For All Mankind
Since its founding in 1958, NASA has pushed the boundaries of scientific and technical limits to explore the unknown for all the citizens of our planet. Discover the history of our human spaceflight, science, technology, and aeronautics programs.
Popular Topics
Hidden Figures
Meet the women who worked as human computers in NASA's early days.
Symbols of NASA
Get to know the meatball, the worm, the seal, and other logos and insignia used by NASA.
Remembering Our Fallen Heroes
NASA will never forget the tragic loss of the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia crews.
Animals in Space
Learn about the early history of animals in space flight.
Recent NASA History Stories
Stay up-to-date with our latest NASA history articles as we revisit the discoveries and challenges of NASA's past.
The voyages of the Starship Enterprise came to a sudden and premature end on June 3, 1969, with the airing of the final episode of the Star Trek original television series. Ironically, the show’s cancellation came just six weeks before…
On May 27, 1999, the second space station assembly and logistics mission began. The main goals of STS-96, designated as the 2A.1 mission in the overall assembly sequence, included resupplying and repairing the fledgling orbital facility, consisting of the Zarya…
From May 29 to July 17, 2009, for the first time in its history, each of the five partner agencies participating in the International Space Station Program had a crew member living and working aboard the orbiting facility at the…
On May 23, 1984, NASA announced the selection of its 10th group of astronauts. Chosen from nearly 5,000 applicants, the group comprised 17 astronaut candidates – seven pilots and 10 mission specialists – and included three women and one Hispanic…
65 Years and Counting
Forged in response to early Soviet space achievements, NASA was built on the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), as the locus of U.S. civil aerospace research and development. Since October 1, 1958, when NASA opened for business, it has accelerated work on human and robotic spaceflight, and is responsible for scientific and technological achievements that have had widespread impacts on our nation and the world.
Discover Our History about 65 Years and Counting
News and Events
NASA and Archaeology from Space Symposium
A two-day symposium in honor of Dr. Thomas L. Sever will be held in September 18–19, 2024, in Huntsville, Alabama. Proposals for papers to be presented are due July 15!
Read the Latest NASA History Newsletter
The Spring 2024 issue of NASA History News and Notes looks at the people, the research, and the events of NASA's predecessor, the NACA, and their lasting influence on the agency.
New Book Explores NASA's Discovery Program
When it started in the early 1990s, NASA’s Discovery Program represented a breakthrough in how NASA explored space. The newest book in the NASA History Series takes an in-depth look at the management techniques used to design creative and cost-effective spacecraft that continue to yield ground-breaking scientific data, drive new technology innovations, and achieve what has never been done before.
Contributions of the DC-8 to Earth System Science at NASA: A Workshop
The contributions of the DC-8, a workhorse aircraft since 1985 for the Airborne Science Program of NASA’s Earth Science Division (ESD), will be the topic of of an August workshop in Washington, DC.
The NASA History Office
The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 not only created NASA but directed it “to provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning NASA activities and the results thereof.” The sharing of information, including our history, has always been, and continues to be, a priority. Historians in NASA’s History Office do historical research, provide context, answer questions for NASA leadership, and share NASA’s History with the public.
Learn More About Our Work
Dive Deeper
Explore interviews with aerospace legends, analyses of key events, aerospace chronologies, and more!
Since NASA’s founding, its History Office has developed history publications and conducted oral history interviews for the use of the general public. Connect with our resources to delve into your aerospace history research.
Explore our Publications
Preserving Our History
And making it accessible to future generations
The NASA Archives works to preserve and provide access to historically and culturally significant records and material created by NASA, including our work in the fields of engineering and science, ensuring that they will be discoverable for generations to come.
NASA Archives
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National History Day Research Help
The NASA History and Archives Offices are strong supporters of National History Day, and have made a ton of material available. Check out our list of resources that will help you with your research.
Kick-start Your Research
