NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Researched by Michelle U. 2003-04	RESEARCH REPORT  MY INTERVIEW  BIBLIOGRAPHY  ABOUT THE AUTHOR  DEDICATION  WHY I CHOSE THIS TOPIC  SELF-EVALUATION  THANK YOU

Neil Aladdin Armstrong was the first man on the moon.  He joined NASA in 1962.He commanded an “Apollo” program. Neil was born in Ohio.  He was a student pilot at the age 16.  Mr. Armstrong earned his B.S. degree in 1955.  He went to the moon in 1969.  He made a famous quote as he took his first step on the moon: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” It was done July 20, 1969.    He resigned from NASA in 1971.

Some famous people in the history of NASA are Alan Shepard, the first America’s first astronaut and NASA’s first astronaut.  John W. Young placed a United States flag on the moon’s surface.  Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon and commander of the first “Apollo” program.  Edward White was the first man to space walk. 

There are some important historical events that took place in NASA.  One is when President Eisenhower announced a plan to launch America’s first satellite.  The whole world was invited to watch. Another one is when Voyager I was launched.  It is still in space.  It will run out of fuel in 2020. One of the teams of scientists working on this project says Voyager I may have crossed termination shock (the boundary between our solar system and deep space.) The other team of scientists disagrees and says data shows Voyager I is only getting closer to the edge. 

Another important event was when the Challenger blew up. It blew up one minute after liftoff.  It had seven people who all died including a schoolteacher, Christa McAuliffe.  Dick Scobee was the commander of the Challenger. Some others were, Mike Smith as the pilot, Ron McNaire, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnick, all mission specialists, and Gregory Joros, the payload specialist. Christa was the first private citizen to ride in a rocket in the USA.  They have never tried to send another one since.  As the Challenger blew up school kids’ happy grins turned into sad tears.  There are a lot of things made to remember the Challenger crew.  A class made an apple pencil holder with all the crew’s names.  It is a long remembered event. 

Mr. Edward White became first man to space walk in 1965.  It was June 3, 1965 when this became a moment in history. 

NASA has a huge expensive telescope called Hubble Telescope.  Its diameter is 14 feet.  It weighs 24,000 pounds.  The length is 43.5 feet.  The orbit is 380 miles\28.5 degrees from the equator. 

Neil Armstrong commanded the first Apollo program. But there was also someone else on the moon that same day.  An astronaut stepped on the moon 20-30 seconds after Neil Armstrong. 

Some interesting things about NASA are:  Over 400 people have been in space since 1961.  NASA has a plaque with all their astronauts’ names on it.  Almost all astronauts who went up in space have come back alive.  There are over 9 NASA ? owned space centers in the United States, all with different names.  While in space, astronauts have to wear diapers while in space because if any part of their space suit gets broken or comes open, they die immediately. 

“Voyager I” is the satellite that was launched when President Dwight Eisenhower announced for America’s first satellite to be launched. It was launched in September.  It is still in space today.  One of the teams of scientists working on this project say Voyager One may have crossed termination shock (boundary between our solar system and deep space.)  The other team of scientists disagrees and says data only shows Voyager One getting closer to the edge.  “Voyager I” will run out of fuel in 2020. 

Some space travel terms are: Thrust, a push given to a rocket by its engine. Astronaut, a U.S. space pilot. Spacecraft, an artificially created object that travels through space.  Heatshield, is a covering on spacecraft to protect the craft and the astronaut from VERY high temperatures.
 

Who Interviewed and What I Learned We called some people and they told us to call other people.  It kept happening until we reached a man named Art Fluter. He was not an astronaut but he did work for NASA. I was going to interview Mr. Fluter, but he wasn’t there when I called and never replied. Then we called around again and they said a lady might call us back.  She never did.  So I ended up not getting an interview.

Bibliography Cromie, William J. “Johnson Space Center.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 1991. Kranze, Eugene F. “Space Travel” Kennedy, Gregory P. “Apollo to the Moon” Chelsea House Publishers.1992. pp. 7-9.  “NASA.”  Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2001. Oberg, James. “Space Exploration.” The World book Encyclopedia.1999. Roland, Alex. “National Aeronautics and Space Administration.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 1991. “Space: The Path to the Future.” Disney Educational Productions.  “Women in Science” AIMS Media. 1994.

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