Institute of Technology. NASA was not
formally authorized by an act of Congress
until the following October.
Explorer 1 carried scientific instruments
designed by Dr. James Van Allen of the
University of Iowa. Circling Earth in an orbit
ranging from 360 to 2,531 kilometers, the
satellite radioed back radiation measurements,
revealing a deep zone of radiation
surrounding Earth. Born of the technology of World War II and the tensions of the Cold War, the space age began in the peaceful pursuit of scientific discovery. In the more than 35 years that have followed, thousands of spacecraft have been launched into Earth orbit, to the Moon, and to the planets. For the majority of those spacecraft, the goal has been to learn about Earth, our solar system, and the universe.
Astrophysics |
NASA defines astrophysics as the
investigation of astronomical bodies by
remote sensing from Earth or its vicinity.
Because the targets of the astrophysicist are
generally beyond human reach even with
our fastest rockets, astrophysicists
concentrate solely on what the electromag-netic
spectrum can tell them about the
universe. NASA's astrophysics program
has three goals: to understand the origin
and fate of the universe, to describe the
fundamental laws of physics, and to
discover the nature and evolution of
galaxies, stars, and solar system. The
investigations of astrophysicists are carried
out by instruments aboard free-flying
satellites, sounding rockets that penetrate
into space for brief periods, high-flying
aircraft and high-altitude balloons, and
Space Shuttle missions.
A Brief History of the
United States Astronomy
Spacecraft and Crewed
Space Flights Teams of scientists began their studies in space close to home by exploring the Moon and the solar system. Encouraged by those successes they have looked farther out to nearly the beginning of the universe. Observing the heavens from a vantage point above Earth is not a new idea. The idea of placing telescopes in orbit came quite early--at least by 1923 when Hermann Oberth |