Milestones

In March 2019, the Board of Directors of the National Space Society (NSS) voted to appoint Geoffrey Notkin as its new president. Notkin has served on the NSS Board of Governors since 2015 and will retain that position. The National Space Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization. Its […]
 
NASA has redesignated its Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Facility in Fairmont, West Virginia, as the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility, in honor of the West Virginia native and NASA “hidden figure.” “I am thrilled we are honoring Katherine Johnson in this way as she is a true American icon who overcame incredible […]
 
Janet L. Kavandi, director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center, and James Buchli are the latest veteran NASA astronauts to join the ranks of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. “The pioneering spirit we see in every astronaut is truly exemplified by this year’s inductees,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “Janet Kavandi and James Buchli represent the best of […]
 
As exploration missions venture beyond low-Earth orbit and to the Moon — and eventually Mars — NASA must consider automated technologies to keep habitats operational even when they are not occupied by astronauts. To help achieve this, NASA has selected two new Space Technology Research Institutes (STRIs) to advance space habitat designs using resilient and […]
 
Smart spacesuits and solar surfing may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but they are just two of the technology concepts NASA has selected for further research as part of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. The program will fund 18 studies to determine the feasibility of early-stage technologies that could go on to change […]
 
NASA has selected 12 science and technology demonstration payloads to fly to the Moon as early as the end of this year, dependent upon the availability of commercial landers. These selections represent an early step toward the agency’s long-term scientific study and human exploration of the Moon and, later, Mars. “The Moon has unique scientific […]
 
NASA passed a major milestone on March 8, in its goal to restore America’s human spaceflight capability when SpaceX’s Crew Dragon returned to Earth after a five-day mission docked to the International Space Station. About six hours after departing the space station, Crew Dragon splashed down at 8:45 a.m. EST approximately 230 miles off the coast […]
 
The spacecraft flown on humankind’s first journey to the Moon is the centerpiece of the Museum’s special exhibition. Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission, presented in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, celebrates that historic flight. The challenge of putting the first steps on the Moon moved a nation during the 1960s, Apollo’s legacy now inspires […]
 
NASA invites you to take a behind-the-scenes look at how the agency explores Earth and outer space with a new monthly television series that premiers this week. The inaugural episode of “NASA Science Live” aired on February 27, on NASA Television, the agency’s website, Facebook Watch, YouTube, and Ustream. Viewers were able to submit questions on social media using the hashtag #askNASA […]
 
The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) today announced a multi-year series of events, programs, exhibitions, and projects that will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Museum, culminating in the opening of its new Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. Beginning earlier this year with the new exhibition T. rex: The Ultimate Predator, […]