History of Goddard Space Flight Center
Encyclopedia
Goddard Space Flight Center is NASA
's first, and oldest, space center
. It is named after Dr. Robert H. Goddard
, the father of modern rocket
ry.
, establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. When it began operations on October 1, 1958, NASA consisted mainly of the four laboratories and some 80 employees of the government's 46-year-old research agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
(NACA).
GSFC was established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center.
Its original charter was to perform five major functions on behalf of NASA: technology development and fabrication, planning
, scientific research, technical operations, and project management
. Even today, the Center is organized into several Directorate
s, each charged with one of these key functions.
was known as the Beltsville Space Center. It was then renamed the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), after Dr. Robert H. Goddard
, the father of modern rocket
ry. Its first 157 employees transferred from the United States Navy
's Project Vanguard
missile program, but continued their work at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
while the Center was under construction.
, America's first manned space flight program. The Center assumed a lead role for the project in its early days and managed the first 250 employees involved in the effort, who were stationed at Langley Research Center
in Hampton, Virginia
. However, the size and scope of Project Mercury soon prompted NASA to build a new "Manned Spacecraft Center", now the Johnson Space Center, in Houston, Texas
. Project Mercury's personnel and activities were transferred there in 1961.
support and radar
tracking of flights through a worldwide network of ground stations called the Spacecraft Tracking and Data Acquisition Network
(STDN). However, the Center focused primarily on designing unmanned satellite
s and spacecraft
for scientific research missions. Goddard pioneered several fields of spacecraft development, including modular
spacecraft design, which reduced costs and made it possible to repair satellites in orbit. Goddard's Solar Max
satellite, launched in 1980, was repaired by astronauts on the Space Shuttle Challenger
in 1984.
, launched in 1990, remains in service and continues to grow in capability thanks to its modular design and multiple servicing missions by the Space Shuttle
.
. The Center's contribution to the Earth Science Enterprise includes several spacecraft in the Earth Observing System
fleet as well as EOSDIS
, a science data collection, processing, and distribution system. For the manned space flight program, Goddard develops tools for use by astronauts during extra-vehicular activity
, and built and operates the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
and the Solar Dynamics Observatory
.
for 2006 was jointly awarded to John C. Mather
, a civil servant at GSFC, and George F. Smoot, University of California, Berkeley, "for their discovery of the blackbody form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation." This discovery was made possible by the Cosmic Background Explorer's (COBE) measurement of the Cosmic background radiation. Mather and Smoot were the science principal co-investigators for the COBE mission, which was built and managed by GSFC. According to the Nobel Prize committee, "the COBE-project can also be regarded as the starting point for cosmology
as a precision science".
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's first, and oldest, space center
Space center
A space center is a place dedicated to space activity. It may be in public or private ownership.These activities may concern:* Research* Manufacturing of major parts of space vehicles* Launch of space vehicles* in orbit control of space vehicles...
. It is named after Dr. Robert H. Goddard
Robert H. Goddard
Robert Hutchings Goddard was an American professor, physicist and inventor who is credited with creating and building the world's first liquid-fueled rocket, which he successfully launched on March 16, 1926...
, the father of modern rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
ry.
Origin of GSFC
On July 29, 1958, President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space ActNational Aeronautics and Space Act
The National Aeronautics and Space Act is the United States federal statute that created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . The Act, which followed close on the heels of the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik, was drafted by the United States House Select Committee on Astronautics...
, establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. When it began operations on October 1, 1958, NASA consisted mainly of the four laboratories and some 80 employees of the government's 46-year-old research agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics was a U.S. federal agency founded on March 3, 1915 to undertake, promote, and institutionalize aeronautical research. On October 1, 1958 the agency was dissolved, and its assets and personnel transferred to the newly created National Aeronautics and...
(NACA).
GSFC was established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center.
Its original charter was to perform five major functions on behalf of NASA: technology development and fabrication, planning
Planning
Planning in organizations and public policy is both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior...
, scientific research, technical operations, and project management
Project management
Project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve specific goals. A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end , undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about beneficial change or added value...
. Even today, the Center is organized into several Directorate
Directorate
A directorate is an agency usually headed by a director, often a subdivision of a major government department.* Immigration and Nationality Directorate* Dairat al-Mukhabarat al-Ammah * Veterinary Medicines Directorate...
s, each charged with one of these key functions.
Role of GSFC
Until May 1, 1959, NASA's presence in Greenbelt, MarylandGreenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District...
was known as the Beltsville Space Center. It was then renamed the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), after Dr. Robert H. Goddard
Robert H. Goddard
Robert Hutchings Goddard was an American professor, physicist and inventor who is credited with creating and building the world's first liquid-fueled rocket, which he successfully launched on March 16, 1926...
