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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

By Michael Busk

  • Explorer 1, the Launch of the First US Satellite

    Explorer 1, the Launch of the First US Satellite
    After receiving the news that Russian Sputnik was launched in October 1957, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at NASA started designing the first US satellite. Three months later, the satellite was launched into space on a rocket. This satellite carried equipment to help US scientists study the cosmic rays in Earth's orbit. The launch of Explorer 1 forever changed our understanding of the Earth's atmosphere.

  • Freedom 7, The First American in Space

    Freedom 7, The First American in Space
    Alan Shepard was the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth. The launch of Freedom 7 was NASA’s entry into understanding human space flight.

  • The Launch of Apollo 8

    The Launch of Apollo 8
    Before NASA could send a crew to the moon, they needed to know that they had the technology capable of executing this mission. NASA was facing great political pressure because of the goal that John F. Kennedy set. This launch was a manned fly-by trip around the moon that was used to lay down the groundwork for Neil Armstrong's crew.

  • The first man on the moon, Apollo 11

    The first man on the moon, Apollo 11
    The launch of Apollo 11 is one of NASA's most important achievements. This was the first launch in the world that will have men landing and walking on the moon. This launch fulfilled the goal that President John F. Kennedy set in 1961. This launch paved the path for future space exploration.

  • The Space Shuttle, A reusable spacecraft

    The Space Shuttle, A reusable spacecraft
    All of the Apollo rockets were single-use spacecraft. As time was advancing NASA wanted a way so they can re-use their spacecraft. President Richard Nixon announced a plan to build reusable spacecraft’s that would run multiple missions. It took 9 years from the start of the project to the first flight, which was in 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia made a successful launch and return. This program ends in 2011.

  • Creation of the Hubble Space Telescope

    Creation of the Hubble Space Telescope
    Before the creation of the Hubble Space Telescope, we mainly used ground-based light telescopes which produce interesting images. However, those images were not what astronomers craved. The Hubble Space Telescope is one of the most scientifically