NASA

Astronomers & Astrophysicists:

RESOURCE: NASA

Published:
Updated: April 1, 2009, 9:59 pm
Topics: Astronomers & Astrophysicists
Content Source: NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and provides overall guidance and direction to the agency. Ten field centers and a variety of installations around the country conduct the day-to-day work in laboratories, on air fields, in wind tunnels, and in control rooms. Together, this skilled, diverse group of scientists, engineers, managers, and support personnel share the Vision, Mission, and Values that are NASA.

To implement NASA’s Mission, NASA Headquarters is organized into four Mission Directorates:

  • Aeronautics: Pioneers and proves new flight technologies that improve our ability to explore and which have practical applications on Earth.
  • Exploration Systems: Creates new capabilities and spacecraft for affordable, sustainable human and robotic exploration.
  • Science: Explores the Earth, moon, Mars, and beyond; charts the best route of discovery; and reaps the benefits of Earth and space exploration for society.
  • Space Operations: Provides critical enabling technologies for much of the rest of NASA through the space shuttle, the International Space Station, and flight support.
     

What Does NASA Do?

NASA's mission is to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.  To do that, thousands of people have been working around the world -- and off of it -- for 50 years, trying to answer some basic questions. What's out there in space? How do we get there? What will we find? What can we learn there, or learn just by trying to get there, that will make life better here on Earth?

A Little History

President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1958, partially in response to the Soviet Union's launch of the first artificial satellite the previous year. NASA grew out of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA), which had been researching flight technology for more than 40 years. 

President John F. Kennedy focused NASA and the nation on sending astronauts to the moon by the end of the 1960s. Through the Mercury and Gemini projects, NASA developed the technology and skills it needed for the journey. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first of 12 men to walk on the moon, meeting Kennedy's challenge.

Meanwhile, NASA was continuing the aeronautics research pioneered by NACA. It also conducted purely scientific research and worked on developing applications for space technology, combining both pursuits in developing the first weather and communications satellites.

After Apollo, NASA focused on creating a reusable ship to provide regular access to space: the space shuttle. First launched in 1981, the space shuttle has had 120 successful flights. In 2000, the United States and Russia established permanent human presence in space aboard the International Space Station, a multinational project representing the work of 16 nations. NASA also has continued its scientific research. In 1997, Mars Pathfinder became the first in a fleet of spacecraft that will explore Mars in the next decade, as we try to determine if life ever existed there. The Terra and Aqua satellites are flagships of a different fleet, this one in Earth orbit, designed to help us understand how our home world is changing. NASA's aeronautics teams are focused on improved aircraft travel that is safer and cleaner. Throughout its history, NASA has conducted or funded research that has led to numerous improvements to life here on Earth.

Organization

NASA Headquarters, in Washington, provides overall guidance and direction to the agency, under the leadership of the Administrator. Ten field centers and a variety of installations conduct the day-to-day work, in laboratories, on air fields, in wind tunnels and in control rooms.

NASA Today

NASA conducts its work in four principle organizations, called mission directorates:

  • Aeronautics: pioneers and proves new flight technologies that improve our ability to explore and which have practical applications on Earth.
  • Exploration Systems: creates new capabilities and spacecraft for affordable, sustainable human and robotic exploration.
  • Science: explores the Earth, moon, Mars and beyond; charts the best route of discovery; and reaps the benefits of Earth and space exploration for society.
  • Space Operations: provides critical enabling technologies for much of the rest of NASA through the space shuttle, the International Space Station and flight support.

In the early 21st century, NASA's reach spans the universe. Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars Exploration Rovers, are still studying Mars after more than three years. Cassini is in orbit around Saturn. The Hubble Space Telescope continues to explore the deepest reaches of the cosmos.

Closer to home, the latest crew of the International Space Station is extending the permanent human presence in space. Earth Science satellites are sending back unprecedented data on Earth's oceans, climate and other features. NASA's aeronautics team is working with other government organizations, universities, and industry to fundamentally improve the air transportation experience and retain our nation's leadership in global aviation.

