American Space Exploration

“To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.” - Stephen Hawking

On October 4, 1957, the first man made satellite, Sputnik, was sent to orbit by the Soviet Union. A new frontier, outer space, had opened. While ideas about space exploration date back to at least the 17th century, space exploration only began to be realized in the second half of the twentieth century.

Saturn V liftoff
The Saturn V

The first true rockets were developed by Nazi Germany, as long range weapons. After the end of World War 2, the US and the USSR emerged as superpowers in space exploration. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the Cold War pushed space exploration to new heights in the Space Race, a technological competition for space superiority between the US and the USSR. The Soviets achieved many firsts, putting the first satellite in space (Sputnik, in 1957), the first person in space (Yuri Gagarin, in 1961), and creating the first space station (Salyut, in 1971). On the US side, the US's main achievement was with the Apollo program, which landed humans on the moon for the first time in 1969, and continued to land astronauts on the moon until 1972. The true end of the Space Race is debated, but ended no later than 1991 with the end of the USSR.

The Apollo program was followed by the Space Shuttle era, lasting until 2011. Most notably, the Shuttle era also saw the construction of the International Space Station, a cooperative effort from 16 countries.

Following the end of the Shuttle, private space flight began to expand rapidly in the 2010s. Private companies, such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab, all grew massively, resupplying the ISS, launching NASA satellites, and even providing space tourism.

Apollo 16
John Young during Apollo 16

Throughout its history, space exploration has had enormous impacts on both the US and the world, in numerous areas. The exploration of space has allowed for countless scientific discoveries with widespread impacts. Just to name a few, space exploration has allowed for the discovery of the expansion of the universe (through the Hubble Space Telescope), water on Mars (with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter), and much more. It has paved the way for technological revolutions, such as the creation of GPS. Culturally, space exploration has inspired people all across the globe. Apollo 11, the Space Shuttle, and Mars rovers are all icons in today’s society. Ideas surrounding space exploration permeate literature, film, art, music, and continue to influence society.

Picture of Ingenuity
The Ingenuity Helicopter

Despite the importance of space, the US continues to sideline its space program and NASA. In 2018, just 0.5% of the US budget was allocated to NASA. For reference, during the Space Race, NASA received 4.5% of the budget, and was able to put a man on the moon in less than 10 years. The US needs to restore funding to NASA in order to regain the US’s superiority in space. A reinvestment in space will drive the economic and social development of the US. In the past, the Apollo program led to innovations such as energy saving building materials, hazardous gas sensors, and LASIK surgery. Reinvesting in space exploration will have similar effects in fostering rapid technological development. Furthermore, in the Apollo Era, the increased funding to science and education fostered curiosity and creativity in a generation of scientists and engineers.

Today, a generation has grown up watching the Falcon 9 boosters land, the Perseverance rover reach Mars, and Ingenuity make the first flight on another planet. Imagine the day when NASA, the capstone of American science and engineering, lands the first Americans on Mars. Imagine a generation of kids and teenagers who watch every rocket launch with the same fervor as those who watch today’s Super Bowl. Imagine a United States where young Americans dream of being scientists and engineers on Mars. Reinvesting in space exploration will drive America forward.

