NASA History News & Notes

Chandra X-Ray Observatory’s 25th Anniversary

Topics covered include Marshall Space Flight Center’s evolution into a center of excellence in high-energy astronomy, Martin Weisskopf’s lessons learned from the Chandra mission, how a proposal for an x-ray observatory has evolved, and Chandra’s rocky ride to space on space shuttle Columbia in 1999.

NASA’s Roots in the Mid-Twentieth Century

What aspects of NASA’s predecessors are still with us today? The articles in this edition of News and Notes focus on the period from World War II to the establishment of NASA in 1958, looking at NASA’s underpinnings in the NACA, and the lasting impacts of the research, the people, and events of that era.

NASA’s History of International Collaboration

The Winter 2023 issue of NASA History News and Notes looks at the history of NASA’s international partnerships to further science and exploration in space and here on Earth. The expectation of international collaboration is written into NASA’s founding charter, the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. Articles discuss projects including ESA’s Spacelab 1, the demonstration of photovoltaic systems in partnership with developing nations, the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment in India, and the X-31 aircraft developed in conjunction with Germany.

Solar System Exploration

The Fall 2023 edition of News and Notes looks at solar system exploration history, particularly NASA’s Discovery Program which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Topics include changes to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s approach to planning planetary science missions, the Clementine mission, an oral history with Dr. James Garvin, artist Les Bossinas’s representations of future NASA missions, and a comparative look at international planetary science. Also included in this issue are highlights from NASA’s archival holdings for the Mars Laser Altimeter and MESSENGER mission, spacecraft testing, the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions, and more.