NASA

As we set our sights on exploring the Moon, Mars and beyond, it’s important not to forget our own home—Earth.   In honor of our Planet Earth Celebration this Earth Month, we’re proud to partner with the Galveston Bay Foundation to shed light on what you can do to preserve and protect the resources that sustain our planet and power our local community.   Protecting Our Planet, Starting in Your Backyard   The mission at Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) is to preserve and protect Galveston Bay for generations to come.  Galveston Bay is more than a body of water. It’s a crucial ecological and economic resource that supports local wildlife, industries, and our local communities. From space, astronauts can see the intricate web of water systems like Galveston Bay that connects our...

The job of the our Technology Transfer Program is pretty straight-forward – bring NASA technology down to Earth. But, what does that actually mean? We’re glad you asked! We transfer the cool inventions NASA scientists develop for missions and license them to American businesses and entrepreneurs. And that is where the magic happens: those business-savvy licensees then create goods and products using our NASA tech. Once it hits the market, it becomes a “NASA Spinoff.” If you’re imagining that sounds like a nightmare of paperwork and bureaucracy, think again. Our new automated “ATLAS” system helps you license your tech in no time — online and without any confusing forms or jargon.So, sit back and browse this list of NASA tech ripe for the picking (well, licensing.) When you find something yo...

Volunteer Feature | Stewart F. McAdoo and the First Shuttle Launch A legacy of flight fueled by curiosity April 12 marks the anniversary of STS-1, the first flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1981. Among those behind the scenes of that historic mission was Stewart McAdoo, who served in NASA’s Mission Planning and Analysis Division (MPAD). Today, he continues to share his knowledge and passion as a volunteer at Space Center Houston. We asked McAdoo questions about his role in STS-1 and how he continues to champion curiosity through his work with guests. On April 12, 1981, the day of the STS-1 launch, you stood at the threshold of a new chapter in human spaceflight. As someone who helped bring space and people closer together that day, what do you remember most vividly ...