Hey there! I’m Mike, and welcome to this exciting exploration of NASA. Did you know that many Americans once thought NASA received 20% of the federal budget? In reality, NASA usually gets between 0.5% and 1%, with the highest being 4.41% back in 1966. Let’s dive into some more amazing facts about NASA!
NASA, which stands for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was founded in 1958 by President Dwight Eisenhower. It’s an acronym because we say “NASA” instead of spelling it out. Today, around 18,000 people work for NASA, along with 40,000 contractors. In the 1960s, during its peak, about 411,000 people were involved with NASA’s projects.
In 1966, NASA launched six missions to the moon, from Apollo 11 to Apollo 17. Only 12 people have walked on the moon, all men from these missions. To become a NASA astronaut, you need three years of related experience or at least 1,000 flying hours as a jet pilot. Space exploration was heavily funded during the Cold War with the Soviet Union, as it was seen as crucial for national prestige.
NASA worked with the US Atomic Energy Commission to develop nuclear rockets, which were ready by 1968. They even planned a mission to Mars, but funding cuts stopped it. NASA also conducts environmental research, like using a robotic plane called the Altis 2 to study wildfires.
Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, was prouder of landing the lunar module than walking on the moon. Buzz Aldrin held a religious ceremony on the moon, but NASA asked him not to quote the Bible. During Apollo 11, a young NASA employee named Jack Garman saved the mission by remembering a crucial computer code during a glitch.
Did you know astronaut ice cream was only taken on one mission and wasn’t popular? By 1972, NASA figured out how to send real ice cream to space. NASA also helped start The Learning Channel (TLC) in 1972 and invented things like baby formula and scratch-resistant lenses. They even designed a swimsuit so effective it was banned from the Olympics!
NASA studies our habits, like holiday light usage, and achieved the fastest launch with New Horizons in 2006, reaching 36,000 miles per hour. In 2015, we got our first photos of Pluto from New Horizons, which could have happened in 1986 if not for budget cuts. NASA recycles materials, like using spare parts to build the Endeavour Space Shuttle, named by schoolchildren.
The Apollo 15 crew got in trouble for bringing stamp covers to the moon to sell later. Katherine Johnson was a brilliant mathematician at NASA, and John Glenn became the oldest person in space at 77. NASA also ensures no bad smells reach space, as they can’t be removed once there. In 2009, NASA admitted they had erased the original moon landing recordings.
The Vehicle Assembly Building in Florida, where spacecraft are put together, is the largest one-story building in the world. In 1979, NASA was fined by an Australian town for Skylab debris, and in 1997, they faced a lawsuit from people claiming ownership of Mars. NASA is developing a new Mars rover, set to launch in 2020, costing about $1.9 billion. One experiment aims to turn Mars’ carbon dioxide into oxygen.
Finally, during the Apollo 10 mission, Commander Thomas Stafford humorously asked for a napkin due to an unexpected situation. Thanks for joining this journey through NASA’s history and achievements! Feel free to share your favorite planet in the comments—Pluto counts too!
Research and create a timeline of NASA’s major milestones and missions. Include the founding of NASA, the Apollo moon missions, and recent Mars rover developments. Use images and brief descriptions to make your timeline visually engaging.
Design your own mission patch for a hypothetical NASA mission. Consider the mission’s goals, the spacecraft involved, and any unique features. Present your patch to the class and explain its symbolism and significance.
In groups, role-play a press conference where you announce a new NASA mission. Assign roles such as astronauts, scientists, and journalists. Prepare questions and answers about the mission’s objectives, challenges, and expected outcomes.
Research and present on one of NASA’s technological innovations, such as the development of scratch-resistant lenses or space ice cream. Discuss how these innovations have impacted everyday life on Earth.
Use a computer simulation or a hands-on activity to simulate a moon landing. Focus on the challenges faced by astronauts during the Apollo missions. Reflect on the skills and teamwork required to successfully land on the moon.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m Mike. Welcome to the salon! This is a Mental Floss video, and did you know that a 1997 poll found that, on average, Americans believe that 20% of the federal budget goes to NASA? In reality, it generally receives between 0.5% and 1% of the budget, with the highest allocation being 4.41% in 1966. That’s just one of many facts about NASA that I’m going to share with you today.
In 1958, President Dwight Eisenhower founded NASA, which stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It’s an acronym, not an initialism, because we pronounce it “NASA” and not “N-A-S-A.” Today, around 18,000 people work for the organization, along with an additional 40,000 contractors. Peak employment was in the 1960s, with about 411,000 people working there, either in-house or contracted.
