atmósfera de Venus.
La Tierra, nuestro hogar, es un planeta excepcional por la presencia de agua líquida y una atmósfera que sustenta la vida. Marte, el planeta rojo, sigue siendo un foco de interés por la posibilidad de vida pasada y su potencial para futuras exploraciones humanas.
Los Gigantes Gaseosos y Helados: Mundos de Gas y Hielo
Más allá del cinturón de asteroides, se extienden los gigantes gaseosos, Júpiter y Saturno, y los gigantes helados, Urano y Neptuno. Estos planetas son inmensamente más grandes que los rocosos y están compuestos principalmente de gases como hidrógeno y helio, o de elementos más pesados como agua, amoníaco y metano en sus núcleos.
Los sistemas de anillos de Saturno son icónicos, pero Júpiter, Urano y Neptuno también poseen sus propios conjuntos de anillos y numerosas lunas. Estos planetas exteriores custodian una gran diversidad de satélites naturales, algunos de los cuales, como Europa y Encélado, podrían albergar océanos subsuperficiales.
Más Allá de los Planetas: Objetos Transneptunianos
El sistema solar no termina en Neptuno. El cinturón de Kuiper y la nube de Oort albergan innumerables cuerpos helados, incluyendo planetas enanos como Plutón. Estos objetos son remanentes de la formación temprana del sistema solar y nos ofrecen pistas sobre sus orígenes.
Comprender la estructura y los componentes de nuestro sistema solar nos ayuda a apreciar nuestro lugar en el cosmos. La exploración continua de estos mundos, tanto con telescopios como con misiones espaciales, promete revelar aún más secretos sobre nuestro vecindario cósmico.
¿Alguna vez te has detenido a contemplar el vasto universo que nos rodea? Nuestro propio hogar, el sistema solar, es un lugar de maravillas inimaginables, desde el ardiente Sol hasta los helados confines de sus planetas exteriores. Embarquémonos en un viaje para desentrañar algunos de sus misterios más fascinantes.
El Corazón Brillante: Nuestro Sol
Todo en nuestro vecindario cósmico gira en torno a una estrella: el Sol. Esta gigantesca esfera de plasma es la fuente de toda la luz y el calor que hace posible la vida en la Tierra. Su inmensa gravedad mantiene a todos los cuerpos celestes en sus órbitas definidas.
La actividad solar, como las erupciones y las eyecciones de masa coronal, tiene un impacto directo en nuestro planeta, creando auroras espectaculares y, a veces, afectando nuestras comunicaciones.
Los Planetas Rocosos: Un Vistazo Cercano
Los cuatro planetas interiores, Mercurio, Venus, la Tierra y Marte, son conocidos como los planetas rocosos o terrestres. Cada uno posee una superficie sólida, aunque sus condiciones varían drásticamente.
Mercurio, el más cercano al Sol, es un mundo de extremos, mientras que Venus está envuelto en densas nubes que atrapan el calor. Nuestro propio planeta es un oasis de vida, y Marte, el planeta rojo, sigue siendo un objetivo principal para la exploración en busca de signos de vida pasada.
Los Gigantes Gaseosos y Helados: Mundos Lejanos
Más allá del cinturón de asteroides se encuentran los gigantes gaseosos, Júpiter y Saturno, y los gigantes helados, Urano y Neptuno. Estos colosos son radicalmente diferentes de sus vecinos rocosos.
Júpiter, con su Gran Mancha Roja, es el planeta más grande, mientras que Saturno deslumbra con sus icónicos anillos. Urano y Neptuno, de tonos azulados, albergan atmósferas complejas y misterios aún por descubrir en sus profundidades.
Más Allá de los Planetas: Objetos Menores
Nuestro sistema solar no se limita a los ocho planetas principales. Innumerables asteroides, cometas y planetas enanos, como Plutón, pueblan sus vastos espacios.
