What is Nasa: Definition and 299 Discussions

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.NASA was established in 1958, succeeding the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The new agency was to have a distinctly civilian orientation, encouraging peaceful applications in space science. Since its establishment, most US space exploration efforts have been led by NASA, including the Apollo Moon landing missions, the Skylab space station, and later the Space Shuttle. NASA is supporting the International Space Station and is overseeing the development of the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System, and Commercial Crew vehicles. The agency is also responsible for the Launch Services Program, which provides oversight of launch operations and countdown management for uncrewed NASA launches.
NASA's science is focused on better understanding Earth through the Earth Observing System; advancing heliophysics through the efforts of the Science Mission Directorate's Heliophysics Research Program; exploring bodies throughout the Solar System with advanced robotic spacecraft such as New Horizons; and researching astrophysics topics, such as the Big Bang, through the Great Observatories and associated programs.

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  1. pinball1970

    RIP Thomas Stafford 1930-2024, NASA astronaut

    https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-administrator-pays-tribute-to-space-pioneer-thomas-stafford/
  2. berkeman

    What's the Next Step for NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter After Mission Ends on Mars?

    https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/25/world/nasa-mars-ingenuity-helicopter-mission-ends-scn/index.html
  3. berkeman

    I Why is NASA claiming 10-100x better BW performance from optical-based comm (DSOC)?

    The DSOC (deep-space optical communication) experiment on the Psyche spacecraft had a successful test (even though the test distance was mouse nuts, IMO)...
  4. D

    I Analog TV reception in a spacecraft moving relative to the Earth

    During the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon there at least two occasions when the crew indicate they are watching live TV broadcasts from Earth. We know they originate from Earth because they are live TV transmissions that were received by network TV and recorded on video that is available in the...
  5. Frabjous

    Detecting Martian Life: How Can We Find Evidence of Slow Life on the Red Planet?

    https://bigthink.com/hard-science/accidentally-killed-life-mars/ Interesting article about a type of life that might exist on Mars. It brings up questions on how do we test for the existence of life.
  6. pinball1970

    NASA UAP debate -- trying to find it

    Where is this guys? Cannot find it. Cheers
  7. Astronuc

    NASA confirms half-ton meteor crashed in South Texas

    https://www.foxnews.com/science/nasa-confirms-half-ton-meteor-crashed-into-texas
  8. jedishrfu

    NASA What if NASA had rescued Columbia

    The Shuttle Columbia report details how NASA could have saved them with a risky plan https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/02/the-audacious-rescue-plan-that-might-have-saved-space-shuttle-columbia-2/
  9. Astronuc

    NASA NASA - Bimodal NTP/NEP with a Wave Rotor Topping Cycle

    New Class of Bimodal NTP/NEP with a Wave Rotor Topping Cycle Enabling Fast Transit to Mars https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/2023/New_Class_of_Bimodal/ Ryan Gosse, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL...
  10. berkeman

    NASA Inflatable heat shield a ‘huge success’, NASA says

    Interesting optimization concept, to increase the size of the heat shield significantly to reduce the heat stresses during reentry... https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/17/world/loftid-heat-shield-nasa-success-scn/index.html
  11. T

    NASA Could Mars have supported life? NASA challenge wants your help

    Deadline April 18, 2022 Competition Eligibility at: https://www.drivendata.org/competitions/93/nasa-mars-spectrometry/rules/ HeroX Challenge page: https://www.herox.com/MarsSpectrometry Brief article: https://www.space.com/nasa-mars-habitable-herox-competition Good Luck, and have Fun! Tom
  12. V

    The James Webb Space Telescope

    Maybe this is more general discussion, but I am excited / nervous about the upcoming launch of the JWST. https://jwst.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/countdown.html I can't wait to see the observations this endeavor will bring!
  13. Astronuc

    NASA NASA - Venus Technology Plan (DRAFT) December, 2018

    This discussion relates to another thread on the feasibility of operating a nuclear reactor on Venus. https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/could-a-high-very-high-temperature-nuclear-reactor-operate-in-venus.1003619/ Venus represents a hostile environment with a surface temperature of ~470°C...
  14. AndreasC

    Music Petition for NASA to name TOI-1338 b in honor of musician SOPHIE

    https://www.change.org/p/nasa-nasa-name-toi-1338-in-honor-of-sophie Copied from the petition text: Sophie Xeon, known mononymously as SOPHIE, was a highly influential singer, songwriter, and producer who was a great inspiration to the LGBTQIA+ community. Her messages, actions, and music left...
  15. Greg Bernhardt

    NASA discovers water on the moon

    https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-sofia-discovers-water-on-sunlit-surface-of-moon/
  16. person123

    NASA Why isn't NASA using artificial gravity for manned space travel?

