NASA and The MoonNASA and The Moon

What Does NASA Do?What Does NASA Do?   NASA's mission is to pioneer the future in space NASA's mission is to pioneer the future in space

exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.research.

To do that, thousands of people have been working To do that, thousands of people have been working around the world -- and off of it -- for almost 50 years, around the world -- and off of it -- for almost 50 years, trying to answer some basic questions. What's out there trying to answer some basic questions. What's out there in space? How do we get there? What will we find? What in space? How do we get there? What will we find? What can we learn there, or learn just by trying to get there, can we learn there, or learn just by trying to get there, that will make life better here on Earth?that will make life better here on Earth?

A Little HistoryA Little History

President Dwight D. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the Eisenhower established the National Aeronautics and National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1958, Space Administration in 1958, partially in response to the partially in response to the Soviet Union's launch of the Soviet Union's launch of the first artificial satellite the first artificial satellite the previous year. NASA grew out previous year. NASA grew out of the National Advisory of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics Committee on Aeronautics (NACA), which had been (NACA), which had been researching flight technology researching flight technology for more than 40 years.for more than 40 years.

President John F. Kennedy focused President John F. Kennedy focused NASA and the nation on sending NASA and the nation on sending astronauts to the moon by the end of astronauts to the moon by the end of the 1960s. Through the Mercury and the 1960s. Through the Mercury and Gemini projects, NASA developed the Gemini projects, NASA developed the technology and skills it needed for the technology and skills it needed for the journey. On July 20, 1969, Neil journey. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first of 12 men to walk on the the first of 12 men to walk on the moon, meeting Kennedy's challenge.moon, meeting Kennedy's challenge.Meanwhile, NASA was continuing the Meanwhile, NASA was continuing the aeronautics research pioneered by aeronautics research pioneered by NACA. It also conducted purely NACA. It also conducted purely scientific research and worked on scientific research and worked on developing applications for space developing applications for space technology, combining both pursuits in technology, combining both pursuits in developing the first weather and developing the first weather and communications satellites.communications satellites.

After Apollo, NASA focused on After Apollo, NASA focused on creating a reusable ship to creating a reusable ship to provide regular access to provide regular access to space: the space shuttle. space: the space shuttle.

First launched in 1981, the First launched in 1981, the space shuttle has had 120 space shuttle has had 120 successful flights. In 2000, the successful flights. In 2000, the United States and Russia United States and Russia established permanent human established permanent human presence in space aboard the presence in space aboard the International Space Station, a International Space Station, a multinational project multinational project representing the work of 16 representing the work of 16 nations.nations.

NASA also has continued its scientific NASA also has continued its scientific research. In 1997, Mars Pathfinder research. In 1997, Mars Pathfinder became the first in a fleet of spacecraft became the first in a fleet of spacecraft that will explore Mars in the next that will explore Mars in the next decade, as we try to determine if life decade, as we try to determine if life ever existed there. The Terra and ever existed there. The Terra and Aqua satellites are flagships of a Aqua satellites are flagships of a different fleet, this one in Earth orbit, different fleet, this one in Earth orbit, designed to help us understand how designed to help us understand how our home world is changing. NASA's our home world is changing. NASA's aeronautics teams are focused on aeronautics teams are focused on improved aircraft travel that is safer improved aircraft travel that is safer and cleaner.and cleaner.

Throughout its history, NASA has Throughout its history, NASA has conducted or funded research that has conducted or funded research that has led to numerous improvements to life led to numerous improvements to life here on Earth.here on Earth.

NASA Headquarters, in NASA Headquarters, in Washington, provides Washington, provides overall guidance and overall guidance and direction to the agency, direction to the agency, under the leadership of under the leadership of Administrator Michael Administrator Michael Griffin. Ten field centers Griffin. Ten field centers and a variety of and a variety of installations conduct the installations conduct the day-to-day work, in day-to-day work, in laboratories, on air fields, laboratories, on air fields, in wind tunnels and in in wind tunnels and in control rooms. control rooms.

