NASA History Office

NASA

@NASAhistory

This is the NASA History Office's official X account. We're happy that you share our passion for aerospace history.

Washington, DC nasa.gov/history Joined June 2010

164 Following 1.2M Followers 25K Posts

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NASA History Office @NASAhistory 23h

Gemini XII astronauts Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin circled Earth 60 years ago today on the final mission of NASA's Gemini program.

In addition to completing rendezvous maneuvers and successful spacewalks needed to send American astronauts to the Moon, they were also spurring the development of NASA's Earth observation program.

Through their photography—and that of other Mercury and Gemini astronauts—scientists were able to make the case for developing space-based Earth observation programs. For over five decades, data from Landsat and other satellites have created worldwide benefits by allowing us to monitor crops, wildfires, flooding, vegetation health, land use, and countless other changes to our planet.

The Earth is reflected in Buzz Aldrin's helmet in this scene from his November 12, 1966 spacewalk during the Gemini XII mission. ID: S66-62922. Credit: NASA

View from space of the areas surrounding the Red Sea and Nile Valley including Egypt and the Arabian peninsula. A streak of wispy clouds straddles the image from top left to bottom right. Taken on Nov 14, 1966 by the Gemini XII astronauts. Credit: NASA

In the bottom right, we see the open hatch of the Gemini XII spacecraft and on the left, the Agena targeting vehicle is docked on one end. In the distance below are the Bahama Islands and the turquoise shallow seas that surround them. Taken on Nov 12, 1966. Credit: NASA

The Strait of Hormuz. On the left is Iran. Dubai and the UAE are at top right. The Persian Gulf is at bottom right. The docked Agena is visible in the bottom right as well. Taken on Nov 13, 1966. Credit: NASA

NASA History Office @NASAhistory 4d

Next week, for the first time in human history, a human-made object will reach a distance of one light-day from Earth.

We're inviting the world to celebrate Voyager 1's major milestone with us. science.nasa.gov/mission/voyage…

science.nasa.gov Shine Bright for Voyager’s Light‑Day - NASA Science Use our Automated “V-G-R” Flasher to send your signal to Voyager, or if you want to try Morse code yourself, see our “Shine Bright” Step-by-Step instructions

NASA Solar System Verified account @NASASolarSystem 4d

No other traveler has ever journeyed so far from home.

Voyager 1 is about to become the first human-made object to reach a distance of one light-day from Earth, or about 16 billion miles. ½

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NASA History Office @NASAhistory 4d

NASA's Discovery Program has an impressive record of innovative, low-cost missions to explore our solar system. The NASA History Office's latest publication offers insight into how the program has evolved in recent years.

Get the free e-book 📖 go.nasa.gov/4zatkYg

Images from Discovery Program missions active from 2011 to 2025 (left to right):
1. Mercury – MESSENGER
2. Ceres – Dawn
3. Gravity map of the Moon – GRAIL
4. InSight on Mars
5. Asteroid Donaldjohanson – Lucy
6. Mars as seen by Psyche

Images from Discovery Program missions (left to right):
1. Mercury was produced using images from the color base map imaging campaign during MESSENGER's primary mission
2. Dwarf planet Ceres shown in enhanced-color renderings that use images from NASA’s Dawn mission
3. NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL)'s gravity map of the Moon
4. NASA's InSight lander is in the foreground in this view from its landing site on Mars
5. A portion of the irregularly shaped asteroid Donaldjohanson as seen by NASA’s Lucy spacecraft
6. Mars appears as a thin pink crescent in this view from NASA’s Psyche spacecraft

NASA History Office @NASAhistory Oct 31

On Oct. 31, 1936, a group of Caltech students and enthusiasts began rocket propulsion tests in Arroyo Seco, north of Pasadena, CA.

Their work 90 years ago marked the beginning of @NASAJPL, now a vital part of NASA's exploration of the solar system and beyond. Happy 90th JPL!!

The GALCIT rocketeers taking a break from setting up their experimental rocket motor in Pasadena's Arroyo Seco. Left to right: Rudolph Schott, Apollo M. O. Smith, Frank Malina, Edward Forman, Jack Parsons. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA History Office @NASAhistory Oct 30

Witch way to the wind tunnel? 🎃

NASA's archives tell the story of the agency's missions and projects, but they also give insight into NASA's culture.

In our latest newsletter, see how our workforce celebrated Halloween in years past! conta.cc/4e4F7j6

Mary Kathleen McGuirk, an employee at NASA Lewis Research Center (now known as NASA Glenn) wears a pointed hat and rides a space age broom for the center’s Halloween celebration in 1977.