3/4 front view VZ-11 ground test - variable height struts. Engines of the VZ-11 are a pair of General Electric J85-5 turbojets, mounted in high in the centre fuselage, well away from fan disturbance. Designed in the Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel.

In this photograph, the lunar and planetary exploration satellite, Pioneer III, is being prepared for installation to Juno II (AM-11) launch vehicle. AM-11 was launched on December 5, 1959, but the mission was unsuccessful.

NASA research pilot Gordon Fullerton checked out how the PCA software worked in the multi-engine simulator at NASA Ames before fight-testing PCA in an MD-11.

This frame is from a visualization of the rapid advance of the Esperanza Fire over the San Jacinto Mountains Riverside County, CA between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM on October 26, 2006.

Dr E. J.Smith, John Wolf (Ames) and Charles Hall (Ames) confer during press conference for Pioneer 11 Jupiter encounter

Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engine (VAATE) tested in the Ames 11ft wind tunnel Test-11-0191 with Amela Zanacic, of Ames/Jacobs Technology

Dr E. J.Smith, John Wolf (Ames) and Charles Hall (Ames) confer during press conference for Pioneer 11 Jupiter encounter

Taking a break from his duties at Ames Research Center Jacob Cohen, Ames Chief Scientist grabs his own view of the 2017 Solar Eclipse with his cellphone at 09:16:11 on August 21, 2017.

The media invited to view the 3% Space Shuttle model mounted in the Ames 11ft .w.t. with Scott Budman, NBC Channel 11 News and Jim Strong, Ames Aeronautics

Crew Exploration Vehicle CEV-26AA with service module in 11_foot NASA Ames Transonic Wind Tunnel with Jesse Carpenter, Planners Inc., Ames Video Crew Test-11-0197

Dr William 'Bill' Borucki, NASA Ames Scientist on the Kepler Mission and John W. 'Jack' Boyd, NASA Ames Historian at the Ames Arc Jet Complex, Aerodynamic Heating Facility talking with a Mercury News photographer about the Kepler Mission and the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission.

Dr William 'Bill' Borucki, NASA Ames Scientist on the Kepler Mission and John W. 'Jack' Boyd, NASA Ames Historian at the Ames Arc Jet Complex, Aerodynamic Heating Facility talking with a Mercury News photographer about the Kepler Mission and the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission.

The crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-100 gathered in front of the shuttle Endeavour following landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, 9:11 am, May 1, 2001. From left to right: John L. Phillips, mission specialist (U.S.); Umberto Guidoni, mission specialist (European Space Agency); Chris A. Hadfield, mission specialist (Canadian Space Agency); Jeffrey S. Ashby, pilot (U.S.); Kent V. Rominger, commander (U.S.); Yuri V. Lonchakov, mission specialist (Russia); Scott E. Prazynski, mission specialist (U.S.).

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel

Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engine (VAATE) tested in the Ames 11ft wind tunnel Test-11-0191

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel

Dr. James Pollack (Ames) and Dr Tom Gehrels during press conference for Pioneer 11 Jupiter encounter

Mc Donnell Douglas MD-11 Model in Ames 12ft. W.T. (1st Non-NASA customer of the refurbished W.T.)

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel.

Mc Donnell Douglas MD-11 Model in Ames 12ft. W.T. (1st Non-NASA customer of the refurbished W.T.)

Crew Exploration Vehicle CEV-26AA with service module in 11_foot NASA Ames Transonic Wind Tunnel Test-11-0197

Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engine (VAATE) tested in the Ames 11ft wind tunnel Test-11-0191

Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engine (VAATE) tested in the Ames 11ft wind tunnel Test-11-0191

Mc Donnell Douglas MD-11 Model in Ames 12ft. W.T. (1st Non-NASA customer of the refurbished W.T.)

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel

Mc Donnell Douglas MD-11 Model in Ames 12ft. W.T. (1st Non-NASA customer of the refurbished W.T.)

