Space Centers Across the U.S.A.
In 1957, as tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States grew, the Soviet Union launched a satellite named Sputnik I into space. It was the first satellite ever launched into orbit. This marked a huge milestone for humankind -- and for the Soviets. Many Americans felt it was crucial for the United States to catch up to the Soviet Union in space technology. President Eisenhower agreed. In 1958, the President created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA created space centers all over the country. Each space center had a special role to play in supporting NASA's space missions and research. And each space center is still doing important work today.
The first important NASA space center was actually created before NASA existed. The Langley Research Center was founded in 1917 in Hampton, Virginia. It was founded by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, or NACA. NACA researched air travel and air crafts. When NASA was created, NACA became part of the new space program. Under NASA, the Langley Research Center began researching technology and science for space travel, not just air travel. For example, scientists at Langley designed a special moon-landing training site for astronauts. This helped astronauts prepare to walk on the moon. Today, Langley Research Center makes tools like flight simulators and software to help plan for space missions. Another important space center, the Marshall Space Center, was founded in Huntsville, Alabama in 1960. Today, it is one of NASA's largest centers. Nearly 6,000 people work there! The Marshall Space Center develops technologies that help NASA's space missions go smoothly. For example, many scientists at the space center have researched propulsion technologies. Propulsion is the force needed to push a spacecraft forward at high speeds. Without the right propulsion technology, a spacecraft wouldn't have the power to make it into space. Marshall Space Center engineers and scientists have built technology so that NASA spacecraft can safely make it to their destination in space.
The Johnson Space Center was established in Houston, Texas in 1961. It is the center for NASA mission control and astronaut training. Have you ever heard the phrase, "Houston, we have a problem?" The "Houston" in that phrase is referring to mission control at the Johnson Space Center. Mission control is a group of scientists who organize, plan, and assist throughout space missions. The Johnson Space Center's mission control has helped with many space missions. Astronauts also train at the Johnson Space Center. The space center has models of different parts of spacecraft. Astronauts use these models to learn how to operate spacecraft and prepare for emergencies that could happen during their mission.
All these space centers support NASA's space missions. But where do NASA spacecraft actually launch into space? For that purpose, NASA founded its "spaceport" in Cape Canaveral, Florida in 1961. Cape Canaveral spaceport's most famous launch happened in 1969. On July 20, 1969, almost all of America was watching as the Apollo 11 spacecraft, launched from Cape Canaveral with three astronauts aboard, landed on the moon! Neil Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin were the first humans to walk on the moon. Michael Collins orbited above in the command ship, Columbia. This achievement made the U.S. the first country to put a man on the moon. Decades later, Cape Canaveral is still one of the country's centers for technology and the home to one of the world's most important spaceports.
Even though competition between countries inspired the U.S. government to start NASA, today countries work together in space. Space agencies from the U.S., Europe, Russia, Japan, and Canada all came together to build the International Space Station (ISS) from 1998 to 2000. Since then, astronauts from 19 countries have visited the ISS. And scientists from around the world have collaborated in the ISS's science laboratory to research technology, physical science, and life science in space. All of NASA's space centers have worked together to make this space travel and research possible.