    Hi! I'm curious what your take on this is. I'm taking an introduction to U.S. Government course and my professor was discussing the inefficiencies of the public sector; the discussion on politics isn't relevant here but he did make an interesting point about space travel. He argued that the...
  17. nomadreid

    NASA NASA connection to EM drive research

    The following is a five-year-old post on one of NASA's websites. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/evaluating-nasas-futuristic-em-drive/?fbclid=IwAR02ifoAVrPGa0StAxsTjIuS3b08fUOyMcPh1-nBjeiwgwWkI3H7jnA0Has It exposes the holes in the state of affairs at that moment -- first, the article...
  18. DuckAmuck

    Did NASA use something more efficient than a Hohmann Transfer?

    It's common knowledge that it takes about 3 days to get to the moon. With a Hohmann transfer, I get a transit time of 5 days, not 3. I see NASA used something called "trans-lunar injection". Is this distinct from a Hohmann transfer, and more time efficient? What makes this trajectory different...
  19. mfb

    NASA NASA is going to assemble a quiet supersonic aircraft: X-59 QueSST

    Press release The Concorde could only fly supersonic while over the open ocean - the sonic boom was too loud. NASA is looking for aircraft designs that are much quieter. While the X-59 itself isn't very practical for passenger transport it might have some direct military applications and help...
  20. BWV

    NASA hypothetical engine w/ relativistic ions

    Does this violate conservation of momentum or some other law? It claims to take advantage relativistic mass increases to achieve propulsion https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20190029657.pdf
  21. D

    Physics Is a physics career's main focus Discovery and not Invention?

    Is the main focus of the physics career discovery, leading invention for the engineers? I mean in the hypothetical situation of the building of a rocket, would the physicist spend their time discovering new ways of making combustion or discovering new materials for a spaceship, and the...
  22. nsaspook

    NASA NASA aluminum fraud scheme probe

    https://www.engadget.com/2019/05/01/nasa-aluminum-fraud-scheme-probe/ Only fined for $46 Million?
  23. L

    NASA Mission to Alpha Centauri: SR & Relativistic Effects

    NASA has proposed a mission to Alpha Centuri: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2069_Alpha_Centauri_mission This mission would involve a spacecraft traveling at 10% of light speed and therefore relativistic effects could be somewhat significant. Let's assume this spacecraft is carrying a...
  24. Spinnor

    NASA NASA Captures First Air-to-Air Images of Supersonic Shockwave

    https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/features/supersonic-shockwave-interaction.html “We never dreamt that it would be this clear, this beautiful.” Physical Scientist J.T. Heineck of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California gets his first glimpse at a set of long-awaited...
  25. scottdave

    CIMON Robot Behavior on ISS: Unexpected Result

    behavior on the ISS. https://gizmodo.com/in-video-debut-cimon-the-iss-robot-throws-an-unexpecte-1830768737
  26. jim mcnamara

    NASA NASA asteroid collision warning?

    Yup. Newspapers have it. Again. Note the example "news" article with a very tiny disclaimer. Here are wikipedia's take, some NASA information, and a news article. They are all links and therefore are transient and could change. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_LF16...
  27. T

    NASA NASA Challenge - CO2 Conversion

    NASA is looking for a process to use CO2 as a Carbon source on Mars; ultimate goal is to use the Carbon in the synthesis of other products. $50,000 prize. Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and U.S. business entities, work must be done in the U.S...
  28. Andreza Carvalho

    NASA NASA Parker Solar spacecraft question

    How will the NASA spacecraft resist when approaching the Sun?
  29. jim mcnamara

    NASA Ars Technica: Pew research indicates other NASA priorities

    https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/06/nasas-priorities-appear-to-be-out-of-whack-with-what-the-public-wants/ Title: NASA’s priorities appear to be out of whack with what the public wants "The public thinks that we should have a space program that saves Earth." In the list presented in the...
  30. xaratustra

    NASA Calculating Super Accurate Ephemerides: NASA's Method

    I was wondering, how does NASA actually calculate their super exact Ephemerides?
  31. J

    Is it possible to pour concrete in a vacuum?

    One idea for a moon base would be reinforced concrete domes, but is pouring concrete in a total vacuum even possible? Wouldn't the water just evaporate, or is there another material we could use instead of water? Are the ingredients of concrete plentiful on the moon, or could we synthesize them...
  32. BlackholeGirl

    NASA [NASA] Cosmological projects instead of space exploration

    NASA decided to stop *WFIRST and concentrate on Mars project (send humans to Mars). What do you think about it? In my opinion, since a lot of ventures have begun space developments such as SpaceX and this proves that rockets make money, NASA should tackle WFIRST. Generally, we cannot earn...
  33. Astronuc