De-icing Research conducted at the NASA Ames Research Center. Icing flight test on C-46 airplane (flight 29 11:25am to 12:50 am) glaze ice on loop antenna co-pilots airspeed mast.

NASA Ames Graphics of LARGE-SCALE TILTING PROP ROTOR HOVER PERFORMANCE TESTS AMES OARF COMPOSITE. (ref: XV-15 Metal Rotor AC84-0176-13, XV-15 Composite Rotor from AC84-0498 series, V-22 Osprey AC84-0059-11 testing at OARF)

Space Shuttle 3% scale model to analyze removal of PAL ramp and other effects in the 11 ft. w.t. from left to right Rabi Meha, Ames AO, Grey Potts, Boeing, Bill Van Zuylen, Ames AO, Chris Radbourne and Rob Kornienko

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel. Dave Maurantonio with blue LEDS.

2.8% Scale Ares I acoustic model re-entry model in Ames 11ft. Supersonic Wind Tunnel test-11-0192

CEV (Crew Escape Vehicle) Alternative Launch Abort System (ALAS) configuration test in the Ames 11ft wind tunnel. Test-11-0172

Mc Donnell Douglas MD-11 Model in Ames 12ft. W.T. with Ron Strong (1st Non-NASA customer of the refurbished W.T.)

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel. Danny Ompoc preparing for testing.

CEV (Crew Escape Vehicle) Alternaive Launch Abort System (ALAS) configuration test in the Ames 11ft wind tunnel. Test-11-0172

CEV (Crew Escape Vehicle) Alternative Launch Abort System (ALAS) configuration test in the Ames 11ft wind tunnel. Test-11-0172 with Paul Espinosa

3% Space Shuttle Acoustics model test-11-150 in NASA Ames 11x11_foot. Transonic Wind Tunnel on PAL Ramp with Tim Steiger.

Mc Donnell Douglas MD-11 Model in Ames 12ft. W.T. with members of the MC Donnell Douglas crew (1st Non-NASA customer of the refurbished W.T.)

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel. Joe Olejniczak with blue LEDS.

Yuri's Night 2009 held at the California Acaemy of Sciences in San Francisco, California Ames Yvonne Pendleton, Gary Martin and Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

CEV/LAS (Crew Escape Vehicle - Launch Abort System) 51 aeroacoustics test-11-0185 in the Ames Research Center 11ft Transonic Wind Tunnel.

CEV (Crew Escape Vehicle) Alternative Launch Abort System (ALAS) configuration test in the Ames 11ft wind tunnel. Test-11-0172

Photographs and Captions courtesy of Joseph and Donna Roizen Telegen, Palo Alto, CA (from) Pioneer 10 and 11 Missions Jupiter encounters - Activities at Ames Research Center December 1973 and December 1974 - As a memento of the highly successful Pioneer 10 and 11 missions to Jupiter, this collection of photographs represents a sampling of those taken at Ames Research Center during the Jupiter encounter periods in December 1973 and December 1974. The captions for these photographs are meant to suggest the lighter side of the intense activities that took place during these periods. I would like to express my gratitude to all participants in the Pioneer 10/11 program for their teamwork in accomplishing the scientific and technical objectives of the Pioneer 10 and 11 missions to Jupiter. (signed) Charles F. Hall - Manager, Pioneer Project Charles F. Hall ' Pioneers 10 and 11 not only made schedule, but they got 51,326.149 miles per gallon and met EPA environment pollution limits.'

(11/12/1971) 3/4 Scale swept augmentor wing Quest model being installed into the test section of the ames 40 x 80 foot wind tunnel, overhead doors open.

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel. Shown here with Paul Espinosa (l) and Tuan Truong (r) wwith blue LEDS

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel. Shown here with Bruce Stroms (l) and James Bell (r).

(11/12/1971) 3/4 rear view of swept 75% scale augmentor wing quest model being installed into the test section of the Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel, overhead doors open.

Moffett Federal Air Field, NASA Ames Research Center and Silicon Valley image from ER-2, 04387 FR#9904 (March 11, 1992) IR (Infrered) image.