Estos cuerpos celestes son reliquias de la formación del sistema solar, ofreciendo pistas valiosas sobre sus orígenes. Estudiar estos objetos nos ayuda a comprender mejor la historia y la evolución de nuestro rincón del cosmos.
Explorar nuestro sistema solar es una aventura continua. Cada nueva misión, cada descubrimiento, nos acerca un poco más a comprender nuestro lugar en este increíble universo, invitándonos a seguir maravillándonos con la complejidad y la belleza que nos rodea.
¿Alguna vez te has detenido a contemplar las estrellas y te has preguntado qué misterios esconde nuestro vecindario cósmico? El sistema solar es un lugar de maravillas inimaginables, un vasto conjunto de cuerpos celestes unidos por la fuerza gravitatoria de nuestra estrella, el Sol. Desde planetas rocosos hasta gigantes gaseosos, cada rincón de este sistema ofrece una visión única del universo.
Los Planetas Interiores: Rocosos y Misteriosos
Nuestra exploración comienza con los planetas más cercanos al Sol: Mercurio, Venus, la Tierra y Marte. Estos mundos son predominantemente rocosos, con superficies sólidas y atmósferas variables.
Mercurio: El Mensajero Veloz
Mercurio, el planeta más pequeño y rápido, orbita el Sol en tan solo 88 días terrestres. Su superficie está marcada por cráteres, testimonio de miles de millones de años de impactos cósmicos.
Venus: El Gemelo Infernal de la Tierra
Venus, a menudo llamado el “gemelo de la Tierra” por su tamaño similar, posee una atmósfera densa y tóxica que atrapa el calor, convirtiéndolo en el planeta más caliente de nuestro sistema.
La Tierra: Nuestro Hogar Azul
La Tierra, nuestro único hogar conocido, se distingue por la presencia de agua líquida en su superficie y una atmósfera rica en oxígeno, condiciones perfectas para la vida.
Marte: El Planeta Rojo
Marte, con su distintivo color rojizo, es un foco de intensa investigación científica. Los científicos buscan indicios de vida pasada o presente en su superficie desértica y helada.
El Cinturón de Asteroides: Una Frontera Rocosa
Entre Marte y Júpiter se encuentra el Cinturón de Asteroides, una vasta región poblada por millones de cuerpos rocosos de diversos tamaños, restos de la formación del sistema solar.
Los Gigantes Gaseosos: Majestuosos y Enigmáticos
Más allá del cinturón de asteroides, nos encontramos con los imponentes gigantes gaseosos: Júpiter, Saturno, Urano y Neptuno. Estos colosos están compuestos principalmente de gases como hidrógeno y helio.
Júpiter: El Rey de los Planetas
Júpiter, el planeta más grande, es famoso por su Gran Mancha Roja, una tormenta anticiclónica colosal que ha persistido durante siglos. Posee un sistema de lunas fascinante.
Saturno: La Joya Anillada
Saturno es inconfundible por sus espectaculares anillos, formados por miles de millones de partículas de hielo y roca. Es un espectáculo celestial digno de admiración.
Urano y Neptuno: Los Gigantes Azules de Hielo
Urano y Neptuno, los planetas más alejados, son gigantes de hielo con atmósferas de color azul intenso. Sus características únicas aún guardan muchos secretos.
Más Allá de los Planetas: El Reino Helado
Nuestro viaje no termina con los planetas. El sistema solar se extiende hasta el Cinturón de Kuiper y la hipotética Nube de Oort, regiones repletas de cuerpos helados como Plutón y cometas.
Comprender la estructura y la dinámica de nuestro sistema solar nos ayuda a apreciar la inmensidad del cosmos y nuestro lugar en él. Cada observación, cada misión espacial, nos acerca un poco más a desvelar los secretos que nuestro vecindario estelar tiene para ofrecer, invitándonos a seguir explorando y maravillándonos.
