The Guide

The Guide To NASA

The Final Frontier

In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy made a proclamation that forever changed Americans’ lives: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth.” And so the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), founded in 1958, suddenly found itself with bold, exciting marching orders. Thus began America’s 50-years-and-counting romance with space.

“Failure is not an option.” By all accounts, NASA Mission Controller Gene Kranz did not say those words during the troubled Apollo 13 moon shot that inspired the 1995 film of the same name, though actor Ed Harris, playing Kranz in the film, did. But that succinct, sharp sentence just may sum up NASA’s overriding philosophy. From putting humans on the moon to sending exploratory vehicles to Mars and beyond, NASA embodies something thoroughly beautiful about humanity, the never-ending quest to embrace the unknown.

3.8

The number of pounds of food each space shuttle astronaut is allotted per day (including packaging)

NASA and You

NASA wants fans to stop by for a close-up look at what it’s up to, and what it’s done in the past. Four principal NASA facilities offer attractions that rival those of any theme park. But never forget: these are places where real history has been made and will be made again.

> Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston: NASA’s Houston facility blends space-age technology with a warm welcome for visitors, who can enjoy audio and video recordings of missions and take a behind-the-scenes tour. 281.244.2100

> U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville Ala.: Space camps for kids are the big draw here, but the compelling programs for adults won a recent rave in Forbes magazine. The Davidson Center for Space Exploration, an addition that opened in January, displays a Saturn V rocket designed under the direction of space legend Wernher von Braun. 800.63.SPACE

> Kennedy Space Center, Fla.: Relive the launch of America’s first satellite in the regularly scheduled public tours of the Kennedy Space Center on Florida’s Merritt Island (near Orlando International Airport). The pageantry of early space exploration is captured here, as are key moments in more recent history. 321.867.5000

> Glenn Research Center, Cleveland: Named for legendary astronaut and former U.S. senator John Glenn, this facility is known for innovation in aircraft propulsion systems, including greener, safer engines. A 6,000-square-foot visitor center filled with interactive exhibits makes vivid what the center is all about. 216.433.2000

Sound Bytes

NASA has provided the world with some of the most captivating quotes ever recorded:

> “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11 moon landing, 1969

> “The thing I’ll remember most about the flight is that it was fun. In fact, I’m sure it was the most fun that I’ll ever have in my life.” Sally K. Ride, first woman to orbit Earth aboard the space shuttle, 1983