Moffett Federal Air Field, NASA Ames Research Center and Silicon Valley image from ER-2, 04387 FR#9904 (March 11, 1992) IR (Infrered) image.

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel. Shown here with Danny Ompoc (l), Bruce Stroms (m) and James Bell (r).

MD-90 Model in NASA Ames Research Center 11ft. Transonic Wind Tunnel part of the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel Complex Test-091-1-11

Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engine (VAATE) tested in the Ames 11ft wind tunnel Test-11-0191 with Alex Giese and Jeff Aiello of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

NASA Photographs and Captions courtesy of Joseph and Donna Roizen Telegen, Palo Alto, CA (from) Pioneer 10 and 11 Missions Jupiter encounters - Activities at Ames Research Center December 1973 and December 1974 - As a memento of the highly successful Pioneer 10 and 11 missions to Jupiter, this collection of photographs represents a sampling of those taken at Ames Research Center during the Jupiter encounter periods in December 1973 and December 1974. The captions for these photographs are meant to suggest the lighter side of the intense activities that took place during these periods. I would like to express my gratitude to all participants in the Pioneer 10/11 program for their teamwork in accomplishing the scientific and technical objectives of the Pioneer 10 and 11 missions to Jupiter. (signed) Charles F. Hall - Manager, Pioneer Project Dr. Carl Sagan 'Anybody who doesn't believe there are frogs in the Jovian atmosphere is going t hear from me.'

Pioneer 10 and 11 Missions Jupiter encounters - Activities at Ames Research Center December 1973 and December 1974 - As a memento of the highly successful Pioneer 10 and 11 missions to Jupiter, this collection of photographs represents a sampling of those taken at Ames Research Center during the Jupiter encounter periods in December 1973 and December 1974. The captions for these photographs are meant to suggest the lighter side of the intense activities that took place during these periods. I would like to express my gratitude to all participants in the Pioneer 10/11 program for their teamwork in accomplishing the scientific and technical objectives of the Pioneer 10 and 11 missions to Jupiter. (signed) Charles F. Hall - Manager, Pioneer Project L-R: Dr. John H Wolfe, Robert R Nunamaker, Alfred M. Worden

Photographs and Captions courtesy of Joseph and Donna Roizen Telegen, Palo Alto, CA (from) Pioneer 10 and 11 Missions Jupiter encounters - Activities at Ames Research Center December 1973 and December 1974 - As a memento of the highly successful Pioneer 10 and 11 missions to Jupiter, this collection of photographs represents a sampling of those taken at Ames Research Center during the Jupiter encounter periods in December 1973 and December 1974. The captions for these photographs are meant to suggest the lighter side of the intense activities that took place during these periods. I would like to express my gratitude to all participants in the Pioneer 10/11 program for their teamwork in accomplishing the scientific and technical objectives of the Pioneer 10 and 11 missions to Jupiter. (signed) Charles F. Hall - Manager, Pioneer Project Dr. Darrell l Judge 'I hope they are giving prizes for the best looking man at this conference because I finally got my moustache looking perfect.'

The crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-114 gathered for a press brief following landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, 5:11 am, August 9, 2005. Left to right: Mission Specialists Charles Camarda, Wendy Lawrence and Stephen Robinson, Commander Eileen Collins at microphone, Mission Specialists Andrew Thomas and Soichi Noguchi, and Pilot James Kelly. Space Shuttle Discovery landed safely at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 5:11:22 a.m. PDT this morning, following the very successful 14-day STS-114 return to flight mission. During their two weeks in space, Commander Eileen Collins and her six crewmates tested out new safety procedures and delivered supplies and equipment the International Space Station. Discovery spent two weeks in space, where the crew demonstrated new methods to inspect and repair the Shuttle in orbit. The crew also delivered supplies, outfitted and performed maintenance on the International Space Station. A number of these tasks were conducted during three spacewalks. In an unprecedented event, spacewalkers were called upon to remove protruding gap fillers from the heat shield on Discovery's underbelly. In other spacewalk activities, astronauts installed an external platform onto the Station's Quest Airlock and replaced one of the orbital outpost's Control Moment Gyroscopes. Inside the Station, the STS-114 crew conducted joint operations with the Expedition 11 crew. They unloaded fresh supplies from the Shuttle and the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Before Discovery undocked, the crews filled Raffeallo with unneeded items and returned to Shuttle payload bay. Discovery launched on July 26 and spent almost 14 days on orbit.

