Meredith Garofalo
Latest articles by Meredith Garofalo
![a large storm spirals above the gulf of mexico as seen from space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ld9oNLeHnJyqxvQdBegTfF-320-80.gif)
Satellites watch Tropical Storm Francine threaten Gulf Coast (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
Satellites operated by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration watched Tropical Storm Francine strengthen as it approaches the Gulf Coast.
![a fiery eruption from the sun envelopes earth and a t-shaped spacecraft orbiting above it](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jPtbrceFv3rrLyqChGWNqC-320-80.jpg)
'A lot has changed': NOAA is rewriting the book on how to rank solar storms
By Meredith Garofalo published
NOAA is researching how to update its Space Weather Scales and how it can better communicate its space weather forecasts with the public and government agencies.
![A reflective square sheet above Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nLVrzrKXqpxgkcRRkY9GoK-320-80.png)
NASA's solar sail successfully spreads its wings in space
By Meredith Garofalo published
NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System successfully spread its "wings" in space.
![People stand on a stage wearing medals and holding a check.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tZbagQynMwPffmWsL9nZEj-320-80.jpg)
NASA challenged the public to make 'deep space food' — here are the winners
By Meredith Garofalo published
Three U.S. teams in NASA's Deep Space Food Finale won a combination of $1.25 million for developing delicious and safe food for astronauts.
![A very snow-capped Earth in the darkness of space.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Vf9RhxxGswzgRQGoaznxPW-320-80.jpg)
Scottish rocks could hold clues about Earth's past as a snowball
By Meredith Garofalo published
A recent study confirms a European rock formation likely holds the clues to what was once a "snowball Earth."
![A record number of sunspots on the sun as seen on Aug. 8, 2024 by a NASA spacecraft.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dZ5e4HjLRaSMuuRaHtWWUW-320-80.png)
The sun might've just had a record-breaking number of visible sunspots
By Meredith Garofalo published
For the first time in more than 20 years, the daily record for sunspots is likely to be broken during Solar Cycle 25.
![A person in a boat in a dried up lake.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PfzFD4eMad8ZshoYMrnhk6-320-80.png)
July 2024 sets new records for global heat and climate disasters
By Meredith Garofalo published
July is in the books as yet another record-setting month of extreme heat and weather.
![A large bright full moon hangs central in a starry black sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BxLGLreRcEk9xX4ycgaLuQ-320-80.jpg)
NASA may use lasers to livestream from the moon one day
By Meredith Garofalo published
Getting a live play-by-play of astronauts on the moon could be possible through laser communications during future Artemis missions.
![The International Space Station seen from the camera during a spacewalk by NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn on Dec. 2, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FrjEaaGDNne7wWaSVGswKk-320-80.jpg)
New ISS research project will benefit cancer patients on Earth
By Meredith Garofalo published
AI space biotech company shares with Space.com how a new research project in space will help benefit cancer patients on Earth.
![an image of the fiery surface of the sun, with a bright white spot in the lower right corner of the sun's disk](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8o4SWYmKve9tgFngGyGMy3-320-80.jpg)
Sun unleashes X-class solar flare, blasts 3rd coronal mass ejection toward Earth in a week (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
Active sunspot AR3777 fired off the strongest of its three solar flares this week, sending another CME to impact Earth this weekend with a possible geomagnetic storm.
![a large flat ship at sea](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zJ7sUfSN6BwKfFSM6yt6ih-320-80.jpg)
Space Perspective unveils mothership boat for stratospheric balloon trips
By Meredith Garofalo published
The first-ever "marine spaceport" is now complete and begins preparing for launches of balloons transporting tourists to the edge of space.
![four people in flight suits pose for a portrait](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iUPvQy6Mju7LKKXLgNa7MV-320-80.png)
Meet the crew for Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission to the ISS
By Meredith Garofalo published
The next team of astronauts has been announced for Axiom Space's next commercial human spaceflight mission to the ISS.
