NASA

NASA insignia, showing an aerodynamically-perfect wingshape and an orbiting spacecraft on a starfield

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the government agency responsible for the United States of America's space program and long-term general aerospace research. A civilian organisation, it conducts (or oversees) research into both civilian and military aerospace systems.

Table of contents

1 Vision and Mission
2 History
3 NASA space missions
4 Field installations
5 Related legislation
6 See also
7 External links

Vision and Mission

NASA has distilled its official vision and mission into simple lists. Its vision is:

To improve life here,
To extend life to there, and
To find life beyond.

Its mission, updated after the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks:

To understand and protect our home planet;
To explore the Universe and search for life; and
To inspire the next generation of explorers.

History

NASA's predecessor was the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA), which was formed in 1915 to promote aeronautical research and development in the United States. In 1958, the department was reorganized and given control of the space program, which had previously been undertaken separately by different branches of the military.

Some of its most notable achievements are sending the first men to the moon in 1969, the ongoing space shuttle program, contributions to the international space station, and the launching of various space probes and satellites. Its activities have led to a wealth of scientific discoveries, many of which have led to important military and commercial applications. In recent years, its strategy has begun to shift from pursuing a few high-cost projects, to pursuing a number of smaller and lower-cost projects ("faster, better, cheaper"), including the use of unmanned rockets, probes and robots.

Florida, USA, taken from NASA Shuttle Mission STS-95 on 31st October 1998.
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NASA space missions

NASA has also collaborated with the ESA on some missions:

Assorted other missions:

Much more required here!
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Field installations

There are 12 NASA field installations:

John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, near Pasadena, California
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama
Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, Louisiana
John C. Stennis Space Center, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia

Related legislation

1958 - National Aeronautics and Space Administration PL 85-568 (passed on July 29)
1961 - Apollo mission funding PL 87-98 A
1970 - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Research and Development Act PL 91-119
1984 - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act PL 98-361
1988 - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act PL 100-685

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