Photo Gallery: STS-1 40th anniversary

When Space Shuttle Columbia took to the skies on its maiden voyage on April 12, 1981, a new era of spaceflight took wing. Browse through the photos of the historic STS-1 mission below. These two astronauts are the prime crewmen for the first flight in the Space Transportation System (STS-1)

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The story behind our Orbiter Access Arm

Have you seen the shuttle-era Orbiter Access Arm in Independence Plaza? Find out how this historic artifact found its way to Space City all the way from the Space Coast in today’s blog post. What is the Orbiter Access Arm? The Orbiter Access Arm (OAA), also called the gantry, spanned

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Solving Space: STS-3 landing

After a successful eight-day mission, the space shuttle Columbia (STS-3) made history as the first to end on New Mexico soil when it landed at the Northrup strip on White Sands Missile Range. Solve Space by unscrambling this image and note the two T-38 chase planes escorting it in, learn

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Christina Koch portrait

Artemis astronaut feature: Christina Koch

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 Christina Koch.  

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Solving Space: Gemini III Launch

Gemini III launched March 23, 1965 with Prime Crew astronauts Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom and John W. Young. NASA’s two-man Gemini spaceflights demonstrated that astronauts could change their capsule’s orbit, remain in space for at least two weeks and work outside their spacecraft–all essential skills to land on the moon

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Scott Kelly giving himself the flu shot in space

NASA vaccine research in microgravity

Get the scoop on NASA’s microgravity-based vaccine development studies and why it’s important to research vaccines in space in today’s blog post. Thanks to NASA, vaccine development is being streamlined as a result of studies being conducted in microgravity onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Early microgravity-based vaccine development research

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Remembering Apollo-era flight director Glynn Lunney

Apollo-era flight director Glynn Lunney passed away on March 19. Lunney had a long and storied career, beginning when NASA was founded in 1958 and ending nearly 30 years later during the Space Shuttle Program. Born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania on Nov. 27, 1936, Lunney grew up with a fascination

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Goddard

Pop Quiz: People paving the way

This month’s pop quiz is all about people who have made significant contributions in space travel. Take the quiz to test out your space history knowledge!

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Solving Space: Apollo 17

Apollo 17 was the last mission in which humans traveled to the Moon. It launched on Dec. 7, 1972; 12:33 a.m. EST,  with crew Eugene A. Cernan, Commander, Harrison H. Schmitt, Lunar Module Pilot, Ronald E. Evans, Command Module Pilot. It landed on the lunar surface on Dec. 11, 1972.

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Christina Koch onboard the ISS

Celebrating Women’s History Month: Meet 3 female space pioneers

  This Women’s History Month, we are going on a journey through the decades to celebrate the significant contributions women have made to the space program by highlighting three of these female space pioneers. Kathy Sullivan You probably know who the first American woman in space was (Sally Ride), but

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