NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Overview Updated May 6, 2021

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

The agency that oversees US space exploration and aeronautics research

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253 'NASA' stories

February 2020 - May 2021

NASA opened for business on October 1, 1958, tasked with handling space exploration and aeronautics research in the United States. The agency currently leads an innovative space exploration program using both commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system. The lessons learned from this are also brought back to Earth to provide new information, technologies, and opportunities.

Arguably the largest ongoing space mission that NASA is involved in is the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS is a habitable modular space station involving five space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA. It was initially launched on November 20, 1998.

NASA’s four enduring strategic goals are as follows:

NASA’s headquarters is located in Washington DC, and the current administrator is Steve Jurczyk.

 

[UPDATE: New Launch Date] NASA set to launch sounding rocket; Those on the East Coast may see it

NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility is set to launch a sounding rocket on May 8th late in the evening that could be easily seen across the east side of the US if weather conditions allow.

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Boeing targets mid-summer launch for second Starliner uncrewed orbital flight test to ISS

Boeing is one step closer to joining SpaceX in launching astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA. The company’s Starliner spacecraft will conduct its second uncrewed orbital flight test, known as OFT-2, as soon as July 30. OFT-2 is Boeing’s second shot at having its spacecraft reach ISS, dock, and undock before returning to Earth.

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Senator Bill Nelson sworn in as 14th NASA Administrator

After a quick confirmation process, the former senator from Florida and Space Shuttle astronaut, Bill Nelson, is sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris to be the next administrator of NASA.

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SpaceX Crew-1 returns back to Earth after Dragon’s first 6-month stay in space

After a 6-month stay at the International Space Station (ISS), SpaceX’s first operational crew mission returned early this morning back on Earth.

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Ingenuity successfully flies for the fourth time and receives an extension of flight program

Earlier this morning Ingenuity took off for the fourth and most daring flight of its campaign. It took several hours for flight data to be received by the JPL team but all signs look that it was a successful flight.

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Petition created to name NASA’s Lunar Gateway after Michael Collins

Earlier this week we lost a great hero of NASA’s space program and now a petition for a great way to honor him is out there.

[Update: New flight time announced] NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter considered a full success, no fourth flight to celebrate with though

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter has wowed us from Earth with its first flights over the Red Planet. After just 3 flights the tech demo has completed all of its test objectives and will now push the envelope for what it can do.

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NASA’s Pegasus barge arrives at Kennedy Space Center with Artemis I Core Stage on board

After months of testing and years of delays in the development and construction processes. The parts of the first SLS rocket have finally all arrived at Kennedy Space Center for final assembly and checkouts.

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[Dynetics joins in protest] Blue Origin to challenge the selection of SpaceX’s Starship for human lander contract

Back on April 16th, NASA announced that SpaceX would win the bid for Artemis’ Human Landing System contract. After a year-long competition, Blue Origin disagrees with the selection and hopes to get it changed.

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Mars Helicopter team holds AMA

At 4pm Eastern, the Mars Helicopter team will be having a Reddit Ask Me Anything.