TAG | NASA turns 50 with a vision for space exploration |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Thursday, 31 July 2008 | |
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In honor of the 50th anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Discovery Channel has an online birthday party at “Looking Back at 50 Years of NASA.” The website states, “Here Discovery Space offers reflections in expert "My Takes," slideshows of classic images, and video to reflect on NASA's upcoming 50th anniversary of putting people into space.” Discovery Space adds, “During the next 90 days we'll be adding more, so be sure to check back often!” Featured on the website is five of NASA’s “most impressive videos,” along with slideshows of NASA’s journey to the Moon with the Apollo program, the missions of the Space Shuttle fleet, and what the future holds in store for NASA. The website asks us to "... gaze into NASA's next 50 years with this futuristic look at everything from high-tech spacesuits and moon bases to Mars sample return missions and a visit to Jupiter's icy moon Europa." Look at more information about NASA and its fiftieth anniversary celebration at Discovery’s “When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions.” Also find additional information on the 50th anniversary of NASA at its own website of “NASA 50th Anniversary.” The "Vision for Space Exploration" is the U.S. space policy that was announced on January 14, 2004 by U.S. President George W. Bush. It was developed directly in the aftermath of the NASA Space Shuttle Columbia disaster over Texas (STS-107, on February 1, 2003), and indirectly as a way to generate public support for space exploration in the United States. The "Vision" calls for the U.S. space program to: • Complete the International Space Station by 2010 • Retire the Space Shuttle by 2010 • Develop the Orion spacecraft (formerly known as the Crew Exploration Vehicle) by 2008, and conduct its first human spaceflight mission by 2014 • Develop Shuttle-Derived Launch Vehicles • Explore the Moon with robotic spacecraft missions by 2008 and crewed missions by 2020 • Explore Mars and other destinations with robotic and crewed missions Read more about NASA's Vision for Space Exploration online.
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