NASA

NASA stands for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is the United States government agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research.

Because if it took off horizontally, it would continue to circle the earth, hitting all those people in the boats that are watching the take-off, then continue until it came to a land mass and possibly strike buildings, vehicles, people...until it exploded into a fireball of great magnitude. So, to avoid this, NASA decided to have the shuttles take off vertically.

< It takes off vertically to reach less dense air ( less drag and aerodynamic heating ), and then begins a pitch maneuver to increase its tangential ( to the Earth) velocity; which eventually leads to a continuous orbit about the Earth. This procedure reduces the necessary on board mass of propellant on the spacecraft. The shuttle is essentially in free fall around the Earth ( imagine a cannon being fired at such a speed that it as it falls, the curvature of the Earth decreases in a proportional manner).>

As of 2021, NASA has completed over 200 manned and unmanned space missions, including robotic missions to planets, satellites, and the International Space Station. These missions have helped advance our understanding of space exploration and the universe.

No, Mark Shuttleworth has not been to the moon. He is a South African entrepreneur who is known for being the second self-funded space tourist, traveling to the International Space Station in 2002 aboard a Russian spacecraft.

Kennedy Space Center is famous for being the launch site for many of NASA's human spaceflight missions, including the Apollo moon landings, Space Shuttle program, and current missions to the International Space Station. It is also a center for space exploration research, spacecraft assembly, and technology development.

They didn't send humans up into space first, as they needed to find out the effects it had on the body, so they sent a dog, and a chimp into space, to conduct research, and make sure it was possible, or feasible.

As a general rule, it's much cheaper to send robots into space than than people. So, the question should really be, "why would you ever send people". Of course there are some good reasons for that too; but since any scientific data (for example) that we want to obtain can usually be obtained cheaper with automated missions, that's what is usually done.

None - the Shuttles are orbital spacecraft only, and are not designed nor have the fuel necessary to complete a round-trip journey to the Moon.

To explain, the Saturn V rocket that launched the Apollo missions to the Moon was an extremely powerful booster, designed to propel a spacecraft past the gravitational influence of the Earth towards the Moon. By comparison, the Shuttle's main engines, external tank and SRB's are only designed to lift it into Earth orbit. The Shuttle is a much heavier craft than the Apollo Command and Lunar Modules ever were, and as such would require a lot more power to send it to the Moon. It's not designed for that.

Some important events in NASA's history include the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, the Space Shuttle program that launched in 1981, the Mars rover missions starting in the early 2000s, and the ongoing exploration of the International Space Station.

Project Gemini, the program between the Mercury and Apollo missions, was conceived as as necessary stepping stone from initial rocket and orbital successes to further study weightlessness and effects on the Astronauts. It was also to test docking designs for the upcoming Apollo Command / Lunar Module docking operation prior to going to the Moon, and was also intended to practice rendezvousing and docking with other orbital platforms.

The primary reason, and the one that most people don't realize, is that Kennedy Space Center isn't the main center in the area - Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAS) (Patrick Air Force Base) is. KSC is just the one most people know about.

CCAS was opened in 1950, and is used as a missile test range and launch facility for satellites. Its location is optimal as well - being closer to the Earth's equator, rockets get a boost from the Earth's rotation. The Atlantic ocean is used primarily as the main missile/rocket range area, so that if there is an accident or intentional destruction, debris will fall into remote areas. Prior to each launch, the launch trajectory path is cleared and vessels/aircraft are warned to clear the area. Most vessels/aircraft know the launch paths used, and the schedules, and steer clear. Those that fail to heed the warning and breach the KSC/CCAS security zone are in for a very bad day.

The launch facility sites were chosen primarily for the same reason that CCAS was. Before NASA was formed, the Space Program was run by the military, and in post WWII America, a military base provided the best security to conduct rocket tests. Not to mention the land at the time was dirt cheap and sparsely populated. As they say in Real Estate - Location, Location, Location. The area where they're located is perfect for their operations in the past as well as today.

Many people don't realize just how loud a rocket or Shuttle launch is either, and is another reason launch facilities for all rockets are usually in remote areas. People complained about the Concorde flights causing noise when they flew into Kennedy Airport and Dulles, and they weren't even close to the noise from a launch. You can literally feel the shock wave from a launch at the viewing areas a couple of miles away, and if it weren't for the water noise dampening system on the launch pads for the larger launch vehicles, the noise and vibration would shatter windows in Cocoa Beach and Titusville, just a few miles away, not to mention those on the station itself.

Weather, though at times a pain, is only a factor for Manned Flight operations, and isn't as big a deal for unmanned rocket launches carrying satellites, which comprise most of the base's activity.

NASA's new rocket is named Space Launch System (SLS). It is designed to take humans beyond low Earth orbit, including missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Multi-agent systems are used for modeling and studying complex interactions and decision-making processes among autonomous agents in a decentralized manner. They are commonly used in artificial intelligence, robotics, logistics, economics, and social sciences to address problems that involve coordination, cooperation, negotiation, and competition among multiple agents.

Though there were several factors, the areas chosen were primarily weather related. Pacific weather is typically a lot calmer than the Atlantic in the areas used for recovery, and most of the Apollo manned-mission dates fell within the Atlantic Hurricane season (June 1 - November 30) or wintertime, making it a risky proposition at best for an Atlantic recovery.

The Apollo capsules, though they could float, needed to have a flotation collar attached by Navy divers prior to Astronaut egress to ensure it wouldn't sink once the hatch was opened. This hard lesson was learned after the hatch on Gus Grissom's Liberty Bell 7 during the Mercury missions blew open prematurely, took on water, and had to be jettisoned by its rescue helo.