NASA TodayNASA Today

NASA conducts its work in four principle organizations, called mission directorates:NASA conducts its work in four principle organizations, called mission directorates:

AeronauticsAeronautics: pioneers and proves new flight technologies that improve our ability to explore and which have : pioneers and proves new flight technologies that improve our ability to explore and which have practical applications on Earth.practical applications on Earth.

Exploration SystemsExploration Systems: creates new capabilities and spacecraft for affordable, sustainable human and robotic : creates new capabilities and spacecraft for affordable, sustainable human and robotic exploration.exploration.

ScienceScience: explores the Earth, moon, Mars and beyond; charts the best route of discovery; and reaps the benefits : explores the Earth, moon, Mars and beyond; charts the best route of discovery; and reaps the benefits of Earth and space exploration for society.of Earth and space exploration for society.

Space OperationsSpace Operations: provides critical enabling technologies for much of the rest of NASA through the space shuttle, : provides critical enabling technologies for much of the rest of NASA through the space shuttle, the International Space Station and flight support.the International Space Station and flight support.

In the early 21st century, NASA's reach spans the universe. Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars Exploration Rovers, In the early 21st century, NASA's reach spans the universe. Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars Exploration Rovers, are still studying Mars after more than three years. Cassini is in orbit around Saturn. The Hubble Space are still studying Mars after more than three years. Cassini is in orbit around Saturn. The Hubble Space Telescope continues to explore the deepest reaches of the cosmos.Telescope continues to explore the deepest reaches of the cosmos.

Closer to home, the latest crew of the International Space Station is extending the permanent human presence in Closer to home, the latest crew of the International Space Station is extending the permanent human presence in space. Earth Science satellites are sending back unprecedented data on Earth's oceans, climate and other space. Earth Science satellites are sending back unprecedented data on Earth's oceans, climate and other features. NASA's aeronautics team is working with other government organizations, universities, and industry to features. NASA's aeronautics team is working with other government organizations, universities, and industry to fundamentally improve the air transportation experience and retain our nation's leadership in global aviation.fundamentally improve the air transportation experience and retain our nation's leadership in global aviation.

Phases of the MoonPhases of the Moon

Lunar phaseLunar phase (or Moon (or Moon phase) refers to the phase) refers to the appearance of the appearance of the illuminated portion of the illuminated portion of the Moon as seen by an Moon as seen by an observer, usually on observer, usually on Earth. Earth.

The lunar phases vary The lunar phases vary cyclically as the Moon cyclically as the Moon orbits the Earth, orbits the Earth, according to the changing according to the changing relative positions of the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Earth, Moon, and Sun.

One half of the lunar surface is always illuminated by the One half of the lunar surface is always illuminated by the Sun (except during lunar eclipses), and is hence bright, but Sun (except during lunar eclipses), and is hence bright, but the portion of the illuminated hemisphere that is visible to an the portion of the illuminated hemisphere that is visible to an observer can vary from 100% (full moon) to 0% (new moon). observer can vary from 100% (full moon) to 0% (new moon). The boundary between the illuminated and un-illuminated The boundary between the illuminated and un-illuminated hemispheres is called the terminator. hemispheres is called the terminator.

Waxing is a word meaning "growing." A waxing Waxing is a word meaning "growing." A waxing moon occurs between a new moon and a full moon occurs between a new moon and a full moon. The amount of the lit surface we can see moon. The amount of the lit surface we can see is growing, heading to the west side of the is growing, heading to the west side of the Moon.Moon.

Waning is a word meaning "shrinking." A waning Waning is a word meaning "shrinking." A waning moon occurs between a full moon and a new moon occurs between a full moon and a new moon. The amount of the lit surface we can see moon. The amount of the lit surface we can see is shrinking, heading to the east side of the is shrinking, heading to the east side of the Moon.Moon.

Credits and Websites used:Credits and Websites used:

http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/whathttp://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/what_does_nasa_do.html_does_nasa_do.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_phaseshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_phaseshttp://library.thinkquest.org/J0112188/moohttp://library.thinkquest.org/J0112188/moo

n_phases.htmn_phases.htm