Chasing trofeos en una carrera isn’t just about speed—it’s about showing up with a plan, executing under pressure, and finishing with nothing left in the tank. Whether you’re aiming for your first podium trophy or upgrading from “just finish” to “place,” small decisions before and during race day add up fast. The best part: you can start improving today, even if your next event is weeks away.
Trofeos en una carrera: What really wins races
Most trophies go to runners who combine consistent training with smart race tactics. Fitness matters, but so does pacing, fueling, and reading the course. If you want awards, medals, or a podium finish, treat your preparation like a system—not a single hard workout.
With that in mind, focus on controllables: weekly volume, quality sessions, recovery, and race execution. This approach creates repeatable results across 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, and beyond.
Training strategies to earn race trophies and podium finishes
To compete for trofeos, your plan should include three pillars: endurance, speed, and strength. Build an aerobic base with easy runs, then add one tempo session and one interval session per week. Keep the hard days hard and the easy days truly easy.
Next, layer in strength training two times weekly—think squats, lunges, calf raises, and core work. This improves running economy and helps you hold form when fatigue hits, which often decides who earns the award.
Weekly structure example (simple but effective)
Try: one long run, one tempo (comfortably hard), one interval day (short repeats), and two to three easy runs. Include one full rest day. Over time, gradual progression beats sudden spikes.
Race-day tactics: pacing, positioning, and mindset
Transitioning from training to racing, execution becomes your edge. Start slightly conservative for the first third, then lock into goal pace. If the course has hills, effort matters more than pace—push the flats, stay controlled uphill, and use the downhill to regain speed.
Also, position yourself early. Line up near runners targeting similar times so you’re not weaving through traffic. When it gets tough, switch focus to controllable cues: quick cadence, relaxed shoulders, and steady breathing.
Fueling and hydration for a stronger finish
For races longer than 60 minutes, practice taking carbs during training so your stomach is ready. Even in shorter races, a pre-race meal and hydration plan reduce late-race fade. A strong final kilometer is where many podium spots are decided.
Choosing the right event for trofeos en una carrera
Finally, pick races strategically. Smaller local events often have better odds for age-group awards, while big-city races can be deeper fields. Look at past results, course profiles, and weather history to match your strengths.
Set a clear goal time, train with intent, and rehearse your race plan so it feels automatic on the start line. Chase trofeos en una carrera by stacking smart weeks, then letting disciplined pacing and confident execution carry you to the finish—and, often, to the podium.
NASA has selected ARES Technical Services Corporation of McLean, Virginia, to provide launch range operations support at the agency’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
The Wallops Range Contract has a total potential value of $339.8 million with a one-year base period expected to begin Tuesday, Feb. 10, and four one-year option periods that if exercised would extend it to 2031. The contract includes a cost-plus-fixed-fee core with an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity component and the ability to issue cost-plus-fixed-fee or firm-fixed-price task orders.
The scope of the work includes launch range operations support such as radar, telemetry, logistics, tracking, and communications services for flight vehicles including orbital and suborbital rockets, aircraft, satellites, balloons, and unmanned aerial systems. Additional responsibilities include information and computer systems services; testing, modifying, and installing communications and electronic systems at launch facilities, launch control centers, and test facilities; and range technology sustainment engineering services.
Work will primarily occur at NASA Wallops with additional support at sites such as the agency’s Bermuda Tracking Station, Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska, and other temporary duty locations.
For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
A new video shows changes in Kepler’s Supernova Remnant using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory captured over more than two and a half decades with observations taken in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2014, and 2025. In this video, which is the longest-spanning one ever released by Chandra, X-rays (blue) from the telescope have been combined with an optical image (red, green, and blue) from Pan-STARRS.
X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: Pan-STARRS
A new video shows the evolution of Kepler’s Supernova Remnant using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory captured over more than two and a half decades.
Kepler’s Supernova Remnant, named after the German astronomer Johannes Kepler, was first spotted in the night sky in 1604. Today, astronomers know that a white dwarf star exploded when it exceeded a critical mass, after pulling material from a companion star, or merging with another white dwarf. This kind of supernova is known as a Type Ia, and scientists use it to measure the expansion of the universe.