, the father of modern rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
ry. Its first 157 employees transferred from the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's Project Vanguard
Project Vanguard
Project Vanguard was a program managed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory , which intended to launch the first artificial satellite into Earth orbit using a Vanguard rocket as the launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Missile Annex, Florida....
missile program, but continued their work at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
while the Center was under construction.
1960 - 1970
Goddard Space Flight Center contributed to Project MercuryProject Mercury
In January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,...
, America's first manned space flight program. The Center assumed a lead role for the project in its early days and managed the first 250 employees involved in the effort, who were stationed at Langley Research Center
Langley Research Center
Langley Research Center is the oldest of NASA's field centers, located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It directly borders Poquoson, Virginia and Langley Air Force Base...
in Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
. However, the size and scope of Project Mercury soon prompted NASA to build a new "Manned Spacecraft Center", now the Johnson Space Center, in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Project Mercury's personnel and activities were transferred there in 1961.
1980 - 1990
Goddard Space Flight Center remained involved in the manned space flight program, providing computerComputer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
support and radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
tracking of flights through a worldwide network of ground stations called the Spacecraft Tracking and Data Acquisition Network
Spacecraft Tracking and Data Acquisition Network
The Spacecraft Tracking and Data Network was established by NASA to satisfy the requirement for long-duration, highly-available space-to-ground communications...
(STDN). However, the Center focused primarily on designing unmanned satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s and spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
for scientific research missions. Goddard pioneered several fields of spacecraft development, including modular
Modular design
Modular design, or "modularity in design" is an approach that subdivides a system into smaller parts that can be independently created and then used in different systems to drive multiple functionalities...
spacecraft design, which reduced costs and made it possible to repair satellites in orbit. Goddard's Solar Max
Solar Maximum Mission
The Solar Maximum Mission satellite was designed to investigate solar phenomenon, particularly solar flares. It was launched on February 14, 1980....
satellite, launched in 1980, was repaired by astronauts on the Space Shuttle Challenger
Space Shuttle Challenger
Space Shuttle Challenger was NASA's second Space Shuttle orbiter to be put into service, Columbia having been the first. The shuttle was built by Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division in Downey, California...
in 1984.
1990 - 2000
The Hubble Space TelescopeHubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
, launched in 1990, remains in service and continues to grow in capability thanks to its modular design and multiple servicing missions by the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
.
2000 - present
Today, the Center remains involved in each of NASA's key programs. Goddard has developed more instruments for planetary exploration than any other organization, among them scientific instruments sent to every planet in the Solar SystemSolar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
. The Center's contribution to the Earth Science Enterprise includes several spacecraft in the Earth Observing System
Earth Observing System
The Earth Observing System is a program of NASA comprising a series of artificial satellite missions and scientific instruments in Earth orbit designed for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, atmosphere, and oceans of the Earth. The satellite component of the program was...
fleet as well as EOSDIS
EOSDIS
The is a key core capability in NASA’s Earth Science Data Systems Program. It provides end-to-end capabilities for managing NASA’s Earth science data from various sources – satellites, aircraft, field measurements, and various other programs...
, a science data collection, processing, and distribution system. For the manned space flight program, Goddard develops tools for use by astronauts during extra-vehicular activity
Extra-vehicular activity
Extra-vehicular activity is work done by an astronaut away from the Earth, and outside of a spacecraft. The term most commonly applies to an EVA made outside a craft orbiting Earth , but also applies to an EVA made on the surface of the Moon...
, and built and operates the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
The Lunar Precursor Robotic Program is a program of robotic spacecraft missions which NASA will use to prepare for future human spaceflight missions to the Moon. Two LPRP missions, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite , were launched in June 2009...
and the Solar Dynamics Observatory
Solar Dynamics Observatory
The Solar Dynamics Observatory is a NASA mission which will observe the Sun for over five years. Launched on February 11, 2010, the observatory is part of the Living With a Star program...
.
COBE
The Nobel Prize in PhysicsNobel Prize in Physics
The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded once a year by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895 and awarded since 1901; the others are the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Peace Prize, and...
for 2006 was jointly awarded to John C. Mather
John C. Mather
John Cromwell Mather is an American astrophysicist, cosmologist and Nobel Prize in Physics laureate for his work on the Cosmic Background Explorer Satellite with George Smoot. COBE was the first experiment to measure ".....
, a civil servant at GSFC, and George F. Smoot, University of California, Berkeley, "for their discovery of the blackbody form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation." This discovery was made possible by the Cosmic Background Explorer's (COBE) measurement of the Cosmic background radiation. Mather and Smoot were the science principal co-investigators for the COBE mission, which was built and managed by GSFC. According to the Nobel Prize committee, "the COBE-project can also be regarded as the starting point for cosmology
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
as a precision science".
