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4. Google Chrome is switching to a two-week release cycle  9to5Google
5. Chrome is moving to a 2-week release cycle, delivering far more frequent updates  Chrome Unboxed

Dating back centuries, salt-crusted plains in present-day Oklahoma held great value to native tribes and, later, to homesteaders. People used the inland supply of salt in their diets, for tanning deer hides, and for trade. The area also proved to be a fertile hunting ground due to the abundance of game that sought out the nutrient-rich habitat.

Since 1930, the salty deposit located about 90 miles (150 kilometers) northwest of Oklahoma City has been part of Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Today, the plains are still known as a gathering place for diverse animal life, including more than 300 species of birds. But its salt resources have become appealing in another way: it is the only place in the world where people can dig for a distinctively patterned form of crystallized gypsum.

The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 captured these images of the area in natural color (above) and false color (below) on October 10, 2025. The salt basin is partially filled by Great Salt Plains Lake, a shallow reservoir formed by the damming of the Salt Fork Arkansas River and fed by ephemeral streams.

The false-color image combines the shortwave infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with visible light (OLI bands 7-4-2). In this combination, healthy vegetation appears dark red to purple, and water is blue. The variation in color on the salt plain may be due to different moisture or salinity levels. (Scientists can use shortwave infrared data in estimations of soil salinity.)

The basin’s salt has its origins in the Permian Period, about 300 million to 250 million years ago. A shallow salt layer from that time still underlies parts of the southwestern U.S., including western Oklahoma. Salt gradually dissolves into groundwater, and when the resulting brine rises to the surface, the water evaporates and leaves behind a bright crust.

The saline water is a key component in a mineral structure unique to the area—hourglass selenite crystals. Selenite, a crystalline variety of gypsum, forms in the top two feet of the wet subsurface when saline water combines with gypsum. The process can occur relatively quickly when temperatures and moisture levels are right. Likewise, crystals may dissolve away if the environment is too wet. Sand and clay particles get incorporated into the otherwise clear crystals, often in a brownish hourglass shape.

Visitors to the Salt Plains scour for these crystal “blades,” but crystal collecting is limited to certain months of the year so as not to disrupt seasonal activities of shorebirds and waterbirds. The salt flats provide habitat and feeding grounds for species such as the snowy plover, sandhill crane, and endangered whooping crane. Other wildlife common to the area include white-tailed deer, red-eared sliders, and nine-banded armadillos.

NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Lindsey Doermann.

References & Resources

• Johnson, K.S. (1981) Dissolution of salt on the east flank of the Permian Basin in the southwestern U.S.A. Journal of Hydrology, 54 (1–3), 75-93.
• National Geographic (2020, September 15) Dig in! This nature reserve wants you to make a mess. Accessed March 3, 2026.
• Oklahoma Historical Society (2010, January 15) Great Salt Plains. Accessed March 3, 2026.
• Oklahoma Historical Society (2010, January 15) Great Salt Plains State Park and National Wildlife Refuge. Accessed March 3, 2026.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Welcome to Great Salt Plains Lake.  Accessed March 3, 2026.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Accessed March 3, 2026.

Read this story in English here.

A fin de lograr el objetivo nacional de llevar astronautas estadounidenses a la superficie de la Luna y mantener la superioridad de Estados Unidos en exploración y descubrimientos, la NASA anunció el 27 de febrero que aumentará la frecuencia de sus misiones con el programa Artemis, estandarizará la configuración del cohete Sistema de Lanzamiento Espacial (SLS, por sus siglas en inglés) y agregará una nueva misión.

Estos planes fueron dados a conocer durante una conferencia de prensa (en inglés) en el Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA en Florida, e incluyeron una actualización sobre la misión que se dará en el futuro cercano, Artemis II.

Esta actualización se centró en los sistemas de transporte para llevar tripulaciones a la Luna. La arquitectura actualizada de la NASA incluye agregar una nueva misión en 2027 para poner a prueba las capacidades de sistema más cerca de la Tierra antes de enviar astronautas a la superficie de la Luna por primera vez en más de 50 años y tiene como objetivo lograr una misión lunar por año a partir de entonces. Ahora, la estandarización del cohete Sistema de Lanzamiento Espacial (SLS, por sus siglas en inglés) y de otros sistemas ayudará a la NASA a enviar astronautas a explorar el Polo Sur lunar por primera vez en 2028.