iss061e033873 (Nov. 11, 2019) --- (From left) NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan and ESA (European Space Agency) Commander Luca Parmitano work inside the Quest airlock checking U.S. spacesuits and spacewalking tools. The duo will conduct several spacewalks in November to upgrade the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer's (AMS) thermal control system. The AMS is the International Space Station's cosmic particle detector.

CEV model with pressure sensitive paint (PSP) test 11-0148 in the 11ft Ames wind tunnel. Shown here with Bruce Stroms (l) and James Bell (r) preparing model for test, Danny Ompac and Bill Moede also shown

iss061e033522 (Nov. 11, 2019) --- NASA astronaut Jessica Meir reviews robotics procedures in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module. She will operate the Canadarm2 robotic arm to support a series of spacewalks by astronauts Luca Parmitano and Andrew Morgan to repair the International Space Station's cosmic particle detector, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS).

iss061e033521 (Nov. 11, 2019) --- Astronauts Luca Parmitano (left) and Andrew Morgan review robotics procedures in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module. Astronaut Jessica Meir will operate the Canadarm2 robotic arm to support the duo during a series of spacewalks to repair the International Space Station's cosmic particle detector, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS).

S134-E-010687 (29 May 2011) --- A close-up view of the newly-attached Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) on the International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-134 crew member on the space shuttle Endeavour after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 11:55 p.m. (EDT) on May 29, 2011. Endeavour spent 11 days, 17 hours and 41 minutes attached to the orbiting laboratory. Photo credit: NASA

Ames holds a Media Day at the Hypervelocity Free Flight facility where Ames is conducting high-speed tests of small models of the agency's new Orion CEV to learn about stability during flight. The hypervelocity test facility uses a gun to shoot Orion models between 0.5 and l.5 inches (1.25 - 3.75 centimeters in diameter. The facility can conduct experiments with speeds up to 19,000 miles per hour (30,400 kilometers per hour) - NBC Channel 11 Technology/Business reporter Scott Budman at the gun range (w/C Acosta in bkgrd)

This photograph shows the Saturn V launch vehicle (SA-506) for the Apollo 11 mission liftoff at 8:32 am CDT, July 16, 1969, from launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Apollo 11 was the first manned lunar landing mission with a crew of three astronauts: Mission commander Neil A. Armstrong, Command Module pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module pilot Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. It placed the first humans on the surface of the moon and returned them back to Earth. Astronaut Armstrong became the first man on the lunar surface, and astronaut Aldrin became the second. Astronaut Collins piloted the Command Module in a parking orbit around the Moon.

Ames hosts Press Event for talk with STS-135 Astronauts onboard the Space Shuttle. Bob Redell KNTV NBC Channel-11 (far left) and Matt Bigler, KCBS - Radio (CBS-Bay Area) middle participate in live interview with the Astronauts onboard STS-135 (in the near frame Rachel Hover, PAO officer monitors interview) NBC cameraman documents event.

NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project completed wind tunnel tests on a Boeing-built X-66 full-span model during a 13-week campaign between January and March 2025. The tests were completed in the 11-Foot Transonic Unitary Plan Facility at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. The model underwent tests in expected flight conditions to obtain engineering data to help improve the aircraft’s design and flight simulators.

The crew assigned to the STS-51J mission included (seated left to right) Robert L. Stewart, mission specialist; Karol J. Bobko, commander; and Ronald J. Grabe, pilot. On the back row, left to right, are mission specialists David C. Hilmers, and Major Willliam A, Pailles (USAF). Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on October 3, 1985 at 11:15:30 am (EDT), the STS-51J mission was the second mission dedicated to the Department of Defense (DOD).