Supernova remnants, the debris fields left behind after a stellar explosion, often glow strongly in X-ray light because the material has been heated to millions of degrees from the blast. The remnant is located in our galaxy, about 17,000 light-years from Earth, allowing Chandra to make detailed images of the debris and how it changes with time. This latest video includes its X-ray data from 2000, 2004, 2006, 2014, and 2025. This makes it the longest-spanning video that Chandra has ever released, enabled by Chandra’s longevity.
“The plot of Kepler’s story is just now beginning to unfold,” said Jessye Gassel, a graduate student at George Mason University in Virginia, who led the work. “It’s remarkable that we can watch as these remains from this shattered star crash into material already thrown out into space.” Gassel presented the new Chandra video and the associated research at the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Phoenix.
The researchers used the video to show that the fastest parts of the remnant are traveling at about 13.8 million miles per hour (2% of the speed of light), moving toward the bottom of the image. Meanwhile, the slowest parts are traveling toward the top at about 4 million miles per hour (0.5% of the speed of light). This large difference in speed is because the gas that the remnant is plowing into toward the top of the image is denser than the gas toward the bottom. This gives scientists information about the environments into which this star exploded.
“Supernova explosions and the elements they hurl into space are the lifeblood of new stars and planets,” said Brian Williams of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and principal investigator of the new Chandra observations of Kepler. “Understanding exactly how they behave is crucial to knowing our cosmic history.”
The team also examined the widths of the rims forming the blast wave of the explosion. The blast wave is the leading edge of the explosion and the first to encounter material outside of the star. By measuring how wide it is and how fast it is traveling, astronomers glean more information about both the explosion of the star and its surroundings.
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-ray Center controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.
This release features a ten second silent video of Kepler’s expanding Supernova Remnant, located in our own galaxy, about 17,000 light-years from Earth. The video was created using X-ray data gathered in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2014, and 2025. Those distinct datasets were turned into highly-detailed visuals, creating a 25-year timelapse-style video of the growing remnant.
Kepler’s Supernova Remnant was once a white dwarf star that exploded when it exceeded its critical mass. Here, in X-ray light, the remnant resembles a cloudy neon blue ring with a diagonal cross line stretching from our upper right down to our lower left. The ring appears thinner and wispier at the bottom, with a band of white arching across the top.
As the video plays, cycling through the 5 datasets, the ring subtly, but clearly, expands, like a slowly inflating balloon. In the video, this sequence is replayed several times with dates included at our lower right, to give sighted learners time to absorb the visual information. Upon close inspection, researchers have determined that the bottom of the remnant is expanding fastest; about 13.8 million miles per hour, or 2% of the speed of light. The top of the ring appears to be expanding the slowest; about 4 million miles per hour, or 0.5% of the speed of light. The large difference in speed is because the gas that the remnant is plowing into towards the top of the image is denser than the gas towards the bottom.
Collecting and interpreting this data over decades has provided information about the environment into which the white dwarf star exploded, and has helped scientists understand how remnants change with time.
NASA Marshall Prepares for Demolition of Historic Test, Simulation Facilities
Engineers and technicians hoist the first flight version of the Saturn IB rocket’s first stage into the T-tower for static testing at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, on March 15, 1965.
Credits: NASA
NASA is preparing for the demolition of three iconic structures at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Crews began demolition in mid-December at the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, a facility built in the late 1960s that once enabled NASA astronauts and researchers to experience near-weightlessness. The facility was also used to conduct underwater testing of space hardware and practice runs for servicing the Hubble Space Telescope. The simulator was closed in 1997.
Two test stands – the Propulsion and Structural Test Facility and Dynamic Test Facility – are also slated for demolition, one after the other, by carefully coordinated implosion no earlier than sunrise on Jan. 10, 2026.
