In this image, the COWVR and TEMPEST instruments are shown in the trunk of the cargo craft. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/1-cowvr-loaded-1041.jpg

Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope onboard, is rolled out to the launch pad, Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/nhq202112230007_0.jpg

This composite image made from seven frames shows the International Space Station, with a crew of seven onboard, in silhouette as it transits the Sun. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/51271450910_2301dffc91_o.jpeg

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, launched aboard Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/51775374322_f109a4ecb1_o.jpeg

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with the Lucy spacecraft aboard is seen at Space Launch Complex 41, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/51590057956_1977fe98b4_o.jpeg

2021 saw significant milestones achieved in the assembly of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft (QueSST), and all eyes now look forward to a pivotal 2022. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/097a2052-pano.jpg

This image shows knots of cold, dense interstellar gas where new stars are forming. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/hubble_j2034417_freggs_fullsize_0.jpg

This image shows the James Webb Space Telescope atop its launch vehicle, but before it was encapsulated in the rocket fairing. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/51756638171_8ed20da7d5_o.jpeg

Legendary actor and diplomat, Sidney Poitier, visited JPL in 1979. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/p-21268b.jpeg

Our Milky Way's central black hole has a leak. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/hubble_mwayjet_composite.jpg

Scores of baby stars shrouded by dust are revealed in this infrared image of the star-forming region NGC 2174. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19836-ngc2174.jpg

This image, captured by the Landsat-8 satellite, shows the view over Western Australia on May 12, 2013. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/march2014_1920x1200.jpeg

This image shows the Highfield drill hole, on Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale crater on Mars, made by NASA’s Curiosity rover in its search for rock samples. Just recently, scientists announced that an analysis of rock samples collected by the rover were enriched in carbon 12, a type of carbon that on Earth is associated with biological processes. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/martian-drill-hole.png

Retired U.S. Air Force Honorary Brigadier General Charles McGee, left, spoke with NASA astronaut Alvin Drew in 2020. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/49493710476_a7f7b04bd5_o.jpeg

In this image from Jan. 9, 2022, NASA astronaut Kayla Barron peered out from a window inside the International Space Station's cupola. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/iss066e109584.jpg

The spiral arms of the galaxy NGC 3318 are lazily draped across this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. This spiral galaxy lies in the constellation Vela and is roughly 115 light-years away from Earth. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/hubble_ngc3318_potw2203a_0.png

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is designing mission concepts to survive the planet's extreme temperatures and atmospheric pressure. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/imagesvenus20191211venus20191211-16.jpeg

This colorized schlieren image is of a small-scale model of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology airplane. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/28x6_x-59_rdg-6753_average_cleaned_red_blue_black.jpg

Much like the sky, rivers are rarely painted one color. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/usrivers_oli_2018_lrg_0.jpeg

On Jan. 27, 1967, tragedy struck on the launch pad at Cape Kennedy during a preflight test for Apollo 204 (AS-204). http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/apollo_1_crew_during_water_egress_training_june_1966_1.jpg