![a large swirling storm can be seen off the wing of an aircraft](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kKa2Sz9Ep9CEFmVejcjf3S-320-80.jpg)
How NOAA's Hurricane Hunter aircraft help satellites build a 'full picture of the storm'
By Meredith Garofalo published
Space.com got an up-close look at one of NOAA's Hurricane Hunter aircraft to more about how data from weather satellites help them on missions.
![two side-by-side closeup photos of bright solar flares erupting from the sun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wu54CihQL4zLjWvzMCJP9X-320-80.jpg)
The sun fires off 2 powerful X flares in less than 2 hours (video, photo)
By Meredith Garofalo published
Add another pair of strong solar flares to the sun's list this year, as two X-class flares erupted on Monday morning (Aug. 5).
![a woman with shoulder-length dark hair smiles for a portrait](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tKjqBejTSv4A8reWC23DCa-320-80.jpg)
'The Space Gal' Emily Calandrelli opens up about her coming Blue Origin flight (interview)
By Meredith Garofalo published
STEM advocate and space enthusiast Emily Calandrelli will fly to suborbital space with Blue Origin. She shares her story, and her excitement, with Space.com.
![a large white oval shape explodes in a desert at night, surrounded by lights on poles](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jvNUJwwdBWUZR2Sftsjj3m-320-80.jpg)
Sierra Space won't stop blowing up inflatable space station modules (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
Sierra Space has conducted its second full-scale burst test of an inflatable space station module as it looks towards building the Orbital Reef commercial outpost.
![bright white tendrils of light explode outwards from a solid black circle on a red background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rZHrGSfDnUbkoQr7CedrFT-320-80.jpg)
Sun blasts out most powerful flare of current solar cycle, sends massive coronal mass ejection into space (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
A solar flare on July 23 was even bigger than a previous one that triggered May's global aurora storm, but this one was facing away from Earth on the far side of the sun.
![A healthy coral reef filled with a range of knobby, table, and branching corals.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VkvzqB2gKSvwatkB7zoMdZ-320-80.jpg)
Satellites are game changers for protecting coral reefs in a warming world
By Meredith Garofalo published
Over the years, satellites have played an important role in monitoring oceans and coral reefs all across the globe.
![A high resolution view shows wildfires raging across the Pacific Northwest](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JvQuAigCEiZFHpjvS9uefS-320-80.gif)
Powerful wildfires devastating Canada captured in satellite imagery
By Meredith Garofalo published
A rapidly spreading wildfire burns through part of the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies as satellites track its growth and movement.
![The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite captured its first view of the entire sunlit side of Earth from one million miles away on July 6, 2015.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A2zZsEd4niP9KVPJFpMyfH-320-80.jpg)
June 2024 featured record-breaking heat and billion-dollar weather disasters, NOAA says
By Meredith Garofalo published
The U.S. just suffered its second-hottest June in 130 years. The month also featured four new billion-dollar weather and climate disasters.
![a small white rectangle on a black tripod rests on the ground](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QDDWjSEmxw8CXy24wo4sMd-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX makes Starlink Roam available throughout the US
By Meredith Garofalo published
Described as "high-speed internet on the go," SpaceX's Starlink Mini is now available from coast to coast, bringing users a world-wide connection from space.
![two loops of dark-colored wispy material explode outward from the fiery surface of the sun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4gFhtg8RLAD6iSsxhz73F5-320-80.gif)
Watch two plumes of 'dark' plasma explode from the sun and send solar storm towards Earth (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
Two loops of "dark" plasma exploded from the sun on July 21, sending a stream of plasma and magnetic field known as a coronal mass ejection barreling towards Earth.
![closeup of a huge eruption of plasma from the sun, captured by a nasa spacecraft](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jnZd2yCei8SQvnaaixV2gc-320-80.jpg)
Solar storm forecasts could soon get a big boost. Here's how.
By Meredith Garofalo published
Scientists have figured out a way to estimate the speed of a coronal mass ejection before it even leaves the sun, potentially providing a big boost to space weather forecasts.
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