    NASA RIP Bruce McCandless, NASA, Astronaut

    http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bruce-mccandless-iconic-spacewalker-dies/ar-BBHamOP https://www.nasa.gov/astronautprofiles/mccandless http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42465059 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/23/obituaries/bruce-mccandless-dead-astronaut.html
  34. mfb

    NASA NASA finalists for New Frontiers: Rosetta's comet or Titan

    NASA selected two finalists for the next round of the New Frontiers program, missions with a cost below $850 million. Both get funding to further refine the proposals, in early 2019 one of them will be selected. CAESAR wants to go back to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, previously visited by the...
  35. mfb

    NASA NASA selects early science targets for JWST

    News A variety of targets will be looked at, including planets and moons within our solar system, various star systems and many galaxies from the early universe, where the high redshift and Hubble’s wavelength range made observations difficult. For exoplanets, the strategy is to look at the...
  36. davenn

    NASA New moon map from NASA .... VERY zoomable

    this will blow your mind ! https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/lroc-quickmap-try-it-out/ click on the blue colour "Quickmap" link in the first paragraphDave
  37. H

    Designing a Spacecraft any tips?

    I've been working on this passion project for a couple of years now and was wondering if you guys have any tips all I can say right now is.Its lunar capable,going to carry 8-10 crew and 2 landers or cargo,reusable,and easily modifiable for Earth orbit operations.
  38. J

    How does NASA achieve zero gravity on their zero gravity flights?

    Hi, Please could someone kindly explain how zero weightlessness is achieved in this aircraft. I have tried to use my own understanding and what I have read online. My ideas are: To experience weightlessness the plane must be in freefall so the only force acting on it must be gravity. Since...
  39. FactChecker

    NASA What do we learn from eclipse that the NASA IRIS doesn't tell us?

    What can we learn from a solar eclipse that the NASA IRIS program doesn't tell us? (and why)
  40. Xilus

    NASA NASA Eclipse Calculations Accuracy

    How accurate do you think NASA's eclipse calculations are? Will that aircraft provide accurate moon trajectory?
  41. Y

    I Particle calculation during a solar proton event

    Trying to figure out how many particles would bombard an astronaut during a solar proton event. Given that the most possible is around 43,000 particle flux units (pfu) according to NASA. First calculating steradians, assuming a person is 1m^2, 1/(1E9)^2=1E-18. My calculation yields (43000...
  42. G

    Unlock Your Dream Career at NASA: Tips and Steps to Land a Job in Astrophysics

    Hello those who are reading! I have just graduated with my undergraduate Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering with a 3.4 GPA. I currently work for a large civil construction company as a field engineer. I have written and published a Children's book about engineering. I am looking to start...
  43. D

    What are the guidelines for speculation on Physics Forums?

    I am a former senior flight surgeon at CCAFS and Kennedy Space Center. I have been privileged to speak with many fantastic engineers, scientists, and astronauts. Many times they have had to stop a discussion to explain to me items of interest, and I am always interested in learning something I...
  44. BillTre

    NASA NASA Image Library: Explore New Collections Online

    NASA has consolidated its many collections of imagery into one online library, which is here.
  45. Z

    NASA NASA Flight Tracking Station: The Guaymas Story (1967)

    NASA Flight Tracking Station: The Guaymas Story - 1967 Educational Documentary wdtvlive42 - Archive Footage Published on Apr 10, 2017 This film provides a detailed description of the operations of NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration's) manned flight tracking station in...
  46. Buzz Bloom

    NASA NASA support for a "new" kind of propulsion

    I recall that a few years ago NASA awarded a contract for a "new" kind of propulsion, the details of which I have forgotten, and I would like to find any old news announcement about this from about the time of this award. My memory includes that the NASA contract to study this "new" method of...
  47. mfb

    NASA Is There Life on Europa? NASA's Study on the Upcoming Lander Mission

    NASA did a study how to investigate the surface of Europa. It is separate from the Europa Multiple-Flyby Mission, which has a small lander as well, but only with a small budget. Confusingly, the same artist's impressions are used for both. There is also ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer...
  48. Greg Bernhardt

    NASA Test Your NASA Knowledge - Comments

    TheAdmin submitted a new PF Insights post Test Your NASA Knowledge Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.
  49. Kaura

    The Controversy of the EmDrive: Legitimate or Feigned?

    There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the EmDrive and it supposedly being a reaction-less drive Many have pointed out that this goes against the conservation of momentum I have seen videos of a couple people dismissing the notion and outlining the apparent issues with the physics I am...
  50. J

    NASA confirms(?) EmDrive - can pilot wave carry momentum?

    It is hard not to hear that NASA has just published paper claiming confirmation of "impossible drive" - closed resonant chamber: http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/full/10.2514/1.B36120 http://www.sciencealert.com/it-s-official-nasa-s-peer-reviewed-em-drive-paper-has-finally-been-published...
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