Los detalles específicos para lograr este nuevo enfoque, así como otras actualizaciones de la arquitectura, serán dados a conocer próximamente, ya que la agencia sigue centrada en la misión Artemis II, la cual tiene previsto volar alrededor de la Luna no más tarde de abril, y está comprobando sus capacidades para respaldar una mayor frecuencia de las misiones.

Artemis I: La NASA completó con éxito un vuelo de prueba sin tripulación del cohete SLS y la nave espacial Orion en noviembre de 2022. Esta misión puso a prueba por primera vez el lanzamiento del cohete utilizando nuevos sistemas terrestres de exploración y evaluó los sistemas de Orion sin incluir astronautas ni los sistemas críticos de soporte vital planificados para la siguiente misión.

Artemis II: Esta misión será el primer vuelo de prueba con tripulación a bordo del cohete SLS y la nave espacial Orion. Después de un exitoso ensayo general con circulación de combustible en febrero, la NASA descubrió un problema del flujo de helio a la etapa de propulsión criogénica provisional, y llevó el cohete y la nave espacial de regreso al Edificio de Ensamblaje de Vehículos para su reparación. Los ingenieros del Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA en Florida están trabajando actualmente en el cohete SLS y la nave espacial Orion, que está montada sobre él, para abordar el problema que requirió su retirada, y los equipos también están aprovechando el tiempo para cambiar las baterías y hacer otros trabajos. La ventana de lanzamiento se abre en abril.

Los miembros de la tripulación son los astronautas de la NASA Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover y Christina Koch, y el astronauta de la CSA (Agencia Espacial Canadiense) Jeremy Hansen, quienes emprenderán una misión con una duración aproximada de 10 días que los enviará alrededor de la Luna y de regreso a la Tierra.

Artemis III: La NASA añadió una nueva misión de demostración en la órbita terrestre baja para mediados de 2027 a fin de poner a prueba uno o ambos módulos de aterrizaje comerciales de SpaceX y Blue Origin, respectivamente. Esta misión lanzará a la tripulación a bordo de Orion sobre el cohete SLS para poner a prueba las capacidades de encuentro y acoplamiento entre Orion y las naves espaciales comerciales privadas que son necesarias para llevar astronautas a la Luna. Esta prueba se llevará a cabo con uno o ambos proveedores.

Artemis IV: La NASA sigue teniendo como objetivo que el primer alunizaje de Artemis sea a principios de 2028, que ha sido la fecha de alunizaje prevista desde mediados de 2025. Después del lanzamiento, la tripulación se trasladará a un módulo de aterrizaje lunar comercial para su transporte a la superficie de la Luna. La preparación del módulo de aterrizaje determinará qué proveedor los llevará de manera segura a la superficie y de regreso a Orion en la órbita lunar, antes de que la tripulación regrese a casa a bordo de Orion, para amerizar de manera segura en el océano Pacífico.

Se llevarán a cabo medidas para estandarizar el cohete SLS para la misión Artemis IV. Con este enfoque arquitectónico, la NASA evalúa opciones alternativas para la segunda etapa del cohete. La etapa de propulsión criogénica provisional utilizada para las tres primeras misiones será reemplazada por una nueva segunda etapa, y la agencia ya no planea utilizar la Etapa Superior de Exploración ni el Lanzador Móvil 2, ya que el desarrollo de ambos ha sufrido retrasos.

Artemis V: Mediante la configuración estandarizada del cohete SLS, la NASA anticipa que el lanzamiento de esta misión a la superficie lunar ocurrirá a finales de 2028 y, a partir de entonces, habrá futuras misiones aproximadamente una vez al año. También se espera que en esta misión la NASA comience a construir su base lunar.

La NASA continúa perfeccionando los planes de la arquitectura de sus misiones, y la agencia dará a conocer más información sobre su estrategia para la exploración lunar y asignaciones de tripulación en el futuro.

Como parte de una edad de oro de innovación y exploración, la NASA enviará astronautas de Artemis en misiones progresivamente más difíciles para explorar más regiones de la Luna a fin de lograr descubrimientos científicos y beneficios económicos, y de utilizar nuestro desarrollo de los programas espaciales para sentar las bases para las primeras misiones tripuladas a Marte.

Para obtener más información sobre el programa Artemis, visita:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis (en inglés)

https://ciencia.nasa.gov/artemis (español)

Lee esta historia en español aquí.