1957
Sputnik
Sputnik
Sputnik
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into orbit, the world’s first satellite. This single event marked the dawn of the Space Age. More immediately, the launch of Sputnik shocked the American public, who believed that the US held technological superiority over the Soviets after WW2. Americans were reminded of the Pearl Harbor attacks, less than 16 years prior. The launch of Sputnik ignited the Space Race, which has had innumerous cultural, social, and scientific effects on the US and the world since.
Katherine Johnson
1962
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician, was a trailblazer in NASA history. As an African-American woman working in the south, she and other women in NASA faced racism and sexism throughout their careers. However, this didn’t hold Johnson back, and she became a critical part of the US’s space program. Most famously, John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, asked specifically for Johnson to hand check the trajectory calculations generated by the new electronic computers. She would later be a key part of the Apollo and Space Shuttle missions. Johnson’s legacy lives on to this day, helping empower young people in STEM.
1966
Apollo Guidance Computer
Apollo Guidance Computer
Apollo Guidance Computer
The Apollo Guidance Computers were critical parts of the Apollo missions, responsible for the fly by wire systems in the spacecraft, along with being partially responsible for the navigation of the rocket. The computers were trailblazers in the fields of computing. Most notably, the computers were designed with integrated circuits (multiple transistors on a single chip), which were new inventions at the time. The Apollo program sparked the silicon revolution, and drove the field of computing forwards. Today, a mid level modern consumer chip, the ryzen 5 5600x, contains 4 billion transistors, a drastic change from the 17 thousand transistors on the Apollo Guidance Computer. Yet, today’s computers are only possible with the development of integrated circuits, driven in part by the Apollo missions.
Star Trek
1966
Star Trek Starship
Star Trek
US space exploration has been intertwined with pop culture since before Apollo 11. NASA and space exploration has left its mark on American culture, and vice versa. For example, Star Trek has paid homage to American spaceflight in showing scenes from Apollo 14, the ISS, and much more. Astronaut Mae Jemison made a cameo in a 1993 episode. Apollo 13 inspired The Martian. American culture also influences American spaceflight. Star Trek actors have aided NASA in recruiting minorities, the Space Shuttle Enterprise was inspired by Star Trek, and countless scientists, engineers, and astronauts have been inspired by space exploration in pop culture. American culture has and will continue to be deeply intertwined with spaceflight. After all, the history of American spaceflight is embodied in Star Trek’s most famous words, “To boldly go where no man has gone before”.
1967
Apollo 1
Apollo 1 Aftermath
Apollo 1
Despite the success of the Apollo program, it was not without its setbacks. One such setback was the tragic disaster of Apollo 1 in 1967, where a fire in the capsule during a mission simulation killed three astronauts. The cause of the fire is unknown. However, it is known that safety flaws such as a pressurized pure oxygen environment and an inward opening hatch ultimately made the fire deadly. At the time, the Apollo program had many issues, such as poor quality control and design, along with hardware issues. As a result of the tragedy, NASA vastly improved the safety and reliability of the Apollo spacecraft, paving the way for the first successful moon landing with Apollo 11. The tragedy and its response is reflective of the resilience and perseverance of NASA and the US.
Earthrise
1968
Picture of earth from the moon
Earthrise
During the Apollo 8 mission, the first mission to orbit the moon, William Anders took “Earthrise”, a photo of the Earth over the lunar horizon. Since its capture in 1968, the photo has become one of the most important photographs in history. Most importantly, it was a key factor in the environmental movement. The movement led to the creation of Earth Day 16 months after “Earthrise”, and later key laws such as the Endangered Species Act. In 1990, a similar photo was taken by Voyager 1, showing the earth as a “pale blue dot” in the vastness of space. These photographs show us Earth’s fragility and its insignificance in a practically infinite universe.
1969
Apollo 11
Guy on the moon
Apollo 11
The Apollo 11 mission represents the pinnacle of United States space exploration. On July 24, 1969, humans set foot on the moon for the first time in history. Not only did the mission provide scientific data (through sample collection and other experiments), it remains a cultural icon across the world. 650 million people watched as Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, and his words, “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” remain ingrained in our culture to this day. Apollo 11 represents the peak of US ambition and dedication, showing the power of collective action to achieve impossible goals, such as landing a man on the moon in less than a decade.
Apollo-Soyuz
1975
The famous handshake on the Apollo Soyuz
