Later this month, NASA is launching more than rockets, as America’s space agency puts it. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is set to release NASA+, its new, free streaming service this November. For space fans, this is pretty exciting news.
But what exactly is NASA+ and what will be streaming on it? How is it different to the agency’s current platform NASA TV? Here’s everything we know so far.
What is NASA+?
NASA+ is a streaming service that will showcase NASA’s live coverage of missions, launches, research, and everything else the agency has in the works.
“We’re putting space on demand and at your fingertips,” said Marc Etkind, associate administrator, Office of Communications, NASA Headquarters in a press statement.
NASA+ is a part of the agency’s plan to transform its digital presence first announced in July 2023, also aiming to revamp NASA’s websites and upgrade the NASA app. Jeff Seaton, chief information officer at the agency’s headquarters said that NASA’s aim is to streamline “how the public engages with our content online.”
How much does NASA+ cost?
NASA+ will be entirely free, with no subscription costs (NASA is a Congress-funded federal agency so this comes as no surprise). Needless to say, the service won’t have ads, either.
Where can I watch NASA+?
NASA+ is set to launch Nov. 8.
The service will be available on all major platforms via the NASA app on iOS and Android for mobile, tablet, and smart TV devices. It will also be found streaming platforms like Apple TV, Fire TV, and Roku (where NASA has an existing channel) on both desktop and mobile devices.
How is this different to NASA TV?
It seems that NASA+ is an update to the existing NASA TV, which is also free and serves as a broadcast network for live events and original content. It’s unclear how different the content will be between the two, or if NASA+ will simply act as the new-and-improved version of the broadcast network. We’ve reached out to NASA for more information and will update this article when we hear back.
What can I watch on NASA+?
While a full program hasn’t been announced, NASA+ will feature a range of livestreams, mission updates, and behind-the-scenes videos much like NASA TV already does. Through its website and YouTube channel, the space agency regularly streams nail-biting mission moments, Mars rover landings, historic rocket launches, launch replays, undockings and splashdowns, findings, and more.
In recent historic moments, NASA TV has streamed the reveal of the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope, the launch of the Artemis-1 moon mission, SpaceX’s fiery Starship launches, and that time NASA smashed a spacecraft into an asteroid, among many, many others, so it’s likely you’ll be able to watch these on the platform, but details are still coming.
What we do know is collections of NASA’s original, Emmy-Award winning documentaries will be available, as will a handful of new series that will launch in coming months.