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NASA History
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
Project Gemini
From 1964 to 1966, NASA launched 10 crewed missions to test the equipment and procedures for future Apollo missions.
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.
Hubble's 35th Anniversary
Join in the celebrations as NASA's Hubble Space Telescope marks 35 years in space.
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.
66 Years of Aerospace Exploration
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 66 Years of Aerospace Exploration
Apollo 13: Home Safe
At 10:05 p.m. ET on April 13, 1970, Apollo 13 Mission Commander Jim Lovell radioed back to mission control, “Houston, we’ve had a problem here.” As we look back 55 years later, the courage and determination shown by the crew and by all those back on Earth who worked to get the crew home safely remain moving. This 30-minute documentary features interviews with Apollo 13 astronauts Jim Lovell and Fred Haise, as well as Flight Directors Gene Kranz and Glynn Lunney, with engineer Hank Rotter.
Learn MoreNews and Events
Read the Latest NASA History Newsletter
In the newest edition of News and Notes, NASA’s historians and archivists reflect on some of the transitional periods in NASA’s past, as well as the legacies of a few of NASA’s past programs and projects.
Governing the Moon: A History
In the newest monograph in the NASA History Series, Stephen S. Buono presents the history behind the Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, better known as the Moon Treaty.
A Wartime Necessity
A Wartime Necessity is a new edited volume looking at World War II aviation and how applied research at institutions like the NACA generated aeronautical advances critical to the war effort.
Going Beyond
John M. Logsdon presents the history of George H. W. Bush's Space Exploration Initiative and his administration's efforts at organizational change at NASA in his new monograph Going Beyond.
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
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.
Learn More About Our Work
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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