Apollo-Soyuz
On July 17, 1975, an Apollo spacecraft, crewed by Thomas S. Stafford, Vance D. Brand and Donald K. Slayton, docked with a Soyuz spacecraft, crewed by Alexei A. Leonov and Valeri N. Kubasov. This was the climax of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first joint space mission between the US and the Soviet Union. The mission was intended to demonstrate the ability of the US and USSR to work together, reflecting the détente in relations between the two nations which developed during the Nixon administration. The two groups treated each other with hospitality, exchanging gifts, and carrying out joint experiments over a period of 2 days. The mission paved the way for future collaboration between the nations, such as the construction of the International Space Station.
1977
Voyager 1 and 2
The goldem record sent on voyager
Voyager 1 and 2
The voyager probes are a pair of US space probes launched in 1977 to explore the outer solar system and beyond. Still operational today, the voyager probes are the longest operating spacecraft and the farthest from Earth. Voyager 2 visited Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, before reaching interstellar space in 2018. The Voyager probes discovered Jupiter’s rings, volcanic activity on Io, and Uranus’ magnetic fields. Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to explore Neptune and Uranus. Both probes contain a golden record, containing images, music, sounds, and text from earth, along with Earth’s location for any aliens who may discover the probe. These golden records serve as a “message in a bottle” and a time capsule for whoever may discover them.
Space Shuttle
1981
Space Shuttle
From 1981 to 2011, the Space Shuttle was the US’s primary space launch vehicle, used to construct the ISS, deliver and maintain the Hubble Space Telescope, ferry people and supplies to the ISS, and conduct scientific experiments. The legacy of the Space Shuttle is marred by high costs, long delays between missions, and 2 fatal disasters, which eventually led to the program’s end in 2011. Despite this, the shuttle flew 135 missions and was a critical part of US space exploration for 30 years. With the end of the Shuttle, the US had no human rated vehicle, and was forced to rely on Russia, with their Soyuz vehicle.
1989
GPS
GPS satellite surrounding the earth
GPS
GPS technology is taken for granted today. Our phones always know our location, and directions to an unfamiliar place are just a few clicks away. However, the ubiquity of GPS hides the technological marvel behind it. A number of satellites send signals to a gps receiver, and the differences between signal times are used to calculate the receiver’s position, often accurate to within a few feet. GPS only became possible as a result of the Cold War and the Space Race, because of the development of satellite technology. In a way, Sputnik was the first step towards GPS.
Hubble
1990
Hubble in orbit
Hubble
The Hubble Space Telescope is one of, if not the most important scientific instrument in history. While it was plagued with budget issues, delays, and a manufacturing problem, it ultimately launched on April 24, 1990, and was fully operational in 1994 after a service mission. Since then, the telescope has been used in approximately 13,000 scientific papers by 4,000 scientists. It has photographed the impact of a comet on Jupiter, discovered 4 of Pluto’s moons, dated the universe, and provided evidence of supermassive black holes, and much more. In addition, images such as the “Pillars of Creation” have captivated the public, inspiring people across the globe.
1995
Hubble Deep Field
Hubble deep field
Hubble Deep Field
In 1995, the Hubble Space Telescope imaged a minute section of the sky, the size of a pinhead held at arm's length, for 10 straight days. The resulting image revolutionized our understanding of the universe. Nearly every single point of light in the image is a galaxy, in various stages of life. The 3,000 galaxies visible in the image are located over 12 billion light years away, allowing astronomers to study the early universe. Subsequent deep field images were captured, peering deeper and farther into the universe. No other image has changed our fundamental understanding of the universe to a greater extent.
Cassini
1997
Earth as a pale dot behind Saturn
Cassini
This version of the “pale blue dot” photo (originally taken by Voyager 1) was taken by the Cassini space probe in 2013. The earth appears as a small blue dot on the right side of the photo, under the backdrop of Saturn’s rings. The Cassini space probe was designed to explore Saturn and its moons, and orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017. The mission ended after the probe was plunged into Saturn’s atmosphere to prevent biological contamination on Saturn’s moons. Throughout its lifespan, the probe has created beautiful pictures of Saturn and its moons, discovered liquid water on Enceladus, a moon that shoots jets of ice into space, discovered liquid methane lakes on Titan, and landed the Huygens probe on the surface of Titan.
2004
Opportunity
opportunity catches its shadow
Opportunity
