NASA History

Eileen Collins Broke Barriers as America’s First Female Space Shuttle Commander

At the end of February 1998, Johnson Space Center Deputy Director James D. Wetherbee called Astronaut Eileen Collins to his office in Building 1. He told her she had been assigned to command STS-93 and went with her to speak with Center Director George W.S. Abbey who informed her that she would be going to […]

Posted July 22, 2024

NASA History

Apollo 11

55 Years Ago: Apollo 11’s One Small Step, One Giant Leap

“Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed.” “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” “Magnificent desolation.” Three phrases that recall humanity’s first landing on and exploration of the lunar surface. In July 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E.

Posted July 16, 2024

NASA History

STS-127

15 Years Ago: STS-127 Delivers Japanese External Platform to Space Station

On July 15, 2009, space shuttle Endeavour began its 23rd trip into space, on the 2JA mission to the International Space Station, the 29th shuttle flight to the orbiting lab. During the 16-day mission, the seven-member STS-127 crew, working with Expedition 20, the first six-person crew aboard the station, completed the primary objectives of the […]

Posted July 15, 2024

NASA History

Skylab

45 Years Ago: Skylab Reenters Earth’s Atmosphere

A few days before they left Skylab on Feb. 8, 1974, the final crew to occupy the station raised its altitude, hoping to keep it in orbit until a future space shuttle could revisit it. But higher than predicted solar activity caused the Earth’s atmosphere to expand, increasing drag on the large vehicle, causing its […]

Posted July 11, 2024

NASA History

30 Years Ago: STS-65, the Second International Microgravity Lab Mission

On July 8, 1994, space shuttle Columbia took to the skies on its 17th trip into space, on the second International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2) mission. Six space agencies sponsored 82 life and microgravity science experiments. The seven-person crew consisted of Commander Robert D. Cabana, Pilot James D. Halsell, Payload Commander Richard J.

Posted July 10, 2024

NASA History

Fourth of July Holidays in Space

It may seem remarkable that no American spent the Fourth of July holiday in space for the first 21 years of human spaceflight. Not until 1982 and the 35th U.S. human spaceflight did Americans awaken in space on Independence Day, and then bring their spacecraft back to Earth later in the day to a rousing […]

Posted July 3, 2024

NASA History

40 Years Ago: STS-41D – First Space Shuttle Launch Pad Abort

In 1983, NASA received delivery of Discovery, the third space qualified vehicle in the agency’s space shuttle fleet. During the launch attempt for the STS-41D mission on June 26, 1984, Discovery’s onboard computers halted the countdown four seconds before liftoff, and after two of its main engines had already ignited.

Posted June 26, 2024

NASA History

Kennedy Space Center

Wildfires

The 1998 Florida Firestorm and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

East central Florida’s natural environment and climate have shaped, and delayed, Kennedy Space Center launch operations since the 1960s.

Posted June 26, 2024

NASA History

55 Years Ago: One Month Until the Moon Landing

With the dress rehearsal completed during Apollo 10 in May 1969, only a few weeks remained until Apollo 11, the actual Moon landing mission to meet President Kennedy’s goal set in 1961. Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin and their backups James A. Lovell, William A. Anders, and […]

Posted June 21, 2024

Spinoffs

Glenn History

Glenn Research Center

NASA History

Technology Transfer

Technology Transfer & Spinoffs

Giant Batteries Deliver Renewable Energy When It’s Needed

Solar power is abundant – when the Sun is shining. Wind power is steady – when the wind is blowing. However, creating a steady electricity supply from intermittent power sources is a challenge. NASA was focused on this problem more than 45 years ago when the agency designed a new type of liquid battery during the […]

Posted June 20, 2024