NASA

At Space Center Houston, we know that a critical step to accomplishing hard things is believing you can do it. We also know that positive experiences with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (often referred to as STEM) are the building blocks for meaningful engagement with STEM later in life.  Believing we can accomplish hard things is our NASA legacy and a core message to those we serve— whether you’re four years old or eighty-four, whether you come for the day or a week-long program, whether you attend school in Houston, or live on another continent and participate in one of our global science challenges.  Every year, our message reaches nearly 300,000 students and teachers—because of people like you. Your support can make a difference in the lives of students, help...

Our James Webb Space Telescope is an epic mission that will give us a window into the early universe, allowing us to see the time period during which the first stars and galaxies formed. Webb will not only change what we know, but also how we think about the night sky and our place in the cosmos. Want to learn more? Join two of our scientists as they talk about what the James Webb Telescope is, why it is being built and what it will help us learn about the universe…First, meet Dr. Amber Straughn. She grew up in a small farming town in Arkansas, where her fascination with astronomy began under beautifully dark, rural skies. After finishing a PhD in Physics, she came to NASA Goddard to study galaxies using data from our Hubble Space Telescope. In addition to research, Amber’s role with the W...

WASHINGTON — Sierra Space, the aerospace firm best known for its spaceplane designed for NASA cargo missions, is going all in on defense. The Colorado-based company on June 11 announced the formal launch of Sierra Space Defense, a division focused on national security programs. The business unit will be led by Erik Daehler, a former Lockheed Martin executive who has been building the defense portfolio behind the scenes. “We’re officially introducing the defense tech business that we’ve been building up in stealth mode for the last two and a half years, and formalizing it in our organization,” Daehler told SpaceNews. Focus on satellite buses and components Formed in 2021 as a commercial space spinout of defense contractor Sierra Nevada Corporation, Sierra Space initially...

Space Center Houston is beyond proud to congratulate Aymette “Amy” Medina Jorge, a five-year Space Center Houston SEEC ambassador on her Blue Origin flight. Medina, a longstanding educator and returning participant to the center’s annual Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC), embarked on Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-32 flight alongside her five crewmates earlier today, May 31. Born in Puerto Rico, Medina Jorge carries deep Spanish roots and has a mission to carry that forward. In 2024, she received the Cheri Brinley Outstanding Educator Award from SEEC at Space Center Houston, an honor that recognizes educators’ contributions to space exploration education. In 2023, she received the AIAA and Challenger Center Trailblazing STEM Educator award. This award recognizes e...

Not long after midnight on Dec. 7, 1972, the last crewed mission to the Moon, Apollo 17, lifted off with three astronauts: Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, and Ronald Evans.Experience the Apollo 17 launch and follow the mission in real time.ALTMeet the CrewLet’s meet the astronauts who made the final Apollo trip to the Moon, including the first scientist-astronaut.Gene Cernan: In 1972, Apollo 17 Mission Commander Eugene A. Cernan had two space flights under his belt, Gemini 9 in June 1966, and Apollo 10 in May 1969. He was a naval aviator, electrical and aeronautical engineer and fighter pilot.Ron Evans: Apollo 17 Command Module Pilot Ronald E. Evans was selected as a member of the 4th group of NASA astronauts in 1966. Like Cernan, he was an electrical and aeronautical engineer, and naval ...