In 1966, NASA sent six missions to the moon, Apollo 11 through 17, although only 12 people have walked on the moon, all of whom were men and part of Apollo missions. To become an astronaut with NASA, you need either three years of related experience or at least 1,000 flying hours in command of a jet aircraft. Space exploration was better funded during the arms race with the Soviet Union. President Lyndon B. Johnson once defended spending on NASA by saying it was important for the nation’s status.
NASA and the US Atomic Energy Commission teamed up to develop nuclear rockets, which were built and tested by 1968. There were even plans to send one to Mars, but funding cuts made that unfeasible. NASA also engages in environmental research; for instance, they developed a robotic plane called the Altis 2 to gather data on wildfires.
Neil Armstrong once said he was prouder of landing the lunar module than of walking on the moon, emphasizing that pilots take pride in a good landing. Buzz Aldrin held a religious ceremony on the moon, bringing a communion kit with him. Interestingly, NASA requested that he not quote the Bible during the ceremony.
Jack Garman, a 24-year-old NASA employee during the Apollo 11 mission, memorized every computer alarm code and its solutions. When a computer error occurred during the landing, he saved the mission by recalling the correct code.
You may have heard of astronaut ice cream, but it was only taken on one mission and was not well-liked by the astronauts. By 1972, NASA had figured out how to transport real ice cream to space.
NASA also helped found The Learning Channel (TLC) in 1972, which was developed as an educational channel. NASA contributed to the invention of several notable items, including baby formula and scratch-resistant lenses for glasses. They even created a swimsuit that was so effective it was banned from future Olympic competitions.
NASA has also gathered data about our habits, such as holiday light usage, and the fastest launch ever recorded was the New Horizons launch in 2006, which reached 36,000 miles per hour.
In 2015, we received our first photos of Pluto from New Horizons, which could have happened in 1986 if funding hadn’t been cut. NASA also recycles materials; for example, the Endeavour Space Shuttle was made from spare parts and named by schoolchildren.
The Apollo 15 crew faced consequences for bringing stamp covers to the moon to sell upon their return. Katherine Johnson was a renowned mathematician at NASA, and John Glenn became the oldest person in space at 77 years old.
NASA has a unique role in ensuring that no unpleasant smells make it into space, as there’s no way to eliminate them once there. In 2009, NASA admitted that the original recordings of the moon landing had been erased.
The Vehicle Assembly Building in Florida, where spacecraft are assembled, is the largest one-story building in the world. In 1979, NASA was fined by a town in Australia for debris from Skylab, and in 1997, they faced a lawsuit from individuals claiming ownership of Mars.
Currently, NASA is developing a new Mars rover expected to launch in 2020, which will cost an estimated $1.9 billion. One of its experiments aims to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen on Mars.
Finally, during the Apollo 10 mission, Commander Thomas Stafford humorously requested a napkin due to an unexpected situation.
Thanks for watching Mental Floss! If you enjoyed this video, check out my other projects linked in the description. Leave your favorite planet in the comments—Pluto is allowed!
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
NASA – The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a United States government agency responsible for the nation’s civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. – NASA has launched many missions to explore the solar system and beyond.
Moon – A natural satellite that orbits a planet; Earth’s only natural satellite is called the Moon. – Scientists study the Moon to learn more about its surface and history.
Astronauts – People who are trained to travel and work in space. – The astronauts conducted experiments on the International Space Station to understand the effects of microgravity.
Space – The vast, seemingly infinite expanse that exists beyond Earth’s atmosphere, where stars, planets, and other celestial bodies are located. – Telescopes allow us to observe distant galaxies in space.
Missions – Planned operations or journeys, often involving travel to space, with specific goals or objectives. – The Mars rover missions have provided valuable data about the planet’s surface and climate.
Mars – The fourth planet from the Sun, known for its reddish appearance and often called the “Red Planet.” – Scientists are studying Mars to determine if it once had conditions suitable for life.
Exploration – The act of traveling through or investigating an unfamiliar area, often to learn more about it. – Space exploration has expanded our understanding of the universe and our place in it.
Discoveries – New findings or knowledge gained through exploration or research. – The Hubble Space Telescope has made many important discoveries about distant galaxies.
Rockets – Vehicles or devices propelled by the expulsion of gases, used to launch spacecraft into space. – Rockets must overcome Earth’s gravity to send satellites into orbit.
Budget – An estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time, often used to plan for projects like space missions. – NASA’s budget determines how many missions it can plan and execute each year.
