Precisely sixty years in the past immediately, we opened our doorways for the primary time. And since then, we’ve got opened up a universe of discovery and innovation.
There are such a lot of achievements to rejoice from the previous six a long time, there’s no manner we are able to undergo all of them. If you wish to dive deeper into our historical past of exploration, try NASA: 60 Years and Counting.
Within the meantime, take a moonwalk down reminiscence lane with us whereas we keep in mind just a few of our most necessary accomplishments from the previous sixty years!
In 1958, President Eisenhower signed the Nationwide Aeronautics and House Act, which successfully created our company. We formally opened for enterprise on October 1.
To be taught extra in regards to the begin of our house program, watch our video: How It All Began.
Alongside the U.S. Air Power, we applied the X-15 hypersonic plane through the Fifties and Sixties to enhance plane and spacecraft.
The X-15 is able to speeds exceeding Mach 6 (4,500 mph) at altitudes of 67 miles, reaching the very fringe of house.
Dubbed the “best and best analysis plane ever seen,” the X-15 was formally retired on October 24, 1968. The knowledge collected by the X-15 contributed to the event of the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and House Shuttle applications.
To be taught extra about how we’ve got revolutionized aeronautics, watch our Leading Edge of Flight video.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin grew to become the primary people to stroll on the moon. The crew of Apollo 11 had the excellence of finishing the primary return of soil and rock samples from past Earth.
Astronaut Gene Cernan, throughout Apollo 17, was the final individual to have walked on the floor of the moon. (For now!)
The Lunar Roving Car was a battery-powered rover that the astronauts used over the last three Apollo missions.
To be taught extra about different sorts of know-how that we’ve got both invented or improved, watch our video: Trailblazing Technology.
Our long-term Earth-observing satellite tv for pc program started on July 23, 1972 with the launch of Landsat 1, the primary in an extended sequence (Landsat 9 is predicted to launch in 2020!) We work instantly with the U.S. Geological Survey to make use of Landsat to watch and handle sources reminiscent of meals, water, and forests.
Landsat information is considered one of many instruments that assist us observe in immense element how our planet is altering. From algae blooms to melting glaciers to hurricane flooding, Landsat is there to assist us perceive our personal planet higher.
Off the Earth, for the Earth.
To be taught extra about how we contribute to the Earth sciences, watch our video: Home, Sweet Home.
House Transportation System-1, or STS-1, was the primary orbital spaceflight of our House Shuttle program.
The primary orbiter, Columbia, launched on April 12, 1981. Over the following thirty years, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour could be added to the house shuttle fleet.
Collectively, they flew 135 missions and carried 355 individuals into house utilizing the primary reusable spacecraft.
On January 16, 1978, we chosen a category of 35 new astronauts–together with the primary ladies and African-American astronauts.
And on June 18, 1983, Sally Journey grew to become the primary American girl to enter house on board Challenger for STS-7.
To be taught extra about our astronauts, then and now, watch our Humans in Space video.
Everyone loves Hubble! The Hubble House Telescope was launched into orbit on April 24, 1990, and has been blowing our minds ever since.
Hubble has not solely captured gorgeous views of our distant stars and galaxies, however has additionally been there for once-in-a-lifetime cosmic occasions. For instance, on January 6, 2010, Hubble captured what gave the impression to be a head-on collision between two asteroids–one thing nobody has ever seen earlier than.
On this picture, Hubble captures the Carina Nebula illuminating a three-light-year tall pillar of fuel and dirt.
To be taught extra about how we’ve got contributed to our understanding of the photo voltaic system and past, watch our video: What’s Out There?
Cooperation to construct the Worldwide House Station started in 1993 between the US, Russia, Japan, and Canada.
The dream was totally realized on November 2, 2000, when Expedition 1 crew members boarded the station, signifying humanity’s everlasting presence in house!
Though the orbiting lab was solely a few modules then, it has grown tremendously since then!
To be taught extra about what’s occurring on the orbiting outpost immediately, go to the Space Station page.
We now have satellites within the sky, people in orbit, and rovers on Mars. Very quickly, we can be returning humankind to the Moon, and utilizing it as a platform to journey to Mars and past.
And most significantly, we carry the universe to you.
What are your favourite NASA moments? We have been solely capable of share just a few of ours right here, however if you wish to study extra necessary NASA milestones, try 60 Moments in NASA History or our video, 60 Years in 60 Seconds.
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