The Opportunity rover, launched in 2003, was designed for a lifespan of 90 days. The rover ended up functioning for over 14 years, traveling over 28 miles on Mars, making it the longest running rover on mars. During that time, it performed numerous experiments. Most importantly, it confirmed the existence of standing water in Mars’s past. However, in 2018, a major dust storm blocked light to its solar panels, and Opportunity was declared dead in 2019. On Earth, the news of Opportunity’s death sparked viral reactions, captivating the public. People became enamored with the small rover, creating tributes featuring an interpretation of the rover’s last communications, “My battery is low and it's getting dark”.
International Space Station
2009
ISS in orbit
International Space Station
The capstone of international space collaboration, the International Space Station is a critical piece of infrastructure for the world. Beginning as an American endeavor, construction began in 1998 and reached full capacity in 2009. Sixteen nations were involved in the construction, demonstrating the power of international cooperation in space exploration. Throughout its lifespan, the ISS has provided key scientific research. For example, the station is used to research the impact of microgravity on the body in preparation for longer missions (such as to Mars), agriculture in space, climate monitoring on Earth, and much more. It has also spurred the development of a new economic sector in orbit as private companies are contracted to resupply the ISS, along with conducting research on the station. However, the future of the station is uncertain, especially as Russia has threatened to remove support following tensions between the US and Russia.
2012
Curiosity
Selfie Curiosity
Curiosity
The Curiosity rover is one of NASA’s most important space missions. Landing on Mars in 2012, the SUV sized rover was intended to investigate past and present habitability of Mars’s environment. Since its landing, it has provided evidence for flowing water in Mars’s past, identified the building blocks of life in Mars’s surface and atmosphere, and assessed the feasibility of a crewed mission to Mars. It has also returned countless captivating images from the Martian surface, such as views of Martian sunsets.
Falcon Heavy
2018
Synchronized falcon heavy landing
Falcon Heavy
In 2018, SpaceX launched a demonstration mission of its Falcon Heavy, which quickly became a space flight icon. Its payload, a mannequin, “Starman” , in a red Tesla Roadster, became viral across the internet. More importantly, the mission successfully landed 2 of its boosters, a feat of engineering which also became viral. In 2015, SpaceX landed the first stage in its Falcon 9 rocket for the first time, marking a historic milestone in reusable rocket technology. Following SpaceX’s groundbreaking innovations in reusability, other companies have followed suit. For example, Rocket Lab has invested in reusability, attempting to catch the first stage of their Electron rocket. These innovations in reusability are paving the way for more frequent and more sustainable rocket launches, allowing us to go to further destinations faster.
2020
Crew Dragon
Crew Dragon docking into ISS
Crew Dragon
On May 30, 2020, two NASA astronauts reached the ISS. This wouldn’t be anything special, except this time, the launch was in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. Following the demise of the Space Shuttle, the only way for NASA astronauts to reach the ISS was on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, a major limitation for the US’s space program. Now, with the approval of the Crew Dragon program, the US can launch astronauts on US soil, without relying on Russia, especially important in a time of US-Russian tensions. The Crew Dragon program is a major stepping stone in regaining US preeminence.
Artemis
2022?
Artemis rocket conception art
Artemis
The Artemis program, started in 2017, is aiming to return Americans to the moon for the first time since 1972 by the mid 2020s. The program not only aims to return to the moon, but to establish a long term presence on the moon, potentially aiding a Mars mission. NASA is partnering with private companies for Artemis, as well as putting a new focus on equality. The program will utilize the Space Launch System rocket, a high capacity vehicle that is comparable to the Saturn V rocket in size and payload capacity. However, NASA’s limited budget has severely hampered the Artemis program in terms of schedule and scope. Artemis 1 (the first flight, an uncrewed flight to the moon) is expected to launch in August 2022.
?
The Future
Conception Mars colony
The Future
The future of US space exploration is promising. From a science perspective, the James Webb Space Telescope will be used to study the origins and evolution of the universe after launching in 2021. NASA’s Dragonfly mission is slated to launch in 2027, and will explore Titan (one of Saturn’s moons) with a quadcopter in order to study the origins of life. Private rocket companies will only grow in scope, serving private citizens as well as NASA missions. On the human mission side, NASA's Artemis program aims to land Americans back on the moon for the first time since Apollo 17. NASA is also developing a manned Mars mission utilizing a variant of the SLS. However, without public and governmental support, NASA and American spaceflight will fall behind competition from countries such as China.

