NASA History News & Notes

NASA’s Archives Program

With American Archives Month upon us, what better time is there to underscore the importance of NASA’s historical records and how they shape our understanding of the agency’s activities. NASA’s archivists preserve and provide access to the documents, photos, oral histories, and other media that illustrate the missions, programs, and people of the agency from its earliest days. These records help tell the story of NASA’s work, its leaders, its triumphs and challenges, and not only become the basis of historical research communicated in books and documentaries, but also inform managers, engineers, and program planners, and inspire new generations with lessons from our past.

Chandra X-Ray Observatory’s 25th Anniversary

Topics covered include Marshall Space Flight Center’s evolution into a center of excellence in high-energy astronomy, Martin Weisskopf’s lessons learned from the Chandra mission, how a proposal for an x-ray observatory has evolved, and Chandra’s rocky ride to space on space shuttle Columbia in 1999.

NASA’s Roots in the Mid-Twentieth Century

What aspects of NASA’s predecessors are still with us today? The articles in this edition of News and Notes focus on the period from World War II to the establishment of NASA in 1958, looking at NASA’s underpinnings in the NACA, and the lasting impacts of the research, the people, and events of that era.

NASA’s History of International Collaboration

The Winter 2023 issue of NASA History News and Notes looks at the history of NASA’s international partnerships to further science and exploration in space and here on Earth. The expectation of international collaboration is written into NASA’s founding charter, the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. Articles discuss projects including ESA’s Spacelab 1, the demonstration of photovoltaic systems in partnership with developing nations, the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment in India, and the X-31 aircraft developed in conjunction with Germany.