To achieve the national goal of landing American astronauts on the surface of the Moon and maintaining U.S. superiority in exploration and discovery, NASA announced Feb. 27 it is increasing its cadence of missions under the Artemis program, standardizing the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket configuration, and adding a new mission.

The plans were shared during a news conference at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and included an update on the near-term mission, Artemis II.

This update focused on the transportation systems to take crew to the Moon. NASA’s latest architecture includes adding a new mission in 2027 to test system capabilities closer to home prior to sending astronauts to the surface of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years and aims to achieve one lunar mission per year thereafter. Standardizing SLS and other systems now will help NASA send astronauts to explore the lunar South Pole for the first time in 2028.

Specific details to achieve this new approach as well as other architecture updates are forthcoming as the agency remains focused on the Artemis II mission around the Moon as early as April, and reviews capabilities to support an increased mission cadence.

Here are the basics for the first five missions under the Artemis program:

• Artemis I: NASA successfully completed an uncrewed test flight of SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft in November 2022. This mission tested launching the rocket for the first time using new exploration ground systems and evaluated Orion systems not including astronauts or critical life support systems planned on the next mission.

• Artemis II: The test flight will be the first flight with crew aboard the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft. Following a successful wet dress rehearsal in February, NASA discovered a helium flow issue to the interim cryogenic propulsion stage and rolled the rocket and spacecraft back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs. Engineers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida are currently working on the stacked SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft to address the issue that required rollback, and teams also are taking the time to swap batteries and more. The next launch window opens in April. Crew members include NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen to venture on an approximately 10-day mission that will send the around the Moon and back.
• Artemis III: NASA added a new demonstration mission in low Earth orbit in mid-2027 to test one or both commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin respectively. The mission will launch crew in Orion on top of the SLS rocket to test rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and private commercial spacecraft needed to land astronauts on the Moon. This test will take place with one or both providers.

• Artemis IV: NASA continues to target the first Artemis lunar landing in early 2028, which has been the target landing date since mid-2025. After launch, crew will transfer from Orion to a commercial lunar lander for transportation to the surface of the Moon. Lander readiness will determine which provider will safely carry them to the surface and back to Orion in lunar orbit before crew return home aboard Orion – splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean. Work to standardize the SLS rocket will be implemented for Artemis IV. With this architecture approach, NASA is assessing alternative options for the second stage of the rocket. The interim cryogenic propulsion stage used for the first three missions will be replaced with a new second stage, and the agency is no longer planning to use the Exploration Upper Stage or Mobile Launcher 2, as development of both has faced delays.
• Artemis V: Using the standardized configuration of the SLS rocket, NASA anticipates launching this lunar surface mission by late 2028, and future missions about once per year thereafter. This mission also is when NASA is expected to begin building its Moon base.

NASA continues to refine its architecture plans, and the agency will share more information about its approach to lunar exploration and crew assignments in the future.

As part of Golden Age of innovation and exploration, NASA will send Artemis astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

For more information about the Artemis program, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis

The food flying aboard Artemis II is designed to support crew health and performance during the mission around the Moon. With no resupply, refrigeration, or late-load capability, all meals must be carefully selected to remain safe, shelf-stable, and easy to prepare and consume in NASA’s Orion spacecraft. Food selections are developed in coordination with space food experts and the crew to balance calorie needs, hydration, and nutrient intake while accommodating individual crew preferences.

Here are a frequently asked questions about how NASA designs and prepares food systems for Artemis II to support crew health:

What considerations go into selecting and packaging food for safe use during a mission like Artemis II?

Food selection for Artemis II considers shelf life, food safety, nutritional value, crew preference, and compatibility with Orion’s mass, volume, and power requirements. Foods must be easy to prepare and consume in microgravity, minimize crumbs, and remain safe and stable throughout the mission. The crew provided input well before the meals were packed for the test flight.

How are menu items structured to make up an astronaut’s typical daily meals?

On a typical mission day—excluding launch and reentry—astronauts have scheduled time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Each astronaut is allotted two flavored beverages per day, which may include coffee. Beverage options are limited due to upmass constraints, which restrict how much food and drink can be carried onboard.