Museum Layout

Map of Museum
Scale: 1:Magic

The overall museum layout is designed to be a walkthrough experience in which the museumgoer will proceed through a series of exhibit components in chronological order. The walkthrough allows for an immersive experience and the chronological progression brings engagement to the progress of American space exploration. When entering the museum they will be met with a showpiece such as a Saturn 5 rocket to act as a hook. Each individual section contains one main display piece/artifact with extra information surrounding it. Eventually, this leads to a section where the viewer can reflect on what space exploration has already brought and then what space exploration may bring next. After completing the exhibit they will be compelled to walk through a gift shop, thus completing the museum.

Background Images

Title image (Mars) - NASA

Footer (Earth & Stars) - WallpaperAccess

Overview

Saturn V Image - NASA

Apollo 16 Image - NASA

Ingenuity Image - NASA

Anderson, Gina. “NASA Confirms Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Today’s Mars.” NASA, 28 Sept. 2015, www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars.
deGrasse Tyson, Neil. “The Case for Space: Why We Should Keep Reaching for the Stars.” Foreign Affairs, vol. 91, no. 2, 2012, pp. 22–33. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23217218. Accessed 27 May 2022.
Garner, Rob. “Discoveries - Highlights | Discovering a Runaway Universe.” NASA, 22 Dec. 2021, www.nasa.gov/content/discoveries-highlights-discovering-a-runaway-universe.
Logsdon, John M.. "space exploration". Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com/science/space-exploration. Accessed 27 May 2022.
Mosher, David, and Samantha Lee. “85% of Americans would give NASA a giant raise, but most don’t know how little the space agency gets as a share of the federal budget.” Insider, 18 Dec. 2018, www.businessinsider.nl/nasa-budget-estimates-opinions-poll-2018-12?international=true&r=US#the-reality-of-government-spending-is-complex-and-contentious-5.

Timeline

Timeline Code - CodePen

Sputnik (Image -  NASA)
Howell, Elizabeth. “Sputnik: The Space Race’s Opening Shot.” Space.com, 29 Sept. 2020, www.space.com/17563-sputnik.html.

Katherine Johnson (Image - NASA)

Lewis, Russell. “Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician And An Inspiration For ‘Hidden Figures,’ Dies.” NPR, 24 Feb. 2020, www.npr.org/2020/02/24/517784975/katherine-johnson-nasa-mathematician-and-an-inspiration-for-hidden-figures-dies.

Apollo Guidance Computer (Image - Wikipedia)

Alcorn, Paul. “AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Review: The Mainstream Knockout.” Tom’s Hardware, 12 Dec. 2020, www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-5-5600x-zen-3-review.
Hayes, Brian. “Moonshot Computing.” American Scientist, May 2019, www.americanscientist.org/article/moonshot-computing.
Knapp, Alex. “Four Ways Apollo 11 Paved The Way For The Internet Economy.” Forbes, 19 July 2019, www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2019/07/19/four-ways-apollo-11-paved-the-way-for-the-internet-economy/?sh=5732e27275f3.

Star Trek (Image - CNET)

Maksel, Rebecca. “Andy Weir, Author of The Martian.” Smithsonian Magazine, 23 July 2014, www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/andy-weir-author-martian-180950383.
Mars, Kelli. “55 Years Ago: Star Trek Debuts, Begins an Enduring Relationship with NASA.” NASA, 8 Sept. 2021, www.nasa.gov/feature/55-years-ago-star-trek-debuts-begins-an-enduring-relationship-with-nasa.
“Space Race Permeated Pop Culture.” NPR, 30 Sept. 2007, www.npr.org/2007/09/30/14845436/space-race-permeated-pop-culture.

Apollo 1 (Image - Space)

Hollingham, Richard. “The Fire That May Have Saved the Apollo Programme.” BBC Future, BBC, 26 Jan. 2017, www.bbc.com/future/article/20170125-the-fire-may-have-saved-the-apollo-programme.

Earthrise (Image - NASA)

Jackson, Randal. “’Pale Blue Dot’ Revisited.” NASA, 12 Feb. 2020, www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/pale-blue-dot-revisited.
Wall, Mike. “Earth Day at 50: How Apollo 8’s ‘Earthrise’ Photo Helped Spark the First Celebration.” Space.Com, 22 Apr. 2020, www.space.com/earthrise-image-apollo-8-earth-day-50th-anniversary.html.

Apollo 11 (Image - NASA)

Loff, Sarah. “Apollo 11 Mission Overview.” NASA, 5 Jan. 2022, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html.

Apollo-Soyuz (Image - NASA)

Antonov, Anatoly. “With the Apollo-Soyuz Handshake in Space, the Cold War Thawed a Little.” Smithsonian Magazine, 15 July 2020, www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/apollo-soyuz-cold-war-thawed-little-180975321.

Voyager 1 and 2 (Image - NASA)

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Voyager". Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com/technology/Voyager-space-probes. Accessed 27 May 2022.
NASA. “The Golden Record.” Jet Propulsion Laboratory, voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/golden-record. Accessed 27 May 2022.

Space Shuttle (Image - NASA)

Adler, Doug. “Why Did NASA Retire the Space Shuttle?” Astronomy, 12 Nov. 2020, astronomy.com/news/2020/11/why-did-nasa-retire-the-space-shuttle.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Space Shuttle.” Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com/technology/space-shuttle. Accessed 27 May 2022.

