Showing posts with label
government of the united states.
Show all posts
Showing posts with label
government of the united states.
Show all posts
by Chris Devers
Here are some key facts about NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration):
1. NASA was established on July 29, 1958 by the National Aeronautics and Space Act.
2. The 2009 budget for NASA is 17.6 billion dollars.
3. With it's motto as "For the Benefit of All", NASA was influenced by the space race, with the launch of the Soviet space program's first human-made satellite, Sputnik 1, on October 4, 1957.
4. The Apollo program, which was a spaceflight program from 1961-1975, was designed to land humans on the Moon and bring them back safely to Earth. Apollo 1 tragically ended when all the astronauts on board were killed due to the fire in the command module during an experimental simulation. Apollo 11, on July 20, 1969, landed the first men on the moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
5. The six missions of the Apollo program returned almost 400 kilograms of lunar samples with experiments including meteoroids, heat flow, seismic, lunar ranging, soil mechanics, magnetic fields, and solar wind experiments.
6. The Skylab was the first space station that the United States had launched into orbit. From 1973 to 1979, this 75 tonne station was in Earth's orbit. It's purpose was to study gravitational anomalies in other solar systems, but was curtailed due to lack of funding and interest. The station was visited by crew three times in 1973 and 1974.
7. The Apollo-Soyuz was the first joint flight of the U.S. and Soviet space programs. This took place in July 1975.
8. The major focus of NASA in the late 1970s and 1980s was the Space Shuttle.
9. The United States and Russia are the two biggest partners in the largest space station ever built, the International Space Station.
It was been difficult for NASA to justify the ISS because it costs over 100 billion dollars.
10. The 1990s was a difficult time for NASA, facing shrinking annual budgets due to Congressional belt-tightening in Washington D.C. NASA's ninth administrator, Daniel Goldin, in response, pioneered the "faster, better, cheaper" approach that enabled NASA to cut costs while still delivering a variety of aerospace programs.
11. As of December 2006, NASA has made 116 successful launches.
12. The current space policy of the United States is "execute a sustained and affordable human and robotic program of space exploration and develop, acquire, and use civil space systems to advance fundamental scientific knowledge of our Earth system, solar system, and universe."
13. Ongoing investigations of NASA include in-depth surveys of Mars and Saturn and studies of the Earth and the Sun.
14. One NASA spacecraft is presently en route to Mercury and Pluto.
15. NASA's itinerary covers over half of the solar system, with missions to Jupiter in the planning stages.
16. In 2011, an improved and larger planetary rover, Mars Science Laboratory, is slated to launch.
17. The New Horizons mission to Pluto was launched in 2006 and will fly to Pluto in 2015. The probe received a gravity assist from Jupiter in February 2007, which examined Jupiter's inner moons.
18. The MAVEN spacecraft is on the horizon of NASA's plans and is part of the Mars Scout Program to study the atmosphere of Mars.
19. The Vision for Space Exploration is the United States space policy that was announced on January 14, 2004, by United States President George W. Bush that in 2018, mankind will return to the moon and set up outposts as a testbed and a potential resource for future missions.
20. In 2010, the Space Shuttle will retire and be replaced by Orion by 2015, which is capable of both docking with the International Space Station and leave the Earth's orbit.
21. On September 28, 2007, NASA administrator Michael D. Griffin stated that NASA aims to put a man on Mars by 2037, and in 2057, "We should be celebrating 20 years of man on Mars."
22. NASA announced on December 4, 2006 that it was planning on building a permanent moon base.
23. NASA's headquarters is located in Washington, D.C.
24. The Administrator of NASA is the highest-ranking official and serves as the senior space science adviser to the President of the United States.
25. NASA remains to be the only space agency to have launched space missions to the outer solar system beyond the asteroid belt.
Copyright (c) 2008-2009 Paranormalknowledge.com
OTHER INFORMATIVE WEBSITES YOU MAY LIKE:
The Investment Tipper - Economic And Financial News, Investment Strategies And Tools.
The American Real Estate Observer - Updated Information On Real Estate And Housing In The United States.
IELTS-Pass - Preparing For The IELTS Exam Test.
Your Pet Basket - A Whole Site Dedicated To Pets.