For the Apollo missions, rough weather would've made it much more hazardous to recover all 3 of the Astronauts, as well as the cargo (Moon samples) and valuable information in the capsule. Areas were chosen also only after the weather was deemed to be suitable for splashdown.

Most areas in the Atlantic experience 3-5' waves regularly, usually higher. Though the Caribbean is calmer, it's also a lot shallower, and both aircraft and helicopter carriers require deep water to operate.

Part of the decision to build Mission Control in Houston was practical, the other political. Then Vice President Lyndon Johnson, who was a Texas native and former Senator of that state. Johnson knew that the new NASA programs would mean millions for his state and constituents.

The practical reason is differences in assignment for each center - Kennedy Space Center Launch Control directs the mission clock and everything associated with the mission up until the point of spacecraft launch (end of countdown). When the clock moves into a positive count, Mission Control at JSC Houston takes over the mission, and thus assumes responsibility for the duration of the mission. If it's a Shuttle, once it lands, responsibility shifts back to KSC.

It's important to understand that Mission Control is the directing center for Manned Flight training (Astronauts) and control of manned missions. The launch of the spacecraft, which is handled at Cape Canaveral Air Station or Kennedy Space Center, depending on the spacecraft being launched and the vehicle involved, and which side of the center the launch takes place at.

In other words, Houston is responsible for Manned Flight operations while manned craft are in orbit (Shuttle, ISS, etc.). Kennedy Space Center is responsible for getting the craft ready for launch and the launch itself, as well as the recovery after mission termination.

Location is also a factor - Florida typically has more inclement weather problems than Houston does (hurricanes don't usually threaten Houston), and though KSC is built to ride out a hurricane, the last thing you want is to have your key control center go down in the middle of a Manned Flight mission. Granted, in the early days of the program where space shots weren't that often it wasn't as much of a concern. But NASA always knew we'd have a long-term manned presence in space, and that started with Skylab in the 70's. As long as there are humans in space, there needs to be constant monitoring for safety and information. With the ISS permanently manned, Mission Control has taken on an even greater focus.

The Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral are located in the state of Florida.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is headquartered in Paris, France. It also operates several facilities across Europe, including the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Germany, the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands, and the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Germany.

There have been 5 total HST Servicing Missions, though SM1 is the only one considered a "Repair" mission as well. I was privileged to work on all but the final one.

NASA preferred to use either Discovery or Endeavour for repairs since they have larger bays and can hold more equipment. The missions were:

First Servicing/Repair Mission - SM-1/1993: STS-61 - Biggest repair was COSTAR, the corrective optics that compensated for the mirror flaw. I worked on the electronics for it.

Second Servicing Mission - SM-2/1997 - STS-82 - Added STIS, NICMOS camera, Solid State Recorder (where today's SSD technology came from), Fine Guidance Sensor, and electronic upgrades. I worked on a LOT of stuff for that mission, including new tools used to service it.

Third Servicing Mission - SM-3A/1999 - STS-103 - Originally designed to be just one mission, SM3 was split into two separate missions after it was determined within a few months of mission launch that 3 of HST's 4 gyros had failed. HST's gyros are essential for telescope pointing and maintaining control during observations; without them, HST is essentially space junk.

A quick gyro replacement mission was called up, and most of the equipment slated for installation on the original mission had to wait until 3B.

A bit of trivia on the 3rd mission; originally, mission patches and decals were made showing just the original SM3 mission and insignia. It was later changed to 2 separate missions with different designations, crew, and insignia, so if you ever run across the original, it's a collector's item. I still have several SM3 decals from before the mission change.

Fourth Servicing Mission - SM-3B/2002 - STS-109 - Installed the NICMOS Cooling System and associated hardware, Advanced Camera for Surveys, and other items. The NCS program took a lot of my time, and was the last major HST program I worked on. You can see pics of it on my bio page.

Fifth Servicing Mission - SM-4/2009 - STS-125 - Installed Cosmic Origins Spectograph and Wide-Field Camera 3, the replacement for the WFPC (Wide Field Planetary Camera) installed on SM-2. Repairs to STIS and the ACS were also performed.

For more info, see the NASA link below.

You can't, I'm afraid. Only the International Astronomical Union has the authority to name stars, officially speaking. This is important to know because there are companies out there which supposedly offer you the ability to buy a star and name it after someone. While this is legal, it's not much more than a scam. Any name they put on a star is only valid to their own record keeping and isn't official. You might as well go outside on a clear night, pick out your favorite star and give it a name right there yourself. That is just as valid as "buying" a star name from one of these companies.

The plaque left on the moon by Apollo 11 astronauts in July 1969 contained a message that read: "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind." The plaque also displayed images of Earth and the signatures of President Richard Nixon and the Apollo 11 astronauts.

NASA's presence in Florida, specifically at the Kennedy Space Center, contributes to the state's economy by creating jobs, attracting tourists interested in space exploration, and bringing in revenue from research and development activities. Additionally, NASA's partnerships with local businesses and universities stimulate innovation and economic growth in the region.

Nothing important or worthwhile. It was a PR gimmick. They docked the two spacecraft, shook hands, took pictures, played catch. That Saturn V was supposed to be one of the cancelled moon landings, Apollo's 18-20.

NASA is the space agency of the United States of America. It stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

NASA crashed an object into the moon as part of the LCROSS mission to search for water ice below the lunar surface. By impacting a spacecraft into a permanently shadowed crater, scientists were able to analyze the resulting debris plume to confirm the existence of water molecules on the moon. This discovery has implications for future lunar exploration and potential utilization of lunar resources.

There are 10 major NASA centers located across the United States. These centers are responsible for various aspects of NASA's missions, such as space exploration, research, and technology development.