Spacecraft Spotlight: Explorer 1
In our new Spacecraft Spotlight blog series, we are featuring different spacecraft and highlighting their unique features and significant contributions to the history of space exploration. This week we are spotlighting Explorer 1, America’s first satellite. Following the two successful Sputnik launches by the Soviet Union in 1957, America felt
Remembering NASA Astronaut Rich Clifford
Retired NASA astronaut Michael “Rich” Clifford died recently due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He was 69. Clifford went to space three times in his NASA career, spending 27 days and more than 665 hours in orbit. He also was the first NASA astronaut to make a spacewalk while docked
New Artifact: Gene Kranz’s Mug
Travel though space history in our Starship Gallery timeline and see a new artifact – Gene Kranz’s Mug. Flight controllers gave this custom mug to Flight Director Gene Kranz after a flu outbreak among his Mission Control team in the mid-1960’s. They jokingly called him “Flu FD,” short for “flu
Solving Space – Early rocketry
This fall, we are exploring how space inspires progress. Solve space today by unscrambling this image of the Goddard rocket, which paved the way for the mighty liquid-fuel rockets of today. When you think of a rocket, what is the first image that comes to mind? Is it the mighty
Native American Heritage Month
Space Center Houston is celebrating Native American Heritage Month! Today, we are going on a journey through the decades to celebrate the significant contributions American Indians have made to the space program by highlighting two of these Native American trailblazers. Mary Golda Ross This hidden figure joined Lockheed as a
Artemis I: How does Artemis compare to Apollo?
In our newest blog series, we are exploring the uncrewed Artemis I flight, a mission that will pave the way for future lunar exploration. NASA learned an enormous amount from the Apollo missions. All that invaluable knowledge has been put to good use in planning a return to the
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet 3 Hispanic space pioneers
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we are going on a journey through the decades to celebrate the significant contributions Hispanic astronauts have made to the space program by highlighting three of these trailblazers. Franklin Chang Diaz Dr. Chang Díaz became the first Hispanic astronaut when NASA selected him in 1980. He
New Artifact: Apollo-Era Data Acquisition Camera
Travel though space history in our Starship Gallery timeline and see a new artifact – a 16mm Apollo-era data acquisition camera. This camera was used in training Apollo astronauts. A motion picture camera like this was mounted on the lunar rover to record mission activities. The film was later viewed
VIDEO: Thought Leader Series – Neutralizing Gravity on Earth
Gravitational force varies significantly from Earth, to the Moon, and Mars. In order to prepare astronauts to work in a variety of environments, NASA must continuously develop innovative training systems. NASA Johnson Space Center is home to the Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS), which simulates reduced gravity environments. Learn
Artemis astronaut feature: Matthew Dominick
Last year, NASA named the first Artemis astronauts. The mission to return to the Moon begins with the first Artemis flight scheduled to launch later this year. We are featuring each of the Artemis astronauts to help you get to know these pioneering explorers. This week meet Matthew Dominick.