Next-Generation Aircraft, Pratt and Whitney Ultra-High Bypass Integration test at NASA Ames 11ft. wind tunnel (test 11-0182) assess the interaction effects of a scaled Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan on a Boeing 737-800 fuselage in an effort to use emerging technologies to make next-generation airliners quieter, more fuel efficient and lower on emissions. (printed in Aviation Week & Space Technology April 8, 2011 issue)

jsc2024e016244 (11/27/2023) --- The final Multi-Resolution Scanning payload docked with an Astrobee robot at NASA’s Ames Research Center. The Multi-Resolution Scanning payload uses multiple different sensor types to generate high-resolution 3D data and more accurate trajectory data to understand how the robot moves around in 3D space. Such systems could support future Gateway and Lunar surface missions by providing automated defect detection, automated and remote maintenance, autonomous vehicle operations, and surface scanning using rovers.

NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project concluded wind tunnel testing in the fall of 2024. Tests on a Boeing-built X-66 model were completed at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley in the 11-Foot Transonic Unitary Plan Facility. The model underwent tests representing expected flight conditions to obtain engineering information to influence design of the wing and provide data for flight simulators.

NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project concluded wind tunnel testing in the fall of 2024. Tests on a Boeing-built X-66 model were completed at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, in the 11-Foot Transonic Unitary Plan Facility. Pressure points, which are drilled holes with data sensors attached, are installed along the edge of the wing and allow engineers to understand the characteristics of airflow and will influence the final design of the wing.

STS-32 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, is captured as its main landing gear (MLG) touches down on runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), California, in the early morning darkness. The night landing ended a record 11-day mission in space. Moments later, at 1:36:38 am Pacific Standard Time (PST), OV-102 came to a complete stop, having logged 4,509,972 miles in flight.

STS-32 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, is captured as its main landing gear (MLG) touches down on runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), California, in the early morning darkness. The night landing ended a record 11-day mission in space. Moments later, at 1:36:38 am Pacific Standard Time (PST), OV-102 came to a complete stop, having logged 4,509,972 miles in flight.

STS-32 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, is captured as its main landing gear (MLG) touches down on runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), California, in the early morning darkness. The night landing ended a record 11-day mission in space. Moments later, at 1:36:38 am Pacific Standard Time (PST), OV-102 came to a complete stop, having logged 4,509,972 miles in flight.

Active damper wind tunnel test in support of the development of Constellation/Ares. Testing of the 1% and .548% models for active damper and wall interference assessment in support of the Ares/CLV integrated vehicle. This test occurred at the 11 foot wind tunnel at the Ames Research Center, California. This image is extracted from high definition video file and is the highest resolution available.

Active damper wind tunnel test in support of the development of Constellation/Ares. Testing of the 1% and .548% models for active damper and wall interference assessment in support of the Ares/CLV integrated vehicle. This test occurred at the 11 foot wind tunnel at the Ames Research Center, California. This image is extracted from high definition video file and is the highest resolution available

Active damper wind tunnel test in support of the development of Constellation/Ares. Testing of the 1% and .548% models for active damper and wall interference assessment in support of the Ares/CLV integrated vehicle. This test occurred at the 11 foot wind tunnel at the Ames Research Center, California. This image is extracted from high definition video file and is the highest resolution available.

jsc2024e016242 (11/17/2023) --- CSIRO Project Lead Dr. Marc Elmouttie hands over the flight-ready Multi-Resolution Scanning payload to Jose Cortez from NASA’s Ames Research Center ahead of its final testing. The Multi-Resolution Scanning payload will be mated to the Astrobee free-flying robot, which will undertake a small flight and use the multi-resolution scanner (MRS) to create 3D maps of the interior of the International Space Station. Image courtesy of CSIRO.

