• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an agency within the United States Federal Government. NASA's purpose is to research and develop aerospace technology and to oversee America's astronomy and space programs.

  On March 28, 2009, landing was briefly delayed for Space Shuttle Discovery due to bad weather conditions in Florida, but eventually landed safely at 3:13pm EST.cbs4.com: Space Shuttle Landing Delayed (March 28, 2009) The 13-day construction mission involved installing and unfurling the last set of solar wings and was considered a success.Washington Post: Discovery Makes Safe Return (March 29, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Established: July 29, 1958
  2. Founded by: The National Aeronautics and Space Act
  3. Legislation signed by President Eisenhower
  4. Preceded agency: The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)
  5. Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
  6. Administrator: Michael D. Griffin
  7. Deputy Administrator: Shana Dale
  8. Annual budget (2008): $17.3 billionAssociation of American Universities: NASA Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Overview
  9. Requested budget (2009): $17.6 billionAssociation of American Universities: NASA Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Overview
  10. Official mission statement: "To pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research."NASA: About NASA - What Does NASA Do?
  11. Maintains the NASA Great Observatories

• Major Divisions

  1. Aeronautics
  2. Exploration Systems
  3. Science
  4. Space Operations

• Kepler Spacecraft

  On March 6, 2009, NASA will launch the Kepler spacecraft, a telescope that will search for Earth-like planets. CNN: Spacecraft to Blast Off In Search of "Earths" (March 6, 2009)

• Spacesuits Contract

  In February 2009 NASA awarded a contract for the Constellation mission spacesuit which will be used on the planned moon missions, as well as the International Space Station. Oceaneering Inc. of Houston, Texas, was awarded the contract. According to the contract, Oceaneering is limited to $9.6 million until the final contract details are worked out, scheduled to be finalized by August 29, 2009.NASA Press Release: Constellation Spacesuit Awarded

• Shorty Award

  On February 12, 2009, NASA was honored with a Shorty Award in recognition of its efforts to inform the public on the progress of the Mars Phoenix Lander project using Twitter. Over 38,000 people followed the project's progress via tweets sent out on the messaging platform.CNN: NASA honored for 'tweets'... (February 12, 2009)

• Obama Appoints New Chief

  On January 14, 2008, it was reported that President-elect Barack Obama would be appointing a new Chief of NASA; retired Major-General of the United States Air Force, Jonathan Scott Gration. Unlike current administrator Mike Griffin, who is a rocket scientist, Gration has no formal space experience, though he did work as a White House fellow under the 1982 NASA Deputy Administrator Hans Mark. Gration met Obama in 2005, traveled to Africa with him in 2006, and has been an unofficial national-security adviser to his team. Whereas Griffin has had difficulties with both the Bush Administration and the incoming Obama Transition Team, Gration is close to the incoming administration and is said to be a man who can lead a large organization such as NASA.FOX News: Reports: Obama Picks Air Force General as NASA Head (January 14, 2009)

• International Collaboration

  Although the Cold War-era "Space Race" focused on the United States' individual space-faring achievements, NASA now frequently collaborates with space agencies around the world. NASA worked extensively with the European Space Agency (ESA) on the Cassini-Huygens mission to survey Saturn. NASA is also one of the major contributors to the ongoing International Space Station project.

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Kepler Spacecraft | J. Scott Gration | Space Tourism | Dawn Mission | Hubble Space Telescope | Lisa Nowak | International Space Station | Moon | Earth | Kay Bailey Hutchison | Shuttle Launch | Phoenix Lander Photos | Ares Orion | Space Fashion | Shuttle Launch Cancelled | Astronauts | Astronaut Tool Bag Video | Mike Griffin | Seadragon Mobile | Dark Matter | NASA Rubber Duckies | Rebecca Griffin | Mars Phoenix Lander | Phoenix Lander Photos | Mars Rovers | Orbiting Carbon Observatory | James Hansen | Space Shuttle Atlantis | Mike Massimino

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