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Explore NASA’s History

Eugene A. Cernan, Commander, Apollo 17 salutes the flag on the lunar surface during NASA's final lunar mission.

Discover Our Past

Whether just getting the basics or diving into your research, we invite you to connect with our ever-expanding collection of mission profiles, biographies, articles, e-books, chronologies, and source documents spanning the history of the NACA and NASA.

The NACA

NASA's precursor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was established by Congress in 1915 to advance the United States' standing in flight. Over its 40-some years in existence, it pushed the frontiers of air technology through groundbreaking aeronautics research, preparing the country for its venturing steps into space.

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Recent NASA History Stories

Stay up-to-date with the latest NASA history content as we revisit the discoveries and challenges of NASA's past.

20 Years Ago: First Image of Earth from Mars and Other Postcards of Home

On March 8, 2004, the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit took the first image of Earth from the surface of another…

More Planets than Stars: Kepler’s Legacy

The Kepler mission enabled the discovery of thousands of exoplanets, revealing a deep truth about our place in the cosmos:…

65 Years Ago: Pioneer 4 Reaches for the Moon

On March 3, 1959, the United States launched Pioneer 4 with the goal of photographing the Moon during a close…

Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women Astronauts 2024

“A bird cannot fly with one wing only. Human space flight cannot develop any further without the active participation of…

NASA Center Boosted YF-12 Supersonic Engine Research

Supersonic flight became a reality in October 1947, when the Bell X-1 rocket plane broke the sound barrier. NASA’s Lewis…

55 Years Ago: Five Months Until the Moon Landing

Following the success of the Apollo 8 circumlunar mission, NASA believed that it could achieve a Moon landing by the…

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