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Earth from Afar
See perspectives of our planet as seen by historic spacecraft in Earth's orbit and far beyond.
Symbols of NASA
Get to know the meatball, the worm, the seal, and other logos and insignia used by NASA.
Animals in Space
Learn about the early history of animals in space flight.
Project Gemini
From 1964 to 1966, NASA launched 10 crewed missions to test the equipment and procedures for future Apollo missions.
The Search for Life in the Universe
Not long after NASA was established, it began a broad-based effort to learn how to look for the presence of life beyond Earth.
Hidden Figures
Meet the women who worked as human computers in NASA's early days.
Remembering Our Fallen Heroes
NASA will never forget the tragic loss of the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia crews.
Featured History
Moon Trees Stand as Living Testaments to First Voyages to Moon
The Early Space Program 1958 – 1965
History of Lunar Exploration
Planetary Motion: The History of an Idea That Launched the Scientific Revolution
NASA’s Discovery Program
The Discovery Program transformed planetary exploration with its focus on low-cost, competitively selected missions. After reviving Mars exploration in the 1990s, Discovery has launched 14 missions and achieved extraordinary firsts. This book captures the program’s bold history and evolving challenges in recent years.
Read the e-Book about NASA’s Discovery ProgramNews and Events
Call for Papers: NASA in the 21st Century
The NASA History Office invites historians, interdisciplinary scholars, NASA leaders and practitioners, scientists, engineers, and other researchers to participate in a symposium examining NASA’s history and institutional evolution since 2000.
Read the Latest NASA History Newsletter
In this issue, we invite proposals for our next symposium, NASA in the 21st Century, and give you a window into some of NASA’s historic Halloween activities through our archival collections.
Beyond the Deep Field: Hubble's Legacy and the Future of Cosmic Observation
Historians, scientists, engineers, and program leaders gathered in June to reflect on the Hubble Space Telescope's legacy and the lessons it offers to shape NASA's next great space telescopes.
Aeronautics and Space Report of the President: Fiscal Year 2025 Activities
The fiscal year 2025 edition of the Aeronautics and Space Report provides a summary of the U.S. Government’s aerospace activities from Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2025.
68 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 68 Years of Aerospace ExplorationDive 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.
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.
Preserving NASA’s 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.
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