GPS (Image - GPS)

Howell, Elizabeth. “Navstar: GPS Satellite Network.” Space.com, 26 Apr. 2018, www.space.com/19794-navstar.html.

Hubble (Image - NASA)

Belleville, Michelle. “Discoveries - Hubble’s Deep Fields.” NASA, 5 May 2022, www.nasa.gov/content/discoveries-hubbles-deep-fields.

Hubble Deep Field (Image - NASA)

Belleville, Michelle. “Discoveries - Hubble’s Deep Fields.” NASA, 5 May 2022, www.nasa.gov/content/discoveries-hubbles-deep-fields.

Cassini (Image - ESA)

Cofield, Calla. “RIP, Cassini: Historic Mission Ends with Fiery Plunge into Saturn.” Space.Com, 15 Sept. 2017, www.space.com/38167-cassini-spacecraft-plunges-into-saturn.html.

Opportunity (Image - NASA)

Evon, Dan. “Was a Mars Rover’s Final Message to NASA ‘My Battery Is Low and It’s Getting Dark?’” Snopes, 19 Feb. 2019, www.snopes.com/fact-check/opportunity-rovers-final-words.
Howell, Elizabeth. “Opportunity: Longest-Running Mars Rover.” Space.com, 12 Sept. 2018, www.space.com/18289-opportunity-rover.html.

International Space Station (Image - NASA)

Griffin, Jack. “International Space Station Research Overview.” NASA, 27 July 2020, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/station-science-fact-sheet.
Kornfeld, Laurel. “NASA Researcher Provides Overview of Science on the ISS.” Spaceflight Insider, 29 May 2020, www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/iss/nasa-researcher-provides-overview-of-science-on-the-iss.
“Russia Will Quit International Space Station Over Sanctions.” Bloomberg, 30 Apr. 2022, www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-30/russia-will-quit-international-space-station-over-sanctions.

Curiosity (Image - NASA)

Howell, Elizabeth. “Curiosity Rover on Mars: Facts and Information.” Space.com, 17 July 2018, www.space.com/17963-mars-curiosity.html.

Falcon Heavy (Image - SpaceX)

Wall, Mike. “A Year After SpaceX’s 1st Falcon Heavy Launch, Starman (and a Tesla) Sail On.” Space.com, 6 Feb. 2019, www.space.com/43242-spacex-falcon-heavy-starman-tesla-launch-anniversary.html.
Wall, Mike. “Rocket Lab Will Try to Catch a Falling Booster with a Helicopter during a Mission This Month.” Space.com, 5 Apr. 2022, www.space.com/rocket-lab-helicopter-catch-april-2022.
Wall, Mike. “Wow! SpaceX Lands Orbital Rocket Successfully in Historic First.” Space.com, 21 Dec. 2015, www.space.com/31420-spacex-rocket-landing-success.html.

Crew Dragon (Image - NASA)

Weitering, Hanneke. “How SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Demo-2 Mission Will Work in 13 Steps.” Space.com, 18 May 2020, www.space.com/spacex-crew-dragon-demo-2-step-by-step.html.

Artemis (Image - NASA)

“Inside NASA’s Artemis Mission.” Royal Museums Greenwich, www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/nasa-moon-mission-artemis-program-launch-date. Accessed 27 May 2022.
Kluger, Jeffrey. “NASA’s New Budget Means It Won’t Be Going Back to the Moon Anytime Soon.” Time, 11 Mar. 2022, time.com/6156997/nasa-budget-moon.

The Future (Image - NASA)

Daines, Gary. “NASA’s Journey to Mars.” NASA, 6 Aug. 2017, www.nasa.gov/content/nasas-journey-to-mars.
Drake, Nadia. “The Future of Spaceflight—from Orbital Vacations to Humans on Mars.” National Geographic, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/future-spaceflight. Accessed 29 May 2022.
Garner, Rob. “James Webb Space Telescope Science.” NASA, 3 Aug. 2017, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/webb/science/index.html.
Kluger, Jeffrey. “NASA’s New Budget Means It Won’t Be Going Back to the Moon Anytime Soon.” Time, 11 Mar. 2022, time.com/6156997/nasa-budget-moon.
Talbert, Tricia. “Dragonfly’s Journey to Titan.” NASA, 17 Mar. 2022, www.nasa.gov/dragonfly/dragonfly-overview/index.html.