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NASA has landed a new robot on Mars in order to study the deep interior of the red planet.
Let's take a closer look at the biggest achievements of the space agency.
Getty – Contributor
What does NASA mean?
NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The independent agency is part of the US federal government and is responsible for the civilian space program.
He is also responsible for aeronautical and aerospace exploration.
The headquarters of the agency is in Washington DC.
The space age began in 1957 with the launch of the Soviet Sputnik satellite.
NASA was established the following year by President Eisenhower and the agency succeeded the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA).
Since its inception, NASA has primarily spearheaded US space exploration including the Apollo Moon landing missions, the Skylab space station and, later, the space shuttle.
NASA also supports the International Space Station and oversees the development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Vehicle, Space Launch System and Commercial Crew Vehicle.
The agency is also responsible for the launch services program, which oversees launch operations and countdown management for unmanned NASA launches.
The main goal of NASA is to better understand the Earth, but also to explore in depth other bodies of the solar system.
Corbis – Getty
How many people work for NASA and who is responsible?
NASA is controlled by a director appointed by the President and confirmed by a vote in the Senate.
The very first director was T. Keith Glennan, who took office in August 1958 under President Eisenhower.
The current administrator is Major Jim Bridenstine, who took office in April 2018 under President Trump.
The agency employs over 17,000 people, and many others collaborate with it as government contractors.
Astronauts are perhaps NASA's best-known employees, but they represent only a small number of the total workforce.
Many NASA workers are in fact scientists and engineers, but there are employees within the agency who perform various functions such as secretaries, writers, lawyers and teachers.
AFP
What has NASA achieved so far?
When NASA started, it launched a manned space flight program.
The Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs helped NASA learn to fly in space and culminated in the first human landing on the moon in 1969.
NASA currently has astronauts living and working on the International Space Station.
NASA's robotic space probes have visited all the planets in the solar system and several other celestial bodies.
Telescopes have allowed scientists to look at the confines of space.
Satellites have updated a mine of data on Earth, giving rise to valuable information such as a better understanding of weather conditions.
NASA has also been involved in the development and testing of various state-of-the-art aircraft, including aircraft that have set new records.
Among other benefits, these tests have helped engineers improve air transport. NASA technology has even contributed to many everyday objects, from smoke detectors to medical tests.
In 2018, NASA celebrated its 60th anniversary.
On November 26, 2018, NASA's Insight probe landed on Mars and sent back a series of selfies from the red planet just four minutes after landing.
Document – Getty
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Who was the first man on the moon?
On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 took off from the Kennedy Space Center for the first lunar landing mission.
The gigantic Saturn V rocket took off with astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin at 9:32 am EST.
Four days later, on July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the surface of the Moon while Collins turned over the control module, taking photos and conducting experiments.
Neil Armstrong entered history as the first human to walk on the moon.
In taking his first steps, he said: "It's a small step for man, a big step for humanity".
He and Aldrin walked for three hours, conducting experiments and collecting pieces of soil and rocks as samples.
The pair also put an American flag on the moon with a sign.
On July 24, 1969, the three astronauts returned to Earth safely.
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