The sun emitted three mid-level solar flares on July 22-23, 2016, the strongest peaking at 1:16 am EDT on July 23. The sun is currently in a period of low activity, moving toward what's called solar minimum when there are few to no solar eruptions – so these flares were the first large ones observed since April. They are categorized as mid-strength flares, substantially less intense than the most powerful solar flares. These flares were classified as M-level flares. M-class flares are the category just below the most intense flares, X-class flares. The number provides more information about its strength. An M2 is twice as intense as an M1, an M3 is three times as intense, etc. Of these three flares: The first was an M5.0, which peaked at 10:11 pm EDT on July 22, 2016. The second -- the strongest -- was an M7.6, which peaked at 1:16 am EDT on July 23. The final was an M5.5, which peaked 15 minutes later at 1:31 am EDT. Credit: NASA/Goddard/SDO

On Sept. 7, the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument on NASA's Terra satellite passed over Hurricane Irma at approximately 11:20 am local time. The MISR instrument comprises nine cameras that view the Earth at different angles, and since it takes roughly seven minutes for all nine cameras to capture the same location, the motion of the clouds between images allows scientists to calculate the wind speed at the cloud tops. This stereo anaglyph combines two of the MISR angles to show a three-dimensional view of Irma. You will need red-blue glasses to view the anaglyph; place the red lens over your left eye. At this time, Irma's eye was located approximately 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of the Dominican Republic and 140 miles (230 kilometers) north of its capital, Santo Domingo. Irma was a powerful Category 5 hurricane, with wind speeds at the ocean surface up to 185 miles (300 kilometers) per hour. The MISR data show that at cloud top, winds near the eye wall (the most destructive part of the storm) were approximately 90 miles per hour (145 kilometers per hour), and the maximum cloud-top wind speed throughout the storm calculated by MISR was 135 miles per hour (220 kilometers per hour). While the hurricane's dominant rotation direction is counter-clockwise, winds near the eye wall are consistently pointing outward from it. This is an indication of outflow, the process by which a hurricane draws in warm, moist air at the surface and ejects cool, dry air at its cloud tops. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21945

During a Kennedy Space Center (KSC) briefing on the next day’s Apollo 11 launch, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia (with raised hand) asks a question of Rocco A. Petrone, director of launch operations at KSC. To the right of the emperor is astronaut Gordon Cooper and to his left is Dr. Kurt Debus, director of KSC. The first manned lunar launch occurred at 9:32 am on July 16, 1969. The crew included astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. After 21/2 hours of collecting samples on the lunar surface, the crew safely splashed down into the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished.

This is the official crew portrait of the Apollo 11 astronauts. Pictured from left to right are: Neil A. Armstrong, Commander; Michael Collins, Module Pilot; Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, Lunar Module Pilot. Apollo 11 was the first marned lunar landing mission that placed the first humans on the surface of the moon and returned them back to Earth. Astronaut Armstrong became the first man on the lunar surface, and astronaut Aldrin became the second. Astronaut Collins piloted the Command Module in a parking orbit around the Moon. Launched aboard the Saturn V launch vehicle (SA-506), the three astronauts began their journey to the moon with liftoff from launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center at 8:32 am CDT, July 16, 1969.

A technician is barely visible performing a last minute task atop the white room next to the Apollo 11 spacecraft a few hours before launch at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) launch complex 39. The spacecraft is perched atop the massive Saturn V rocket, developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) under the direction of Wernher von Braun. Liftoff occurred at 9:32 am on July 16, 1969, carrying man to the Moon for a first successful lunar landing. Aboard the spacecraft were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. The crew safely splashed down into the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished.

On July 3, 1974 NASA commemorated the 5th anniversary of the Apollo 11, first lunar landing mission, at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Launch Pad 39, from which astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, and Michael Collins first embarked on their historic journey to the Moon, was dedicated as a national landmark. Apollo 11 was launched at 9:32 am on July 16, 1969 and made the first successful lunar landing July 20th. During the 45 minute ceremony, the three Apollo 11 astronauts unveiled this plaque which was placed at the launch site. Other participating dignitaries included Dr. James Fletcher and Dr. George H. Low, NASA Administrator and Deputy Administrator respectively; Florida Governor Rubin Askew; Senator frank E. Moss; Congressman Olin E. Teague, and Kurt Debus, KSC Director. Apollo 11 launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida via a Saturn V launch which was developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) under the direction of Dr. Wernher von Braun.

