NASA History

In September 1969, celebrations continued to mark the successful first human Moon landing two months earlier, and NASA prepared for the next visit to the Moon. The hometowns of the Apollo 11 astronauts held parades in their honor, the postal service recognized their accomplishment with a stamp, and the Smithsonian put a Moon rock on […]

Posted September 20, 2024

NASA History

Aeronautics

NASA Aircraft

65 Years Ago: First Powered Flight of the X-15 Hypersonic Rocket Plane

The X-15 hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft, built by North American Aviation (NAA), greatly expanded our knowledge of flight at speeds exceeding Mach 6 and altitudes above 250,000 feet. A joint project among NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy, the X-15’s first powered flight took place on Sept. 17, 1959, at the Flight Research […]

Posted September 17, 2024

NASA History

55 Years Ago: Space Task Group Proposes Post-Apollo Plan to President Nixon

The Apollo 11 mission in July 1969 completed the goal set by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to land a man on the Moon and return him safely to the Earth before the end of the decade. At the time, NASA planned nine more Apollo Moon landing missions of increasing complexity and an Earth […]

Posted September 16, 2024

NASA History

15 Years Ago: Japan launches HTV-1, its First Resupply Mission to the Space Station

On Sept. 10, 2009, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched its first cargo delivery spacecraft, the H-II Transfer Vehicle-1 (HTV-1), to the International Space Station.

Posted September 10, 2024

NASA History

STS-64

30 Years Ago: STS-64 Astronauts Test a Spacewalk Rescue Aid

On Sept. 9, 1994, space shuttle Discovery took to the skies on its 19th trip into space. During their 11-day mission, the STS-64 crew of Commander Richard “Dick” N. Richards, Pilot L. Blaine Hammond, and Mission Specialists Jerry M. Linenger, Susan J. Helms, Carl J. Meade, and Mark C. Lee demonstrated many of the space […]

Posted September 10, 2024

Glenn Research Center

Aeronautics

Aeronautics Research

NASA History

NASA Tunnel Generates Decades of Icy Aircraft Safety Data

On Sept. 13, 1944, researchers subjected a Bell P-39L Airacobra to frigid temperatures and a freezing water spray in the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)’s new Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) to study inflight ice buildup.

Posted September 5, 2024

NASA History

STS-41D

40 Years Ago: STS-41D – First Flight of Space Shuttle Discovery

On Aug. 30, 1984, space shuttle Discovery lifted off on the STS-41D mission, joining NASA’s fleet as the third space qualified orbiter. The newest shuttle incorporated newer technologies making it significantly lighter than its two predecessors. Discovery lofted the heaviest payload up to that time in shuttle history.

Posted September 3, 2024

NASA History

235 Years Ago: Herschel Discovers Saturn’s Moon Enceladus

On Aug. 29, 1789, German-born British astronomer William Herschel observed a tiny bright dot orbiting around Saturn. His son later named the object Enceladus.

Posted August 30, 2024

NASA History

STS-128

15 Years Ago: STS-128 Delivers Cargo to Enable Six-Person Space Station Crew

On Aug. 28, 2009, space shuttle Discovery began its 37th trip into space. The 17A mission to the International Space Station was the 30th shuttle flight to the orbiting lab. During the 14-day mission, the seven-member STS-128 crew worked with Expedition 20, the first six-person crew aboard the station, during nine days of docked operations. […]

Posted August 28, 2024

NASA History

Learning Resources

40 Years Ago: President Reagan Announces Teacher in Space Project

On Aug. 27, 1984, President Ronald W. Reagan announced the Teacher in Space project as part of NASA’s Space Flight Participant Program to expand the space shuttle experience to a wider set of private citizens who would communicate the experience to the public. From 11,000 teacher applicants, each of the 50 states and territories selected […]

Posted August 27, 2024