People
Notable scientists and engineers from GSFC include:- John C. MatherJohn C. MatherJohn Cromwell Mather is an American astrophysicist, cosmologist and Nobel Prize in Physics laureate for his work on the Cosmic Background Explorer Satellite with George Smoot. COBE was the first experiment to measure ".....
- an American astrophysicist, cosmologist and Nobel Prize in Physics laureate for his work on COBE with George Smoot. - James E. Hansen - The head the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, an adjunct professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University. He is best known for his research in the field of climatology, his testimony on climate change to congressional committees in 1988 that helped raise broad awareness of global warming, and his advocacy of action to limit the impacts of climate change.
- Orlando FigueroaOrlando FigueroaOrlando Figueroa , previously the NASA Mars Czar Director for Mars Exploration and the Director for the Solar System Division in the Office of Space Science at NASA Headquarters and the Deputy Center Director for Science and Technology of the Goddard Space Flight Center...
- the Director, Applied Engineering & Technology at the NASA GSFC (as the "Director of Engineering" he manages the full scope of engineering activities at Goddard), previously the NASA Mars Czar Director for Mars Exploration and the Director for the Solar System Division in the Office of Space Science at NASA Headquarters - Marc KuchnerMarc KuchnerMarc Kuchner is an American astrophysicist, a staff member at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Together with Wesley Traub, he invented the band-limited coronagraph, a design for the proposed Terrestrial Planet Finder telescope, also to be used on the James Webb Space Telescope...
- Gene Carl FeldmanGene Carl FeldmanGene Carl Feldman has been an oceanographer at NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center since 1985. His primary interest has been to try and make the data that NASA gathers from its spaceborne fleet of Earth observing instruments, especially those monitoring the subtle changes in ocean color, as...
- Robert BindschadlerRobert BindschadlerDr. Robert Bindschadler is a senior fellow at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and has been an active field researcher in the Antarctic for over 25 years...
- Fred EspenakFred EspenakFred Espenak is an American astrophysicist. He works at the Goddard Space Flight Center. He is best known for his work on eclipse predictions....
- an American astrophysicist, best known for his work on eclipse predictions - Amri Hernandez-PelleranoAmri Hernandez-PelleranoAmri Hernández-Pellerano is a Puerto Rican electronics engineer and scientist who designs, builds and tests the electronics that will regulate the solar array power in order to charge the spacecraft battery and distribute power to the different loads or users inside various spacecraft at NASA's...
- Lissette MartinezLissette MartinezLissette Martinez , is the lead electrical engineer for the Space Experiment Module program at the Wallops Flight Facility which is part of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.-Early years:...
Center Directors
- Reference for table
# Director Start End Term length Started with NASA Notable accomplishments 11 Robert Strain August 4, 2008 Present Present 2008 Arthur F. "Rick" Obenschain (Acting) May 7, 2008 August 3, 2008 ~3 months 10 Dr. Edward J. Weiler August 2, 2004 May 6, 2008 4 years 1978 9 Alphonso (Al) V. Diaz January 12, 1998 August 2, 2004 6 years 1964 8 Joseph H. Rothenberg October 4, 1995 January 12, 1998 3 years 1983 Former Associate Administrator for Human Space Flight, NASA HQ
Former President, Universal Space Network, Inc.Joseph H. Rothenberg (Acting) April 30, 1995 October 4, 1995 7 Dr. John M. Klineberg July 1, 1990 April 29, 1995 5 years 25 years total Former Center Director, NASA Glenn Research Center, Ohio
Former Deputy Associate Administrator for Aeronautics and Space Technology, NASA HQ
Former CEO, Space Systems/Loral, California6 Dr. John W. Townsend, Jr. June 22, 1987 June 30, 1990 3 years 1958 5 Dr. Noel W. Hinners June 14, 1982 June 22, 1987 5 years 1972 Former Associate Administrator for Space Science, NASA HQ
Former Director, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Former Senior Vice President, Lockheed Martin4 Dr. A. Thomas Young February 1, 1980 March 22, 1982 3 years 12 years total Robert (Ed) Smylie (Acting Director) June 2, 1979 January 31, 1980 3 Dr. Robert S. Cooper July 1, 1976 June 1, 1979 3 years 1975 Assistant secretary of defense and director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (1981–1985, during the Reagan administration's Star Wars initiative) 2 Dr. John F. Clark May 5, 1965 July 1, 1976 11 years 1965 1 Dr. Harry J. Goett September 1, 1959 July 1965 6 years 1959