Bob Barber, Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Spacecraft Systems Engineer at NASA Ames Research Center, points to a model of the LADEE spacecraft a NASA Social, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013 at NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Fifty of NASA's social media followers are attending a two-day event in support of the LADEE launch. Data from LADEE will provide unprecedented information about the environment around the moon and give scientists a better understanding of other planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond. LADEE is scheduled to launch at 11:27 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

The crew assigned to the STS-41B (STS-11) mission included (seated left to right) Vance D. Brand, commander; and Robert L. Gibson, pilot. Standing left to right are mission specialists Robert L. Stewart, Ronald E. McNair, and Bruce McCandless. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on February 3, 1984 at 8:00:00 am (EST), the STS-41B mission marked the first untethered space walks which were performed by McCandless and Stewart. The crew deployed the WESTAR-VI and PALAPA-B2 satellites.

William Borucki, Kepler Science Principal Investigator from NASA's Ames Research Center, second from left, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at NASA Headquarters in Washington as Douglas Hudgins, left, Jack Lissauer and Debra Fischer, far right, look on. Scientists using NASA's Kepler, a space telescope, recently discovered six planets made of a mix of rock and gases orbiting a single sun-like star, known as Kepler-11, which is located approximately 2,000 light years from Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

The crew assigned to the STS-82 mission included (seated front left to right) Kenneth D. Bowersox, commander; Steven A. Hawley, mission specialist; and Scott J. Horowitz, pilot. On the back row (left to right) are Joseph R. Tanner, mission specialist; Gregory J. Harbaugh, mission specialist; Mark C. Lee, payload commander; and Steven L. Smith, mission specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on February 11, 1997 at 3:55:17 am (EST), the STS-82 mission served as the second Hubble Space telescope servicing mission.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the firing room at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach (second from right) and Assistant Launch Director Doug Lyons (right) applaud the on-time launch of space shuttle Discovery on mission STS-120. Liftoff was at 11:38:19 am. EDT. Discovery carries the Italian-built U.S. Node 2, called Harmony. During the 14-day STS-120 mission, the crew will install Harmony and move the P6 solar arrays to their permanent position and deploy them. Discovery is expected to complete its mission and return home at 4:47 a.m. EST on Nov. 6. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Six astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut comprised the STS-101 mission that launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on May 19, 2000 at 5:11 am (CDT). Seated in front are astronauts James D. Halsell (right), mission commander; and Scott J. Horowitz, pilot. Others, from the left, are Mary Ellen Weber, Jeffrey N. Williams, Yury V. Usachev, James S. Voss and Susan J. Helms, all mission specialists. Usachev represents the Russian Space Agency (RSA). The crew of the STS- 101 mission refurbished and replaced components in both the Zarya and Unity modules, with top priority being the Zarya module.

William Borucki, Kepler Science Principal Investigator from NASA's Ames Research Center, second from left, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at NASA Headquarters in Washington as Douglas Hudgins, left, Jack Lissauer and Debra Fischer, far right, look on. Scientists using NASA's Kepler, a space telescope, recently discovered six planets made of a mix of rock and gases orbiting a single sun-like star, known as Kepler-11, which is located approximately 2,000 light years from Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the firing room at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, NASA Associate Administrator Chris Scolese (left) and associate administrator for NASA Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier (right) watch the space shuttle Discovery launch on mission STS-120. Liftoff was on time at 11:38:19 am. EDT. Discovery carries the Italian-built U.S. Node 2, called Harmony. During the 14-day STS-120 mission, the crew will install Harmony and move the P6 solar arrays to their permanent position and deploy them. Discovery is expected to complete its mission and return home at 4:47 a.m. EST on Nov. 6. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Jack Lissauer, a planetary scientist and a Kepler science team member at NASA's Ames Research Center, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Scientists using NASA's Kepler, a space telescope, recently discovered six planets made of a mix of rock and gases orbiting a single sun-like star, known as Kepler-11, which is located approximately 2,000 light years from Earth."It’s amazingly compact, it’s amazingly flat, there’s an amazingly large number of big planets orbiting close to their star - we didn’t know such systems could even exist." Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