NASA Marshall tests fires the first stage of the Saturn I rocket at its historic Propulsion and Structural Test Facility, better known as the “T-tower.”
The demolition of these historic structures is part of a larger project that began in spring 2022, targeting several inactive structures no longer needed for the agency’s missions. All three towering fixtures played crucial roles in getting humans to the Moon, into low-Earth orbit, and beyond.
These structures have reached the end of their safe, operational life, and their removal has been long-planned as part of a broader effort to modernize Marshall’s footprint. This demolition is the first phase of an initiative that will ultimately remove 25 outdated structures, reduce maintenance burdens, and position Marshall to take full advantage of a guaranteed NASA center infrastructure investment authorized under the Working Families Tax Credit Act.
This work reflects smart stewardship of taxpayer resources.
jared isaacman
NASA Administrator
“This work reflects smart stewardship of taxpayer resources,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Clearing outdated infrastructure allows NASA to safely modernize, streamline operations, and fully leverage the infrastructure investments signed into law by President Trump to keep Marshall positioned at the forefront of aerospace innovation.”
Built in 1964, the Dynamic Test Stand initially was used to test fully assembled Saturn V rockets. In 1978, engineers integrated all space shuttle elements for the first time, including the orbiter, external fuel tank, and solid rocket boosters. It was last used in the early 2000s for microgravity testing.
The space shuttle orbiter Enterprise lifted by crane into the Structural Dynamic Test Facility at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for vibration testing in July 1978.
NASA
The Propulsion and Structural Test Facility – better known at Marshall as the “T-tower” due to its unique shape – was built in 1957 by the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency and transferred to NASA when Marshall was founded in 1960. There, engineers tested components of the Saturn launch vehicles, the Army’s Redstone Rocket, and shuttle solid rocket boosters. It was last used for space shuttle solid rocket motor tests in the 1990s.
“Each one of these structures helped NASA make history,” said Rae Ann Meyer, acting center director at Marshall. “While it is hard to let them go, they’ve earned their retirement. The people who built and managed these facilities and empowered our mission of space exploration are the most important part of their legacy.”
“These structures are not safe,” continued Meyer. “Strategic demolition is a necessary step in shaping the future of NASA’s mission to explore, innovate, and inspire. By removing these structures that we have not used in decades, we are saving money on upkeep of facilities we can’t use. We also are making these areas safe to use for future NASA exploration endeavors and investments.”
A legacy worth remembering
When NASA opened the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator in 1968, it was one of few places on Earth that could recreate the weightlessness of microgravity. The facility provided a simulated zero-gravity environment in which engineers and astronauts could find out how their designs might handle in orbit. The tank has been central to planning and problem-solving for Skylab missions, repairs to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, and more. The tank is 75 feet in diameter, 40 feet deep, and designed to hold up to nearly 1.5 million gallons of water. It was replaced in 1997 by a new, larger facility at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Astronaut Kathryn Thornton practices maneuvers planned for the STS-61 mission in the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, on Aug. 9, 1993.
NASA
The Propulsion and Structural Test Facility is one of the oldest test stands at Marshall. The dual-position test stand, sometimes called the T-tower, was built for static testing large rockets and launch systems – like launching a rocket while keeping it restrained and wired to instruments that collect data. The tests and data played a role in the development of the Saturn family of rockets, including the F-1 engine and S-IC.
The Dynamic Test Stand, a 360-foot tower topped by a 64-foot derrick, was once the tallest human-made structure in North Alabama. Engineers there conducted full-scale tests of Saturn V rockets – the same powerful vehicles that carried Apollo astronauts to the Moon. Later, the stand served as the first location where all space shuttle elements were integrated.
Preserving history for future generations
The irreplaceable historical value of these landmarks has prompted NASA to undertake extensive efforts to preserve their stories for future generations. The three facilities were made national landmarks in 1985 for their part in human spaceflight. In keeping with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, master planners and engineers at Marshall completed a rigorous consultation and mitigation process for each landmark, working closely with Alabama’s State Historic Preservation Office to preserve their history for future generations.