Related NASA Secret Space Program Articles
25 Facts on Nasa
By Dan Leone Jun. 14, 2013 The House Science, Space and Technology Committee's draft of a new NASA authorization bill would authorize "no funding for an asteroid rendezvous mission," according to a summary of the bill. Credit: NASA artist's concept. WASHINGTON - The House Science, Space and Technology Committee has begun drafting a NASA authorization bill that would hold the agency to a top line of about 16.87 billion, bar funding for a planned asteroid rendezvous mission, and divert money for Earth observation into robotic missions to other parts of the solar system, according to an official summary of the bill obtained by "SpaceNews". The bill also would authorize NASA to spend 700 million annually on the Commercial Crew Program - up from the 500 million Congress authorized in 2010 - and require the agency to report every 90 days on the effort. The House Science space subcommittee has scheduled a June 19 hearing on the NASA Authorization Act of 2013. NASA Advisory Council Chairman Steven Squyres and former Martin Marietta chief executive A. Thomas Young have been called to testify. A summary of the draft bill is reproduced here: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NASA AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2013 This bill authorizes programs and projects at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for two years. Proposed NASA funding is consistent with the Budget Control Act and FY2013 appropriations--16,865,200,000. If House-Senate agree to repeal and replace the BCA, then funding would be added to the International Space Station, Space Launch System, and Commercial Crew. NASA continues to be the world's premier space organization. This bill seeks to ensure sustainability of purpose and budget for high-priority programs. NASA'S MISSION OBJECTIVES "Human Spaceflight:" Building on the themes of previous authorizations, this legislation reaffirms Congress's commitment to space exploration, both human and robotic, using a "go-as-we-can-afford-to-pay" strategy toward NASA's missions. This bill makes clear that missions to lunar orbit, the surface of the Moon, and Mars are the goals for NASA's human spaceflight program with quadrennial reports for what progress has been made toward those goals. In the near-term, the primary objectives for NASA human spaceflight include: * Realizing the research potential of the International Space Station with an Office of Science & Technology Policy-led strategic plan for all science agencies to conduct research on the Station. NASA will study the feasibility of continuing its operational lifespan beyond 2020. * Continued commitment to develop the Space Launch System and Orion Crew Vehicle to return to the Moon and beyond, but no funding for an asteroid rendezvous mission. Reiterates Congressional direction that Orion be a backup system to support the Space Station if necessary. * Building Commercial Crew systems (with NASA funds) to launch American astronauts on American rockets from American soil as soon as possible, so we are no longer reliant on Russia. "Science Programs:" Relying on the guidance of National Academy of Sciences Decadal Surveys, this bill restores proper balance to NASA's science portfolio. NASA Earth Science is reduced to 2008 spending levels to provide better balance of funding for NASA's planetary science programs. Thirteen different federal agencies fund 2.5 billion annually in climate science research, but only NASA has space exploration as its primary mission. NASA is still involved in climate change research-spending 1.2 billion annually. NASA must remain focused on building weather satellites for NOAA to meet our nation's urgent weather-monitoring needs, as well as building LANDSAT satellites for the US Geological Survey. * Maintains launch date of the James Webb Space Telescope by 2018. * Funds survey for potentially-hazardous Earth-crossing asteroids. * Continues exciting search for planets around other stars and life on other worlds."Aeronautics:" A robust aeronautics research program is important for the safe integration of unmanned aerial systems into the national airspace as well as NextGen technology for air traffic management. "STEM Education:" There's bipartisan agreement that the Administration's proposal to re-organize NASA's STEM education program is questionable. This bill maintains FY 2013 organization and funding level. "NASA Leadership:" Witnesses have raised concerns that NASA have been too politicized in recent years, adversely affecting the success of NASA's programs. This bill would make the following changes: Like the National Science Foundation, the NASA Administrator would be appointed to a 6-year term appointment. The NASA Advisory Council would be structured to provide more stakeholder input, with appointments by both the Congress and the President. "Space Act Agreements": The bill provides greater public accountability and transparency on SAAs. "Controlling Costs": Requires NASA to enforce more cost estimating discipline for its programs, while restoring funds set aside for contract termination liability toward development work on high-priority programs.Source
