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1958 establishments in Washington, D.C.Collier Trophy recipientsGovernment agencies established in 1958Independent agencies of the United States government

NASA

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

The Space Shuttle Discovery launches from Kennedy Space Center, carrying a crew of astronauts to the International Space Station.

NASA

NASA is a special group that helps us learn about space and airplanes. It is short for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA is part of the government of the United States. It started in 1958 and has done many amazing things since then.

NASA explores our solar system with robots. One famous robot is the Perseverance rover. It drives around on Mars looking for signs of life. NASA also uses telescopes to look at faraway stars and galaxies. Two big telescopes are the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.

People can live and work in space thanks to NASA. The International Space Station is a home for astronauts from many countries. It orbits Earth and helps us learn how to live far from our planet. NASA is also building new spacecraft like the Orion spacecraft for future adventures.

NASA works with partners all around the world. It teams up with the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. Together, they share ideas and resources to explore space and learn more about our planet.

NASA also studies Earth from space. Satellites help us watch the weather, forests, and water. This information helps keep our planet safe and healthy. NASA wants to send people back to the Moon and even to Mars one day. These missions will help us understand more about space and our place in the universe.

Images

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin salutes the American flag on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission.
The launch of the Apollo 11 rocket carrying astronauts into space, a major moment in history!
The Bell X-1A was an experimental aircraft that helped pioneers in aviation break the sound barrier.
The launch of the Jupiter-C rocket carrying Explorer 1, America's first satellite, in 1958.
The launch of Friendship 7, the first American manned orbital space flight with astronaut John Glenn aboard.
The X-15A-3 rocket plane in flight over Edwards Air Force Base in the 1960s – a pioneering aircraft in aviation history.
A view of the Gemini-7 spacecraft from the Gemini-6 spacecraft during a space rendezvous mission in 1965.
The Apollo 15 Service Module as seen from the Lunar Module during its mission to the Moon.
A NASA spacecraft on the red, rocky surface of Mars, showing how it looks after landing on the Utopian Plain in 1976.
The Hubble Space Telescope floating in orbit after its final servicing mission in 2009.
The Space Shuttle Discovery approaches the International Space Station with Earth in the background, showcasing an important moment in space exploration.
A NASA spacecraft being prepared for deployment in space during the STS-44 mission, with Earth's curvature visible in the background.
Astronauts viewed the Skylab space station from their spacecraft before returning home, showcasing this important piece of space history.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on NASA, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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