Detailed architectural documentation, written histories, and large-format photographs are permanently archived in the Library of Congress’ Historic American Engineering Record collection, making this history accessible to researchers and the public for generations.
Additionally, NASA has partnered with Auburn University to create high-resolution digital models of each facility. The project used technologies like LiDAR and 360-photography of the structures in detail before demolition. Their goal is to preserve not just the appearance, but the sense of scale and engineering achievement they represent. The models are still in work, but they’ll eventually be publicly available.
Select artifacts from the facilities have also been identified and transferred to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center through NASA’s Artifact Program, ensuring tangible pieces of this history remain available for educational purposes.
Honoring the past, building the future
For the employees, retirees, and community members who remember these facilities over the decades, their removal marks the end of an era. But their contributions live on in every NASA mission, from the International Space Station to the upcoming Artemis II lunar missions and more.
“NASA’s vision of space exploration remains vibrant, and as we look to an exciting future, we honor the past, especially the dedication of the men and women who built these structures and tested hardware that has launched into space, made unprecedented scientific discoveries, and inspired generations of Americans to reach for the stars,” said Meyer.
The demolitions represent more than removing obsolete infrastructure. They’re part of NASA’s commitment to building a dynamic, interconnected campus ready for the next era of space exploration while honoring the bold spirit that has always driven the agency forward.
Virtual tours and preserved documentation will be made available on Marshall’s digital channels. Marshall will also share video of the test stand demolitions after the event.
For communities near Redstone Arsenal, there could be a loud noise associated with the demolition on the morning of Jan. 10.
European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet removes the Protein Crystallization Facility hardware from an incubator aboard the International Space Station for the CASIS PCG-5 investigation, which crystallized a monoclonal antibody developed by Merck Research Labs.
NASA
NASA opens the International Space Station for scientists and researchers, inviting them to use the benefits of microgravity for commercial and public research, technology demonstrations, and more. Today, a portion of the crew’s time aboard station is devoted to private industry, including medical research that addresses complex health challenges on Earth and prepares astronauts for future deep space missions.
In collaboration with scientists at Merck, protein crystal growth research on the space station yielded early insights regarding the structure and size of particles best suited for the development of a new formulation of the company’s cancer medicine pembrolizumab for subcutaneous injection. This new route of delivery was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September and offers a time-saving alternative to intravenous infusion for certain patients. These research efforts aboard the space station were supported by the ISS National Laboratory.
Originally, the treatment was delivered during an in-office visit via infusion therapy into the patient’s veins, a process that could take up to two hours. Initial delivery improvements reduced infusion times to less than 30 minutes every three weeks. The newly approved subcutaneous injectable form takes about one minute every three weeks, promising to improve quality of life for patients by reducing cost and significantly reducing treatment time for patients and healthcare providers.
UV imaging of a ground control sample (left) and spaceflight sample (right) from Merck’s research shows the much more uniform size and distribution of crystals grown in microgravity. These results helped researchers to refine ground-based production of uniform crystalline suspensions required for an injectable version of the company’s cancer medicine, pembrolizumab.
Merck
Since 2014, Merck has flown crystal growth experiments to the space station to better understand how crystals form, including the monoclonal antibody used in this cancer treatment. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins that help the body fight diseases. This research focused on producing crystalline suspensions that dissolve easily in liquid, making it possible to deliver the medication by injection. In microgravity, the absence of gravity’s physical forces allows scientists to grow larger, more uniform, and higher-quality crystals than those grown in ground-based labs, advancing medication development and structural modeling.
Research aboard the space station has provided valuable insights into how gravity influences crystallization, helping to improve drug formulations. The work of NASA and its partners aboard the space station improves lives on Earth, grows a commercial economy in low Earth orbit, and prepares for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