A model of NASA's Mars Science Helicopter concept is shown in this photo. This helicopter concept is a more capable proposed follow-on to NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which arrived at the Red Planet in the belly of the agency's Perseverance rover in February 2021. The six-rotor Mars Science Helicopter could be used during future Mars missions to serve as an aerial scout, carrying between 4.5 and 11 pounds (2 to 5 kilograms) of payload, including science instruments, and studying terrain that rovers can't reach. It remains in early conceptual and design stages. The proposed design is the product of collaboration between JPL, NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, and AeroVironment Inc. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA25661

On Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection (ASTER) instrument onboard NASA's Terra spacecraft acquired this image swath over Hurricane Florence as the storm headed for the Eastern seaboard and the Carolinas. The image is a long strip of six individual ASTER scenes, taken in the visible wavelength region. The background is the simultaneously acquired MODIS visible image. The ASTER swath covers an area of 37 by 244 miles (60 by 360 kilometers) acquired at 11:48 am EDT, and is centered at 32.9 degrees north, 76.4 degrees west. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA22651

Yasaman Shirazi, mission scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, speaks on an investigation testing drug delivery systems for combatting muscle breakdown in microgravity with members of social media in the Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site auditorium. The briefing focused on research planned for launch to the International Space Station. The scientific materials and supplies will be aboard a Dragon spacecraft scheduled for liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40 at 11:46 a.m. EST, on Dec. 12, 2017. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the company's 13th Commercial Resupply Services mission to the space station.

Jack Lissauer, a planetary scientist and a Kepler science team member at NASA's Ames Research Center, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Scientists using NASA's Kepler, a space telescope, recently discovered six planets made of a mix of rock and gases orbiting a single sun-like star, known as Kepler-11, which is located approximately 2,000 light years from Earth. "It’s amazingly compact, it’s amazingly flat, there’s an amazingly large number of big planets orbiting close to their star - we didn’t know such systems could even exist," he said. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

This illustration shows a conceptual design of a Mars Science Helicopter, a proposed follow-on to NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. Researchers are considering how helicopters could be used in future missions. In addition to scouting, such a helicopter could carry science instruments to study terrain rovers can't reach. The proposed design is the product of collaboration between NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, and AeroVironment, Inc. A helicopter with this particular design could carry 4.5 to 11 pounds (2-5 kilograms) of science payload. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA24729

A Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology (HiMAT) inlet model installed in the test section of the 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lewis Research Center. Engineers at the Ames Research Center, Dryden Flight Research Center, and Rockwell International designed two pilotless subscale HiMAT vehicles in the mid-1970s to study new design concepts for fighter aircraft in the transonic realm without risking the lives of test pilots. The aircraft used sophisticated technologies such as advanced aerodynamics, composite materials, digital integrated propulsion control, and digital fly-by-wire control systems. In late 1977 NASA Lewis studied the HiMAT’s General Electric J85-21 jet engine in the Propulsion Systems Laboratory. The researchers charted the inlet quality with various combinations anti-distortion screens. HiMAT employed a relatively short and curved inlet compared to actual fighter jets. In the spring of 1979, Larry Smith led an in-depth analysis of the HiMAT inlet in the 8- by 6 tunnel. The researchers installed vortex generators to battle flow separation in the diffuser. The two HiMAT aircraft performed 11 hours of flying over the course of 26 missions from mid-1979 to January 1983 at Dryden and Ames. Although the HiMAT vehicles were considered to be overly complex and expensive, the program yielded a wealth of data that would validate computer-based design tools.