Fresh foods will not be flying on Artemis II as Orion does not have refrigeration nor the late load capability required for fresh foods. Shelf-stable foods help manage food safety and quality throughout the intended shelf life in a compact, self-contained spacecraft, while also reducing the risk of crumbs or particulates in microgravity.

How do Artemis II menus differ from those used during Apollo, space shuttle, and International Space Station missions?

Artemis II menus reflect decades of advancement in space food systems. Apollo missions relied on early food technologies with limited variety, while space shuttle missions expanded menu options and onboard preparation. The International Space Station benefits from regular resupply and occasional fresh foods. In contrast, Artemis II uses a fixed, pre-selected menu designed for a self-contained space vehicle with no resupply.

How much input does the Artemis II crew have in choosing their meals?

The Artemis II crew has direct input into menu selection. Crew members sample, evaluate, and rate all foods on the standard menu during preflight testing, and their preferences are balanced with nutritional requirements and what Orion can accommodate. Final, crew-specific menus are set well before launch. Two to three days’ worth of food for each crewmember is packed together in a single container, providing flexibility for meal selection during the mission.

How are menus tailored for different mission phases, such as launch, transit, and re-entry?

Menus are tailored based on the spacecraft’s food preparation capabilities during each hase of flight. Certain foods — such as freeze-dried meals — require hydration using Orion’s potable water dispenser, which is not available during some phases, including launch and landing. As a result, foods selected for those phases must be ready-to-eat and compatible with the spacecraft’s operational constraints, while a broader range of food options are available once full food preparation systems are up and running.

How is space food prepared in the Orion spacecraft?

Food aboard Orion is ready-to-eat, rehydratable, thermostabilized, or irradiated. The crew uses Orion’s potable water dispenser to rehydrate foods and beverages and a compact, briefcase-style food warmer to heat meals as needed.

What challenges come with designing and preparing food for a contained spacecraft like Orion?

Designing food systems for Orion requires balancing nutrition, safety, and crew preference within strict mass, volume, and power limits inside a compact, shared cabin.

Foods must be easy to store, prepare, and consume in microgravity while minimizing crumbs and waste. Preparation is intentionally simple, using ready-to-eat, rehydratable, thermostabilized, or irradiated foods that can be safely prepared without interfering with crew operations or spacecraft systems.

Watch: How to Eat in Space Aboard Orion

Victoria Segovia
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
victoria.segovia@nasa.gov

Written by Ashley Stroupe, Operations Systems Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Earth planning date: Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

This week we had three planning sessions, exploring the eastern side of the boxwork unit. As a Rover Planner on Monday, I worked on the arm and drive activities, while on Friday I served as the Engineering Uplink Lead (planning all of our engineering activities like heating and managing our onboard data). We had two small drives this week to put different targets into our workspace for each plan. The months-long careful and systematic investigation of the boxwork unit will hopefully provide the science team insights on what was going on in this area of Mars that resulted in this interesting and unique terrain. As we wrap it up, we are already thinking ahead to our future investigations of the sulfate unit, where we will be heading after finishing here and continuing our climb up Mount Sharp. 

With three plans and short drives, we were able to do a total of 19 Mastcam stereo mosaics, getting a full 360-degree panorama as well as additional documentation of the nearby ridges/hollows and the nearby sulfate unit. Some of the rocks in the hollows show a return of the polygonal structures that we saw in abundance prior to entering the boxwork unit, but have only seen sparsely in other hollows. As we are entering deeper into the warmer months, the start of dust-storm season, we have also been doing a lot of atmospheric measurements. We did multiple observations of the crater rim (to watch it fading into the haze), Mastcam solar Tau measurements (looking at the Sun to measure dust in the atmosphere), dust-devil movies, and other sky observations. 

We investigated a total of four targets with MAHLI and APXS, two of which we were able to brush. The accompanying image shows the APXS down on one of the targets near the contact. Most of the targets were not very complicated for the Rover Planners because the rocks have been mostly smooth and flat. But our Wednesday target, “Los Monos,” was slightly under the front of the rover, and we had to do some additional intermediate arm motions to reach underneath safely. We won’t actually know if today’s targets are on the other side of the contact (in the sulfate unit) or not until we can study the data. 

Planning the short drives has been interesting, as with most of the boxwork unit drives, because we must navigate around the sand and steeper slopes in hopes of minimizing slip. In this weekend’s plan our drive will head south towards the southern end of the boxwork unit, where the terrain smooths out a bit and driving should be easier.

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