The Future

In the next 20 years, NASA will be laying the groundwork for sending humans not only beyond Earth's orbit, but further into space than they've ever been. The next key steps are:

  • Complete the International Space Station and retire the Space Shuttle by 2010
  • Begin robotic missions to the moon by 2008 and return people there by 2020
  • Continue robotic exploration of Mars and the Solar System
  • Develop a crew exploration vehicle and other technologies required to send people beyond low Earth orbit

Though nearly 50 years old, NASA is only beginning the most exciting part of its existence.

NASA Centers

NASA Facilities

NASA Mission Direcorates

I. Exploration Systems

  • NASA Exploration – Direct the identification, development, and validation of exploration systems and technologies. At the core of NASA's future space exploration is a return to the moon, where we will build a sustainable long term human presence. As the space shuttle approaches retirement and the International Space Station nears completion, NASA is building the next fleet of vehicles to bring astronauts back to the moon, and possibly to Mars and beyond.

II. Science

NASA Science – Exploring the Earth-Sun system, our own solar system, and the universe beyond.

The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) engages the Nation’s science community, sponsors scientific research, and develops and deploys satellites and probes in collaboration with NASA’s partners around the world to answer fundamental questions requiring the view from and into space. SMD seeks to understand the origins, evolution, and destiny of the universe and to understand the nature of the strange phenomena that shape it. SMD also seeks to understand:

  • The nature of life in the universe and what kinds of life may exist beyond Earth.
  • The solar system, both scientifically and in preparation for human exploration.
  • The Sun and Earth, changes in the Earth-Sun system, and the consequences of the Earth-Sun relationship for life on Earth.

The Science Mission Directorate also sponsors research that both enables, and is enabled by, NASA's exploration activities. The SMD portfolio is contributing to NASA’s achievement of the Vision for Space Exploration by striving to:

  • Understand the history of Mars and the formation of the solar system. By understanding the formation of diverse terrestrial planets (with atmospheres) in the solar system, researchers learn more about Earth’s future and the most promising opportunities for habitation beyond our planet. For example, differences in the impacts of collisional processes on Earth, the Moon, and Mars can provide clues about differences in origin and evolution of each of these bodies.
  • Search for Earth-like planets and habitable environments around other stars. SMD pursues multiple research strategies with the goal of developing effective astronomically-detectable signatures of biological processes. The study of the Earth-Sun system may help researchers identify atmospheric biosignatures that distinguish Earth-like (and potentially habitable) planets around nearby stars. An understanding of the origin of life and the time evolution of the atmosphere on Earth may reveal likely signatures of life on extrasolar planets.
  • Explore the solar system for scientific purposes while supporting safe robotic and human exploration of space. For example, large-scale coronal mass ejections from the Sun can cause potentially lethal consequences for improperly shielded human flight systems, as well as some types of robotic systems. SMD’s pursuit of interdisciplinary scientific research focus areas will help predict potentially harmful conditions in space and protect NASA’s robotic and human explorers.

Science Mission Directorate divisions relevant to the Cosmos Portal:

A. Heliophysics:

The exploration of the Sun, its effects on Earth and the planets of the solar system, and space environmental conditions and their evolution.

B. Planets:

Advancing scientific knowledge of the origin and history of the solar system, the potential of life elsewhere, and the hazards and resources present as humans explore space.

C. Astrophysics:

Discovering the origin, structure, evolution and destiny of the Universe, and searching for Earth-like planets.

III. Space Operations

A. NASA Human Space Missions

(See also NASA - Science Missions here within the Cosmos Portal for a full list of NASA Missions.)

B. Space-related US Government Sites

Non-U.S. Space Agencies and Missions

Space Related Media

 

Related EoC Resource Articles

 

(Source: Information for this resource article was obtained from NASA "About" pages.)

[Editor's Note: Please note that some NASA divisions have been omitted from this listing. The Cosmos Portal is not concerned with either Aeronautics nor Earth observation and while NASA does tremendous work in those fields, they are both beyond the scope of the Cosmos Portal and Encyclopedia of the Cosmos.]

 

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